Phuket Fishing Park is also known as Sawai Lake and is the best freshwater fishing lake in Phuket. The fishing park is a great fishing venue located an easy distance from the main resort areas on the Island of Phuket.
It is a smaller lake, but well stocked with over 12 different species of freshwater fish, from various sources around the world. Giant Mekong Catfish to 40 kilos, Striped Catfish to 20 kilos, Giant Siamese Carp to 10 kilos, Striped Snakehead and Featherback to 4 kilos and Tilapia to 1.75 kilos.. Introduced species include, Alligator Gar to 10 kilos, Pacu to 6 kilos, Rohu to 4 kilos, Red Tail Catfish to 12 kilos from the Amazon River. The lake holds lots of Red Bellied Pacu that are quite easy to catch when you know how, and are one of the most exciting fish, found in Thailand, to fight on light tackle, often jumping clear of the water and going on very fast long runs.
Facilities at Phuket fishing park
Include a stylish modern restaurant serving excellent Thai and western cuisine, along with a bar. Food and drink can also be ordered and brought to you where you are fishing. On site there are clean toilets and showers. If you visit the fishing park unprepared, don’t worry; Phuket Fishing Park also has a fishing shop providing rods for rent, bait and their own fishing guides to help and advise you. They offer hotel pick up, just tell them what date and time and they will pick you up from your hotel and later drop you back.
Fly Fishing in Phuket Fishing Park
In most areas of the lake back casting is restricted, but there are a few areas where it is possible. So roll casting is preferred in many areas, but many times the strikes come from only 4 or 6 meters out. There is very little debris in the lake so fighting the fish is almost problem free. 7–9 weight fly equipment with floating or intermediate lines and barbless hooks, for leader material 30 – 40lbs fluorocarbon. The main target species on fly is the Red-Bellied Pacu, which have some strong and extremely sharp teeth so a short wire leader or fly tied on extra long shank hooks are recommended.
Other species in the lake that will take the fly are Catfish, Alligator Gar, Striped Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Asian Redtail, Spotted and Clown Featherbacks. Smaller fly patterns like black Wooly Buggers and the same style as Clouser Minnow flies tied on sharp and strong hooks work well, fished half a meter below the surface or slowly close to the bottom will usually produce a strike.
