This week, we experienced an epic tiger fish adventures on the river, complete with unique wildlife encounters and fierce interspecies competition. As our anglers settled into a promising spot, they noticed a fish eagle keeping a close eye from a nearby tree. After a few bumps and missed strikes, they hooked into a decent-sized Tigerfish. As usual, the tiger fish began its thrilling aerial display, but the fish eagle swooped in, attempting to snatch the catch for itself. Although it missed, the eagle perched above the water, causing the area to fall silent as the fear of the predator outweighed the hunger of the Tigerfish. It was a remarkable moment, witnessing the majestic fish eagle up close!
Meanwhile, dedication played a key role for Cori, who persevered despite a slow start. On the third day of fishing on the Ruhudji River, just ten minutes from camp, she had a Tigerfish follow her fly right up to the boat, but it missed the strike. Thinking fast, she recast, and the fish rose again, missing once more. On the third attempt, success! Just two metres from the boat, the tiger fish devoured the fly and shot downstream, almost reaching the backing. It performed an impressive series of jumps before being netted—a perfect 14 lb Tigerfish, a true trophy for the species!
Mark and Katie also had their share of excitement on the Mnyera River after catching several smaller fish on the Ruhudji. They were eager to land some “river monsters,” and both were rewarded with 19lb Tigerfish—just shy of the 20 lb mark. While they didn’t quite hit that milestone, these prehistoric-looking creatures were still an incredible sight to behold.
In addition to the fishing action, this week provided some outstanding wildlife viewing. On our first day, while preparing tackle at camp, we were fortunate enough to see wild dogs—an incredibly rare sighting. The journey between camps offered more incredible encounters with leopards, lions, elands, and sable—a truly unforgettable display of African wildlife. The fly of the week was the red and black Puma, tied on a 4/0 Tiemco SP600 or a similar big fish hook. With a tail of red and black schlappen, a midsection of red spun marabou, and a black deer hair head, this fly’s design creates erratic movements with every strip. It’s an absolute must-have for any tiger fisherman’s tackle box.
CONTACT US
If you fancy doing battle with the hard-fighting Tigerfish of Tanzania, then our camp is the perfect destination for you. If you’d also like any further information, you can contact our fly fishing specialist Peter Collingsworth on 01603 407596 or email at peter@sportquestholidays.com.