Freshwater

Nembwe (yellow-belly bream)

Nembwe (cíclido de barriga amarilla)

Serranochromis robustus

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–4 lb.

Depth

3–15 ft along vegetation and channel edges.

Best time

Early morning and late afternoon.

Found in

1 area

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A big predatory cichlid with a bass-like shape: olive-green to brassy body, a big mouth, a long spiny dorsal fin, and a yellow to yellow-green throat and belly in adults; breeding males show brighter colors.
Typical size: 1–4 lb.
Maximum size: About 22 in and about 13 lb (6 kg).
Diet: Small fish, plus shrimp and insects.
Behavior: An ambush hunter that hides in papyrus, reed beds and weed edges like a largemouth bass, darting out at small fish.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from African Lakes & Rivers. The Zambezi race (often called subspecies jallae) lives in the upper Zambezi, the Kafue and the Okavango Delta and Panhandle; the original form lives in Lake Malawi, the Shire River and Lake Malombe.
Habitat: The Zambezi race (often called subspecies jallae) lives in the upper Zambezi, the Kafue and the Okavango Delta and Panhandle; the original form lives in Lake Malawi, the Shire River and Lake Malombe.
Depth: 3–15 ft along vegetation and channel edges.
Fishing depth: 2–10 ft against papyrus walls, reed beds and lagoon mouths.
Best season: Best in the warm months from about September to April; floodwaters in the Okavango (about May to August) spread fish out.
Best time: Early morning and late afternoon.
Best tides: No tide — clear water along the papyrus is best.
Best weather / conditions: Warm, stable weather.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Small live fish or worms where allowed.
Best artificial lures: Small spinners, spinnerbaits, minnow plugs, soft plastics and streamer or popper flies.
Tackle setup: Medium 6½–7 ft spinning or baitcasting rod, or a 6–7 weight fly rod.
Hook size: 1/0–3/0 single hooks.
Line: 12–20 lb braid.
Leader: 20 lb fluorocarbon; short light wire if tigerfish are around.

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: The Zambezi race (often called subspecies jallae) lives in the upper Zambezi, the Kafue and the Okavango Delta and Panhandle; the original form lives in Lake Malawi, the Shire River and Lake Malombe.
Rig up: Medium 6½–7 ft spinning or baitcasting rod, or a 6–7 weight fly rod. 20 lb fluorocarbon; short light wire if tigerfish are around.
Pick your bait: Small live fish or worms where allowed. Lures: Small spinners, spinnerbaits, minnow plugs, soft plastics and streamer or popper flies.
Fish it: Drift along the papyrus and reed edges and cast tight to the vegetation, working lures back slowly with pauses — just like bass fishing.
Time it: Early morning and late afternoon. No tide — clear water along the papyrus is best.

Fishing techniques: Drift along the papyrus and reed edges and cast tight to the vegetation, working lures back slowly with pauses — just like bass fishing.
BigJoe's tip: Cast where a papyrus wall meets open water or a channel mouth — nembwe sit right on those corners waiting for bait to pass.
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.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Firm, white and tasty, like other African 'breams' (cichlids); fried or grilled whole.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Crocodiles and hippos are common in the Okavango and Zambezi — stay in the boat.
Regulations: In Lake Malawi, the original form is listed as Critically Endangered — release it. On the upper Zambezi and the Okavango many lodges ask anglers to release nembwe. 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.
Conservation: Release big nembwe; they're the breeders that keep the papyrus channels full of fish.

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Sources & photo credits