Arawana

Name: Arawana Species: Osteoglossum bicirrhosum Thai name: Pla tapat Max weight: 8kg.                   IGFA record:  4.89kg (10lbs 12oz) Stocked to: 4kg (9lbs) Diet: Fish, shrimp, prawns, frogs and insects.

To fish for our arawana we suggest you stalk these surface feeding fish. Arawana swim and hunt in the surface layers of the lake making them easy to spot. Fish a light float rig with a prawn, and search the edge of the weedbeds or reeds. When you spot a fish, cast six metres in front of the fish with your float pre-set at the arawana's estimated cruising depth. Alternately fish with a fly rod – we allow you to come down to an eight weight setup to stalk these fish. Use a floating line with a dry fly or nymph, and again predict where to intercept the fish and cast at least six metres in front of the arawana's patrol route. For bait or fly fishing keep presenting your bait to the arawana's patrol route as this normally will induce a take. When hooked the arawana will leap clear of the water sometimes as high as two metres, so keep a tight line to the fish or they will shed the hook. Have your camera ready at all times, as once this fish is netted you will only get seconds to take your picture, as the arawana is a very fragile fish when caught. Take care when holding these fish, as they are very agile and will wriggle free given half a chance. Our guide will keep a net under the fish ready for his escape attempt, and if you drop the fish twice our guide will stop any further photo attempts to save the arawana unnecessary stress. Once you have your quick picture, immediately place the fish in the water and gently move the fish backwards and forwards until it starts kicking, then release immediately. This mini species are beautiful creatures – please take extra care with them as they are so delicate, and also the size of arawana we have are extremely rare.
 
General facts on the arawana:
 
The arawana is native to the Amazon basin, Brazil, Peru and French Guiana. Arawana are increasingly popular on the international aquarium fish market, but the routine killing of mouth brooding adults to collect juveniles for the trade may threaten wild populations. Arawana were introduced to Thailand as an exotic aquarium fish, and they are bred in various colours; the more exotic the colour the higher their value. A prize specimen will change hands for 50,000 dollars. Throughout Thailand and Asia these beautiful fish are displayed in tanks and believed to control luck and destiny. The arawana has an elongated slender body covered in large scales, with very long dorsal and anal fins down to their tail. They have a very large, gaped mouth with prominent barbules at the tip of their chin. The superior position of the mouth allows it to capture its prey while swimming from below.  In the wild arawana live in slow moving water, keeping to the margins around overhanging trees and weedbeds. They are day feeders, spending all their time patrolling very close to the surface. Arawana frequently jump clear of the water to seize large insects. The arawana can live in semi-stagnant water in low oxygen levels as they have the capability to air breathe. At the start of the rainy season arawana lay approximately 200 eggs, which are then taken by the male into his mouth. They will keep them inside their mouths 'til they hatch, and even then they will protect the young as a mouth brooder until the fry are 8-10cm long. They are an important food fish of Amazonia, and of special value in caboclo (a person of mixed Brazilian, Indian, European, or African ancestry) folklore because it is one of the few species that women are allowed to eat postpartum – other species, especially catfish, are thought to cause inflammation if eaten in times of illness and recovery.