Quite a few anglers have got this strange desire to fish for risky and also tough fish. Some sate this wish through fishing for marlin or shark should they be able to get to the ocean. Other people, generally those people who are much more landlocked, go tiger fishing. One does have to be very careful when you go tiger fishing though.
The tiger fish is really not just one species of fish. It is a name given to a number of species of fish who're somewhat similar in appearance. All of the fish are of the genus Hydrocynus of the family Alestiidae. They all have striped body shapes and ferocious looking teeth. The most frequently found species is the Goliath tiger fish that are located in the Congo River system. This is the biggest of the tiger fish family. The next most commonly found species will be the second largest of the family, the Hydrocynus vittatus. This particular fish is found in the actual southern parts of Africa, particularly in the Okavango Delta and the Zambezi River along with its two biggest lakes, Lake Kariba and Cabora Bassa.
Now, so why do I believe that you need to be cautious when going tiger fishing?
The actual tiger fish isn't called the tiger fish for nothing. The name was originally provided because of the horizontal lines along the body, however, the tiger fish additionally shows the ferocity of the tiger. They are basically the African equivalent of the South American piranha.
The actual tiger fish ahs really razor-sharp, interlocking teeth along with a strong body. A school of juvenile tiger fish have already been known to attack large land creatures that stray too near to the water. Even though adults journey in smaller groups, they are equally as hazardous. A single tiger fish is actually capable of getting prey that is the size of the actual fish itself. There've even been records of humans getting attacked by tiger fish.
These fish are also extremely strong and can fight energetically whenever caught on a fishing line. Because the biggest tiger fish captured in Lake Kariba was just more than 15kg and the typical fish is around 7kg in this area and the Goliath tiger fish is reputed to develop to 45kg (though how true this is, is unsure), the fight to land the tiger fish can be quite an exciting experience.
You do need to be cautious not to fall in the water. I for one would not want to have an angry tiger fish turn those fearsome jaws upon me. And it is not only the actual tiger fish you need to be worried about. The natural environment of your tiger fish can also be home to hippopotamus as well as crocodile, both of whom won't hesitate to take down an individual captured in the water.
Therefore, if you are looking to go tiger fishing, please be careful. Those teeth can give you a nasty bite and they will not think twice to fight back, even after they have been landed on the boat. These types of fish are not called the African piranha for nothing.
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