Pattaya, May 14th, 2026 — A popular local Facebook personality has sparked excitement among anglers and tourists after catching a large quantity of blackchin tilapia (*Oreochromis mossambicus*) right off Pattaya Beach.
Mr. tart Unkaen, 40, better known online as “Tart Channel” with over 20,000 followers, posted a video showing numerous blackchin tilapia swarming near the shoreline. The footage quickly drew crowds of curious fishermen, squid anglers, and beachgoers eager to witness the unusual catch.
On Wednesday, reporters visited Mr.Ttart at his residence, where he had already prepared the evening meal using some of the approximately 15 kilograms of the fish caught using a cast net the previous night.
He cooked two dishes: steamed blackchin tilapia served with a spicy tomato chili dip, and crispy fried blackchin tilapia. The aroma of the freshly prepared food filled the area as he cooked.
After tasting the dishes in front of the Pattaya News reporters, Mr. tart declared that the flesh tasted remarkably similar to Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), describing it as sweet and perfectly edible with no unusual aftertaste or side effects.
“I went cast-net fishing on Pattaya Beach last night and caught around 10–15 kilograms,” he said. “I shared some with friends and kept the rest to cook in various ways, fried, steamed, boiled, and grilled.”
Mr. Start admitted this was his first time eating blackchin tilapia. He noted that the fish eggs were slightly larger than those of Nile tilapia and had a richer, oilier flavor. So far, he has experienced no adverse reactions.
He added that he and his friends plan to return to the beach again tonight to observe whether more blackchin tilapia appear, suggesting the influx may be linked to the recent heavy rain and weather conditions. He said if nobody else wants them he will be happy to take them.
The appearance of significant numbers of blackchin tilapia in Pattaya’s coastal waters has prompted discussion among locals about possible changes in the marine environment. Blackchin tilapia, while edible, are not traditionally a primary target for local fishermen in the area.
