"It is a 100 lb -45.00 kg Giant Pangasius aka Chaophraya giant catfish (Pangasius sanitwongsei), a Thai native predator catfish from the same Pangasianodon family as the Mekong giant catfish.
It was caught recently, on May 8, 2013, at the Ratchaburi lake, by 81 years old American angler Dale Fischer, from Minnesota, USA. Dale is a regular return client to Thailand where he fishes twice a year since the year 2000. He is a 3 times IGFA world record holder for trophy fishes he caught in southeast Asia with well known top guide Jean-Francois Helias.
The 45.00 kg catfish captured while bottom fishing failed for a live Tilapia bait hooked on a VMC hook. Dale’s rod & reel combo was a St-Croix baitcasting rod coupled to a Shimano Calcutta reel. It took almost an hour and a half for the veteran angler to subdue the beast.
From left to right on the photo: French angler Bruno Andre helping Dale Fischer displaying the giant predator catfish.
Jean-Francois Helias
IGFA Lifetime Achievement Award
258 IGFA World Records
www.anglingthailand.com