Species: Clarias aff. batrachus
Thai Name: Pla duk
Grows to weight/length: 7kg+/70cm+
Stocked at Hookers: to 3kg
The walking catfish is a common fish across Thailand and an important food source. It gets its name by being able to “walk” across ground using its pectoral fins and as an air breather can survive out of the water to cross short distances and also tolerate very low oxygen – almost hypoxic – environments such as swamps and paddies. It has several pairs of sensory barbels and is normally a uniform grayish/brown colour with no adipose fin. It is believed that the fish commonly found in Thailand is a distinct species from batrachus but requires further scientific study.
As a voracious omnivore, walking catfish can be caught on a variety of baits, but certainly dead fish and meat (smellier the better) are preferred. It should be fished on the bottom and tight to the hyacinths in the small bays that are often overlooked by many of our customers. Extreme care needs to be taken when handling these fish and you must take the advice of our guides or you may end up with a very painful prick and sting from one of the fish’s various needle like rays behind its fins.