Freshwater

Malaysian mahseer (kelah)

Mahseer malayo (kelah)

Tor tambroides

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

3–15 lb.

Depth

2–20 ft.

Best time

Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A big, powerful carp with very large scales, thick rubbery lips, two pairs of barbels, and red or orange fins (kelah merah, the "red" kelah) or silver-green fins. Body silver to bronze-green.
Typical size: 3–15 lb.
Maximum size: Over 3 ft; fish over 20 lb are rare trophies.
Diet: Fruit and seeds that fall from trees, insects, snails, shrimp and small fish.
Behavior: Lives in clear, fast forest rivers over gravel and boulders and feeds heavily on falling fruit; explodes downstream in fast water when hooked.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam) and Indonesia (Bali, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Sulawesi). Clean forest rivers of Peninsular Malaysia (Taman Negara, the Kenyir and Tembat rivers), southern Thailand, Sumatra, Java and Borneo.
Habitat: Clean forest rivers of Peninsular Malaysia (Taman Negara, the Kenyir and Tembat rivers), southern Thailand, Sumatra, Java and Borneo.
Depth: 2–20 ft.
Fishing depth: 2–10 ft in runs and pools.
Best season: The dry season (about March to September on the east coast of Malaysia).
Best time: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.
Best tides: No tide in fresh water; rising or steady water levels after rain are usually best.
Best weather / conditions: Warm, stable weather; the build-up before the wet season and calm, overcast days are excellent. Heavy rain muddies the water.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Lures Plastics Hooks Box

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Clean forest rivers of Peninsular Malaysia (Taman Negara, the Kenyir and Tembat rivers), southern Thailand, Sumatra, Java and Borneo.
Rig up: 7 ft medium-heavy spinning rod with a strong drag. 30–40 lb monofilament.
Pick your bait: Palm fruit, wild figs and other forest fruit; where allowed. Lures: Spoons, spinners and small minnows.
Fish it: Float fruit baits down through runs and pool tails, or cast spoons across the current; follow the fish downstream if you must.
Time it: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon. No tide in fresh water; rising or steady water levels after rain are usually best.

Fishing techniques: Float fruit baits down through runs and pool tails, or cast spoons across the current; follow the fish downstream if you must.
BigJoe's tip: Fruit baits work because kelah feed under fruiting trees — find a tree dropping fruit and fish below it.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Remote jungle rivers: flash floods, slippery boulders, leeches and no phone signal. Fish with licensed guides.
Regulations: Kelah are protected in many Malaysian rivers and sanctuaries (like the Kelah Sanctuary at Lake Kenyir, which is closed to fishing); elsewhere, rivers are catch-and-release with permits from the parks or state fisheries. Release every kelah. Rules differ by country: many lakes, reservoirs and fishing parks sell day permits, national parks and marine sanctuaries restrict or ban fishing, and some species are protected. Fish with licensed operators and check local rules.
Conservation: Overfished for its high market price; protected rivers have brought it back. Release every fish.

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Sources & photo credits