Fish

Indian threadfin

Barbudo indio

Leptomelanosoma indicum

SaltwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

5–20 lb.

Depth

Estuaries to about 330 ft.

Best time

Early morning, evening and night.

Found in

3 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A big silver-gray threadfin with a rounded snout overhanging the mouth, two separate dorsal fins, a deeply forked tail, dark fins, and several long, free threads below each pectoral fin.
Typical size: 5–20 lb.
Maximum size: About 4½ ft (142 cm); big fish can top 40 lb.
Diet: Shrimp, crabs and small fish found on soft bottoms.
Behavior: Lives over muddy and sandy bottoms near estuaries and sometimes enters rivers; feeds by feeling the bottom with its threads.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from India, Sri Lanka, Maldives & Pakistan, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam) and Indonesia (Bali, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Sulawesi). From Pakistan along India's coasts and Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea: shallow muddy shelf waters near estuaries and river mouths.
Habitat: From Pakistan along India's coasts and Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea: shallow muddy shelf waters near estuaries and river mouths.
Depth: Estuaries to about 330 ft.
Fishing depth: 10–80 ft over mud near river mouths.
Best season: After the monsoon, about October to March, is best along India's coasts.
Best time: Early morning, evening and night.
Best tides: Moving tides at river mouths.
Best weather / conditions: Settled post-monsoon weather.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live or dead prawns, small fish and crabs.
Best artificial lures: Soft plastic prawns and paddle-tails, small jigs and lipless plugs near the bottom.
Tackle setup: Medium 7 ft spinning or bottom rod.
Hook size: 2/0–5/0 circle hooks.
Line: 20–40 lb braid.
Leader: 30–50 lb fluorocarbon.

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

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: From Pakistan along India's coasts and Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea: shallow muddy shelf waters near estuaries and river mouths.
Rig up: Medium 7 ft spinning or bottom rod. 30–50 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live or dead prawns, small fish and crabs. Lures: Soft plastic prawns and paddle-tails, small jigs and lipless plugs near the bottom.
Fish it: Fish prawns on the bottom near river mouths and estuary channels, or hop soft plastics slowly along muddy bottoms.
Time it: Early morning, evening and night. Moving tides at river mouths.

Fishing techniques: Fish prawns on the bottom near river mouths and estuary channels, or hop soft plastics slowly along muddy bottoms.
BigJoe's tip: Threadfin bites are often light taps as the fish feels the bait with its threads — wait for weight before setting.
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.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Excellent, prized eating fish — fried, grilled or in curries.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Spines on the dorsal fins; muddy estuaries can hide stingrays.
Regulations: Indian states and Pakistan set their own rules; monsoon fishing bans apply to commercial boats in India. Rules differ by country: the UAE, Oman, Egypt, Kenya, the Seychelles, Mauritius, the Maldives, India and others have their own recreational or charter licenses, and many marine parks and reserves are no-take — check before you go.
Conservation: Popular and heavily fished; release small fish.

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Sources & photo credits