Giant Pirarucu

This arapaima (Arapaima gigas), also called pirarucu, was caught by Alan Atkins, well known carp angler, while fishing at Gillhams Fishing Resort in Krabi, Thailand. The weight was estimated at 440 pounds. Lodge owner Stuart Gillham says they don't directly weigh arapaima as weighing them can kill them. Weight is estimated from a length and girth formula, and typically is accurate to within 10 pounds, based on previous measurements taken by Gillham on pond-raised fish.

Atkins' fish bit on a 4/0 hook baited with Gillham's high-protein pellet near a floating hyacinth bed. It took him an hour to land the fish. This male arapaima has avoided capture for 21 months, weighing 240 pounds when last caught. Since then, the fish has gained 200 pounds. This brings the total number of arapaima over 400 pounds in Gillhams to three known specimens, the biggest a 460-pounder last caught over a year ago. The official world record stands at 286 pounds, caught in the Rio Negro in Brazil in 2008. Contact:

gillhamsfishingresorts.com.

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