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for the stomach yes, but the biggest fishing tournament has nothing to do with kapenta. It is the tiger fish that rules the roost.
For a fisherman, catching tiger fish is the greatest experience. It is quite a spectacle!
The very tackle that many fishermen use for tiger is in itself, a telling tribute to the fighting qualities of Africa’s most elusive, ferocious and speedy game fish.
Upon catching it, the tiger’s initial run is strong and fast and is usually followed by a spectacular leap of one or two metres into the air to shake off the hook, and then a series of deep, determined runs which chew every ounce of strength from this magnificent fish.
Finally after up to 10 minutes of fighting, the tiger fish is pulled, belly-up, to the side of the boat, where it tries to make one or two last breaks to freedom – like a man trying to break from chains – but is gaffed and brought onto the boat.
For moments the fish pants, breathing its last, as the angler smiles in a typical tale of two lives.
No any other fish is known to put such a brave fight.
Every fishermen is careful when handling the tiger fish, which possesses a ferocious set of razor-sharp teeth enclosed in a bony head that can cause serious
harm to the fisherman.
Its blue or blackish lateral stripes like a land tiger- and bright red to yellow caudal fin juxtaposed to the deep blue waters make the whole process quite a scenario.
Last week all roads led to Kariba for one of the world famed international fishing tournaments, the Kariba Invitation Tiger Fishing competition, where world renowned fishermen competed to catch the biggest fish that exist in the huge man-made water body.
The 50th edition of the Kariba Invitation Tiger Fishing Tournament saw Kariba Dam play host to some of the world’s best fishermen and Zimbabwe should tap into the Kariba tournament and use it to turnaround the tourism fortunes of the Kariba as a tourist destination.
The annual tournament is meant to capture the biggest tiger fish of the year and the current record is that of 15,507kg caught in the Kariba in 1962.
The tourism fortunes of Kariba could be changed through hooking up with the tournament that has given Kariba its international face.
The tournament has given Kariba and indeed Zimbabwe a depth of character, a bite of the international fishing fame and a place in the world as being among the best hunting ground for the Africa’s most elusive and ferocious fresh water predator fish.
But what is so special about the tiger fish?
Tiger fish is known for its sheer speed and aggression, pound for pound and is ranked as the world’s most powerful fresh water species.
Females are larger than their male counterparts.
In the southern hemisphere the biggest tiger fish caught and dubbed the Goliath weighed about 45kg.
It was caught in the Congo River and, who knows, Nyaminyami, the River God who watches over Kariba Dam could one year give a lucky fishermen another Goliath.
The tournament is in itself an endorsement of the national brand, Zimbabwe A World of Wonders and with anglers from all over the world enjoying themselves in the waters of Kariba, Zimbabwe has indeed been put on the international spotlight.
There is no question the importance this tournament has in the international angling calendar, and win or lose, it is just a great event to be part of.
The organising committee have introduced rules that bars pre-fishing tests that gave advantage to the rich, who would come a week or two before the competition to scout for areas where the biggest schools of fish are found and then concentrate on those areas during the competition.
The rules level the playing field. No one has an advantage.
It is hoped that Nyaminyami, the river god believed to watch over the dam will not disapprove the tournament as he normally communicates his anger with heavy storms and waves in the world’ largest man-made lakes.
In Zimbabwe tiger fish is distributed throughout the Kariba Dam, the Zambezi River and its tributaries.
The tiger is also found in lake Chivero and Manyame Dam. Nuanetsi, Bubi and Mzingwane Rivers also have tiger fish.
Its primary food is kapenta, bream, cat fish and squeakers. They also eat their own kind as long as it is less than 40 percent their body weight.