Freshwater

Largemouth yellowfish

Pez amarillo de boca grande (yellowfish)

Labeobarbus kimberleyensis

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

3–15 lb.

Depth

3–20 ft in deep runs and pools.

Best time

Early morning and evening.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A big golden-olive barb (river carp) with a long, pointed head, a large mouth reaching back under the eye, thick lips, two pairs of barbels, and large scales; much more torpedo-shaped and big-headed than the smallmouth yellowfish.
Typical size: 3–15 lb.
Maximum size: About 32 in and about 49 lb (22 kg).
Diet: Mainly fish once it's over a foot long, plus crabs and insects.
Behavior: The top predator of the Orange–Vaal system; holds in deep runs, channels and below rapids, hunting small fish in the current.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Southern Africa and African Lakes & Rivers. Only in the Orange–Vaal River system of South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia, including big dams on those rivers.
Habitat: Only in the Orange–Vaal River system of South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia, including big dams on those rivers.
Depth: 3–20 ft in deep runs and pools.
Fishing depth: Fast, broken water and deep runs below rapids.
Best season: Warm months, about September to April, when the rivers are clear.
Best time: Early morning and evening.
Best tides: No tide — clear, stable river flows are best.
Best weather / conditions: Settled summer weather; storms muddy the rivers fast.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Rarely used — most are caught on lures and flies.
Best artificial lures: Minnow plugs, spinners, soft swimbaits and big baitfish streamer flies.
Tackle setup: Medium spinning rod or a 6–8 weight fly rod.
Hook size: Barbless single hooks are recommended.
Line: 12–20 lb braid; floating or sink-tip fly line.
Leader: 12–20 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Only in the Orange–Vaal River system of South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia, including big dams on those rivers.
Rig up: Medium spinning rod or a 6–8 weight fly rod. 12–20 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Rarely used — most are caught on lures and flies. Lures: Minnow plugs, spinners, soft swimbaits and big baitfish streamer flies.
Fish it: Wade or drift the rapids and swing streamers or cast minnow plugs across the deep runs, letting them swing down and across in the current.
Time it: Early morning and evening. No tide — clear, stable river flows are best.

Fishing techniques: Wade or drift the rapids and swing streamers or cast minnow plugs across the deep runs, letting them swing down and across in the current.
BigJoe's tip: Fish streamers on a sink-tip through the head of the deep runs where the rapid spills in — that's where the big largemouths wait.
Catch and release: 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.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Rivers are slippery and fast — wear studded wading boots and a wading belt.
Regulations: Listed as Near Threatened; South African angling bodies and conservation agencies treat it as catch-and-release, and some provinces protect it. Handle gently and release. In South Africa you need a provincial freshwater angling license, and many dams, rivers and nature reserves add their own permits and rules; neighboring countries sell their own licenses.
Conservation: A slow-growing, rare predator hurt by dams, pollution and invasive fish; always release it and keep it in the water.

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Sources & photo credits