Zambezi Tigerfish

[Ed0101]

A group of us have fished the Zambezi for tigerfish for the last few years. Last year after a reasonably successful trip to the Chobe area we decided to go to the Barotse.

We decided on dates, booked the camp and the long wait begun for the trip of 2012. We followed the fishing and weather websites waiting for the day to arrive. Buying tackle almost weekly as news filtered down from the area.

The day finally arrived and we took off from Lanseria for Lukulu.

 

[Ed0101]

We were met at the airport by the camp owners and staff and took a ride down the river to the camp.

 

[Ed0101]

We were out fishing after a quick briefing and lunch. The first after noon produced a number of double figure tigerfish and the biggest of the group a 16lb.

 

[Ed0101]

Day 2 were on the water by 6.30 and the first fish were on our boat within an hour. I had a brilliant day with 3 fish over the magical ten pound mark with a 14, 15 and 16 ½ the best for the day.

 

[Ed0101]

16 1/2 my new PB.

 

[Ed0101]

Day 3 the tigers were off so we targeted the bream species and managed to catch 4 different species.

 

[Ed0101]

3 spot

 

[Ed0101]

Humpback

 

[Ed0101]

I also managed a 12 ½ lb tigerfish in the afternoon.

 

[Ed0101]

Day 3 was a bit slow for me, missing a number of double figures, but my fishing partners managed to land some great fish and I did catch one 12 pounder.

 

[Ed0101]

17 pounder the bigest of the trip

 

[Ed0101]

The last morning we only had a couple of hours to fish before heading home and the only thing I landed was a barbel of 18 ½ on a Rapala.

 

[Ed0101]

We had a great trip, most of the guys breaking or equalling their personal bests. Everyone except one got at least one tiger over the ten pound barrier even though the camp said the fishing wasn’t up to it normal. The food was great, the boats, guides and camp was first class and were already planning next year’s trip.

 

[Ryan]

glad to hear there are still great fish to be had there....
Special spot that unrivaled anywhere else on the Zambezi....

 

[Anthony_Britt]

Great report' :sf:::

 

[Kona]

Some great fish - well done to all

 

[Slangers]

That is brilliant, some amazing fish there.

What rapala's, spinners or methods (drifting/trawling) did you use?

 

[L Hooker]

Well done excellent catches

 

[Ed0101]

We spun on the drift with Double Copper FZ spinners in 22 and 30 gram the hooks and split-rings changed and 11cm floating Rapala magnums as well as some deep diver Bara magnums for trawling upstream. The bream were mainly caught on Red DT Thug Rapalas.

 

[The Owner]

I'm loving it. Congrats on the amazing catches Ed. Can you please elaborate on how and on what structure you caught the three spot?