Top Water Tiger - Beware Ye Faint of Heart...
By Anthony Williams
After almost a year of tearing the water’s surface to shreds, to say I have mastered the art of hooking these toothy creatures on surface lures, would be something of an over statement. In truth, I have sampled the bitter taste of defeat more than landed any significant fish. Bone jarring, explosive takes are invariably followed by slack line, damaged lures and no small measure of frustration, but an adrenalin rush you will not forget in a hurry!
While there is absolutely no doubt that tigerfish will readily attack a surface bait, and that of all the techniques I have ever used for tiger fishing this is the most strike producing, it is a technique which requires something more than simply modifying lures and chucking them at likely spots.
We have learned though, that rod, reel, line, trace and even drag settings can all be undermined by a failure in the final link of the chain - the lure.
About drag settings - Our early forays with surface lures had us casting with tight drags - the logic being that during the explosive strike, fast and immediate hookset would be aided by a firm drag. Due to the weakness of most lures, this proved to be wrong. The force exerted on the lure (and its components) with a tight drag, often proved too much for the lure, hooks or swivels. Also, I believe a lighter drag setting allows a more steady tension on the fish once he has the lure, allowing the hooks to jiggle into a good position and then find purchase in the boney mouth. Harder drags too, aid the fish’s ability to come screaming from the depths and jump - more often than not, throwing the lure. A lighter drag setting will I believe, allow far more control of the fish as he tries to spit the lure, and will not over-strain the lure and its parts.
At the end of the day, you will be setting everything to prevent the fish jumping excessively and prevent the lure from coming apart before you get the fish to the boat. The rod will survive, the line will not snap, and the trace will not be bitten through. If you are to part company with your trophy fish, it is likely to be at the lure.
Split rings, hooks, attaching snaps and lure bodies all fail long before the line or trace breaks. I believe this is primarily because most small to medium surface lures have not been designed for the vicious, toothed, boney mouthed tigerfish. Sure, there are hardy saltwater surface lures out there that do cope better with tigerfish than bass-type lures, though these are often over-sized and some still fall short of the mark. In trying to modify lures to improve hook-ups, one has to be ready for a bunch of compromises - among them is the fact that fitting trace, heavier hooks and split rings change the way lures float and behave.
Ultimately, I believe this surface technique for tigerfish is still in its infancy, and as I said earlier, in time we will have to design lures specific to the species - a path we have already embarked upon. But that is still some way off in the future, so we have to look to the tools we have to hand.
Our Readers' Favourite Fishing Moments 2014
Anti-Poaching Making a World of Difference!
By Anthony Williams
Rods, Reels and Line
I believe this topic to ultimately be one of personal preference, but will share my experience nonetheless. I like lightish tackle, and learned long ago that heavy sticks diminish my fishing experience. My general bass tackle of 7-8' rods with baitcaster is applied to just about all my predator fishing. Only having recently started experimenting with the braided lines, I am somewhat a novice with these, but given their relative thinness, strength and general castability, they offer a good choice for surface tiger fishing. But my choices come with compromises.
Advised by Bruce Cook at Off The Hook Tackle shop - who I consider a guru on topwaters for tiger - to go with a heavier action 7'10" Shimano Beastmaster Special Tiger series stick, I chose to ignore his advise. I felt my lighter bass rod would give better control when casting and working lures. Partly right, I learned that bigger fish do indeed require a more substantial rod, as the lighter tackle almost doubles and one runs out of the sheer power needed to muscle big tigerfish. Longer butt rods aid greatly in playing a fish and reduces the strain on ones wrists, though are a little unwieldy, hampering the ability to effectively work surface lures as one needs to impart a great deal of action to the retrieve and animate the lure sufficiently. Until you have gained a little experience with rod choice, I would err on the heavy side, or at the least take a couple of variations to the battle ground. Bruce swears by the Beastmaster, though at 7'10" I feel it could do with a little more length.
Advances in rods and their applications are such today, that one can buy very specific rods designed for specific jobs. My “general” bass tackle lacked the tip action for precisely working surface lures, and I was fortunate to come across a Shimano Crucial “Frog” stick - designed for fishing surface frogs. Light as I like it, the rod is great and well balanced but as I said earlier, is a bit light on big fish. A compromise I am happy with though.
Once of the very many small tiger that fell to the surface lures. The Pop-R seems to fit in their mouths well, and hook up on this lure was always good.
A surface take from a deep fast flowing bank as the lure has barely hit the water.
Another surface take. This cast was against the rocks on the shore, and I suspect the fish followed the lure as it was retrieved before hitting it.
Once of the very many small tiger that fell to the surface lures. The Pop-R seems to fit in their mouths well, and hook up on this lure was always good.
Lures and their modification will be looked at in more depth in a future issue, as the subject is quite extensive. Suffice to say, if you are using bass-type surface lures - Zara Spooks (a particular favourite), Halco Roosta Popper, Pop-R’s or twitch baits - change the hooks for something stronger, replace the split rings and avoid using lure types which have hooks attached via screw mounts or fittings. Straight through wire hook attachments are the way to go.
 Dear Editor My name is Hannah Pilbrough and I won the prize for the smallest fish on our houseboat trip! I also caught other bigger fish but this was the best photo. We had an amazing experience watching a plover harass a fish eagle. Hannah Pilbrough |  Dear Editor My name is Rayhan Suleman and I am 8 years old and some weeks back I went fishing with my Dad and his friends and caught this big bass (10lb). I needed help from my Dad to reel him in as it fought hard and my arms got REALLY sore. Please may you put my pic in your magazine. |  Dear Editor My name is Peyton Wishart and I am five and a half years old. At half term I went with all the boys, Dads & Grandpas to Tiger Safaris in Chirundu. It was my first time to the river with my Dad & Grandpa. I caught three tiger in three days, the biggest weighing 5.8kg, opposite "D" camp. After successfully landing the tiger we released it back into the water. My arms were so tired after the fight, I had to lie down in the boat to take rest. |
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 "Look Grandpa Geoff this is how its done - come to Zim & we'll give you some lessons!! Love Josh & Sam" |  During these April holidays we spent some time fishing - Dad, Mom my brother Cullum and my Grandparents. I was spinning with a No.4 spinner for tiger or bream and before I knew it I had hooked a fish. I was reeling and reeling and my Dad thought maybe it was a barbel the way the rod was bending - and there it was at the surface - a niloticus bream. We were all very excited and made sure that the bream was not going to get away. It was 40cm long and 28cm deep and weighed 5.4 pounds. |  "Look Grandpa Geoff this is how its done - come to Zim & we'll give you some lessons!! Love Josh & Sam" |
 Dear Editor I have just come back from Kanyemba on the Zambezi, Tiger Odyssey. On our last day, I went fishing in the gorge with the men. After waiting patiently on a long drift my rod finally went "zzzzzzz" ... I wanted to strike but my Dad said wait because the line was coming towards us and heading under the boat. I waited until he said "go", I struck & the rest is history! It took eight minutes to land this monster, we took a photo for evidence, then released him. Logan Stirrup (12) |  During these April holidays we spent some time fishing - Dad, Mom my brother Cullum and my Grandparents. I was spinning with a No.4 spinner for tiger or bream and before I knew it I had hooked a fish. I was reeling and reeling and my Dad thought maybe it was a barbel the way the rod was bending - and there it was at the surface - a niloticus bream. We were all very excited and made sure that the bream was not going to get away. It was 40cm long and 28cm deep and weighed 5.4 pounds. |  Dear Editor My name is Jordan Ferreira and I am 8 years old. In the August holidays we went on a houseboat to Tashinga with some friends and I caught a red breast bream. I was really happy and am now hooked on fishing! Jordan Ferreira |
 Dear Editor My name is Luke Duxbury. I love your magazine and reckon I have collected the most copies with the help of my Pompa!! I caught my bream last August whilst on holiday in Kariba with friends and family and my tiger on an over night visit to Kariba when my Dad and I went to buy our new pontoon boat on 27th September 2014. |  Dear Editor My name is Nathaniel Ferreira and on the same trip that my brother caught his red breast bream, I also caught my own big fish! It is a Kariba bream. We were fishing right near the houseboat in Gordon's Bay. Nathaniel Ferreira |
Junior Anglers
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My experience so far shows that in time, we will probably design surface lures which will be specifically used for tiger fishing. I am enthused by the thrill of having a tigerfish climb all over a lure before it can even fully settle on the water, but it does not take too long before the novelty of this wears off, being replaced with utter frustration as lost fish after lost fish tip the scales... or don’t! However, the many small fish one will hook in a session on the river during the magical hour, is some compensation. It is all very thought provoking though and the challenges will appeal to many.
So, with this understanding shared, I will attempt to enlighten the reader on some basics, probably sharing more of what I know does NOT work, rather than what really does.
Monofilament lines and their inherent stretch can be particularly bothersome when casting surface lures for tigerfish. Generally, casts are on the long side to avoid crowding the target area and spooking fish. Remember, if the fish are feeding on, or close to the surface, they will more easily see your silhouette should you approach too close. Experience is showing that fish will hit the lure anywhere from the moment it hits the water, to within a couple or three metres of the start of your retrieve, and if they miss, will come back several times. If the fish makes solid contact immediately after the cast one will inevitably have several metres of slack line to contend with, and on top of the stretching line over a great distance, getting into contact with the fish quickly is going to be compromised. Braided lines do not do this, and offer more direct contact. They also float more readily than monofilament lines, which when fishing on the surface, is an added bonus.
Long, accurate casts in any stiff breeze offers a challenge, and while braided lines are good in the water, their tendency to catch the wind and bow excessively creates both accuracy problems (especially if you have planned your cast so the retrieve will pass a visible piece of structure), and slack line once the lure settles on the water. Watch this. Slack line too, really hampers ones ability to effectively walk a lure, or “pop” it to impart the right action. Also, beware of the thinner diameter braided lines on baitcasters, as they tend to cut into themselves under pressure, jamming the reel and often causing over-winds.
Trace wire, obviously is essential, and there are a great many to choose from. We are still experimenting with them, but the basics apply as with any other form of tiger rig. I believe uncoated, single strand traces are better than those that are coated. It is well documented that coated trace will often wedge in the tiger’s teeth, preventing a firm hookset. Many a tiger has been landed where the hook has not penetrated but the trace was so firmly wedged in the teeth, that the fish was effectively “hooked”. However, a good shake of the head (as is the norm when they latch onto a surface lure), and a bit of slack line and the fish will be gone. Piano wire attached with either a neat Haywire Twist or Albright knot using No.12 Crane-type swivel works as well as any. Trace length is largely determined by the hook configuration on the lure. One single hook on a lure will not present problems with double foul hooking and the fish turning to bite or break the line, so shorter - 30cm- traces can be used. If the lure is fitted with trebles, or a combination of treble and single hooks, a longer trace of 60+cm is needed. Bruce prefers coated trace wire of between 30-40lb strain. As he says “the lighter traces become tattered and shredded quickly with tiger and result in a re-tie after almost every fish”. Using coated trace, he ties the braided line directly to the trace using a very neat Albright knot (no swivel and much lighter for surface lures), wrapping, then gently heating the trace wire to complete it.
This particular drift opposite the Chewore Lodge site on the middle Zambezi, was very productive. The river swept along the bank past an island and into a little cove (Drift 2), after which it swept past a rocky point to form a huge, slowly rotating back eddy. The water against the bank though, was deep and fast, and this seemed to be where the fish were laying in ambush. An accurate cast to virtually touch the rocks, almost always resulted in a reaction strike from a tiger. Often so quick, we were unprepared and failed to hook up. The first few hours however, were mind blowing!
Lures
They say a chain is only as good as its weakest link, and nothing could be more true. If there is a single weakest link in the whole topwater tigerfish chain, it is the lure. Aside from understanding how a tiger attacks the lure, and figuring the best way to configure it, the lure components themselves invariably are not up to the task.
A standard Zara Spook after one hit from an average tigerfish. The small treble hooks on these lures are too soft for tiger, and lack a wide enough gape to offer good hooking potential. Replacing them with two large singles, rather than three trebles was better, but came with problems. The heavier hooks up-set the lure’s buoyancy and balance and are difficult to attach to the small wire attachment eyes on the lure, often jamming the hook so it cannot swivel freely.
An average tiger on a surface popper taken on the Upper Zambezi in Zambia while visiting Matoya Fishing Camp. One of the problems with using trebles on surface lures, is the potential to do damage to fish, as often the “free” set of hooks will embed themselves in the fish’s head, gills and even belly. Not good if you are trying to release them.
A lure with coated trace. One take from a tiger, and the coating has been stripped off leaving a rough burred trace which affects the lure action and is likely to interfere with hookset later on. Piano wire seems to offer a better option.
An ideal tiger hidy-hole. Although fast and deep, the surface has a mirror calmness which you know will highlight the lure as soon as it hits the water. But casting accuracy accounts for a lot, so get it right.
A favourite bass lure of mine is the Dying Flutter. Though it solicited some strikes, I was generally disappointed with its performance, though more trials are called for. Early experience indicates that maybe it moves too fast when being retrieved and so is not chased quite as much as our most productive lure - the Zara Spook. There is something about that walk-the-dog action tiger just cannot resist.
An unexpected catch from our tiger drift/eddy. This largescale yellowfish took the big Zara Spook and gave a fight which, apart from no aerial display, was every bit as hard as the tigerfish. This opens up a bunch of new possibilities for surface lures on the Zambezi, and ones we will be exploring more in the future.
 Dear Editor My name is Ryder Rousseau. My Dad took my brother, sister and me fishing at lake Chivero. I caught the first fish of the day, I let it go in my pond because I wanted to keep it forever. |
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 Dear Editor During these April holidays we spent some time fishing - Dad, Mom my brother Cullum and my Grandparents. I was spinning with a No.4 spinner for tiger or bream and before I knew it I had hooked a fish. I was reeling and reeling and my Dad thought maybe it was a barbel the way the rod was bending - and there it was at the surface - a niloticus bream. We were all very excited and made sure that the bream was not going to get away. It was 40cm long and 28cm deep and weighed 5.4 pounds. |
 I have attached a couple of pictures from our trip and one with Zayan with his chessa, taken on a slice of biltong (his younger brother, Imran also posing with him). Many Thanks & Best Regards Zayd Hoosein, Harare. |
 Dear Editor My name is Nuala and I am 4 years old. We went to Kariba at half term in February. One day we got caught in a big storm going across the lake to Gache Gache, but my Dad says it was worth it. I caught this bream, which is over 1kg, opposite Mr. Rays hotel, in Gache. (my Dad helped me a little bit). My uncle Nick was very jealous and said if I did it again, he would throw me into the river. My Dad says thanks to the GG WEPU, we had some good fishing. Thank you. Nuala |
 Dear Editor My name is Callum. My day on the house boat began very early when I went out with my friend Cameron and his Dad fishing, and it was well worth it when I pulled in my 1.8kg bream. I was very excited, and when I got to the house boat I ran to Mom to show her my catch of the day. She was still in bed until my fish slipped out of my hands onto the bed!!! |
 Dear Editor I Just thought I'd send you this picture incase it could be published in your magazine. My nephew, Andrew Manning, looks deeply disheartened at the fishing in Kariba a few weeks ago... Just too cute! Thanks Leanne |
 Dear Editor My name is Chloe Pilbrough and we went on our first houseboat trip with our cousins. I caught this Kariba bream and had lots of fun reeling it in! We saw lion one morning and that was very special. Chloe Pilbrough |
 Dear Editor My name is Luke Duxbury. I love your magazine and reckon I have collected the most copies with the help of my Pompa!! I caught my bream last August whilst on holiday in Kariba with friends and family and my tiger on an over night visit to Kariba when my Dad and I went to buy our new pontoon boat on 27th September 2014. |
Here, at the African Fisherman, some might think we live on food and drink like all other humans, but it does not prove so, we live on sunshiny fishing trips, like the air at sea level, and we live on stunning landscapes all around our fishing trips, like good beer on a boat, and most importantly, we love to see our children fishing... that's the most wholesome thing you could supply us, so please keep sending us pictures that make our layout designer broody and our web technician smile all day. Take a Kid Fishing... its a worldwide movement!
Take a Kid Fishing...
From our readers...
Mongwe Magic
I am sure that like me, many ladies read and enjoy the African Fisherman magazine, and even though I do not fish, I love nearly everything about fishing; the rivers, the lakes, the beaches, the sunshine, the wildlife, the bush, the sundowners, the braais, the family and friends time, and especially the camping.
Never having been camping or fishing as a child (my mother simply refused to go camping, due to my Dad being so high-maintenance), I was introduced to this particular way of holidaying by my husband when we got married. I loved it immediately and discovered a whole new lifestyle. I am sure that some of the credit for 23 years of marriage is due to sharing a love for camping, fishing and most of what goes with it.
My first ever camping trip was to Mongwe as a young bride back in the day, when facilities were basic, and the place was fairly remote. We continued to holiday there through the years my son was growing up, and loved every visit to that magical part of The River, with family, friends and more than a few eccentric fellow campers.
We then went through a houseboat phase for a few years, when the relative comfort appealed more to us, but this Easter we decided to re-visit Mongwe, after seeing an advert in “The Fisherman” magazine for Mongwe Campsites, which are now run privately. At USD5 per person per night, this suited us, as the January Disease is still lingering. Of course, National Parks fees and boating fees apply on top of this charge, and we settled those at Marongora, before winding our way down the escarpment into the valley.
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We had taken enough food and drink to cater for twice the amount of people and double the amount of time, but had forgotten useful items such as the skottel and a frying pan, but made a plan, as we always do. Four delightful days followed, with lots of chilling on the river and in our campsite, sundowner cruises and hilarious times around the campfire at night. The fishing was good, but could have been better, according to the men on the trip, but the ladies were quite content with the lunchtime gins and tonics, and the great wines at sundown.
As is normal at this time of year, the surrounding bush is green and overgrown, so if there were any wild animals, we didn’t see them. I did hear a lion though, early one morning (no-one in camp believed me), and Oscar confirmed that lions had been spotted in the area the day before. Having spent lots of time at Antelope Park these past eight years, I know a lion when I hear one! The baboons and vervet monkeys were troublesome, but a lot of that was due to our carelessness in dealing with rubbish and not locking everything away in our cars each time we left the campsite.
The weather was warm so we took the fly-sheet off the tent, and spent each night sleepily tracking the path of the full moon and glimpsing the stars reflected in the river when awake, then snuggling back into our camping mattresses, feeling blessed to be sleeping under the night sky on the banks of the Zambezi River, in our beloved Zimbabwe.
I can highly recommend a camping trip to Mongwe Campsites, and we will be going back there as soon as we can.
Lesley Bredenkamp
Harare,
Zimbabwe
We had packed up the boat and car in Harare the night before, in the pouring rain, and drove through rain the next day, all the way until just before Makuti. Thankfully, the weather cleared after that, as we were all dreading a muddy, wet campsite.
It felt really great to arrive in a tidy, clean and swept campsite, with the camp superintendent, Oscar Sachekonye waiting for us. Oscar has been at Mongwe for decades, and I am sure he is remembered by many families.
We were pleased to see a tap and a braai stand, plus our own ablution block, in campsite number one. This campsite is nicely secluded, with the best river frontage of all the campsites, and we were able to tie our boat up at the bank and have easy access to it. The bathroom was spotless, with hooks for towels, and a mirror. The water pressure in the shower is awesome, as is the hot water. As a woman, I really appreciated the ablutions, and the comfort definitely added to my enjoyment of the trip.
In true Mongwe style the campsite is shaded by big trees, and with the sound of the river flowing by, birds chirping and singing and a gentle breeze blowing, I marveled at the beauty and serenity of the place, and could feel the stress and strain of daily life in Harare melting away from me. There is nowhere quite as magical as Mongwe, in my opinion, and it was good to be back in that special part of the world.
Howzit Ant
Again, it was great to finally catch up and meet with you in Harare over a few ales.
As promised herewith pics of the ‘bobo’ that I hooked downstream from Mongwe in 2005. You can see the swivel in the top right of the pic. I was fishing off Buddy Blignaut’s boat, ‘Kabanga’ when this happened on a drift down one of the channels. Got snagged and asked Buddy to turn around and go back to save losing line. As I lifted the rod a mass of bubbles came to the surface with this incredible stench – and there it was – a large male baboon pinned with the hook through the top of it’s head!
A different “catch of a lifetime”...
Also, herewith details of the tiger that my youngest daughter Courtney caught ‘off the side’ at Trichilia, Mana Pools and a couple of other pics to show that I am desperately trying to get the family fully hooked on fishing the Zambezi – all they now need to do is learn how to put worms on hooks!!
Courtney Digges aged 13 years old pictured here with her older sister Tamarind and the +-2kg tigerfish caught in October 2014 at Trichilia in Mana Pools. Courtney writes “We were fishing off the side and my Dad had put on a Spro Bronzeye Shad. After I hooked the fish it jumped twice and I really thought I was going to lose it but I managed to get it to the side and into the landing net. We took the hook out, had some photos taken and then released the fish back in to the river to fight another day.” Pictured too is Tamarind (16 years old) with her first ever chessa and who also caught her first ever nkupe, while Mags Digges was also wanting in on the act!
All fish caught were released except for two small fish that were used for bait.
Cheers and kind regards.
Chris Digges
Durban,
South Africa
 Courtney Digges - with her 2,5kg Tiger |
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 Tamarind - with her Chessa |
 Mongwe 2005 - Gudo Catch - Note Swivel at top right.. |
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 Mags fishing at Trichilia, Mana Pools 2014 |
Dear Editor
Over the weekend of 2 and 3 September 2014, my Father and I went fishing on the Barotse flood plains at the town of Lukulu where we caught some reasonable fish... one in particular.
Not knowing when I caught it, it actually beat the official world record nembwe caught by Donald Bousfield in 2005. At the time, we weighed the fish with two Boga Grips and one digital scale and it weighed 3.77kg.We were actually going to eat it that night but I told my Dad
“This is my personal best and I’m keeping it for a trophy”. It was caught with Rapala DT 6 red crawdad,80 pound braid line on a Diawa 6.1 bait caster reel, and a one-piece Shimano Scimitar rod. I later caught a 2.6kg nembwe and a 6.9kg tiger too.
Unfortunately though, once back in town I had the fish weighed on a calibrated scale and was very disappointed to find my frozen fish was down in weight from 3.77kg to 3.39kg. I knew it would lose weight, but I was hoping it would be small amount. That said the digital Rapala scale in my tackle box might be out from the start, I don’t know, as it’s not calibrated.
I Live in Ndola and work for the mining industry running a fabrication workshop and fish the Barotse every year in Mongu but I’ve noticed its under heavy pressure, and decided to try Lukulu. Tiger Camp and Matoya Lodge were both over my budget so I phoned up the priest from St. Maria’s Missionary and he gave me permission to stay on their property (Father Tembo +0977819263). For a small donation he is more than willing to let people use their property and facilities. It turned out awesome - we had power, running water, a flushing toilet, diesel and petrol, ice and a bakery at our disposal. Big change from Mongu where we take everything! Lukulu is perfect if you are on your own and don’t have back up vehicles etc for recovery.
During our stay I caught good quality fish with plenty of tigers between 5-7kg, but bream were very hard to find. And all the tiger fish were released alive.
We targeted the Lungwebungu river which flows into Zambezi from Angola and comes through the Barotse flood plains. It is literally untouched and its only 8km up stream from the Lukulu missionary. This was the river we were targeting as the tigerfish are plenty and bream are easier to get than in Zambezi. However, the mouth was too shallow at this time of year to enter, but access becomes easier as soon as the river starts to flood. We will be going in May, June next year to test.
For those interested in making the trip from Ndola, take the M8 to Chingola and on to Solwezi and then Manyinga and onto Kabompo. Kabompo has a fuel station and I recommend filling up there as there is no other place until Lukulu. From Kabompo it’s about 40km and then left at the tiny town of Mumbejie and 21km to Watopa where you cross the ferry over the Kabompo river. From the ferry its 70km straight to Lukulu. Just as you pass all the shops the sign for the St. Maria missionary is on your right.
We caught a few tigers by trolling Magnum red and white and Firetiger Rapalas but algae in the water made it frustrating, so we reverted to drifting with live bait which can be bought from the local fishermen. This method was rewarding early morning and late afternoons. We also had good fun catching tigers on copper Effzett spinners while looking for bream. Nembwe were targeted with DT-Thugs - red crawdad - and Rapala Fat Raps in all colours.
Make Sure your licenses are up to date as fisheries department was there to check mine. Lukulu did sell fishing licences but it is better to get the “all lakes and rivers” licence in Ndola or Lusaka.
Regards
Craig van der Merwe
Ndola,
Zambia
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 Missionary Building |  The Church |
Anti-Poaching and Environment Protection Key to Conservation
Any good conservationist will tell you that to protect any species, one must first look to the environment and habitat. Protecting these base elements in the delicate chain of nature, will provide optimum conditions under which all diversity will thrive. Invariably, trying to manage one particular species or group within the chain, will lead to a collapse of them - and usually other species present in the system. Aquiculture is no different.
Included in this article is a video produced by the Osprey Filming Company which demonstrates both the importance of proper African management for African scenarios and the significance of Flora and Fauna having a value to those local communities living within wilderness areas. While its focus is elephant - not fishing, we would all be better informed on conservation issues if we took the time to understand the dynamics of real conservation and ensuring resident communities benefit from resources they intrinsically are called upon to protect (and tolerate). Let’s take the revenue away from the poachers and middlemen, and give it back to the communities and protectors.
Thankfully though, in the last couple of years, there has once again been a significant shift to eliminate fish (and animal) poaching on our major waters - most notably Lake Kariba. While the focus has been on stopping the indiscriminate netting of rivers - which by their nature are prime spawning grounds for many lake species - there has been a knock-on effect as human presence and disturbance in these sensitive areas has declined, and by stopping the nets, general abuse to the environment has been reduced too. Wildlife too is returning as the poachers decline with reports of leopard sightings in places like the Sanyati Gorge being an exciting indicator.
While there has been various lodge and/or private initiatives ongoing along Kariba to curb poaching - Bumi Hills, Gache Gache Lodge, KAWFT (to name a few), it was the almost military approach of a newly formed MAPP whose intensive and aggressive no-nonsense attitude brought about significant results in a very short time.
The Matusadona Anti Poaching Project (MAPP) was formed in 2013 shortly after Changa Safari Camp opened on the shores of Lake Kariba within the Matusadona National Park. MAPP operates under an official Memorandum of Understanding between The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA), Changa Safari Camp, Spurwing Island Resort, and The Tashinga Trust Initiative. Formed initially to tackle the fish poaching in and around Sanyati West on the lake, and the Sanyati Gorge, their sphere of operations now also includes land based operations protecting rhino, elephant and other species threatened along the shore. The Tashinga Trust Initiative (TTI) were the first to come to MAPP’s aid and facilitated the donation of a Pelican boat and motor and more recently a Land Cruiser which is used for the deployment of field personal.
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Scientists agree that protecting the habitat which supports spawning fish is the quickest way to boost fish numbers, and safeguard any fishery for the future - be it sport fishing, commercial operations, or subsistence fishermen. Illegal netters place nets across major rivers - bank to bank where narrow enough - during the main spawning months, killing virtually everything migrating up these rivers. Dr. Deacon, an ichthyologist explains “In order to sustain any population of fish, at least half of that population must breed at least once.” Because tigerfish, among a host of others, spawn far up rivers, it is possible to catch all the fish running up these rivers using nets strung across the entire river. One could imagine that more than 50% of any local population will indeed be wiped out and never get to breed. Neil estimates that just the Gache Gache river alone, if properly protected, has the potential to re-stock much of the Gache basin and surrounding areas. The Sanyati river has long been known for its once significant tiger fishing, and this spawning resource added to the Gache Gache and the Ume River further west, has the potential to re-stock and sustain the fishery resource of the entire Eastern basin! It makes sense then, that the more spawning fish there are, the more fish there will be, resulting in less pressure on the overall resource.
MAPP is funded privately with the support from Parks, the Police, Border Control, the Judiciary and CID, and as such have been able to deal with transgressors of the law efficiently and effectively. Today, it is one of the most active, and well equipped of its kind on the lake, and vigorous fund raising and ongoing private funding has seen a sharp decline in poaching operations - many of which were originating from across the lake in Zambia. Certainly, their lake based operations have yielded significant results, and for the first time in over a decade, the Sanyati Gorge is free from poacher’s camps and operations. But the fight continues. Co-owner of Changa Safari Camp and director of MAPP, Kevin Higgins says “We have and continue to achieve our objective which is to provide the authorities with the capacity and logistical support that they need to achieve results, and of course those of you who have given to the cause one way or another are equally deserving of praise.”
During 2014, MAPP received a significant boost in the form of two 18 foot Pelican boats to work alongside their existing TTI donated 22’ Pelican. The boats are equipped with 60hp Mercury outboards motors, Lowrance depth sounders ( kindly donated by Lowrance South Africa), GPS tracking systems (kindly donated by Car-Trac) and ship to shore radios.. “We have 100+ kilometers of shoreline to patrol and these boats give us the ability to deploy reaction groups swiftly and effectively when necessary. The Pelican boats manufactured by Fibrecraft in Bulawayo really are an ideal craft for this exercise offering stability, weight carrying capacity and safety when operating on the lake under trying and often dangerous conditions.” said Kevin. The boats are branded with the names and logos of those who have contributed to the cause.
MAPP also enjoys the full support of The Zambezi Society (ZAMSOC), an old name in the Matusadona National Park. In April, with funds raised by Chisipite Junior School, The Balmain Trust, and other sources, the ZAMSOC purchased a good condition second hand Land Cruiser (pictured here) and has deployed it within the Park on loan to MAPP to assist with on the ground anti poaching activities. Meanwhile, Society personnel, working with MAPP and the Parks Authority in the field, have deployed a number of camera traps at strategic points around the Park in order to capture evidence of wildlife and human movement. ZAMSOC recently reported “The Zambezi Society considers poaching of fish and wildlife resources to be a MAJOR challenge in the Matusadona National Park, and we will continue to channel all possible support to the Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority in addressing it. We are also collaborating with the Matusadona Anti Poaching Project and The Tashinga Initiative to streamline the input of scarce resources towards this protection.
As one can imagine, this size operation is costly, and ongoing, long term funding is essential if the full benefit of their operations are to be realised. To that end, MAPP run several high value raffles and other functions aimed at supporting their operations.
Given the value both fish, and animal poaching can generate, this type of work is dangerous as the criminals often fight back. With logistical support provide by MAPP, the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority have taken an unprecedented approach to operations, and those on the ground should be commended for the job they do.
Catherine Norton of the Bumi Hills Anti-Poaching Unit (BHAPU), describes the scene these men face daily. “A black painted boat slips silently across the lake, full moon glinting on the wake. A light flickers briefly on the darkly looming island. The men in the boat, hands tight on their weapons, peer intently into the gloom. Suddenly! A shout, a shot rings out, a boat speeds away from the shore…
“Sounds like the beginning of a boys adventure story, doesn’t it? It’s not – its real, it’s scary and it might be happening as you are reading this article.”
Founded in July 2009, BHAPU works tirelessly to prevent all forms of poaching against flora and fauna found in the Bumi Hills Wildlife area and beyond.
Catherine’s descriptions are real and these scenarios play out daily along the lake. We as sport fishermen seldom think about the daily grind and battle, or indeed the danger. We do however benefit from the battles they rage in a war they believe they can win. As time passes, the confiscation and destruction of the poachers’ boats and equipment is having an affect. Poacher operations are no longer easily sustainable or safe.
Catherine recalls some of their success through 2014. “It’s not all doom and gloom however – we have had some successes recently, arresting five Zambian poachers, five kilometers of twin net and two banana boats – one with a suspiciously new motor on the back. These operations were mounted off the back of information received from local sources – our first success was on Partridge Island, where, after hours sculling about the adjacent islands, our team flushed out poachers from Zambia, who had a well organised camp, complete with drying and smoking racks and over 40kg of fresh fish, of all sizes and types.
After chasing down and apprehending one of the poachers, our team destroyed their camp, and brought both poacher and equipment back to Bumi, where he was identified as being a kingpin of the Zambian operation.”
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Meanwhile, supported by MAPP, The National Parks and Wildlife Management Authorities’ tally in their area of interest since March of 2013 includes 98km of nets recovered, 149 boats impounded or destroyed, 251 illegal fisherman apprehended - the bulk of them fined (first time offenders warned and their nets and boats confiscated). Included in this number are 61 Zambians, 35 of whom have been imprisoned for terms of 8 to 12 months. Four months of land based operations have achieved significant results too including the arrests and convictions of a number of ivory poachers and teams, and recovery of illegal firearms and ivory. MAPP have also worked hard at sensitizing the local communities to poaching and the detrimental effect it will have for all in the long term.
If readers have contributions or suggestions, contact THE MAPP TRUST on: matusadonaantipoachingproject@gmail.com and visit their Facebook page which documents their activities, or BHAPU at conservation@bumihills.com or phone Catherine on +2637782040586 of Facebook them. Gache Gache Lodge’s anti poaching unit - WEPU (Wildlife Environment Protection Unit) is a partnership with the community fishermen in the area in association with National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and also have a very informative Facebook page, or mail them at info@chapungusafaris.co.zw to get involved. The Kariba Animal Welfare Trust - KAWFT - operate in and around Kariba itself, keeping the area free of snares, treating wounded and snared animals and supplementary feeding wildlife who call Antelope Island home - a paradise which almost turns to desert in the dry season. For any donations, help offer, more info, or information on injured animals please contact below KAWFT at email kawf2011@gmail.com. Phone numbers Nick Grant (+263-772) 607 214 - HARARE, Debbie Ottman Land Home (+263-61) 2342 Work 2764 Cell (+263-773) 996 487- KARIBA, Sonya Mc Master Land Home (+263-61) 2488 Cell +263-772) 874 352 – KARIBA. Or visit their Facebook page.
Comprised of game scouts, the unit has cleared over 5000 snares and over 30 000 metres of illegal gill netting. With poachers becoming more daring and developing new methods of catching their quarry the need has arisen to expand and develop BHAPU
“The story of the battle against poachers raping our waters is a serious, non-fiction one.” Says Catherine. “Here at Bumi our anti poaching unit - BHAPU – headed by our Conservation Manager and staffed by four committed, hard working scouts, constantly patrol our land for snares, and our waters for netting and illegal fishing. It is tempting to pity these poachers – but they are not just ‘trying to feed their families’ – they are running businesses, netting huge quantities of fish regardless of size, type, or breeding status with lengthy, indestructible nylon nets. These nets are a death sentence not only for the fish, but for birds and animals that drink or live along the lake shores – becoming entwined in elephant’s trucks, bird’s beaks and feet, and twisted around antelope’s slender legs.”
“The Elephant and the Pauper - The Ivory Debacle” illustrates the importance of sustainable utilization and its front-line role in protecting Africa’s wildlife. Remove wildlife’s value to those who need to protect it, and YOU empower poachers and terrorism as demonstrated above.
KAWFT
RIFA
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