An update for anyone interested in some fishing at Bungsamran Fishing Park. I had two trips there last week (12 and 14 May). This fishing park is in Ban Kapi - not sure of the geography but it was about a 35-40 minute taxi ride (Baht 140-150) from Sukhumvit 19 out along Asoke. Longer to get back but I left there at 4pm and hit the evening traffic - maybe an hour or so back (B 180)
The park is a fairly large lake at the end of Soi 42. Phone number is 02734-9270. There are two fishing sessions a day - daytime and evening/overnight. Cost is B500 for a session. Fishing huts are available at B500 per session. Bait is another B50 or so. Equipment rental is about B300 - the gear is pretty good. I suggest you go for a Shimano baitrunner reel - check the line (it seems about 15-20lb) as the last few metres are often badly frayed from fish getting under the wooden piles. You can hire your own guide to help with the bait mixing, casting and landing fish. Paid mine B400-500 for each session plus some food/drinks. Food and drink is available on site.
There are plenty of fish and many large ones. I had 14 striped and Mekong catfish from about 7kg to 20kg. Lost another 6-7 through breakages. They fight like hell. The bait is bread mixed with coconut milk and some additive. The typical rig is a sliding float with a spiral bait dropper - a big lump of bread is pressed onto the dropper and the guy just lobs the whole lot out about 30-40 metres. If you get a take it usually comes in the first couple of minutes and the fish just take off. When you hit them they can run for 40-50 metres.
If you take your own gear take a big landing net. You can buy nets there but these are only big enough to get about half a large catfish in and there is quite an art to getting the fish out.
After I had caught 9 on my second visit I had really had enough - you sort of end up hoping you won't hit into another big one because you know it's going to be 15-20 minutes of hard work to get it in.
You can buy a package trip to Bung Sam Ran from a couple of local companies - I think they come in at about B4500-5000 for a day. But it's no big deal to do it yourself but it helps to be able to speak a little Thai as not many people there speak English. Total cost for each of my days came in at around B2400 including taxi fares and food/drinks.
I can recommend a fishing guide named Nak (phone 068813443). He is a quiet guy - doesn't speak English but is very helpful.
By the way, I took my TGF with me and I think she really enjoyed the days out - even had her fishing for smaller tilapia on day 2.
