Giant stingray battles 13 men and loses

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Heavy petting: Ian Welch shows off the giant stingray he caught in Thailand. The fish was later released

It was an angling moment which conjured memories of classic Jaws quote, 'You're going to need a bigger boat.'

That's what British fishing enthusiast Ian Welch said when he caught this 350kg (771lb) giant stingray – with a rod. The fish took 90 minutes and 13 men to land.
'It dragged me across the boat and would have pulled me in had my colleague not grabbed my trousers,' said Mr Welch, who smashed the record for the largest rod-caught freshwater fish.
'It buried itself on the bottom. I tried with every ounce of power but it just would not budge. After an hour, my legs went. Another 30 minutes went by and somehow I found the reserves to shift it.'
Mr Welch, 45, a freshwater biologist, was tagging stingrays in Thailand when he landed the fish and broke the 2005 record for a 293kg (646lb) catfish.
'As soon as we saw it there was just silence because everyone was just in awe of this thing,' he added.
After catching and tagging the pregnant female stingray Mr Welch, from Aldershot, and his team released it back into the Mae Klong river.
He said: 'I was absolutely exhausted and did very little for the rest of the day – just had a cold beer.'

Thats an evil looking bastard! The fish.:)

He must have been using piano wire as line!

A couple of my friends are looking into going on one of fishsiams holidays.

I send them the odd email linking to articles like this and it's got them interested. Normally dedicated carp fisherman they are trying to make plans for a Maekhong adventure.

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I believe this guy Ian is a Marine Biologist and was tagging the species to track and monitor their activities.

He wasn't on a fun fishing holiday.

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I only hope that magnificent creatures survives the ordeal.

And all to stick it on some scales!

Bravo! :rolleyes:

Why don't they just leave the rays alone. What's the point?

The Thailand capture of the massive female stingray was part of a program to tag such Maeklong River residents. The captive, part of a "vulnerable species" listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature

That should answer your Q RS.

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Originally Posted by filch

The Thailand capture of the massive female stingray was part of a program to tag such Maeklong River residents. The captive, part of a "vulnerable species" listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature

That should answer your Q RS.

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They're only 'vulnerable' because you insist to be fvcking with them {study? research?}. Leave them alone, they'll get on fine.

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Originally Posted by Rural Surin

because you insist to be fvcking

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I've never touched one mate. I am a vegetarian and don't ever go fishing.

But I don't see anything wrong in trying to protect vulnerable species.

Sure, let's just leave those endangered species alone, they will do just fine :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by filch

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rural Surin

because you insist to be fvcking

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I've never touched one mate. I am a vegetarian and don't ever go fishing.

But I don't see anything wrong in trying to protect vulnerable species.

Sure, let's just leave those endangered species alone, they will do just fine :rolleyes:

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Nature has selected the wrong species to endanger.....

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2009/02/940.jpg

Surely they didn't need to drag it out of the water and stick it in a kiddies wading pool mate.

If he didn't have the available equipment on the boat and to perform his studies then he is not really part of a properly sponsored environmental team.

Actions like this (physically removing the creature from its natural setting)can kill these wonderful creatures (through shock) and I totally deplore these type of publicity stunts.

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Originally Posted by Rural Surin

Nature has selected the wrong species to endanger.....

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Not quite sure what you're saying there? Man I believe is the only animal on the planet that has the ability to endanger or protect other animals.

If that's what you're saying then I agree.

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Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Surely they didn't need to drag it out of the water and stick it in a kiddies wading pool mate.

If he didn't have the available equipment on the boat and to perform his studies then he is not really part of a properly sponsored environmental team.

Actions like this (physically removing the creature from its natural setting)can kill these wonderful creatures (through shock) and I totally deplore these type of publicity stunts.

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Agree wholeheartedly. I am not condoning his actions, I was just pointing out that he wasn't there 'thrill seeking' on some tourist fishing trip.

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Originally Posted by filch

^ I believe this guy Ian is a Marine Biologist and was tagging the species to track and monitor their activities. He wasn't on a fun fishing holiday. Yahoo! Buzz Index

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If you see the other photos he is with the company siamfish.com. Saw this yesterday in another paper.

Didn't realise that there were no people without the t-shirt on in that photo

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in fact look at the fuckers t-shirt

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Fair point. But I was of the understanding that he was there doing his 'job'.

I do believe it was glamourized, lets's face it, the biggest on record. Again I don't condone it, just pointing out the fact he was 'supposed' to be doing his marine biology.

Record-Breaking Giant Stingray Caught In Thailand [PICS + VIDEO]

YouTube - Largest Stingray Captured on Record 2 25 2009

Do thoses thing have a spike in the rear end like the one that killed Steve Erwin?

If it does, I wish it had stuck it in the guy.

you're all heart :) pun intended.

you,ll notice they have a towel on the barb...cowards, scared of a shiela fish

I bet the locals are still shaking their heads in confusion as to why they weren't allowed to eat it.

What makes me laugh about this is that what they did to that fish likely killed it later. Filling up a kiddy pool and dragging a fish that size out of the water likely stressed it enough to compromise its immune system and removed much of its slime coat which is a death sentence for that fish. And this jackass was supposedly a professional? The US fish and wildlife service would have arrested him if he tried that over here! Fuck over here they dont even let you lift an endangered fish out of the water to take a picture. Asshole should be fired!

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Originally Posted by Rural Surin

Why don't they just leave the rays alone. What's the point?

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We humans love to display our self delusional superiority over other species, we're suckers for power yet believe we are advanced.

The science thing is just an excuse, it's all about size, fame and photo ops.

Agree with all these comments. Feed the guy to the sharks.