Tigerfish (Hydrocynus forskalii)

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The Tigerfish (Hydrocynus forskalii) need no introduction with this species being the southernmost and second largest with the current angling record of 16.10 kg. The largest species is the Goliath Tiger (Hydrocynus goliath) found in the Congo system. In this article I will be concentrating on the forskalii species which is mostly found in the Zambezi river system, Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe as well as many private dams in southern Africa. Other places to catch Tigerfish include The Gambia River in West African country, The Gambia. Though Tigerfish can be caught on bait or lure throughout the year, there appear to be two distince angling seasons. At the end of the rainy season, when tributary rivers or flood-plains release small and juvenile fishes back into the Zambezi river. This is usually in May and June when the water is still quite warm, the tigerfish apear to be in peak condition at this time.

Tigerfish (Hydrocynus forskalii) Tigerfish caught on Lake Kariba Zimbabwe Hydrocynus forskalii (Tigerfish) A small catch of tiger fish, zambezi river Tigerfish - Hydrocynus forskalii Fishing for Tigerfish (Hydrocynus forskalii) Zimbabwe

May can be a good time to fish for Tigerfish as many water birds like cormorants, turns and gulls concentrate in areas where juvenile fish are forced back into the Zambezi due to the receding water levels on the floodplains. In these areas shoals of small Tiger patrol inshore in the shallower water with the larger tigerfish in deeper water. It seems also at this time of the year to be more common for the really large tigerfish to attack the smaller species that you have already hooked on your line! Apart from the bird indicators look for rapidly deepening water below a sandbank, look for shoals of small fish species, this is where you'll find small tigerfish and on the edge of that you can be assured this is where the heavyweights will be found!

After winter, when temperatures start rising, the second angling season startsand lasts until January.

Houseboat Safaris on Kariba Dam Zimbabwe

You don't have to be a serious fisherman to enjoy a holiday safari on a houseboat on Kariba Dam. Whilst the fishing, especially for Tigerfish (Hydrocynus forskalii) and the many specis of Bream (family CICHLIDAE) can be excellent, there are also many other resons to enjoy a houseboat safari.

The game viewing can also be very rewarding and you will see large numbers of Elephants, buffalo, waterbuch and impala on the shoreline aswell as Crockodiles and Hippos (sometimes at very close range) in the water.

On top of this it is an excellent place for birdwatching with common sightings of African Fish Eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer), Many species of Kingfisher, Egyptian geese and many other spcies of water and land birds.

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