OCTOBER 2023 / VINNY’S FIRST THAILAND FISHING TRIP

The trip that started it all

A first-person family account by Vinny, edited from his recollections.

My first fishing trip to Thailand was in October 2023, at Jurassic Mountain. Looking back now, that was the start of my addiction to fishing out there. It was awesome. I had a great time, caught my first-ever carp and came away with memories that made me want to do it all again.

Finlay was there with me. When I look through the photographs now, there is the lake and the mountain backdrop, time by the water, and then the two of us in a catch photograph with a fish that almost fills the frame. Those are the moments that have stayed with me.

My first carp, and a 160-pound milestone

One of the catches I remember most was my first 160-pound carp. Catching my first carp was already a milestone; being able to talk about a fish of that size made this a trip I was never going to forget.

There were plenty of other notable fish too, including the arapaima in the night-time photographs. I remember catching hundreds of fish over the trip. That is how I recall the experience, rather than a total taken from a catch diary: a holiday full of fish and a huge amount of excitement.

Back in my room, a bigger dream began

After my first day’s fishing, I went back to my room absolutely buzzing. I opened an article about Marston catching what it described as the world’s largest carp. I think it was a newspaper article, although I cannot remember the exact publication.

I laughed to myself. I had just had this amazing day, and there I was looking at an even bigger fish and thinking how much I would love a go at catching it.

“Imagine if I could catch it.”

That thought stayed with me. On 1 June 2024, at Palm Tree Lagoon, I caught Big Girl. The story of that fish began for me in a room at Jurassic Mountain, still buzzing from my first day fishing in Thailand.

Read what happened next: Vinny and Big Girl

This passage records Vinny’s memory of reading the article, rather than identifying a particular newspaper or proving a record. The Big Girl story separates the catch account, published reports and weight evidence.

FROM THE OCTOBER 2023 POSTS

The catches and the place around them

The photographs bring together the lake views Vinny posted on 2 October and the catch collection Jurassic Mountain posted on 25 October, which Vinny shared the following day. Posting dates are not assumed to be the dates each fish was caught.

Vinny and Finlay in the water beside a guide supporting a large carp.
Sharing the moment with Finlay and a guide. Photo: Jurassic Mountain Resort & Fishing Park.
An arapaima held at the surface with Vinny and two guides behind it at night.
The arapaima at the surface, with the lights reflected behind us. Photo: Jurassic Mountain Resort & Fishing Park.
Vinny and a guide supporting a large carp at the water’s surface.
Another carp portrait from the fishery’s October collection. Photo: Jurassic Mountain Resort & Fishing Park.
Vinny, Finlay and a guide smiling behind a large carp in the lake.
A second view of the shared carp photograph. Photo: Jurassic Mountain Resort & Fishing Park.
Vinny and two guides beside an arapaima splashing at the surface at night.
A splash during the night-time arapaima photographs. Photo: Jurassic Mountain Resort & Fishing Park.
Finlay sitting beneath the wooden lakeside shelter.
A quiet moment in the lakeside shelter.
Mountains beyond the lake and floating plants at Jurassic Mountain.
The view out from the shelter, with mountains beyond the lake.
A wooden bridge beside the lake with mountains in the distance.
The lake, a wooden bridge and the mountain backdrop.
A tiled terrace and green planted margins beside the lake.
Looking across the planted margins from the terrace.

Ten photographs including the opening lake view. Some catch images show different moments with the same fish. The 160 lb figure is Vinny’s recollection; no individual photograph has been labelled as that catch without confirmation. The fishery’s watermarks are preserved.

A place we kept coming back to

Vinny recalls three or four visits to Jurassic Mountain in total. Our accounts begin with October 2023 and Sam’s birthday trip that December, followed by Tyler’s first Thailand fishing holiday in October 2024. Tyler is the site’s main author, with family members contributing the experiences they lived themselves.

Explore the Siamese giant carp and arapaima profiles, or continue below for the practical questions to ask before arranging a visit.

DECEMBER 2023 / BACK WITH SAM

Sam’s birthday, and the pull of the Siamese carp

Vinny’s account, with Sam’s own words and photographs from the trip.

After that first trip with Finlay, I was hooked. I wanted to go straight back, and the Siamese carp were a huge part of the draw. There is something about those fish that we love as a family. Once I had experienced fishing for them at Jurassic Mountain, I couldn’t wait for another go.

My next trip was with Sam, for her birthday on 10 December. This time I got to share the place with her: the lake, the mountain backdrop and the excitement that had brought me back so soon. In October I had come home buzzing. By December, we were heading out together to make another set of memories.

A first carp on her birthday

Sam had a great birthday, and her own post from 10 December 2023 captures one of the highlights: her first carp, which she described as 40 lb, from swim 14. It is a lovely milestone to have among the birthday photographs, and another reason those Siamese carp have become such a favourite with us.

The trip brought more catch photographs too. By 15 December, Sam was posting pictures of a carp she described as 45 lb. Her verdict on the birthday holiday says it better than I could:

“Had the best Birthday Ever”

Sam, in her Facebook post on 15 December 2023

That is what I love about looking back at this visit. The carp drew me back to Jurassic, and this time Sam and I had the experience together. Her birthday became part of our family’s Thailand fishing story: a first carp, more time beside the water, and photographs we could keep coming back to long after the holiday.

Our birthday-trip album

Sam and Vinny smiling together in a close-up selfie before their trip.
The two of us setting off. Sam posted this photograph on 8 December with the words “And we’re off”.
Sam standing in the lake supporting a carp, with sunlight reflecting on the water.
A birthday milestone: Sam’s first carp, described in her 10 December post as 40 lb from swim 14.
Sam wearing a sun hat and supporting a large carp horizontally in the lake.
Another highlight from the birthday trip, in the collection Sam posted on 15 December about her 45 lb carp.
Sam holding the same carp towards the camera at the water’s surface.
A closer view of the same carp. Two photographs, one very happy memory.
Vinny smiling in the water while supporting a broad-bodied fish against his chest.
Vinny’s turn in the water, from Sam’s birthday-day post captioned “another Tambaqui”.
Vinny standing by a planted lakeside path beneath the mountain at Jurassic.
Back beneath the mountain: Vinny beside the lake during Sam’s birthday trip.

Family photographs from Sam’s posts on 8, 10 and 15 December 2023. The 40 lb and 45 lb weights are those she reported at the time. The later photographs belong to the birthday trip; they are not all presented as catches made on 10 December.

Read about the fish that keep drawing us back in our Siamese giant carp profile, or continue to the practical Jurassic Mountain guide below.

OCTOBER 2024 / TYLER’S FIRST THAILAND FISHING TRIP

Tyler’s turn to meet the monster fish

Told by Vinny, Tyler’s dad, with photographs from the family’s October 2024 posts.

By October 2024, it was Tyler’s turn. I had already discovered how exciting fishing in Thailand could be, and now I wanted him to experience it for himself. Jurassic Mountain was where we took him to learn how to catch monster fish. He was still little, and the size of the fish was something he could hardly believe.

He was over the moon. He thought the whole experience was brilliant. Looking back at the photographs, what stands out to me is his face: the huge grin with the redtail, the concentration with a carp in his arms, and then that smile again. Those pictures bring back how much he enjoyed it.

Vinny and Tyler holding a large carp together in the water beside green plants.
Vinny and Tyler sharing a carp photograph at Jurassic Mountain, posted on 20 October 2024. Original post

Learning with help beside him

This was where we began teaching Tyler what it meant to catch fish on that scale. We wanted him to have a go and learn, with help around him. The photographs show the Jurassic guides beside him in the water, helping him support the bigger catches over the net. For me, that is an important part of the story: Tyler getting involved and gaining experience with people there to help.

The fish could almost hide him in some of the pictures. There are calmer portraits and splashes, big carp and redtails, and a smaller catch that still has him beaming. Together they show more of the holiday than a single trophy photograph could.

My Facebook caption on 20 October was simply “Monster fishing with tyler”. Sam shared her own collection on 22 October as “Tyler and Daddy Fishing in Thailand”. That is exactly what these memories are about: time together, and Tyler discovering that he could take part in the fishing he had heard us talking about.

Big fish, bigger smiles

Vinny and Tyler taking a selfie beneath an airport terminal roof.
Vinny and Tyler together at the airport, from Sam’s 22 October trip album. Original post
Tyler laughing while supporting a redtail catfish in the lake.
Tyler beaming as he supports a redtail catfish in the water. Original post
Tyler in a hooded fishing shirt supporting a large scaled carp at the surface.
Tyler supporting a large carp at the surface, almost hidden behind his catch. Original post
A Jurassic Mountain guide and Tyler supporting a large carp together in the water.
A Jurassic Mountain guide helps Tyler support a large carp in the water. Original post
Water splashing around Tyler and a carp, with a landing net beside them.
A splash during Tyler’s carp photograph, with a landing net alongside. Original post
Tyler smiling with a small fish while a guide stands beside him in the lake.
A smaller catch gets a big smile too, with a guide beside Tyler. Original post
Tyler holding a long scaled fish beside a guide in the lake.
Tyler with another catch, photographed beside a guide in the sunlight. Original post
Tyler smiling with a pale-coloured fish above a blue-rimmed landing net.
Tyler smiling with a pale-coloured fish above the net, with help close by. Original post

Selected from the family’s October 2024 collection. The Facebook albums were posted on 20 and 22 October; those dates do not establish the day of each catch. Some photographs show different moments with the same fish. No individual weights have been assigned to these catches.

And then there was the snake

The fish were not the only thing Tyler remembered. There was a snake nearby in the water, close to where he had been standing for quite a while. It was in the water rather than right beside him on the bank, but near enough for the discovery to make a real impression. When they caught it, he could not believe it.

I posted a night-time photograph on 20 October with the caption “Snake”, and added the comment “Swim 16 massive python”. That was how I described it at the time. The photograph records the aftermath; it does not show where Tyler had been standing or let us independently identify the snake.

A person holding a tied bag above a tiled path at night in Vinny’s photograph captioned Snake.
The night-time photograph Vinny posted as “Snake” on 20 October; his comment identifies swim 16. Original post

It became another story to bring home from his first Thailand fishing holiday. For me, the heart of the trip was seeing Tyler so excited: learning, catching fish he could hardly believe were real, and loving his time at Jurassic Mountain. These are the beginnings of his own fishing stories.

Explore the Siamese giant carp profile, or follow our later adventures in the story of Tyler’s first Palm Tree Lagoon trip.

The resort setting

The official website gives a Cha-am, Phetchaburi address and advertises accommodation, a pool, restaurant and fishing. It lists Siamese carp and arapaima among the fish. These are operator descriptions rather than an independent facilities inspection. Venue overview.

Our collection now follows the October 2023 trip with Finlay, Sam’s December birthday and Tyler’s first visit in October 2024. Each chapter draws on the family’s own memories and photographs.

The practical information below is separate from those family experiences. Check current arrangements directly with the resort when planning your own visit.

What to ask about a fishing day

The lake page describes tackle hire within the ticket and a bait allowance system. It says fish are unhooked in the water and the staff’s handling decisions are final. Read the lake and fish-care information.

Ask which rods and target species your package covers. Have the guide demonstrate the rig and explain any bait allowance before spending on extras. If you want to bring your own tackle, send the specification in advance and obtain approval.

For photographs, decide who will operate the camera and where they should stand before the fish is landed. An appealing image is never a reason to extend handling.

Planning for everyone

A combined resort stay may suit a party that wants fishing and downtime in one place. That is a planning suggestion, not a verdict about what every family will enjoy. Ask each person what they want from the trip before committing to several full fishing days.

  • Check room layout, occupancy and the exact sleeping arrangements.
  • Confirm non-angling guest access to the lakeside and other facilities.
  • Ask about supervised activities, food options and transport without assuming they are included.
  • Check shade, pathways, steps and distances if mobility is a consideration.

Our family stories will explore the holiday around the fishing too: what everyone enjoyed, time together and what we would want to know before going back. Each account will identify who was on that particular trip.

Booking and practical limits

The official site displays a warning about unofficial booking approaches and identifies its own booking channels. Start from the official website and verify the party you are dealing with.

Request one quotation showing fishing, accommodation, food, bait extras and transfers. Ask for current package prices and transfer details. Confirm opening arrangements and cancellations for your dates.

Next read the arapaima profile and compare Palm Tree Lagoon. They should help you ask more precise questions, rather than choose on headline fish weights.

Sources & checks

Family accounts supplied by Vinny on 1 October 2026. Photo context checked against the October and December 2023 posts and the October 2024 Facebook albums. Tyler’s first-trip account and snake memory were supplied by Vinny; the later section is told in his voice, not as a quotation from Tyler. The October 2023 catch weights and totals are Vinny’s recollections; the December carp weights come from Sam’s posts at the time.

Research checked 28 September 2026. A website check is not a booking confirmation or an independent inspection.