Fishermen in Chiang Khong, Thailand caught a critically endangered Mekong giant catfish on Friday May 1 2009 .  The female fish weighed approximately 150 kg and measured 170 cm in length.  This capture marks the beginning of the fishing season in Chiang Khong, Thailand and Houay Xay, Laos (across the Mekong River from Chiang Khong).  The female Mekong giant catfish was likely a mature adult migrating upstream to its spawning ground.  More information to follow as reports come in from the field.