Wisey's Paypond Fishing Guide: List of Paypond Fish Species

In this segment, we will explore the types of fish commonly found in Malaysian payponds. Here's an elaboration of each species. *Information taken mostly from the Internet itself.

Iridescent Shark a.k.a. Patin

Patin from a Fish Pond.

The iridescent shark (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus), commonly known to us locals as Patin, is a species of shark catfish (family Pangasiidae) native to the rivers of SouthEast Asia. However, it is not a shark. It has delicious meat and is usually served in Chinese restaurants. It is omnivorous, meaning it eats both plant matter and other fishes. You know you've hooked one of these guys when you can feel the fish going straight to the bottom and staying there. They can reach up to 130 cm (4.3 ft) in length and can weigh up to a maximum of 44.0 kg (97.0 lb). They have a shiny, iridescent color that gives these fish their name. However, large adults are uniformly grey. The fins are dark grey or black.

Roho Labeo a.k.a. Rohu

Large Rohu Captured.

The Rohu (Labeo rohita) is a species of fish of the carp family, found in rivers in South Asia. It is an omnivore that is regarded to basically eat anything an angler throws at them. Most ponds release these fishes by the tonnes to let anglers fish and take them home as they are relatively inexpensive to breed. The rohu is a large, silver-coloured fish of typical cyprinid shape, with a conspicuoulsy arched head. Adults can reach a length of up to 2 m (6.6 ft) and a weight of up to 45 kg (99 lb). The have a less predictable trajectory when hooked but are easier to control compared to the Patin. They usually dwell closer to the edge of the pond, usually 10 to 20 feet from the shore.

Jeremy Wade of "River Monsters" sizing up a pacu

Pacu

Pacu is a common name used in the aquarium trade to refer to several common species of omnivorous South American freshwater fish that are related to the piranha. Pacu and piranha do not have similar teeth, the main difference being piranha have pointed, razor-sharp teeth, whereas pacu have squarer, straighter teeth. Full-grown pacu are much larger than piranha, reaching up to 0.9 m (3.0 ft) and 25 kg (55 lb) in the wild. These bad boys race around the pond when hooked, so the sensation of hooking one is rather intense and hence earned their nickname among Malaysian anglers as "Freshwater GTs".

Big Head Carp a.k.a. Tongsan

Tongsan Captured in the Wild.

The bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) is a species of freshwater fish, one of several Asian carps. The Tongsan has a large, scaleless head, a large mouth, and eyes located very low on the head. Adults usually have a mottled silver-gray coloration. It is a large fish; a typical length is 60 cm, and maximum observed size 146 cm and 40 kg. They behave similarly like the Rohu, but with a much pickier appetite. If you intended to hook one of them, it really comes down to lady luck as they don't have the constant need to feed unlike other fishes. They do put up a good fight when hooked, but be sure to set the hook correctly as they have a hard lip structure that makes anglers lose them easily after the initial bite.