British biologist catches 55 stone, record-breaking stingray

[PhilHarries]

He's going to have to come up with something special for the tale of the one that got away!

British biologist catches 55 stone, record-breaking stingray

A British biologist has landed a 55 stone stingray - the biggest freshwater fish ever caught using a rod.

Fisherman Ian Welch has landed the largest ever freshwater fish during a trip to Thailand Photo: BNPS

Ian Welch spent 90 minutes tussling with the giant stingray and it took 13 grown men to heave it out of the water.

This fish measured 7ft long and 7ft wide, while its long sting measured 10ft.

It has smashed the previous record of 46 stone for a huge catfish caught in 2005.

Mr Welch, a freshwater biologist, had been visiting Thailand to help with a stingray tagging programme when he landed the fish on the Maeklong River.

The 45-year-old said he was nearly pulled over the side of the fishing boat when the specimen took his bait.

He said: "It dragged me across the boat and would have pulled me in had my colleague not grabbed my trousers - it was like the whole earth had just moved. I knew it was going to a big one.

"It buried itself on the bottom and the main fight was trying to get it off the floor.

"I tried with every ounce of power but it just would not budge. After half an hour my arms began shaking and after an hour my legs went.

"Another 30 minutes went by and then I put a glove on and physically pulled the line with gritted teeth and somehow I found the reserves to shift the fish."

Once the stingray was off the bottom 11.5 stone Mr Welch, from Aldershot, Hants, managed to lift it 30ft to the surface.

He said: "As soon as we saw it there was just silence because everyone was just in awe of this thing.

"That line from the film Jaws came to mind about needing a bigger boat because we had to get it to the shore to tag it."

The group managed to put a 12ft wide net under the fish and towed it to the bank.

Mr Welch and the team released the stingray, which turned out to be a pregnant female.

The giant freshwater stingray is listed as a vulnerable species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list.

Although its numbers are unknown, experts believe the population has dwindled by 20 per cent over the last 10 years, making the possibility of extinction extremely high.

I bet there were some tears shed by the watching crown when they released it.

Pla aroi maak maak.

<edit : source Telegraph UK>

Edited February 25, 2009 by PhilHarries

[sensei]

I hope they will just leave these creatures alone.

Getting it out of the water could potentially endanger its very own existence. Imagine having to play tug-of-war with a rope that a barb attached to the inside of your lips for 90 minutes! That would be very stressful to this pregnant creature.

Catching and releasing is not a good practice because the wounds inflicted on the stingray could possibly get infected and eventually kill the poor thing. Small fish that were caught and released eventually get disoriented and become easy prey to bigger fish. They emit a certain "wounded" scent telling that others that they are highly vulnerable.

The guy got what he wanted. A Picture.

[Beacher]

People still "stone" weight?!?!

[SweatySock]

A helluva lot of chips needed to go with that one!!!!!

[PhilHarries]

and a barrel of Sarsons.

Yes, I was surprised to see reference to Stones avoirdapos (been so long I can't even spell it) in the 21st century. Surprised they didn't give the river depth in fathoms and the dimensions in yards.

As for the stress on the fish they will look a right bunch of goons if it's found floating belly up in a day or so.

[sbk]

Stingray is tough, chewy and not very tasty IMO.

As for the stress on the fish, well, it does seem odd that a scientist would be so keen on pulling it in, esp when its considered a vulnerable species. But, sometimes people get carried away in the excitement. I would be very surprised, however, if the stingray were to die from this, the ones I have seen are pretty tough creatures.

[JoeThePoster]

had my colleague not grabbed my trousers - it was like the whole earth had just moved. I knew it was going to a big one

[CarlBkk]

I remember hooking a big manta off the harbour in Spain when I was 16 (could see it feeding at the bottom). As soon as it took the bait it headed full-throttle out into the harbour to the boats. No amount of drag set on the reel was stopping that thing from running to these boats....when it got there it broke free, not from the line breaking, but from the big hook actually breaking in half. The nearby restaurant said it would give me £150 if I sold the fish to them (not that I would have).

Good on the Mr Welch for releasing it. Should be an example to locals who catch something unusual.

[JetsetBkk]

..it does seem odd that a scientist would be so keen on pulling it in, esp when its considered a vulnerable species...

My thoughts exactly, although the article does say first that he was a fisherman and then that he was a freshwater biologist helping with the tagging process.

"I tried with every ounce of power but it just would not budge. After half an hour my arms began shaking and after an hour my legs went.

"Another 30 minutes went by and then I put a glove on and physically pulled the line with gritted teeth and somehow I found the reserves to shift the fish."

I wonder when he'll be publishing his book.