Plastic-sinker
New member
Hey my dad works in Ghana and is coming home on the 16th and will head back there in April. I'll tell him to take his tackle along. Will you be willing to show him some spots and the ropes?
Hi Guys, Well, I recently moved out to the shores
- Thread starter ripplefisher
- Start date
Kalahari fish
New member
Hey Ripplefisher sorry for the late reply.
I posted it here: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?460279-ID-Ghana-Brycinus-spp&highlight=
The post got some views and I asked around, but nobody seems to know exactly what spp it is. Butt I'll probably side with oddball that it is a Brycinus macrolepidotus.
How much do they weigh? or do you maybe know how many cm/in they are? Have you caught any with black markings on caudal area?
I posted it here: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?460279-ID-Ghana-Brycinus-spp&highlight=
The post got some views and I asked around, but nobody seems to know exactly what spp it is. Butt I'll probably side with oddball that it is a Brycinus macrolepidotus.
How much do they weigh? or do you maybe know how many cm/in they are? Have you caught any with black markings on caudal area?
ripplefisher
Senior Member
@ Plastic-sinker - more than happy to have a chat, but really not too sure what I can offer - as others have generally mentioned, there is a great deal of heavy fishing pressure - I am a little lucky in that I am fishing in the boundaries of a fish farm - hence there are a few fish present..
@ Kalahari fish - yup, the true big'scale tetra sounds about right - they have a darkish spot just before their tale, colouration about right too - yellowish/orange fins, a slight pinkish tinge to the body at times - biggest I have weighed was 2.3 kilo's - Fishbase gives their largest max sixe at 2 kg's - not too far out..
Check out the latest catches below - freshwater puffer fish - more for amusement value (!) - but it took a spinner, and another very good tiger - if my suspicions are right about the species (H. brevis) then this fish would have beaten the IGFA all tackle world record! anyways, given they grow to less than half the size of their Zambezi counterparts, a great catch!
Cheers, RF.
@ Kalahari fish - yup, the true big'scale tetra sounds about right - they have a darkish spot just before their tale, colouration about right too - yellowish/orange fins, a slight pinkish tinge to the body at times - biggest I have weighed was 2.3 kilo's - Fishbase gives their largest max sixe at 2 kg's - not too far out..
Check out the latest catches below - freshwater puffer fish - more for amusement value (!) - but it took a spinner, and another very good tiger - if my suspicions are right about the species (H. brevis) then this fish would have beaten the IGFA all tackle world record! anyways, given they grow to less than half the size of their Zambezi counterparts, a great catch!
Cheers, RF.
Kalahari fish
New member
That's a beautiful puffer (Tetraodon lineatus) also known as Fahaka puffer in aquarium industry. They can apparantley grow to 43cm.
If you're correct about it being a brevis, then that one is a trophy.
But either way well done!
So you say it weighed more than 5.67kg, how much exactly? Did you weigh or measure it?
You could try and send your catch report to Heinz Machacek of fishing-worldrecords.com. They don't use the same strict rules as IGFA has in terms of catching method, equipment, etc for their site.http://www.fishing-worldrecords.com/fishingworldrecords_contact
fishing-worldrecords.com
"Maybe you want to know what's the difference to the IGFA all-tackle world records?
• We compile records for all freshwater fish over 5 kg, altogether 481 species - IGFA just above 100.
• We compile all records ever published worldwide - IGFA accepts only records reported to them.
• We compile all records, irrespective of the catching method - IGFA only rod & reel records in accordance with their rules."
Fishbase.com
H.brevis
"easily distinguished from two other species in West Africa from number of scale-rows below lateral line (3 instead of 2)."
Heavens knows where exactly the lateral line is on this fish with all the stripes.
http://www.mbengasafaris.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=3
I also googled for info of the largest catch for the Brycinus macrolepidotus, and found nothing. So It seem's your's could be a world record.
Well done.
If you're correct about it being a brevis, then that one is a trophy.
But either way well done!
So you say it weighed more than 5.67kg, how much exactly? Did you weigh or measure it?
You could try and send your catch report to Heinz Machacek of fishing-worldrecords.com. They don't use the same strict rules as IGFA has in terms of catching method, equipment, etc for their site.http://www.fishing-worldrecords.com/fishingworldrecords_contact
fishing-worldrecords.com
"Maybe you want to know what's the difference to the IGFA all-tackle world records?
• We compile records for all freshwater fish over 5 kg, altogether 481 species - IGFA just above 100.
• We compile all records ever published worldwide - IGFA accepts only records reported to them.
• We compile all records, irrespective of the catching method - IGFA only rod & reel records in accordance with their rules."
Fishbase.com
H.brevis
"easily distinguished from two other species in West Africa from number of scale-rows below lateral line (3 instead of 2)."
Heavens knows where exactly the lateral line is on this fish with all the stripes.
http://www.mbengasafaris.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=3
I also googled for info of the largest catch for the Brycinus macrolepidotus, and found nothing. So It seem's your's could be a world record.
Well done.
MountainWesterner
New member
Hey Ripplefisher,
I am working up in Tamale in the Northern Region and I have been dying to hook up with a tiger fish since I realized I would be in Ghana for the forseeable future. I had hear about some good reports from Lake Volta, but those picture and your accounts are all I needed to start to plan a trip to the lake.
I had a couple questions though. I assume there has to be tigers in the White and Black Volatas, but I haven't gotten any reports of catches from the local fisherman. It could certainly be that my questions are being lost in translation, but have you heard of any big fish moving up river? I know the chemical fishing (DDT) and netting is commonplace hear in the NR, and I was wondering if the bigger species have been wiped out.
Also any recommendation as far as lodging goes? I will be shore casting I am sure, but just somewhere in-expensive along the water would be ideal.
I brought my 8 weight fly rod, and all the necessary lines, wire ties, and lures so if your looking to try to land one on the fly and are down there while I am fishing you are more than welcome to join.
Looks like you have had some amazing fish on the end of your line so far, hope your enjoying your time in Ghana. Any info you could pass on would be greatly appreciated!
I am working up in Tamale in the Northern Region and I have been dying to hook up with a tiger fish since I realized I would be in Ghana for the forseeable future. I had hear about some good reports from Lake Volta, but those picture and your accounts are all I needed to start to plan a trip to the lake.
I had a couple questions though. I assume there has to be tigers in the White and Black Volatas, but I haven't gotten any reports of catches from the local fisherman. It could certainly be that my questions are being lost in translation, but have you heard of any big fish moving up river? I know the chemical fishing (DDT) and netting is commonplace hear in the NR, and I was wondering if the bigger species have been wiped out.
Also any recommendation as far as lodging goes? I will be shore casting I am sure, but just somewhere in-expensive along the water would be ideal.
I brought my 8 weight fly rod, and all the necessary lines, wire ties, and lures so if your looking to try to land one on the fly and are down there while I am fishing you are more than welcome to join.
Looks like you have had some amazing fish on the end of your line so far, hope your enjoying your time in Ghana. Any info you could pass on would be greatly appreciated!
Hello Ripplefisher
A bunch of expat anglers, here at Akyem Mine in Ghana, have been having sleepless nights about the fish you've been catching.
May I have your phone number to chat about the areas in which you are fishing, maybe organise a get together some weekend.
Would love to hear from you.
ChrisG
A bunch of expat anglers, here at Akyem Mine in Ghana, have been having sleepless nights about the fish you've been catching.
May I have your phone number to chat about the areas in which you are fishing, maybe organise a get together some weekend.
Would love to hear from you.
ChrisG
ripplefisher
Senior Member
Hi Guys,
@ ChrisG - No problem, happy to have a chat - not too sure how much help i can give, but more than willing to discuss..will PM you my Ghana number..
@ MountainWesterner - I sent you a PM last week - giving a little advice from what have heard about seasonality etc - I also have a few tigerfish clouser minnows tied up for me by friend - copper, red/white etc, but not yet given them a run..I think you should give the White Volta etc a shot - let us know how you get on..
A few more fish caught recently (below) - not had much luck with the tiger apart from the big fish, which I discussed in a seperate post; water levels are very low, and the few land-based spots I have are too shallow now I think..
A small Brycinus sp caught on fly - I want to put more time into the fly, as there must be some potential for a few more interesting species..
A nice shot of another of those Brycinus (macrolepidotus..?) specimens - the biggest I have taken, weighed on my new bogagrip scale is 6.5 lb's - but I think I can get them a little bigger..
Another strange puffer fish - this one fully inflated, taken on a worm bait..
Of course there are also tilapia in the lake - this a niloticus, the big males spawn in the shallows - not easy to take on bait though - their mind on other things..!
Cheers, RF.
@ ChrisG - No problem, happy to have a chat - not too sure how much help i can give, but more than willing to discuss..will PM you my Ghana number..
@ MountainWesterner - I sent you a PM last week - giving a little advice from what have heard about seasonality etc - I also have a few tigerfish clouser minnows tied up for me by friend - copper, red/white etc, but not yet given them a run..I think you should give the White Volta etc a shot - let us know how you get on..
A few more fish caught recently (below) - not had much luck with the tiger apart from the big fish, which I discussed in a seperate post; water levels are very low, and the few land-based spots I have are too shallow now I think..
A small Brycinus sp caught on fly - I want to put more time into the fly, as there must be some potential for a few more interesting species..
A nice shot of another of those Brycinus (macrolepidotus..?) specimens - the biggest I have taken, weighed on my new bogagrip scale is 6.5 lb's - but I think I can get them a little bigger..
Another strange puffer fish - this one fully inflated, taken on a worm bait..
Of course there are also tilapia in the lake - this a niloticus, the big males spawn in the shallows - not easy to take on bait though - their mind on other things..!
Cheers, RF.
ripplefisher
Senior Member
Hi Guys,
Well, I know a few of you have asked about the potential for Nile perch within the Volta Lake..
As I may have previously said, I had seen a few very small specimens taken out of nets, but had no luck in catching any on rod and line, despite spending a good few hours spinning in the evenings for tiger etc.
Well, on monday I got a small breakthrough - and managed to catch the modest sized specimen below on a tilapia livebait - not a big fish, but it shows they are present...and perhaps there are bigger specimens around, although the local fishing pressure is considerable..
Cheers, RF.
Well, I know a few of you have asked about the potential for Nile perch within the Volta Lake..
As I may have previously said, I had seen a few very small specimens taken out of nets, but had no luck in catching any on rod and line, despite spending a good few hours spinning in the evenings for tiger etc.
Well, on monday I got a small breakthrough - and managed to catch the modest sized specimen below on a tilapia livebait - not a big fish, but it shows they are present...and perhaps there are bigger specimens around, although the local fishing pressure is considerable..
Cheers, RF.
ripplefisher
Senior Member
Hi Guys,
Just thought I would put up a few more shots of some decent tiger I have caught recently out of Lake Volta - all on livebait, and all released bar one, which unfortunately would not go back...she kept on turning belly up..
A 7 lb fish..
A 13 lb fish I took the same evening as the above fish..
A 10 lb fish I took the next evening..
A 15.5 lb fish I took on the first cast one evening..
Reviving her..
This was followed up with a 12.5 lb fish the next cast..!
And I missed making it a hat-trick on the third cast - this was the result of the third livebait..
Another small Nile Perch I took a while back - none bigger than this thus far unfortunately..
These fish are taken from a private site (please guys, no more requests for you and your mates to come down and fish...I have worked hard and spent many hours figuring out how to get the rewards out of the lake, and it can be done, but it needs hard work and devotion..), and as you can see I am fortunate in that I work on a fish farm, and they are around the cages..
It does however show that there are good tiger to be had at locations other than those more 'traditional' tigerfish waters we all know about, which i like to think as something positive for all of us fisherfolk...Another place I would love to give a shot is Cameroon; Mark, let's make that one happen..!
Cheers, RF.
Just thought I would put up a few more shots of some decent tiger I have caught recently out of Lake Volta - all on livebait, and all released bar one, which unfortunately would not go back...she kept on turning belly up..
A 7 lb fish..
A 13 lb fish I took the same evening as the above fish..
A 10 lb fish I took the next evening..
A 15.5 lb fish I took on the first cast one evening..
Reviving her..
This was followed up with a 12.5 lb fish the next cast..!
And I missed making it a hat-trick on the third cast - this was the result of the third livebait..
Another small Nile Perch I took a while back - none bigger than this thus far unfortunately..
These fish are taken from a private site (please guys, no more requests for you and your mates to come down and fish...I have worked hard and spent many hours figuring out how to get the rewards out of the lake, and it can be done, but it needs hard work and devotion..), and as you can see I am fortunate in that I work on a fish farm, and they are around the cages..
It does however show that there are good tiger to be had at locations other than those more 'traditional' tigerfish waters we all know about, which i like to think as something positive for all of us fisherfolk...Another place I would love to give a shot is Cameroon; Mark, let's make that one happen..!
Cheers, RF.
Kalahari fish
New member
Hey Ripple almost didn't recognise you with the haircut.
Seems your'e the go to guy for tigers.
Congrats on those beauties.
Is there a lot of fishing pressure on the nile's around there?
Seem's as though the local people readily catch and eat these guys on the rift valley lakes area.
Do you think the tigers are attracted by the smell of the fish food near the cages?
Oh and by the way what fish species do you guys farm with?
Seems your'e the go to guy for tigers.
Congrats on those beauties.
Is there a lot of fishing pressure on the nile's around there?
Seem's as though the local people readily catch and eat these guys on the rift valley lakes area.
Do you think the tigers are attracted by the smell of the fish food near the cages?
Oh and by the way what fish species do you guys farm with?
ripplefisher
Senior Member
Kalahari fish wrote:
Hey Kalahari,
Yes, unfortunately the perch I think are heavily targeted with gill nets, that said so are the tiger in much of the lake...they often use very long floating gillnets, pretty indiscriminate I would guess, and tiger particularly susceptible.. I have yet to hear of a big perch, actually, I have yet to see any on market stall either, so that would seem to indicate they are not all too common catches...but they are popular to eat..
The key to the decent size tiger around the cages is not the smell of fish feed, rather the fact that there are a lot of catfish and other prey fish around the cages, and so I am sure the tiger are patrolling the edges on a consistent basis..
We farm Nile Tilapia in cages.
The photo's below of a further fish I got last night - pulled the scales down to over 16 lb's, was great fun on a 4-12 lb bass pro shops spinning rod and stradic 2000 reel..!
Lovely fish..
Not somewhere I would like to put my fingers..!
Cheers, RF.
Hey Kalahari,
Yes, unfortunately the perch I think are heavily targeted with gill nets, that said so are the tiger in much of the lake...they often use very long floating gillnets, pretty indiscriminate I would guess, and tiger particularly susceptible.. I have yet to hear of a big perch, actually, I have yet to see any on market stall either, so that would seem to indicate they are not all too common catches...but they are popular to eat..
The key to the decent size tiger around the cages is not the smell of fish feed, rather the fact that there are a lot of catfish and other prey fish around the cages, and so I am sure the tiger are patrolling the edges on a consistent basis..
We farm Nile Tilapia in cages.
The photo's below of a further fish I got last night - pulled the scales down to over 16 lb's, was great fun on a 4-12 lb bass pro shops spinning rod and stradic 2000 reel..!
Lovely fish..
Not somewhere I would like to put my fingers..!
Cheers, RF.
ripplefisher
Senior Member
With lower temperatures and a lack of effort on my part, I have not caught too many fish..but they are there..
..Nice to get a good sized (5lb) Hydrocynus forskahlii....the most slender tigerfish species.
Then follow it up with a decent Hydrocynus brevis (10 plus lb)from the same water, a few days later..
A decent Nile tilapia caught whilst trying to catch livebait for tiger - it was taken on the piece of bamboo in the picture, with 2 meters of nylon and a hook...low tech..!
..And I caught this Sementundu catfish on light gear with a small piece of tigerfish fillet on a leadhead jig..dropshot style I suppose..!
Cheers, RF.
..Nice to get a good sized (5lb) Hydrocynus forskahlii....the most slender tigerfish species.
Then follow it up with a decent Hydrocynus brevis (10 plus lb)from the same water, a few days later..
A decent Nile tilapia caught whilst trying to catch livebait for tiger - it was taken on the piece of bamboo in the picture, with 2 meters of nylon and a hook...low tech..!
..And I caught this Sementundu catfish on light gear with a small piece of tigerfish fillet on a leadhead jig..dropshot style I suppose..!
Cheers, RF.
Bruce Halgreen
New member
Good morning
It is with interest that I see your fish that you have taken in the Volta Lake-- Well done
I also live in Ghana and have done so for a number of years.
Most of my time is spent angling at the mouth of the Volta
I have taken quite a few good fish over the years. All taken from the shore on mostly live mullet . Taken Taron of 42Kgs, and one in December of 61.4kgs have also lost quite a few of these elusive fish
Plenty of snapper thread fin, kingfish and barracuda, and a few brown skates. The biggest challenge is the vast number of plastic packets, sea weed, and grass and then of course the movement in the water as the tide turns. However when this all comes together, you can get your arms stretched…….
I would like to make contact with as I live and work in Accra and feel we will have some common ground to cover..
Tight Lines
Bruce
Email address , halgreen.bruce@gmail.com
Contact +233 547318438
It is with interest that I see your fish that you have taken in the Volta Lake-- Well done
I also live in Ghana and have done so for a number of years.
Most of my time is spent angling at the mouth of the Volta
I have taken quite a few good fish over the years. All taken from the shore on mostly live mullet . Taken Taron of 42Kgs, and one in December of 61.4kgs have also lost quite a few of these elusive fish
Plenty of snapper thread fin, kingfish and barracuda, and a few brown skates. The biggest challenge is the vast number of plastic packets, sea weed, and grass and then of course the movement in the water as the tide turns. However when this all comes together, you can get your arms stretched…….
I would like to make contact with as I live and work in Accra and feel we will have some common ground to cover..
Tight Lines
Bruce
Email address , halgreen.bruce@gmail.com
Contact +233 547318438
ripplefisher
Senior Member
Bruce Halgreen wrote:
Hi Bruce,
Good to hear from you, and yes, it would be good to get in touch and exchange a few ideas and possible fishing trip ideas - you sound like you have done well - as you say, there are fish about, but it takes time and effort to get the rewards..
I am currently on leave, and not in the country at the moment - actually about to head to TZ for a fishing trip there, but I will get in touch in early november when I return..
Tight lines, Marc.
Hi Bruce,
Good to hear from you, and yes, it would be good to get in touch and exchange a few ideas and possible fishing trip ideas - you sound like you have done well - as you say, there are fish about, but it takes time and effort to get the rewards..
I am currently on leave, and not in the country at the moment - actually about to head to TZ for a fishing trip there, but I will get in touch in early november when I return..
Tight lines, Marc.
Bruce Halgreen
New member
Hi Marc
Thanks for the quick reply.
Give me a shout when you return to Ghana.
TZ- well I lived there for 2 years, fished there as well…
Tight lines
Bruce
Thanks for the quick reply.
Give me a shout when you return to Ghana.
TZ- well I lived there for 2 years, fished there as well…
Tight lines
Bruce
Kalahari fish
New member
hey Marc
Congrats man!
I saw youre pic in the FWR Newsletter. Hope you bring back some world records from TZ as well.
Cheers
Congrats man!
I saw youre pic in the FWR Newsletter. Hope you bring back some world records from TZ as well.
Cheers
ripplefisher
Senior Member
Kalahari fish wrote:
Thanks very much - yes, it has made its way onto a website or two - it was in the IGFA's 'hot catches' report as well for September or around then, as I finally got around to submitting the fish for the H. brevis all tackle world record, which is now pending - all the scale/line tests and so on are all fine..
In terms of TZ - you will see a good fish in the jigging and popping section, plus an rather substantial blueifn caught out in Canada in the offshore section, so a good month for me!
@ Bruce - back in Ghana now, will try and give you a buzz over the weekend..raining very hard here most days - at least where we are..
Cheers, RF.
Thanks very much - yes, it has made its way onto a website or two - it was in the IGFA's 'hot catches' report as well for September or around then, as I finally got around to submitting the fish for the H. brevis all tackle world record, which is now pending - all the scale/line tests and so on are all fine..
In terms of TZ - you will see a good fish in the jigging and popping section, plus an rather substantial blueifn caught out in Canada in the offshore section, so a good month for me!
@ Bruce - back in Ghana now, will try and give you a buzz over the weekend..raining very hard here most days - at least where we are..
Cheers, RF.
Hi Marc
I have done some digging around and the Brycinus spp you have been wondering about is Brycinus nurse it used to be Allestes nurse. Apparently they are quite common in most parts of West Africa and as you have found quite happy to take a fly or spinner. Apparently in local lingo they are called Queue rouge (red tail).
I have done some digging around and the Brycinus spp you have been wondering about is Brycinus nurse it used to be Allestes nurse. Apparently they are quite common in most parts of West Africa and as you have found quite happy to take a fly or spinner. Apparently in local lingo they are called Queue rouge (red tail).