Mekong Giant Catfish (Pangasianodon Gigas)

Mekong Giant Catfish

Pangasianodon Gigas

One of the largest fish in the world, Mekong giant catfish, such as this one on a fisherman's boat, can reach 10 feet (3 meters) long and weigh up to 650 pounds (300 kilograms). This critically endangered species has suffered from overfishing, dam building, and habitat destruction.

Photograph courtesy Zeb Hogan

The world’s largest scaleless freshwater fish lives a tenuous existence in the murky brown waters of Southeast Asia’s Mekong River. Capable of reaching an almost mythical 10 feet (3 meters) in length and 650 pounds (295 kilograms), Mekong giant catfish live mainly in the lower half of the Mekong River system, in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Once plentiful throughout the Mekong basin, population numbers have dropped by some 95 percent over the past century, and this critically endangered behemoth now teeters on the brink of extinction. Overfishing is the primary culprit in the giant catfish’s decline, but damming of Mekong tributaries, destruction of spawning and breeding grounds, and siltation have taken a huge toll. Some experts think there may only be a few hundred adults left.
Mekong giant catfish have very low-set eyes and are silvery to dark gray on top and whitish to yellow on the bottom. They are toothless herbivores who live off the plants and algae in the river. Juveniles wear the characteristic catfish “whiskers,” called barbels, but these features shrink as they age.
Highly migratory creatures, giant catfish require large stretches of river for their seasonal journeys and specific environmental conditions in their spawning and breeding areas. They are thought to rear primarily in Cambodia’s Tonle Sap lake and migrate hundreds of miles north to spawning grounds in Thailand. Dams and human encroachment, however, have severely disrupted their lifecycle.
International efforts are under way to save the species. It is now illegal in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia to harvest giant catfish. And recently in Thailand, a group of fishers pledged to stop catching giant catfish to honor the king’s 60th year on the throne. However, enforcement of fishing restrictions in many isolated villages along the Mekong is nearly impossible, and illicit and bycatch takings continue.

Fast Facts

Type: Fish

Diet: Herbivore

Average life span in the wild: More than 60 years

Size: Up to 10 ft (3 m)

Weight: Up to 650 lbs (295 kg)

Group name: School

Protection status: Endangered

Did you know? The largest freshwater fish ever recorded was a Mekong giant catfish caught in northern Thailand in 2005. It was nearly 9 ft long (2.7 m) and weighed 646 lbs (293 kg).

 

Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man: 

*For more information, please visit National Geographic website* http://animals.nationalgeographic.com

P/S: Punyalah bangga nelayan ya...Kalau lah kita dapat,sembilang ka,baung ka atau belukang besar ya, mesti best kan hee...Selalunya species ikan duri seperti baung dan belukang kat Malaysia di pandang sebelah mata jak,mena sik???...Mun jak dapat besar ya,memang kenak heart attack rasanya hahaha!!~ 

-vinaskme-

Giant Squid Captured, Filmed for First Time!!!

Photo in the News: Giant Squid Captured, Filmed for First Time

December 22, 2006—Like pulling a shadow from the darkness, researchers in Japan have captured and filmed a live giant squid—likely for the first time—shedding new light on the famously elusive creatures.
Tsunemi Kubodera, a scientist with Japan's National Science Museum, caught the 24-foot (7-meter) animal earlier this month near the island of Chichijima, some 600 miles (960 kilometers) southeast of Tokyo (see Japan map).
His team snared the animal using a line baited with small squid and shot video of the russet-colored giant as it was hauled to the surface.
The squid, a young female, "put up quite a fight" as the team attempted to bring it aboard, Kudobera told the Associated Press, and the animal died from injuries sustained during the capture.
Giant squid, the world's largest invertebrates, are thought to reach sizes up to 60 feet (18 meters), but because they live at such great ocean depths they have never been studied in the wild.
Kubodera has spent three years searching for the creatures, and his team scored a coup in 2004 when it used a remote underwater camera to take the first-ever photographs of a live giant squid.
(See a gallery of the first photos taken of a live giant squid.)
The capture may be a sign that giant squid are more plentiful than had been thought, Kubodera said, and the event could help open up more fruitful research into the poorly understood animal.
"Now that we know where to find them, we think we can be more successful at studying them in the future," he said.


—Blake de Pastino

*For more information,please visit National Geographic website*  http://news.nationalgeographic.com

P/S: Bayangkan kita dapat candat sontong sebesar ni....Ada berani???Hahahhaha!!~

-vinaskme-

SHIMANO PRODUCT REVIEWS - (www.shimano.com)

Why Shimano?

Across the planet, the Shimano name is synonymous with fishing.

Founded in the early 1920’s by Shozaburo Shimano, Shimano started off as a company known for precision engineering. Today the company is regarded as one of the forerunners in product innovation and a leader in the industry.

With an eye towards the future, Shimano is heavily involved in youth development around the country and environmental and governmental affairs that help protect the land and sea.

Visit our Corporate site for more information.

Why Buy Shimano?

It’s a question you’ve probably asked yourself before today, and after visiting this website, it’s one we’re certain you’ll know and understand the answers to.

Once you visited the different sections of our site, you’ll be basking in the knowledge that your money has purchased an item, or items, of thoroughbred equipment, which have been researched like no others and which incorporate state of the art technological features.

On this website, you are going to see the very best in fishing tackle, suiting a wide range styles, methods and budgets.

Many of the names given to Shimano products will be familiar to you, others such as A-RB bearings, Hybrid Aluminium Spools and the SAS (Shimano Alignment System) are new. Be assured that they will all become household names, just like our Baitrunner and Fightin’ Drag features, which burst onto the scene in past decades.

We don’t just pluck a name out of the air and bestow it on a bail arm, a spool or a handle. Each Shimano feature’s name is descriptive, giving the user a feel for the benefits it brings. Dyna-Balance tells you a reel is perfectly balanced, Positive Bail means there’s no risk of mid-cast mishaps, and so on.

New features and products will be unveiled across many of the pages. We won’t attempt to preview any here and now, but be assured that the tackle will not only look superb, it will work superbly for many many years to come. It won’t suddenly cough, splutter and die. Ask yourself whether that’s something which can be said of our many imitators?

In short, a Shimano purchase – be it rods, reels or accessories – is like being granted your own personal security system. It’s up to you to tempt the fish to your bait, safe in the knowledge that your precision engineered kit will perform to the required standards over and over again.

A skim through the company’s history reveals more than 80 years’ experience in one of the world’s most demanding sporting and leisure markets - bicycles, where gearing and engineering to the most exact tolerances is essential.

We’ve been involved in fishing tackle since the early 1970s, but we realise that even the finest products can sometimes need attention, and that’s why you can count on back-up in the form of the dedicated Shimano Service Centers - angling’s very own Formula 1 pit crew.

These guys fully realise time is of the essence when it comes to getting your tackle back in perfect condition. The frequent plaudits paid to their dedication and efficiency in the angling press and in letters to Shimano HQ says it all. 

PRODUCTS 

TECHNIUM DF CX CASTING (FRESHWATER)

Replacing the BX predecessors with a trimmed down six-rod series, plus three Salmon versions, our Technium Diaflash CX Casting rods bring significant advances to their price bracket. Features include Shimano Ti-Lite Hardlite guides, Power Cork grips, optional balance weights and easy access hook keepers. Covering a wide range of casting weights and actions, the standard two-piecers run from 240MH 14-40gr to 300L 3-14gr, with three piece Salmon versions between 300SL 10-50gr and 390SL 20-80gr.

ANTARES BX SPINNING/CASTING (FRESHWATER)

To improve a rod that is considered a market standard is quite difficult, but the Shimano research of new materials and ideas is endless. So we introduce the new Antares spinning.Compared with the previous model, it is remarkably lighter. This is due to the use of the famous Biofibre. The strength is kept same as before. A new beautiful butt include the great Power Cork grip and very nice Fossil Wood inserts, including the reel seat.Guides are genuine Fuji SIC. The range is so wide that all fishing situations are covered.

DIAFLASH XT-A SPINNING (FRESHWATER)

Benefiting from the new Shadow Diaflash construction, Ti-Lite guides, Vibralock and Power Leather rear grip, we confidently expect the new and extensive Diaflash XT-A spinning range to make a major impact in 2009. All blanks are XT200 and built using Biofibre construction. Features include Dyna-Butt, spigot joints and balance weights. Casting weights from 3g right up to 100g are covered within the range. 

VENGEANCE SPINNING (FRESHWATER)

The name says it all – and the fish better fear Vengeance in 2010! Replacing the long serving Hyperloop spinning rods, Vengeance is a 13-strong range with models between 180L and 330H. Constructed upon XT30 blanks with Shimano reel seats and Hardlite guides, Vengeance brings new levels of quality to the budget price bracket.

LESATH KAIBUTSU  (SALTWATER)

The evocative and descriptive names for each of the new sixstrong Lesath Kaibutsu family of Game Type saltwater spinning rods ignite the imagination with dreams of big fish battles. Constructed on top quality XT400 carbon and Biofibre blanks, with Fuji SiC Titanium guides and reel seats engineered to last, their lengths and intended applications tell you these are specific designs with input from some of the world’s best saltwater lure anglers. With rot-free EVA grips, they come in a special hard-soft case and the heaviest two are capable of casting and working lure rigs up to 300g.

SPEEDMASTER KAIBUTSU (SALTWATER)

The highly specific uses of the two different actioned rods in the new Speedmaster Kaibatsu range highlights Shimano’s attention to detail and expertise. Giant Trevally are the target, and XT100 + Biofibre blanks, Shadow Diaflash, Ti-Lite Hardlite guides, EVA grips and plastic gimbals are the materials of combat. The rods’ names say it all – Pencil Instrument Spinning and Long Cast Spinning.

BEASTMASTER SOFT BAIT (SALTWATER)

Also New in the range for 2010 is the Beastmaster soft bait rod. These rods are special built for Seabass or Zander fishing and with it’s short length easy to fish from a boat. The Beastmaster rod is build on a XT60/ Biofibre blank, with a Vibraspot grip, this will give you the total control feeling!

REELS

SEIDO FA

    

Fitted with 5 Shielded Stainless Bearings and one roller bearing, equating to a total 9 ball bearing performance, this new flagship of the everpopular P3 range is ideal for all-round use and looks set to become a serious player in the reel market. All Seido reels feature Varispeed line lay that enables an effortless cast and delivers smooth clutch control when playing fish. Not forgetting the biomechanical handle, micro click front drag knob, Super Stopper II, Dyna Balance and superb cosmetics.
Seido is the Japanese word for perfection. In this case perfection is available for a very reasonable price; even better a spare cold forged spool is supplied as standard.A 3000S match edition is also available in the range.

STELLA FD 

When money is no object and only the very best will do, the new Stella FD range of fixed spool reels should set your imagination running wild. Designed with a new screw-less construction around Shimano's benchmark SR-system components, with a stunning magnesium body - the new Stella FD is in a class of its own. With four models in the range, the 4000 edition has 13 shielded A-RB bearings with a roller bearing, bringing it up to a 17 ball bearing equivalent. The Stella FD is also available in a 3000 shallow spool version. Reels don't come smoother or sexier than this...ultra lightweight and oozing with high specification features from Shimano's benchmark SR portfolio.

STRADIC FC  

Another established and acclaimed Shimano brand, where our engineers were not content to rest on their laurels. The new 2009 model sees the introduction of AR-C spool, a redesigned double handle, and is supplied with a double anodised cold forged spool, plus a spare single anodised cold forged version of the same capacity. The Stradic's traditionally fast retrieve ratio of between 5.7:1 and 6.0:1 remains... something that fans of fast lure techniques and match fishing will certainly appreciate. Please pay special attention to the "SFC" version: a compact bodied reel with a smaller capacicty spool, for use with braid and light mono. The new Stradic is sure to be seen as the benchmark across the UK match curcuit.

SUPER GT RC 

Super GT reels have earned a strong following. The new four-strong GT-RC family can only enhance and advance this reputation through many performance improvements contained within the 1500, 2500, 3000S and 4000 models – the first three bearing our new shallow spool with XT-7 spare spool as standard. External restyling of XT-7 body and rotor provides the perfect finish to precision engineering with Zinc Diecast gear, Slow Speed Oscillation and Super Stopper ll, AR-C Spool plus Maintenance Port facility. Double handles figure on all four models.

CLUB DEMI

This mini reel is typically used on the continent with light telescopic rods for Bolognese-style fishing. Taking up and mending the line is made easy by coupling it with the longer rods, but the Club Demi is also gaining popularity in the UK with anglers who use it for very light lure fishing. 

STELLA SW

If you want to get the best out of your heavy duty fishing, look no further. This is exactly why Shimano engineered the new Stella SW. Next to withstanding the biggest fish this reel is developed to conquer its worst enemy; SALT. A new Shimano protective coating ensures optimal protection against corrossion. For personal protection there is no anti-reverse on this range of reels. Stella SW will become a saltwater legend in 2009 and beyond.

TWIN POWER SW-A

SW technology previously exclusive to the flagship Stella range now adorns our new Twin Power family. The TP5000SW-A, the TP8000SW-A and TP8000SW-A PG version, plus the TP10000SW-A are seriously tough reels with vast appeal to serious saltwater anglers seeking all sizes of fish including big game. Freshwater spinning experts are sure to also appreciate such top-end quality. Bristling with advanced features including AR-C spools, SR one-piece bales and Waterproof Rigid Support Drag, gear ratios range from 5.6:1 on the 8000 model to a pacy yet perfectly measured 6.2:1 on the 5000. Powered by 10 x S-ARB bearings, these are true thoroughbreds.

DENDOU-MARU A

With a line capacity of 600 metres of 50 lb Antares Special Dyneema the battery powered, CE certified Dendou-Maru reel is small in size, but huge in capacity. The enormous retrieve power of 44 kg/cm can be controlled by an ergonomic lever. On the LCD screen information such as program, line out, power and other relevant information is displayed. Dendou-Maru makes extreme deep-sea fishing a pleasure, even when fishing the incredibly deep Scottish sea lochs for 100lb plus skate!

TORSA

Torsa can be summed up as speed, power, durability and castability. When developing the Torsa Shimano engineers succeeded in designing different types of drag cams, which can be put on the reel to create different drag curves. This system looks set to revolutionise the way we play fish, especially on light, sporting tackle. Eight drag cams are available, all with very different characteristics. The extremely strong frame and spool are created by using diff erent techniques; cold forging and machining of the finest kinds of aluminium, while the High Efficiency Gears are the biggest Shimano have ever designed for fishing tackle. The gears are housed in a low-based gearbox, creating an excellent balance that offers you more control. In size Torsa is a small reel that in reality can cope with really big fish.

TYRNOS 2-SPEED

A metal design construction is the base of all Tyrnos reels, creating stability and durability that ensures that all parts are perfectly aligned for a smooth movement and long lifetime. The ability to be able to swiftly change from high to low gear and then back again is a massive advantage in many offshore angling situations, while the advantages of a silky smooth yet powerful lever drag when fi ghting big fish are too numerous to mention.

*For more information and products, please visit SHIMANO website.*  www.shimano.com

 

 

 

Xpuyu PRODUCT REVIEWS - (www.xpuyu.com)

INTRODUCTION

Xpuyu - Full Range Of Fishing Rod Brand

    The most famous and sellable brand for Japan style fishing rod today, Xpuyu carries the full range of fishing rods that are committing to worldwide quality and angling standard. Xpuyu is ranging from pole fishing to saltwater fishing. Every rod is born with the finest and advanced technology for every sport fishing angler.

    The Xpuyu rod is served throughout the nationwide, and it was launched in South East Asia in the year of 2007, followed by Australia and United Stated. The unique plus fabulous design and its affordable price made the Xpuyu become a branded fishing tackle today.

    Year to year experiences that gained, Xpuyu built up a R&D team and Xpuyu Pro Fishing Team. It is a stepping stone for the takeoff. Every team member injected different kinds of fishing experiences and sensation to build the wonderful fishing rods for tomorrow.

    The fundamental of a fishing rod is material. Every Xpuyu fishing rod is made up from the finest material and equipment. With precision and advanced machinery, to ensure every rod with 100% accuracy from reel seat to guide alignment. Finally, every rod has to pass through the professional QC team's investigation to meet an excellent standard level of angler's demand.

    Xpuyu is the only brand that you can trust in the sport of fishing world. We are ready to serve and bring you all the latest news. Another thing to be highlighted, there is a great emphasis in the services that we are providing with Xpuyu. When you invest in Xpuyu rod, we believe you have selected a right choice and build the relationship with us. And certainly, our commitment is only to meet your fishing satisfaction.

 

 

 

  

 

  

  

  

  

 

  

*For more information and products, please visit Xpuyu website.* www.xpuyu.com