Bungsamran – the super pond
Fish species: Chao phraya giant catfish, striped catfish, Mekong giant catfish, giant Siamese carp, alligator gar, arapaima, giant gourami, Nile tilapia, giant snakehead, striped snakehead and pacu.
Fishing type: Bait fishing only.
Location: 21/596, Soi Navamin 42, Bungkham, Bangkapi, Bangkok.
Directions in Thai/ทางไปบ่อตกปลา:
บ่อตกปลา บึงสำราญ
- ไปที่ซอย นวมิน 42 ที่เขตบางกะปิ
- ขับรถไปสุดซอยแล้วคุณจะเห็นบึงสำราญ
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Operating hours: Open 24-hours a day, every single day.
Contact information: 02-734-9272, www.bungsamran.com.
Price:
Thai fishing price – B400
Farang fishing price – B1000
Rod rental – B500
* However, foreigners who are legally working in Thailand can pay the Thai price simply by presenting some evidence (work permit works) of said employment.
Description: Bungsamran is undoubtedly Thailand’s most famous fishing pond. Just about any foreign publication that has written about travelling in Thailand has given this super pond at least an honorable mention. Why? Because it’s really a super pond. There are literally tons of really big fishes and a large variety of species swimming in this very big fishing pond. On top of the good fishing there are also all sorts of non-fishing related creature comforts such as:
- a bar
- a cafe
- a convenient store
- a restaurant
- a massage parlour (the clean kind)
- a game centre (there’s even a cheap version of “whack-a-mole”)
- and two very good tackleshops.
Anglers have the option to fish off the boardwalk that cuts through the middle of the pond of rent out one of the many private bungalows on the side. The bungalows range from very basic (B600, just an empty bungalow) to very awesome (B2,000, comes with air-conditioning, TV, sofa and fridge). The bungalows can be rented from 9am-9pm or 9pm-9am. However, if privacy isn’t y0ur thing and you wish to make some new friends the centre platform is the place to go.
The arapaima can also be caught here but anglers will have to pay B20,000 just to catch one.
Pond assistants can be hired straight from the pond’s counter for B1,000 a session at any time of the day but there is always a “freelance” pond assistant hanging around willing to help for a few hundred baht.
Tackle information: Needless to say big fish are going to need big tackle. If you plan on tackling the big fish species this pond is famous for like the Mekong giant catfish or the giant Siamese carp you better be ready to tackle monsters that range from 10kg-100kg. A strong rod and reel, fishing line of 30lb test or more and a lot of other hard gear is required.
Pond difficulty: Medium-hard. Getting some of the fishes to bite here is somewhat a very specific process. Getting one part of the process wrong will result in some disappointment but once the process is learnt and executed properly bites can happen as often as once every few minutes. This process can easily be eliminated with the help of a pond assistant to do the set up. On top of the set up there is also the hard duty of bringing in a monster fish. Due to their huge sizes, fights can range from 15 minutes all the way to a few hours. Fishing here is done from wooden docks and the more clever fish here have the nasty habit of swimming under these wooden structures to snap the line. A good trick is to tackle the fish and keep the fight away from the docks until the fish is tired. An alternative to that is to just fish with some seriously heavy gear. It’s not uncommon to see people armed with trolling gear at Bungsamran.
Some posts about this pond:
http://bangkokhookerfishing.com/2011/01/17/fishing-in-thailand-the-mekong-probability/
http://bangkokhookerfishing.com/2010/07/29/bungsamran-with-tom-and-stephane-video/
http://bangkokhookerfishing.com/2010/07/08/lost-a-stepfather-quit-my-job-and-broke-a-record/
A slightly bigger than average-sized “Mekong” at Bungsamran
Fellow anglers both tackling some monsters
One of the dining areas
A slightly larger Mekong.
Pool table, ’nuff said.
Posted: Monday June 21, 2010
29 comments for Bungsamran – the super pond
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OMG, that fish is the size of a toddler.
That fish is considered a young adult. A mature Mekong will require Schwarzenegger biceps to hold up!
What a shame they think it’s ok to charge 1000 for farang but 400 for Thais.
It is a shame that there is a double pricing at Bungsamran however on the bright side it’s not as you think. Farangs actually can pay the Thai price provided that they legally work in Thailand and bring along some sort of documentation that proves that.
By the way, thanks for pointing that out. I’ve updated the post so that foreigners with work permits can take advantage of this policy.
Great, that’s good to hear!
Hi like your ideas to provide info for anglers to find fishin on their own in Thailand, I been fishing the buing for few years now. When I first came it was 200 baht for all, next year was up for falang same original price for thais and so it has continued. That’s life in Thailand..
I go to BSR quite frequently, but only to raid the tackle shops there!
For some reason, I cannot get myself to fish at BSR. Its not the price (since I will be paying the Thai price anyway), but just that…shoot! Its seems almost too easy. But then again, I have never tried it, so I probably dont know what I am saying. I do enjoy watching them reel in the big ones though
maybe I have to combine fishing there with booze…
Sorry, but my face will not be showing up there because of this Farang Rip Off. I get every year more than 20 friends visiting me from Europe and I take care that they not run into scams like these. Thailand is getting Famous for Record Catches and there are more as enough Ponds and Lakes where always is given a Chance to meet Fishing Colleagues (Thai and Farangs) to have a nice competition as one Group… Pity that some People still think farangs are ATM machines, the rapid drop rate of Western Tourists approves the Opposite..
hey man great job on this blog, i love reading all your articles, especially since i am based in singapore and planning a fishing trip to thailand. Getting good information (in english) is extremely hard to do. Would love if you could help me out with some tips. Me and my gf are looking to catch some mekong catfish, but were kinda hesitant to fly over and fish this “pond” for a few days. Is it big or is it like one of the small pay ponds here in singapore? Do anglers get tangled with each other often? Do you recommend this place for a 3 day trip? Thanks again, my email is attached and im also owner of http://www.FishAddix.com. Would love to chat. Thanks! Joe
Hi Joe, thanks for reading the articles!
As for tangling, it could happen regularly from the central pier but if you learn the proper signals then people will respond to you and lift their rods out of the water if the Mekongs stray sideways. I have a section all about that lingo here http://bangkokhooker-fishing.com/some-basics/local-fishing-words-terms-and-slangs/
As for tackle set up go here: http://bangkokhooker-fishing.com/some-basics/how-to-catch-the-mekong-giant-catfish/
Would I recommend this place for a three day trip? Well, what you are look for is a torn muscle in your arms then yeah! but, generally one trip would wear most people out. There’s a lot of heavy muscling involved/
Your site is great by the way
regards,
Oz
Hey Oz, thanks for the reply man. So im wondering, a 2 day trip is probably better haha. Is the lake pretty big or does it feel like shooting fish in barrel?? I heard that if you get one of the more secluded bungalos that your more off in your own? Do you know any guides that are good that you would recommend? Thanks again! Feel free to post any of your fishing reports or catches on our website man!
Joe
Fish in a barrel? More like monsters in a pond! Believe me, one day is more than adequate. Especially with a guide.
As for guides, the ones they already provide at the pond are all good. They all will do exactly the same thing. Mix the bait, set the depth, make your bait ball and even cast it with pin point accuracy into the same spot over and over again. You’ll be fighting Mekong giants all day until your arms fall off.
I’ve joined your website under Oz Bangkokhooker but I accidentally clicked on the link “request for pro upgrade”! Sorry about that!
Need more than 40 KGs next trip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KeiZCMU4sM
so um, is this an advertising for a fishing guide or an invitation to go fishing?
Not sure why you keep this ad on your site Oz?
Is it free fishing on the pier for foreigners or are we charged for fishing there aswell.
Everyone has to pay to fish here. The pier is just for people who don’t want to rent a bungalow.
Good Morning
My Brother and i are planning a trip from SA.
We would like to do say 3 – 4 days fishing and was thinking maybe staying at the venue for convienence?
is it worth it to go with a company that guides or is at a waste of money and should we use the guides at the park and book everything ourselves?
Definitley BSR but what else would you select for fishing?
Best to ask this one in the forum.
Just had a days fishing at Bungsamran and have to say it was worth every penny.Fantastic,awesome, can’t say enough good about it. Thanks for the advice on your website, yes one day is plenty enough. The guide was brilliant, will be back next year to battle again
glad you had a good time Steve and thanks for reading my articles!
Dear Bangkokhooker,
I am following your Website and I like the informations that I can get for fishiing ponds thorugout Thailand, with the Accurate Place with GPS location and price, comapring to the Fishing tour Guide Website.
I went few times in BSR to try myself and get few Pla Beuk and few Pla Saway. depending the deep, the Bait and weather…
I would liek to have a piece of advice from an anglers as you about:
To know which Rod, Reel & Size of line that I have to use. I bouth the Shimano 6500B with 60Lbs, but for the ROD , I bought it in small shop for 500THB and still in perfect condition.
By the way, do you know where is the best place to catch the biggest Catch or Carp fom the Pier and at which deep?
I will try to go to the Saruka Ponds as the price shall be interesting for my budget as well i show the WP to BSR.
Thanks for your information and Help.
Hi
I’m working in Bangkok Centre and I only have the evenings free to fish , i would love to fish for carp… To be honest!.. I have no rods and i need a proper guide… .. I am willing to pay ..
regards Ade
Just to let you know , I can only fish the evenings of the 14th and the 15th as during the day i am working up until 5pm…..
Hi there,
I took a friend to fish there two weeks ago and had some pla bueks and pla sawais. We also hooked onto a stingray but could not land it. We knew it has to be a stingray as we fought it for 30 mins, then it stuck to the bottom and we just could not move it. Gave it some slack after waiting for 15 mins. Wrong move, as it immediately went across the lake and under the pier, snapped our 40lb line.
So you need to add ‘stingray’ into your list of fish species at BSR.
Any suggestions how to tackle a stingray at BSR?
Sorry to say Robert but I just called up BSR and they swear that they don’t have a stingray.
Hmmm! Now I really regret not being able to land whatever was on my line, and finding out what specie was it. Will have to try again.
The BSR website list ‘freshwater stingray’ as one of the specie in it’s lake. So maybe the list if out of date.
That, or perhaps the receptionist on the phone really had no clue what she was talking about and your hunch is actually correct
just checkout their website…the price for farangs went up by 100%