eBusiness Weekly
Business Writer/Online
Kariba is a place of mystery and endless breathtaking phenomena.
People cohabiting with some of the world’s most dreaded game — lions, leopards, jumbos and even hippos.
For new visitors, the whole trip might be full of spine chilling experiences.
However, what catches the hearts of many corporate executives, sports persons and some enthusiasts, is the decade old Tiger Invitation Fishing Tournament.
“Sharing the fun of fishing turns strangers into friends in a few hours. Whether you sit with native fishermen in their boats and fish with nets and lines or dive under the sea with them — they will lead you to the haunts of the specimens you desire and you could not find yourself in safer and more enjoyable company,” this was a statement by Eugenie Clark, an American ichthyologist, known for both her research on shark behaviour and study of fish.
Tiger fishing is regarded as one of the most elitist water sport.
In Zimbabwe, the tournament offers fishing enthusiasts and guests a flawless guide on tiger fishing adventures in one of the most pristine and remote freshwater fishing locations on earth.
The annual Kariba Invitational Tiger Fishing Tournament will this year run from October 30 to November 1.
Buried within the upper reaches of the mighty Zambezi’s 15 000 km2 Barotse Flood plain, this unique setting is nestled within a secluded paradise of lush bush land and untouched river waters teeming with trophy Barotse tiger fish as well as several species of bream.
The extremely abundant eco-system occurs due to the remoteness of Barotseland, which forms part of the Kingdom of the Lozi and is situated in western Zambia, stretching along the length of the Zambezi River from the Caprivi Strip to the Southern border of Angola.
Larger fish prefer to roam the middle of the river trapping their prey on and around the drop offs. To target these fish, fishermen drift the middle of the river and search for these drop offs and areas where current changes such as eddies and structure are found.
They have found that a depth of between 3m and 6m with a drop of half a metre or more yields the best results. This fascination derives from the nature of these strange and terrible creatures, capable of incredible speed and power when they swim and leap, revealing their indescribable beauty only to those who fish them, creating a sudden bond, imparting the sensation of pure speed and unrestrained power.
The tournament has seen growth in numbers over the years and having over 600 contestants competing in it.
Prizes for the tournament vary each year. The rules of the competition state that the winner is the angler that lands the biggest fish over 10 kilogrammes (22 pounds) as tiger fish grows to a maximum weight of 15 kilogrammes.
Other prizes for the competition include boats, generators and trophies and anglers from around the world mark the event down in their calendars as a major highlight on the angling circuit.
Tiger fish is known throughout the world for its wildness and fighting spirit, traits that make it one of the most sought-after game fish in the world.
The Kariba is left with less than 30 percent of its water but the spirits are high that the annual Kariba Invitational Tiger Fishing Tournament that brings in fishermen from all over the world continues.
National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority are the vanguards of the lake and the shepherds of the fish.
Kariba Dam is shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia, but the Zimbabwean side has, for long, been famed for hosting the tiger fishing tournament.
There is less doubt that the Kariba Invitational Fishing Tournament will continue attracting more participants, the success of this tournament will be a tribute to the popularity of tiger fishing.
The first tournament was organised by the Rhodesian National Anglers Union and took place in June 1962, with 142 fishermen participating. In the southern hemisphere, the biggest tiger fish caught and dubbed the Goliath weighed about 45kg in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In Zimbabwe, tiger is distributed throughout the Kariba Dam, the Zambezi River and its tributaries.
Of interest is where the fish is found in Kariba Dam, the areas will be most likely crocodile infested.
The tiger is also found in Lake Chivero and Manyame Dam. Naunetsi, Bubi and Mzingwane rivers also have tiger fish.
Its primary food is kapenta, bream, cat fish and squeakers. These are normally abundant in Zimbabwe. They also eat their own kind as long as it is less than 40 percent their body weight.
It is fascination with this game fish that led to the formation of the Kariba International Tiger Fishing Competition, now the Kariba Tiger Invitational Fishing Tournament, which has run for 58 years, simply to catch this game fish. It is a huge international fishing event, which attracts hundreds of teams from all over the world.
