Eleven kilometres from Krabi Town, down a road that passes through rubber plantations and eventually opens onto a stretch of water surrounded by jungle, sits a fishery that has become one of the most discussed recreational fishing destinations in Asia. Gillham's Fishing Resort is not the largest pay-lake in Thailand, nor the cheapest, nor the most easily reached. What it is, almost without argument, is the finest specimen lake in Southeast Asia — a private, carefully managed operation with a species list that reads like the roster of a tropical aquarium and a record book that serious freshwater anglers recognise on sight.
The resort occupies a mature lake of several acres in Krabi province in southern Thailand. The surrounding landscape — a mix of palms, tropical hardwoods, and the occasional dramatic limestone formation characteristic of the Krabi region — gives the venue a setting that Bangkok-area pay-lakes simply cannot offer. The water is cleaner and deeper than the urban ponds of the capital, and the overall atmosphere is closer to a Southeast Asian equivalent of an English specimen carp resort than to anything the phrase "pay-lake" typically conjures.
The Story Behind the Resort
Gillham's was founded by Stuart Gillham, a British angler who relocated to Thailand and identified an opportunity to build something distinct from the established Bangkok pay-lake circuit. The resort developed during the 2000s and built its international reputation steadily through word of mouth on specimen-fishing forums, through the fish-of-a-lifetime type catches documented by visiting guides and journalists, and eventually through the accumulation of IGFA world records for multiple species caught on rod and line from the venue.
The resort is UK-owned and managed with that background clearly visible in its operational standards — the fish care procedures, the approach to angler briefings, and the documentation of significant catches all reflect a culture familiar to European specimen anglers. This has made the venue particularly attractive to visiting anglers from the UK, Europe, and Australia, though the clientele is genuinely international, and the appeal crosses any national fishing tradition.
The world records stand as the most concrete marker of the venue's ambition. Multiple species records have been set at Gillham's, including arapaima, Siamese carp, and others, and the resort actively manages its stocking programme to maintain the stock quality necessary to continue producing fish capable of challenging those records.
The Fishing
Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) are the species most closely associated with Gillham's in the minds of international visitors. The venue holds some of the largest specimens of this South American giant outside their native Amazon basin — fish in excess of 100 kilograms have been landed here, and the average size of arapaima in the lake is exceptional by any standard. Arapaima are obligate air-breathers and surface regularly, which means their presence in the lake is not just detectable but visually dramatic — watching a two-metre fish roll at the surface and then tracking it with a bait is an experience that takes some time to process.
Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) represent the Asian heavyweight alongside the arapaima. Gillham's holds substantial fish of this species, and the combination of clean water and relatively low angling pressure means that the Mekong catfish here fight harder and recover more quickly than their counterparts in denser urban fisheries. A triple-figure catfish at Gillham's is not a boast — it is a reasonable expectation for an angler spending several days at the venue.
Giant Siamese carp (Probarbus jullieni) are perhaps the species that generates the most quiet reverence among experienced anglers. A critically endangered species in the wild, Siamese carp at Gillham's grow to extraordinary sizes and fight with a sustained power that tests tackle and angler in equal measure. The species is one of the most sought-after specimens in global freshwater fishing, and the fact that Gillham's holds fish that are genuinely capable of producing world-record catches is not marketing language — it's documented fact.
Alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) add a prehistoric dimension to proceedings. The species is large, distinctive, and notoriously difficult to hook cleanly due to the elongated, tooth-lined jaw. The venue staff have developed presentation methods that improve hook-up rates considerably; first-time gar anglers should take the briefing seriously.
Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) round out the species list with something different — a fast, aggressive predator that responds to lures as well as bait, and which provides an entirely different style of encounter from the heavy-weight slugging demanded by arapaima and Mekong catfish. Big barramundi on lures, in the same session as a triple-figure arapaima, is the kind of day that people write about for years.
Amazon redtail catfish are also present and provide strong sport in their own right, though at a venue of Gillham's calibre they tend to be viewed as supporting cast rather than headline act.
IGFA world records
Multiple IGFA all-tackle world records have been set at Gillham's Fishing Resort across several species. The venue maintains IGFA-compliant scales and documentation procedures for anglers targeting record fish. Bring your own tackle if you intend to submit a record claim — rental equipment may not meet IGFA specifications.
Pricing
Gillham's sits at the premium end of the Thai pay-lake market. Day session fees start from around 3,500 THB per person, with overnight packages and multi-day lodge stays priced substantially higher. Full package pricing — including accommodation, meals, and guiding — should be confirmed directly with the resort, as the combination of room type, session length, and any guide services makes a single headline figure genuinely inadequate. Expect a full week's guided stay at Gillham's to represent a meaningful travel budget by any standard.
The resort is significantly more expensive than any Bangkok pay-lake. It is also, by any honest assessment, significantly better — in terms of fish quality, setting, guiding expertise, food, and accommodation. Whether the premium is justified depends entirely on what you want from the trip.
Multiple world records. Arapaima over 100 kilograms. Siamese carp that test your tackle and your nerve. This is what the premium buys.
Tackle: What's Provided and What to Bring
Gillham's provides high-quality rod and reel outfits — properly matched to the species in the lake, well-maintained, and entirely adequate for an angler who prefers not to travel with their own gear. The venue has years of experience getting visiting anglers set up correctly, and the tackle hire represents a genuine step above what you'll find at most pay-lakes.
That said, serious specimen hunters almost always fish their own tackle at a venue of this calibre, particularly those targeting records. For arapaima and Mekong catfish, heavy braid in the 80–150 lb range, matched to a powerful 3–4 lb test-curve rod and a quality big-pit or multiplier reel, is the typical setup. Circle hooks in 8/0–12/0 are the favoured pattern for most species; the venue staff will confirm the current preferred presentation.
For barramundi, a medium-heavy lure rod with a fast tip, matched to a baitcaster loaded with 30–50 lb braid and a short fluorocarbon leader, covers most situations. The venue's own arapaima tackle guide and barramundi lure selection pages provide additional detail on optimal setups.
Landing cradles and unhooking equipment are provided as part of the guided service. Polarised sunglasses are essential — visibility at this venue, particularly for spotting rolling arapaima, is substantially better than at urban ponds, and polarised glasses make a real tactical difference.
Best Season and Time of Day
Krabi's climate differs meaningfully from Bangkok's. The south of Thailand experiences a monsoon season that runs roughly from May through October on the Andaman coast — the side of the peninsula where Gillham's sits — and some months within that window see heavy and sustained rainfall. The lake continues to fish during the monsoon, but access and comfort are affected, and first-time visitors are generally advised to plan around the dry season (November through April) if schedules allow.
The cool-season months of December through February are consistently the most comfortable for extended sessions and often coincide with some of the best fishing of the year. March and April are hotter but remain fishable, particularly in early morning and evening windows.
At the lake level, arapaima surface activity is a useful real-time guide — fish that are rolling actively are generally feeding, and positioning yourself to intercept a recently surfaced fish is a legitimate and effective tactic.
Accommodation and Food
Gillham's operates as a full resort with on-site lodge accommodation. Rooms vary in standard; the resort's own website provides current availability and room types. Accommodation standards are comfortable rather than luxury — functional, air-conditioned, and appropriate for anglers who are spending most of their waking hours on the bank.
The on-site kitchen produces a solid menu of Thai and Western dishes, catering specifically to the international clientele. Meal quality is a cut above typical pay-lake canteen food. For most visiting anglers the combination of room and kitchen makes it unnecessary to leave the property during a fishing stay, which is partly the point.
Getting There from Bangkok and Krabi
The most practical route from Bangkok to Gillham's involves a domestic flight to Krabi International Airport — flights run regularly from Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, with a flying time of approximately one and a quarter hours. Budget airline fares from Bangkok to Krabi are often available from well under 2,000 THB if booked in advance; high-season pricing is higher.
From Krabi Airport to the resort is around thirty to forty minutes by road. Grab operates in Krabi, though availability can be inconsistent compared to Bangkok — the resort recommends pre-arranging a transfer. From Krabi Town the journey is slightly shorter. For visitors arriving at Phuket Airport instead, the drive is longer — roughly two hours — but Phuket has more international flight connections and some anglers choose to fly through it and hire a car or arrange a transfer accordingly.
An Honest Assessment
Gillham's Fishing Resort is right for: experienced specimen anglers targeting IGFA records or fish-of-a-lifetime encounters; guided groups with a clear target species; anglers willing to invest seriously in a trip and wanting the best available version of what they've come for; and anyone for whom the phrase "100-kilogram arapaima" produces an immediate physical response.
It is probably the wrong choice for: budget travellers looking for the pay-lake experience at Bangkok prices; anglers who want high catch rates and constant action above all else; families with young children who need a varied itinerary beyond fishing; and anyone who would struggle with the relative isolation of a resort eleven kilometres from the nearest town.
The venue is not perfect — no fishery is. But it operates at a standard that makes it genuinely difficult to criticise on the things that matter most: fish quality, fish care, guiding expertise, and the consistency of producing extraordinary encounters for prepared and patient anglers.
Where to Fish Next
For comparison within southern Thailand, Jurassic Mountain Resort near Cha-Am offers a similarly scenic, resort-style operation in a different province. Species pages for the main Gillham's targets — arapaima, giant Mekong catfish, and giant Siamese carp — cover the biology and tackle requirements in detail. If you're planning around the Krabi region, the location guide covers everything from accommodation to sea fishing options that can be combined with a visit to the resort.
