Goliath tigerfish

The biggest tigerfish: a deep, heavy silver body with faint dark stripes, a forked tail tinged with red or gray, and enormous interlocking fangs — 32 big teeth, some about an inch long. Deeper-bodied and bigger-headed than the common tigerfish.

15–50 lb.

Over 5 ft and well over 100 lb; rod-caught fish over 110 lb have been reported from the Congo and the Lufubu River (Lake Tanganyika).

Other fish, including big ones; it can bite a fish in half.

A powerful predator of fast, rocky water and the edges of big rapids, hunting fish that get swept by the current. Strikes like a hammer and jumps.

Found from African Lakes & Rivers and Gulf of Guinea & Central Africa. The Congo River basin (including the rapids near Kinshasa and the Lualaba) and Lake Tanganyika with its inflowing rivers such as the Lufubu in Zambia.

The Congo River basin (including the rapids near Kinshasa and the Lualaba) and Lake Tanganyika with its inflowing rivers such as the Lufubu in Zambia.

5–40 ft near current and rocky structure.

10–30 ft along eddies and seams below rapids.

Dry season, when rivers drop and clear (about June to October in much of the Congo basin; best months differ by area).

Early morning and late afternoon.

No tide — falling, clearing river water is best.

Stable dry weather; heavy rain muddies the river.

Whole fish or big fish strips fished in the eddies (the local method).

Big heavy spoons, large deep-diving plugs and big swimbaits on heavy wire.

Heavy spinning or baitcasting rod and a big reel with a strong drag.

Extra-strong 6/0–10/0 single hooks or heavy trebles.

50–80 lb braid.

Heavy wire or titanium leader (60–100 lb) — anything less gets bitten through.

Work with a local guide in a boat: cast heavy spoons and plugs into the eddies and seams below the rapids, or drift bait through them. Set the hook hard more than once — the mouth is all bone and teeth.

Expect to lose a lot of fish. Fight a goliath hard and fast in the boat's direction away from the rapids, and have the guide ready with a big net or lip grip.

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.

Usually released — a sport fish more than a food fish.

Eaten locally (smoked or stewed), but it's bony and sport-caught fish are released.

Those fangs can slice a hand open — never hold the head near the mouth, use long pliers and gloves. The Congo has crocodiles, powerful rapids and remote conditions; wear a life jacket.

Trips are run by a few remote lodges and local guides who arrange permits; release is the norm for sport anglers. Safety and access rules change with local conditions — go only with an experienced operator. 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.

Goliaths are slow to replace; anglers who release them help local guides keep a living.