kenny999

The licence centre told me that foreigners are allowed to renew a one year licence up to a year late simply because we may be out of the country. They also said there is no leeway for Thais, they must renew on expiry.

All I can say is that being a sensible law abiding person I would not let my licence expire because then I would be driving without a licence, so my advice to any one is re-new before it expires which you can do 2 months before the expiry date. if you choose to let it expire that is up to the individual and the consequences that might follow should you be involved in an accident. this is a common sense thing would you drive without a licence in your home country if no then why would you do it here even if it is only for 1 day etc...

For the renewal of my 5 year licence (last year) I had to arrive by 09.00, take various eye tests and then watch an hour video (starts 10.00). Had my new licence and out the door by 11.30. They told me they don't have an afternoon session with video in English, so it had to be 09.00.

I had no tests to take and did not watch any video, it seems to be different everytime you go there.

Thank you for the report. I also got my 1 yr, later my 5 yr car and bike licences here in Phuket but that was a few years ago.

Do they now give you the new credit card type?

Are car and bike now on the same card? (I still have two separate laminated pink paper cards in Thai only)

Did they mention work permit? (They did not ask for mine back then and I had none)

Did they take your photo there or did you need to bring one or more?

What time did you arrive and what time did you get out?

Hi yes the licences are the credit card type, car and bike licence are 2 separate licences, A work permit is acceptable instead of cerftificate of residence, they take your photo's there. the center opens at 8am be there for that time, I re-newed car and bike licence and was out of the center within 30 mins.

Hope that helps.

Strange, I was always told (and had to) wait until my one year expired before I could get a 5 year.. Tho was warned not to let the 5 year expire.

Reason being the 1 year is a sort of provisional license and you have to have held that for one full year to qualify for the 5 year.

Well as I have just re-newed my licences I can assure you letting the 1 yr expire is not correct, also if you let your licence expire you no longer have a licence and if stopped by police you will be fined!!!!

Also if you think about it the consequences of letting your licence expire can be bad, i:e if you have an accident etc if your licence has expired you are in a whole lot of trouble!!!!

Strange, I was always told (and had to) wait until my one year expired before I could get a 5 year.. Tho was warned not to let the 5 year expire.

Reason being the 1 year is a sort of provisional license and you have to have held that for one full year to qualify for the 5 year.

Well as I have just re-newed my licences I can assure you letting the 1 yr expire is not correct, also if you let your licence expire you no longer have a licence and if stopped by police you will be fined!!!!

I have just re-newed my 1yr temporary Thai driving licence to 5yrs, you can re-new this up to 2 months before it's expirey date, you need Medical certificate must be used within 1 month of issue date, certificate of residence or work permit or house blue book, old licence, 1 copy of main passport page, 1 copy of visa page. fee is approx 500 bht. licence center has moved just round the corner from old building, get there early to avoid big wait.

If you are re-newing car and bike licence you just need 2 lots of the above, but medical certificate and certificate of residence can be a copy.

Yes fishing is a great past time, caught this fantastic hard fighting Giant Mekong Catfish yesterday about 12 to 14kgs, these fish can grow to well over 300kgs I think the biggest in Sawai lake is close to 50 kgs.

We try not to wound them and release them hopefully unharmed.

Can you catch a fish and keep it or is this a "wound and release" fishery???

Hi Pete Sawai lake charge 600 a day if you have your own gear and bait, 800 a day with own gear and there bait, 1000 a day if you have there gear and bait. as usual we pay alot more than the Thai's. the normal way to fish the lake is with a coil feeder using bread, the normal size of fish there are between 5 to 7kgs but something bigger can and often comes along. directions are... go to the end of the bypass road big Toyota on right, turn left towards Airport. as soon as you see big Isuzu dealer on the left look right and you will see a sign with a big fish on it, turn round at next u turn and then left at the sign. drive up track, lake is last place on the right. Eck is the lad there and he will sort you out. opens at 8am.

Hi Guys

have just started to get in to fishing been over to Rawai of the jetty. Not had much luck there. Been going to small place in Patong only 150 baht not sure what fish they have but the biggest i have had was 3kg.

So after see what you guys have been getting i think it's time payed Sawai Lake a visit

Can you please tell me how to get there from Patong. How much to they charge for the day i have my own gear.

Thanks

When you fish for 1 type of fish you can have some bad days which I have had, but going there and using the coil feeder to catch the general population is not that much fun, I do get fed up with the Pacu and normallyt if I get bitten off a few times I will pack up and leave, going this time armed with wire leaders and see if I can go a day without losing any tackle, In the UK I was a pike fisherman so here it's Red tail a fish worth catching due to ther hard fighting and docile nature out of the water and you cant say that about the Ting Tong Pacu.. we will see what happens this time really want to get the Gar which in one day I hooked and lost 3 times..

I know what you mean about it being a bit boring - the fishing is non stop, but it is difficult at times to get other species.

I sometimes use Chicken Hearts or Liver, seems that the pacu does not take those, or half mackarel (just make it to big for the pacu), this will catch the red tails

I had a big Gar (10kgs+) on breadflake once out of there, but it is the only one I ever caught.

If on bread too many Sawai and Pacu, sometimes the carp come. Try adding a tin of sweetcorn in with the breadmix, and fish it a little deeper might attract the Carp.

Not sure what else really is in the lake? I think there are featherbacks and gourmani but not sure how to target them without a sawai picking up the bait??

Hi no I caught this and 5 other Redtails maybe 20 meters from the floating pontoon and around the houses but not close, I have had the Redtails take me under the houses but you must keep your rod very low and normally you can get them out, I always use a running ledger using Sausage, I am sure you know that the Pacu are a nuisence I lose at least 5 or 6 hooks everytime I go there, plus the Alligator Gar also take tackle, I had a Gar at the landing net recently about 10 kgs but could not get it into the net the hook came out and I lost what I think was a fish of a lifetime, Sawai is a great lake but can get boring hence why I try to use different baits and tactics...

That is a great red tail.

Did you catch that close in on your bank, or where you casting to the otherside for it where the columns come into the water. I normally fish close to those for the redtails, but if they get around the columns they tend to snap my line. Just got some stronger line to try.

What bait did you catch it on?

As for fishing in Phuket I think the lake in the zoo you might be able to fish and there is one in Kathu which is not very good.

From Phuket best to drive to Gillhams in Krabi, probably the best lake in Thailand....

I fish often at Sawai Lake(Phuket fishing Park) are there any other good places to go? this is the biggest of many Red Tails I have caught to date.

Hi Big Guy, when is a good date for you? So far we have 6 signed up, I will pick a date soon as we get 10+

Hi could you let me know of any dates for fishing comp I fish Sawai lake often.

Ken