Species › Asia › Giant Snakehead (Toman)

Freshwater

Giant Snakehead (Toman)

Channa micropeltes · Toman, Red snakehead, Giant mudfish

Water temp
79–90°F
Peak season
Mar–May
Best light
Dawn · Dusk
IGFA record
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Giant Snakehead (Toman) (Channa micropeltes 2012 G1.jpg)

Photo: George Chernilevsky · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Giant snakehead are long, cylindrical fish with a flattened, snake-like head, a huge toothed mouth and a long dorsal fin; adults are dark olive and black with a pale belly, while juveniles are striped bright red and orange. They are native to the Mekong, Chao Phraya and Malay Peninsula drainages of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, thriving in reservoirs, flooded forest and slow rivers where they gulp air at the surface. Snakehead ambush fish, frogs and birds and defend their balls of red fry aggressively, attacking anything that approaches. Lure anglers hunt them for the visible fry-guarding fish, the topwater explosions and the brutal, head-shaking fight of a fish that grows to over 40 lb (18 kg).

Typical size3–10 lb (1.5–4.5 kg); 20–32 in
Trophy20 lb+ (9 kg+); 30 lb+ is exceptional
Table fareGood — firm white flesh prized in local markets; sport anglers release

Where & when

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Fished year-round in the tropics, with the hot pre-monsoon months of March–May the peak for fry-guarding fish in reservoirs; heavy monsoon flooding spreads fish out and slows the bite.

Khao Laem Reservoir, ThailandFlooded forest; classic toman waterTemenggor Lake, MalaysiaPerak jungle lake; big tomanTonlé Sap, CambodiaVast floodplain lake; native habitat

How to catch

Topwater frogs and poppers to fry ballsScan calm bays for a shimmering ball of red fry or a surfacing adult, then cast a hollow-body frog, buzzbait or popper just past it and work it noisily back over the fry. The guarding parents attack the intruder; set hard and keep the fish away from timber.
Jerkbaits and swimbaits along timberWhen fish are not guarding fry, cast 4–6 in jerkbaits or soft swimbaits along sunken trees and drop-offs and work them with hard twitches and pauses. Takes are savage, and snakehead often follow a lure to the boat before hitting.

Gear

Rod7' heavy casting, fast action
Reel200–300 baitcaster, 7:1+
Line50–65 lb braid; 60–80 lb fluorocarbon or mono leader

Lures

Hollow-body frogBuzzbait or prop baitJerkbait or soft swimbait

Baits

Live frogLive fish

Regulations

Thailand and Malaysia require no national freshwater angling licence for most public waters, but reservoirs, national parks and private fishing lakes set their own permits, closed areas and catch-and-release rules; fry-guarding fish are protected on many waters by local practice.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: not listed. State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

How do you find giant snakehead?

Look for them breathing. Giant snakehead must surface for air, so scan calm bays and timber edges at dawn for a dark head rolling at the surface or the shimmering red ball of fry that the parents guard in the hot season. Cast a frog or popper beyond the fish and bring it through the zone; the strike is usually instant.

Bite forecast — Giant Snakehead (Toman)

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Giant Snakehead (Toman).

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