Tiger fish is one of the most sought after African fish species to the fresh water angler and offers a few really good fishing spots, located in some beautiful areas of Southern Africa.
What is totally refreshing and most welcoming is the fact that a number of these fishing spots have well equipped fishing lodges, which fortunately are different to those ostentatious offerings of the big five game lodges spread about Africa. The fishing lodges offer adequate, comfortable lodging without the exaggerated pretentiousness of the lodging levels of lots of the game lodges, filled with antique furniture, Louvre like art, the most expensive of wine and Islay whisky, as well as Romeo et Juliet cigars – how vulgar! Fishing lodges tend to be proudly located in nature, sans Egyptian cotton linens, and offer activities to do with nature like game viewing and bird watching. They also offer great, down to earth accommodation, food as well as company — all this apart from excellent fishing along the finest of African fishing spots. For more information on tiger fishing spots go to http://www.afrig.co.za.
Some such fishing spots are located in the heart of Mozambique, along the shores of the Cahorra Bassa Dam into which the Zambezi River flows before departing to its mouth in the Mozambique Indian Ocean some 600 kms further. The actual Cahorra Bassa offers Tiger Fish up to 11 kilo’s as well as Vudu up to 40 kilo’s – real thrilling fishing for the enthusiast amidst a relaxing and delightful environment far from any kind of antiques or Mona Lisa’s. Fishing for Tigers can be achieved by trawling, spinning or even the use of bait and provides great fun with sometimes lengthy fights with a Tiger at the end of the line. Should Cahorra Bassa be a bit remote for you, there are similarly great fishing lodges along the Caprivi area and discovered on islands on the Zambezi River, with up seventy species of fish waiting for your own bait, including of course Tiger Fish. All of these lodges in the Caprivi region offer good value for money with fly in options from South Africa. To offer a few activity other than fishing, these lodges are equipped to run game viewing trips and their guides are aux fait with the local populace of birds with up to 400 species available to your binoculars. So, even if you went to these fishing spotswithout actually taking a fly fishing rod in your hand, you might have a lot of fun in nature, strolling, watching and learning in what the actual bush has to offer.
The Tiger Fish found in the Zambezi River (Hydrocynus vitiates) of which the actual record is fifteen Kg, is actually clearly different from the actual Goliath Tiger Fish (Hydroconus goliath) found in the Congo River system which reach weights of up to one hundred Kg. The actual Zambezi species none the less, is an interesting fish to catch and offers magnificent opportunities when using a spinner.The pallet of the Tiger Fish is actually of bone and rather tough, so it’s inclined to dislodge any hook with relative ease unless the fish is well struck on taking the lure or even bait. This results in many fish getting lost by inexperienced anglers. Tiger fish are famous for ‘tail walking ‘ when struck and will frequently battle to complete exhaustion.