Tigerfish

Silver, streamlined fish with dark horizontal stripes along the sides, a red-orange to blood-red forked tail and fins, and big fang-like teeth that stick out over the lips even when the mouth is closed.

2–8 lb; a 10 lb fish is a trophy, and 15 lb+ fish come from Lake Kariba, the Zambezi and the Okavango.

About 3½ ft and over 60 lb (28 kg) published; rod-caught fish over 30 lb are rare.

Other fish — small tetras, barbs, kapenta (Lake Kariba sardine) and anything that moves; even birds near the surface.

Hunts in roving schools of same-size fish that ambush bait in fast water, at the edges of current and over drop-offs; the biggest fish hunt alone. Jumps wildly when hooked.

Found from African Lakes & Rivers, Southern Africa, Gulf of Guinea & Central Africa and Morocco & West Africa. Big warm rivers and lakes: the Zambezi (Lake Kariba, Lake Cahora Bassa, the upper Zambezi), the Okavango, the Congo basin, Lake Tanganyika, the Nile and Lake Albert, the Rufiji, and the Niger, Volta and Senegal in West Africa, south to the Pongolo in South Africa.

Big warm rivers and lakes: the Zambezi (Lake Kariba, Lake Cahora Bassa, the upper Zambezi), the Okavango, the Congo basin, Lake Tanganyika, the Nile and Lake Albert, the Rufiji, and the Niger, Volta and Senegal in West Africa, south to the Pongolo in South Africa.

Surface to 30 ft; usually near current seams and drop-offs.

3–20 ft along channel edges, rocky points, drowned trees and below rapids.

Best in the hot months before the rains, about September to December on the Zambezi and Kariba; on the Okavango the 'barbel run' (about September to November) brings red-hot fishing.

Early morning and late afternoon; tigerfish also feed in the middle of hot days.

No tide — clear, warm water and steady river levels are best; falling water concentrates the fish in the channels.

Hot, settled weather and clear water; muddy floodwater slows them down.

Strips or whole small fish (bream, kapenta, barbel) drifted with the current; a strip of tigerfish belly works well.

Inline spinners, spoons, minnow plugs and bright streamer flies, all on wire.

7 ft medium-heavy spinning or baitcasting rod, or an 8–9 weight fly rod with a sinking line.

Very sharp 2/0–5/0 single hooks or extra-strong trebles; their bony mouth makes hook-setting hard.

20–30 lb braid.

A short wire or titanium leader is a must — the teeth cut through mono in a second.

Drift down the channels and cast spinners or plugs to the edges of the current, or drift a fish strip just off the bottom. Strike hard as soon as you feel the hit and keep the line tight on every jump.

Tigerfish throw more hooks than almost any fish — many anglers say you land one in five strikes. Use the sharpest hooks you can and set the hook two or three times.

Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Edible but not prized — strong or bony; many anglers release it.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Edible but very bony; locals smoke or fry small ones. Most sport-caught fish are released.

The teeth are razor sharp: never put fingers near the mouth, use long pliers and a lip grip. Crocodiles and hippos share almost every tigerfish river — stay in the boat and keep hands out of the water.

Most lodges and tournaments (such as the Kariba International Tiger Fish Tournament) are catch-and-release or limit what you keep. In South Africa tigerfish are at the southern edge of their range and are protected in some provinces, so they are released there. Each African country sells its own fishing license, and national parks, game reserves and many lodges charge separate rod or park fees; some lakes and rivers have closed seasons or catch-and-release rules — check before you go.

Big tigerfish are worth more to lodges and guides alive. Release the trophies quickly and keep them in the water for the photo when you can.