Biggest Freshwater Fish Caught In Thailand

Ian Welch, a professional fisherman, biologist and columnist for the magazine Angler's Mail, landed the biggest freshwater fish ever caught with a rod and line.

The giant stingray was over 7 feet long and weighed more than 700 pounds. It was caught in a river in Thailand.

According to The Guardian, a U.K. newspaper, Welch, 45, was visiting Thailand to help with a stingray tagging program when he caught the massive fish in the Maeklong River.

Welch told The Guardian that he was nearly pulled over the side of the boat when the stingray took his bait.

"It dragged me across the boat and would have pulled me in had my colleague not grabbed my trousers -- it was like the whole earth had just moved. I knew it was going to be a big one," Welch said.

It was quite a struggle, but worth the effort.

"It buried itself on the bottom and the main fight was trying to get it off the floor. I tried with every ounce of power but it just would not budge. After half an hour my arms began shaking and after an hour my legs went. Another 30 minutes went by and then I put a glove on and physically pulled the line with gritted teeth and somehow I found the reserves to shift the fish," Welch said.