Sabai Sabai Fishing Park - Udon Thani

Post by **Aardvark** » May 21, 2011, 11:00 am

I thought that was "Tight Lines"

OK I'll shut up

Post by **Flo** » May 21, 2011, 11:10 am

Aardvark wrote:I thought that was "Tight Lines" OK I'll shut up

You might well be right - in German it is "Petri Heil" and that was what I meant to say - sorry.

Flo

Post by **Wee Jimmy** » May 21, 2011, 12:25 pm

You must be a great fisherman to have caught fish every two minutes at SS because I've been there with guys who have caught nothing and enjoyed themselves. Many were also self-professed expert fishermen. There's always 1 guy on every thread that's an expert in everything. Will look forward to seeing you there.

Post by **Flo** » May 21, 2011, 2:15 pm

Wee Jimmy wrote:You must be a great fisherman to have caught fish every two minutes at SS because I've been there with guys who have caught nothing and enjoyed themselves. Many were also self-professed expert fishermen. There's always 1 guy on every thread that's an expert in everything. Will look forward to seeing you there.

With not one word I have claimed being an expert and more over I do not understand why you are taking offence on my posts! All I have stated was that it is no challenge at all to catch fish at Sabai Sabai as the pond is overcrowded with fish. No problem! I know a few anglers who are in fact very professional anglers and even they enjoy a day at Sabai Sabai once and again but not to challenge their skills. No way to call Sabai Sabai a challenge but a fishery for a nice day out in deed.

Flo

Post by **Shado** » May 21, 2011, 3:52 pm

It's a species thing. If you are there to catch pla nin (tilapia), pla jeremed (pacu) or even pla duk (walking catfish) the fishing can be fairly easy. However, if you are after pla coho (Siamese Giant Carp), Pla esok (rohu/Indian carp), pla klai (featherback), pla let (giant gourami) or pla chan (striped snakehead) it can be quite challenging indeed.

All of those species and more are in the water at Sabai Sabai and in fairly good numbers. There is even a huge pla buk (Mekong catfish) that will excede 80 kilos. I seriously doubt that the pla buk will ever be landed on rod and reel.

With the exception of the pla buk, I've caught or been with someone who has caught all of the fish listed above, as well as others like pla tapien and pla sawai. Believe me, if you are specifically targeting pla coho, pla lek or pla esok you have to plan your approach very well and prepare your tackle and bait thoughtfully. The challenge at Sabai Sabai is what you make it. You can enjoy a pleasant day out landing some nice pla nin or jeremet for the table or you can try to outwit some of the other fish that can be extreme fussy about what they will eat.

I am primarily a lure fisherman. I much prefer casting artifical lures as opposed to fishing with bait. However in the Udon area one must go with what is available and lure fishing is quite limited. I make trips to other parts of Thailand and to Malaysia to persue my passion for catching giant snakeheads and jungle perch, but while at home (in Udon) I can still enjoy catching a few fish at the local venues.

Post by **Laomandave** » May 26, 2011, 9:12 pm

Hi New to this forum, I have been living in Lao for a few months and take a monthly weekend trip to Udon for a visa and shopping, I will be in udon tomorrow and Saturday going back to Vientiane on Sunday. So i have Saturday marked for horse racing, i also like fishing. Forgive me for asking something that must already have been asked (just too lazy to read through 19 pages of whatever) Can I get to Sabai Sabai by tuck tuck and If so what do i say to the driver (I only speak a tiny bit of Lao) are there rods for rent? I was fishing a few years ago in Bang Sam Ran in Bangkok, I don't expect anything like that in Sabai Sabai but I do like a bit of fun fishing and if they can cook my catch then all the better.

Post by **Flo** » May 27, 2011, 12:29 am

I appreciate very much what "Shado" has written in his comment! =D>

We went to Sabai Sabai today and we decided to count the fish we would catch within the first hour, just to see if the estimated figure which I mentioned in my previous post was about right. Well, the last and first time we came to Sabai Sabai we caught about 120 Pacu of size up to 2,5 kg in about 2 hours of time. Today we caught 100 fish in 110 minutes, two anglers! The fish were mostly Tilapia, some Pacu and one or two Rudds. After the 100 fish we gave up counting and changed tactics a little bit. I changed my set up from float and bread to lead and bacon to keep the Tilapia away. I then caught a few half decent Pacu up to 2 kg and still Tilapia all the time. My mate tried prawn on a bigger hook - Tilapia - dead bait with lead - Pacu - bread with float and lead 20 cm under surface - Tilapia - aso. The catch(es) of the day was (were) in the end a half kg Walking Catfish and two tiny Marble Gobys - a fish I haven`t caught before! We had a great day at Sabay Sabay also because the sun decided not to take part on our day out today!

Flo

Post by **Billg** » June 3, 2011, 9:07 am

went to the park at 18:30 last monday and was closed, went again on tuesday at 18:30 and was told by the staff sitting around the first pool on the right that they were closing soon. I think enough time to get a beer and a meal, not everyone has to fish every time they go there. What are the opening times and last food orders taken??
Seams like Paul is not there at the moment??

Bill

Post by **pongpong** » June 14, 2011, 10:42 pm

BillG

I hear you, P is now back in Thailand running the Park so normal service should hopefully be resumed if not let her know. We are planning a few new promotions including a big discount on food. new Pacu (jeramid) will be arriving in the next week and P is planning to hold a competition soon as its a long time since we held one. I will be back in Udon about 10 days from now

kind Regards to All

Paul

Post by **pongpong** » June 14, 2011, 10:44 pm

forgot to say that every big buddist holiday the park is closed to give people time off, I believe once a month

Post by **Flo** » June 14, 2011, 11:07 pm

pongpong wrote:BillG

I hear you, P is now back in Thailand running the Park so normal service should hopefully be resumed if not let her know. We are planning a few new promotions including a big discount on food. new Pacu (jeramid) will be arriving in the next week and P is planning to hold a competition soon as its a long time since we held one. I will be back in Udon about 10 days from now

kind Regards to All

Paul

We will have a day at the park tomorrow and I am curious what the result will be ! As the last time I caught a fish I never had caught before .I hope that after our day tomorrow there will be another entry to our list of fish caught in Thailand. Looking forward to tomorrow!

Flo

Post by **Billg** » June 15, 2011, 3:50 am

Flo
i hope you have a good time at sabia sabia (Im sure you will) it just hacks me off that when the owners are not there the park goes to rat ----

. I have never had a problem before and now Im on my way to Brazil for a month plus

. hopefully next time im home I can join the competition and have a good laugh with the rest of the guys fishing as long as I dont get turned away due to closing at 18:30

tight lines to all $\:D/$ $\:D/$
Bill

Post by **Shado** » June 15, 2011, 7:31 am

Flo wrote: "As the last time I caught a fish I never had caught before Blog Udon-News.com"

I can't read German but the fish pictured in the blog is a marbled goby. I've caught them before at Sabai-Sabai.

Post by **Flo** » June 15, 2011, 8:09 am

Shado wrote:Flo wrote: "As the last time I caught a fish I never had caught before Blog Udon-News.com"

I can't read German but the fish pictured in the blog is a marbled goby. I've caught them before at Sabai-Sabai.

Thanks Shado for the info! The goby had been identified already and in our list you can also find the English and Thai names of the fish we have caught so far in Thailand.

Billg wrote:Flo
i hope you have a good time at sabia sabia (Im sure you will)...

I understand what you are saying, Bill and I also hope that the Park will remain as what it has been known for: a great venue to spend a good day out fishing!

Maybe see you some time there when you are back from Brazil.

Flo

Post by **Shado** » June 15, 2011, 9:02 am

Flo wrote: "Thanks Shado for the info! The goby had been identified already and in our list you can also find the English and Thai names of the fish we have caught so far in Thailand. "

I forgot to mention......the Thai name for the marbled goby is Bpla Boo (bpla boo sai or bpla boo thong) also spelled pla bu (sai or thong).

Many Thai's will not eat this fish because of Thai Folklore. Link attached regarding the Thai legend.

http://ilwc.aru.ac.th/Contents/Folktale ... eEng88.htm

Post by **pongpong** » June 21, 2011, 8:03 pm

Just to let everyone know new fish are arriving tomorrow tightlines Paul.

Post by **pongpong** » June 22, 2011, 9:49 pm

To all Our Customers,

Today we added 800 kilo of Pacu (Jeramid) sizes from 2 to 5.5 Kgs for a great days fishing, They are lovely BBQ'd. We are also currently running a 20% discount on all food ordered and reduced fishing price to 80 Baht a day. We planning further investment shortly and will keep you all posted. We will also soon have a championship Dart board for that all important after fishing beer. Open daily from 9.00 am. We will shortly being introducing our Competions which proved a great hit with customers in the past.

Regards Paul and P

Post by **Billg** » June 22, 2011, 10:22 pm

Paul
Whats the closing times please?

Bill

Post by **pongpong** » June 22, 2011, 11:03 pm

Bill

Im sorry I have to be honest I really dont know, sometimes we stay open till 10.00 sometimes then Ive heard the place closed at 6.30 its one of the things I will be addressing when I return on Saturday. I realise you have to stay open at least for the times you state, which should be 9.00 am till 8 pm later if we have customers that wish to stay a while longer. As the houres are long and the staff only get one day off a month they do sometimes close early as they need the rest but should not be turning customers away!! Its hard for me at times to be away from the place and read whats not going right when 8000 miles away theres little you can do. but rest assured the riot act will be read!

Regards Paul

Post by **cambsangler** » June 26, 2011, 8:40 pm

pongpong wrote:Bill

Im sorry I have to be honest I really dont know, sometimes we stay open till 10.00 sometimes then Ive heard the place closed at 6.30 its one of the things I will be addressing when I return on Saturday. I realise you have to stay open at least for the times you state, which should be 9.00 am till 8 pm later if we have customers that wish to stay a while longer. As the houres are long and the staff only get one day off a month they do sometimes close early as they need the rest but should not be turning customers away!! Its hard for me at times to be away from the place and read whats not going right when 8000 miles away theres little you can do. but rest assured the riot act will be read!

Regards Paul

I have visited Sabai Sabai only a few times and would comment as follows:-

The fishing is normally generally good, occassionally frustrating but you can not be held responsible for that.

The rest you probably will not appreciate so much.

Paul, the riot act does need reading I feel as the service of late, and the attitude of some of the staff towards my TW has been poor.
She asks a question about fish prices - is told to go and look somewhere, as opposed to giving the information sought (she should know the prices off the top of her head - right?).

Nets not supplied. ok, they were but we needed to tell them twice before the lept in to action (1.5 hours in to the session)

Compared to some other fisheries in the region where the fishing is equally good (sometimes better despite having less variation of species) Sabai Sabai is far too overpriced in just about every respect.

Leo Beer, the last time we bought some (very recently - in the last 2 weeks) - 80 baht for 1 bottle, that is more than 100% mark up from the supplier.
Bait - Getting on for about 85% more than tackle shops!
Tackle - No idea, thankfully I don't need to buy any but am guessing substantially more than tackle shops.
Food - Nearly double anywhere else!

I can not see how you can possibly justify these prices, regardless of how good the fishing can be.
You can argue it's the convenience which costs but I would argue it is not convenient when you CAN NOT take your own food or drink, it is pure greed.

If it not for greed then I can only presume you are trying to exclude Thai locals by pricing them out.

Lower prices and maybe you will make a bigger profit and people are likely to buy more. Even the locals.

Fish - 85 baht a Kilo for Panin and most other species (not all), typically 50-55 baht at most, if not all other fisheries where you can buy the fish you catch.

Most of what I have said will not stop me returning for the fishing on occassions, but all the extras I will not be interested in. Shame as my brother in law and I like a few beers when we are wetting our lines.

Sorry Paul, it's how I feel. Maybe I am on my own in this respect and perhaps many Ferang don't care how much it costs but I do, more so when the fishing platforms are not especially well maintained (Middle platform on the West bank has split Bamboo on the floor, easy for someone to go through if not careful) The attitude of some of the staff is poor and the general service is equally as poor.

Maybe other feels the same way but for whatever reason have not said so. If that is true and you are reading, you need to say something to help improve the fishery.