Stories Behind The Catch

On the morning of 22 November 2025, Mohd Amzari was fishing the Sungai Bernam with Eppy and boatman Chaher. The river was calm, covered by a thin morning mist, with tea-coloured water flowing quietly between the surrounding vegetation.

There was no expectation of breaking a world record that morning. The trip was intended to be a relaxed fishing session, with Amzari casting towards grassy banks and promising structures while enjoying the river and the experience of fishing.

After around half an hour on the drifting boat, the calm atmosphere changed instantly. Amzari's Senses Kaido Shad 88 had just passed through a grassy area when the surface of the water suddenly exploded.

The strike was immediate and powerful. The rod loaded heavily as the treble hooks connected with what initially felt like a living anchor. The fish immediately headed towards the bottom, using its immense weight to put pressure on the relatively light setup.

It quickly became clear that this was no ordinary tapah.

The fight lasted approximately seven minutes, but every second demanded concentration. The boat had to move and change direction as the fish repeatedly buried itself and pulled away from the angler.

The Rentaka MOVE rod bent close to its limit while maintaining enough backbone to keep the pressure on the fish. The drag system worked continuously as the 30 lb Rentaka Tempur mainline transmitted every movement of the fish back to Amzari.

A 50 lb leader provided additional strength, while Rentaka Duri 5X treble hooks held firmly throughout the fight. At one critical moment, the line came into contact with the rod under extreme pressure, forcing Amzari to adapt quickly and continue working the fish towards safer water.

Eventually, the giant tapah surfaced and was brought safely to the riverbank. Its size immediately revealed that the catch was something special.

Following the procedures required for an IGFA record application, the fish was weighed and measured. The final weight was 19.13 kg, equivalent to 42 lb 3 oz, with a total length of 131 cm.

The size of the fish required the assistance of two people during the weighing process.

Although the fish had an estimated market value of around RM950, Amzari chose not to keep it. After the weighing and measurement process, the tapah was released back into the Sungai Bernam.

The decision reflected a greater respect for the fish and the river. Rather than viewing the catch only in terms of its monetary value, the release allowed the fish to continue living in the river and potentially challenge future anglers.

What started as a relaxed fishing trip with a light setup eventually became one of the defining moments of Amzari's fishing journey.

The catch demonstrated how a day focused simply on enjoying the sport can suddenly produce an extraordinary opportunity. The angler was prepared for a normal fishing session, but the river had something much bigger waiting beneath its surface.

The catch was subsequently confirmed by the International Game Fish Association as the All-Tackle World Record for tapah, scientifically known as Wallago leerii.

The official IGFA records list Mohd Amzari Bin Mohd Arzami as the record holder for a 19.13 kg tapah caught in the Bernam River, Malaysia, on 22 November 2025.

For Amzari, the significance of the catch went beyond the record itself. The experience became a reminder of the unpredictable nature of fishing and the respect owed to the river and its fish.

The giant tapah was returned to the waters of the Sungai Bernam, leaving behind more than just a record. It became a story of patience, adaptation, respect and a moment that could never be repeated in exactly the same way.