A mythical fish
Snakeheads form a vast family, including several species considered to be sporty. The "Channa Micropeltes", "Giant Snakehead" or "Toman", as it is known in Malaysia, is the most coveted species in many Southeast Asian countries. It attracts anglers from all over the world eager to add this mythical fish to their list of trophies, and also gives rise to numerous competitions.
Cut out for combat, this predator shows an exasperating ability to come unstuck during the violent battles it can wage. Hard-hitting, powerful rushes. Tense battles in which we hope no submerged tree will cross his path, offering him the key to premature freedom.
It's a paradox. Capable of displaying the most tribal and terrifying monochrome war paintings, it is sometimes blended with the enchanting colors of the most exuberant tropical fish. Beauty and the beast in one and the same fish... It's enough to leave you in awe of nature's gift. It also has the peculiarity of having a primitive lung, forcing it to come up frequently to take air from the surface, which makes its fishing very visual and therefore particularly exciting.
A serpentine fish
From a morphological point of view, its name is obvious at first glance.
Its serpentine body gives it strength and speed, guaranteeing intense fights. Its flat, bony head has a mouth lined with sharp teeth into which the strong iron hook must be planted 3 times without hesitation. The hooking is essential to the success of the fight.
Its caudal fin is a veritable paddle, which it uses to unleash extremely powerful rushes that will make you hold your breath...
Where to fish for Giant Snakehead?
Its area of distribution is restricted to Southeast Asia. Its population is particularly developed in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Thailand has long been the preferred destination for tracking the Giant Snakehead. This was mainly due to the country's opening up to tourism, which made this dream accessible. But fish stocks are dwindling fast. Everything is consumed by a very poor population, and few fish benefit from the catch-and-release system.
While Indonesia still offers too few opportunities, Malaysia is perfectly suited to Toman stalking. The fish population is large, and sport fishing and its practices highly developed. The country's road infrastructure is also extremely well-developed, making travel simple and easy and optimizing fishing time. Its territory is punctuated by numerous turquoise dam lakes, drowned everywhere in lush jungle, and turbid rivers home to the most beastly of creatures.
