Species › Africa › Tigerfish

Freshwater

Tigerfish

Hydrocynus vittatus · African tigerfish, tiger, ngwesh

Water temp
75–86°F
Peak season
Sep–Nov
Best light
Daytime
IGFA record
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Tigerfish (The fishes of the Nile (Pl. XVII) (6961607491).jpg)

Photo: Boulenger, George Albert; Loat, L. · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Tigerfish are streamlined, silver fish with bold dark horizontal stripes, red-orange fins and a set of interlocking conical teeth that are visible even when the mouth is closed, native to the Zambezi, Okavango, Congo, Nile and most large river systems of sub-Saharan Africa. They hunt in fast current, river junctions and drop-offs, slashing through baitfish and striking anything that flashes, and they have even been filmed snatching swallows in flight. Their bony mouths and violent head-shaking jumps mean most hooked fish are lost, which only adds to the reputation. The goliath tigerfish of the Congo is a separate, far larger species.

Typical size3–8 lb (1.4–3.6 kg); 18–26 in
Trophy15 lb+ (7 kg) on the Zambezi; 20 lb+ is exceptional
Table fareFair — bony; almost always released on sport waters

Where & when

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The Zambezi and Okavango peak in the hot, low-water months of September–November when baitfish concentrate; the Okavango's annual 'barbel run' in September–October draws feeding tigers to the drying floodplain channels.

Upper Zambezi River (Barotse floodplain), ZambiaPremier fly-fishing tigerfish waterOkavango Delta (Panhandle), BotswanaFamous September–October barbel runLake Kariba, ZimbabweHuge reservoir; home of the annual Kariba Invitation Tiger Fish Tournament

How to catch

Fly fishing with sinking linesCast large baitfish streamers and Clouser-style flies on a fast-sinking line across drop-offs and current seams, stripping fast with a strip-strike rather than a rod lift. Use a short wire or heavy fluorocarbon bite tippet and expect to land one in three hookups.
Drifting live or dead baitDrift a live bulldog or a chunk of fillet on a 4/0–6/0 hook with a short wire trace down the current along channel edges and below rapids, letting the fish run before striking hard. Spoons and spinners retrieved fast through the same water also take plenty of fish.

Gear

Rod9' 8–9 wt fly rod, or 6½–7' medium-heavy spin rod
Reel8–9 wt fly reel or 3000–4000 spinning
LineFast-sinking fly line with 20 lb leader and wire bite tippet; 20–30 lb braid for spinning

Lures

large baitfish streamersspoonslipless rattling lures and spinners

Baits

live bulldog or small breamfish fillet stripschicken livers

Regulations

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia require national or park fishing licenses, usually arranged through lodges, and many Zambezi and Okavango operations are catch-and-release only; some stretches close during the breeding season. Check with the lodge or the national fisheries department.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: not listed. State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

Why are tigerfish so hard to hook and land?

Their mouths are a bony plate studded with large, interlocking teeth, so hooks find little soft tissue to bite into, and the fish shake their heads violently and jump the moment they feel steel. Sharp hooks, a hard strip-strike on the fly or a firm sweep on conventional gear, and a steady low rod during jumps improve the odds, but losing most hooked tigers is simply part of the game.

Bite forecast — Tigerfish

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Tigerfish.

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