Monster: Mekong Giant Catfish

Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) he is a picture that has been widely distributed throughout the internet and you are probably wondering if this is a hoax or real. Well unlike just about every other amazing photograph that makes these rounds this one just so happens to be REAL!

This one weighed in at an incredible 646 pounds! Widely reported as the largest totally freshwater fish ever recorded. Well take a good look because these magnificant creatures may not be around much longer. They are endangered and hardly any are ever cuaght anymore.

The only known breeding grounds of these fish in Thailand have been destroyed by dynamite for some kind of navigation project in 2003 and now Cambodia is the only place where these fish are caught with any regularity. Research is being done there and hopefully some sorts of controls will be placed on fishing to allow these fish to survive.