Tips on Fishing for Arowanas?

Question

I have seen some Arowanas swimming in a pond nearby my place and wants to try fishing for them.

Anyone can gimme some advice ...

* Top or Bottom fishing?
* Size of hooks?
* Baits - live baby frogs, prawns, crickets ...?? or lures?

I know to some, they are majestic and primitive creatures. I don't rare or even know how to eat them .. so this would be a Catch and Release & Photo taking adventure for me ..

Thanks

Answer 1

In the wild arowana's will eat pretty much what fits in their mouths. Crickets, grasshoppers smaller fish

1 0 or a 2 0 hook on heavy line15-20# for the larger ones. Shiners or large crickets are the best.

Answer 2

Sounds like people got rid of them from their fish tank. They are South American fish. Their mouth's point upward as well as their eyes are set high on the head so they are top water feeders. I would try a small bug type top water lure and twitch it across the surface. You could try using a mouse or frog type bass lure may work too. I don't think you'll have much luck using crank baits or Texas rigged worms as in the wild they are able to catch bugs on branches that are way out of the water. They are able to accurately leap from the water and snap one out of a tree. As for catch and release I don't think they are a native species in the pond so they need to go, but I'm sure no pet store will take them and you don't have a suitable tank for them. I would make a call to your local fisheries and ask them what you should do. They may want to remove them and sadly let them die. You shouldn't feel so guilty, it was the bad of the fish keeper to release such a fish, which is most likely illegal. So many people have done this, that it's causing legislation to ban ownership of such large predatory fishes.