Name: Giant Snakehead
(Channa Micropeltes).
Status: Native. Extreme, fierce and aggressive predator. Snakehead fishing in Thailand can be very exciting and Chiang mai has several great fishing destinations to meet the top predator fish in Thailand's waters. The Giant Snakehead is one of the most popular game fish in Thailand for Lure fishing and the favourite baits are topwater frogs, poppers, buzzbaits and pencils. The action is explosive when your lure is hit and unless your drag is very tight down you could find yourself snagged hard and fast in a split second.

A truly beautiful and serene predatory fish species, top of the food chain in Thailand. Snakehead fishing can be hard work with many many casts made but full reward comes when meeting face to face with a specimen sized Shado.

Big snakehead will test even the expert angler with its fierce power and fighting strength. Lure fishing on topwater with buzzbaits and frogs is the favoured local technique.

Above a catch by Steven Raleigh from Australia with a 19lb Giant Snakehead caught from Mae Ngat reservoir in Chiang Mai on his latest fishing trip to Northern Thailand