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The arapaima is a freshwater fish that has inhabited Earth's waters for several million years. Scientists believe it was present even when dinosaurs roamed the planet. Crucially, this fish hasn't changed and looks the same as it did approximately 135 million years ago.
This species is considered to be native to the equatorial zone (rivers and lakes of South America). Therefore, catching this relict specimen on fishing trips to the Putorana Plateau is unlikely. However, the waters of the Siberian taiga are home to numerous noble predators of the salmon family, including the river tiger taimen.
What does the individual look like?
The arapaima is often compared to the beluga sturgeon, being only slightly smaller than these sturgeons. It belongs to the aravana family and has many distinctive features.
Main characteristics and features of the relic:
An inhabitant of tropical waters looks like this:
- Individuals can grow up to 2-3 meters. Eyewitnesses also claim that arapaima can reach heights of over 5 meters, but this has not been confirmed.
- The weight of a large fish can reach 200 kg.
- The body is laterally flattened and appears elongated. It tapers near the small, elongated head.
- Large scales have many layers.
- The predator's head has bony plates and a small mouth located at the top.
- The fins, located almost on the belly, and the powerful tail allow them to hunt their prey perfectly.
- The coloration varies. The front is brownish-olive, and further back it becomes dark red. The gill covers also have a reddish tint.
It's worth noting that this relict predator has an alternative form of respiration. Its internal organs contain blood vessels, and when taken out of the water, the fish is able to breathe oxygen. This helps the predator survive in the harsh tropical conditions during droughts.
Their powerful, multilayered scales allow the arapaima to easily inhabit rivers teeming with other bloodthirsty monsters, including the vicious piranha. The only creatures capable of biting through the armor of these predators are thought to be other relict creatures, alligators. However, catching the speedy arapaima isn't easy for them either.
How to catch a large predator?
Landing this relict specimen isn't easy for fishermen either. Commercial hunting is most common, with nets being the only fishing gear. Anglers use powerful gear with large meshes to catch only the hefty predators. However, the fish population has been declining sharply in recent years.
Other fishing tackle includes a spinning rod, a harpoon, a bow and arrow, and rods with casting weights up to 100 grams. The rig may include a baitcasting reel, a power reel with a 100-meter spool, and 2 mm braided monofilament. The hooks are sharp treble hooks.
Baits and lures:
Arapaima use live bait, usually medium-sized. They also attack spoons, wobblers, and flies. Crustaceans are another bait option. Small fish and crustaceans should be used as bait.
Let's sum it up
We told you about this amazing, relict fish, whose unique characteristics have allowed it to survive since the time of the dinosaurs. Even the formidable predators of the Amazon, the alligators, couldn't completely wipe out the arapaima. Only fishermen managed to reduce its population.
Predator meat is very expensive at the market, as it tastes similar to salmon fillet. To avoid risking your life fishing for predatory fish in areas teeming with piranhas and alligators, it's best to take advantage of local offerings.
Trophy fishing trips to the Putorana Plateau will delight any angler. Hunting taimen and other taimen species will leave an unforgettable impression. And the beauty of the land of 1,000 lakes and waterfalls will amaze you with its uniqueness.
