Species: Wallagonia leerii
Thai Name: Pla krao dum / Pla ituk
Grows to weight/length: 90kg+/2m+
Stocked at Hookers: to 52kg
The wallago catfish is a fearsome predatory catfish found across South East Asia. Gray to brown in colour, it has a long slender body with a large head and a set of long barbels on its upper jaw with very small eyes. Its large mouth reaches almost to its eyes and it has several rows of very sharp needle like teeth. It is often confused with the smaller wallago attu which is of a lighter, paler appearance and cannot grow to the same length and weight as the leerii.
Our wallago spend their time in the deep areas of the lake, preferring silty, detritus rich bottoms where they can pick off any decomposing matter or fish. When hooked, they will often dive straight for the deep holes where they will hold bottom having the ability to swim backwards as well as forwards. It is common for customers to think they have hooked an arapaima and try and force or bully the fish out of their hideaway which more often than not results in broken hooklinks as the fish is able to cut the line with its teeth and abrasive mouth. Big, smelly baits fished on the bottom are the order of the day as is a great deal of patience.
WALLAGO LEERII CATFISH / HELICOPTER CATFISH caught at hookers fishing lake pattaya
