Nile perch: photo and fishing

Catfish and Nile perch are very interesting specimens. The first is kept in an aquarium, and the second one is caught. And some individuals grow up to be real giants. They were first talked about in Ancient Egypt. Residents affectionately called such a fish "princess of the Nile." Perches are most common in fresh water in Africa. Basically, the giants are concentrated in the rivers Congo, Nile, Senegal and Volta. Often, huge perches are found in the lakes Albert, Chad, Victoria and some others.

Catfish

Catfish (or Nile Clarius) is an aquarium fish. It should be kept alone, because it is always a hungry and large predator. When buying a catfish it seems elegant and harmless. But this fish grows very fast and at the same time feeds on other fellow aquarium animals.

Nilian catfish can be of several colors. It is also found in the waters of America and Europe. This fish has received the nickname "walking catfish". The reason was its peculiarity. When the reservoir is dry, the catfish can safely creep to where there is water. Basically, the fish makes "transitions" during rains. The Nile catfish adapted to breathe atmospheric air thanks to a special nudibranch organ that resembles a sponge.

The Nile giant

The Nile perch is an African giant. He belongs to the family of lathes, a class of ray-finned. This fish is the largest freshwater species. The Nile giant can reach huge sizes - more people. The head of the fish is flattened, somewhat elongated forward. Fins - rounded, scales mostly silver with a blue tinge. But the color of the giants may be different. The eyes of the perch are dark and bright yellow in the pupils. On the back there are two fins, one - pointed.

The size of the Nile perch

Nile perch is the world's largest representative of its kind. The individual can be up to two meters in length, and the weight of the giants ranges from 150 to 200 kilograms. When the fish turns 15 years old, its weight is already over 30 kg. Due to its huge size, the perch is the dominant in its habitat. For other fish, the giant is a dangerous predator.

When breeding the Nile perch in artificial reservoirs, individuals are somewhat inferior in size to their free relatives. But such specimens are in great demand. The meat of a giant perch is very delicate and delicious. It is highly valued in industrial production.

Tackle

Catching of the Nile perch should pass to powerful gear, as this fish is very strong because of its huge size. A hard fishing line simply can not withstand a lot of weight. Nile perch prefers the wobblers of natural flowers and Fire Tiger. Catching is carried out by trolling. At the same time, they use gear with cords, in which the breaking load is more than forty kilograms. With uneven terrain, wobblers should be at different depths of immersion.

Interesting fishing

Nile perch is very popular among fishermen who like to catch trophy specimens. Attracts fish hunters with their huge size, huge weight and behavior. According to reviews, one of the best places to fish for Nile perch is the Egyptian Lake Nasser. Also you can hunt the giant in the framework of an African safari. His programs often include fishing for perches.

The best time for this is the period from May to October. The peak of biting comes mainly in July. Winter fishing is very rare. From late autumn until the end of March, the perch bites very badly. In April, he spawns, so in this month you can not hunt giants.

Fishing tactics

First a few casts are done. If the perch did not react immediately, then it is necessary to move. If the depth of the reservoir begins immediately at the shore, then the wobbler is brought to the slope at an acute angle. On the canopy bank, you can make a long cast. Since the perch is hiding in ambushes, it is necessary to look for a giant in such places.

If he went out after the wobbler, but did not take the bait, then a second cast is done, catching. In most cases, it is at this time that the fish comes across. And then follows the stage of digging the perch out of the water. It's quite difficult. Nile perch, trophy fishing, which attracts many fishermen, is an individual with a huge weight.

And even with a mass of 10 kilograms, the resistance will be quite violent. And, as noted by fishermen who already hunted a perch, his jerking is much stronger than that of other fish with the same weight. For hunting it is better to prepare in advance - to stock up on water, do not forget sunglasses, etc. Before you catch a perch, you need to find it, and sometimes it takes a lot of time.

Features of behavior

Each species of fish has its own behavioral features. This applies to the Nile perch. It is a predator, therefore it is very aggressive towards other inhabitants of reservoirs, up to the destruction of some species of fish.

Nile perch prefers artificial baits, so experienced fishermen use trolling to hunt the giant. But to catch a perch is half the battle. Fish still need to be able to pull out of the water. This is quite difficult, as the Nile perch begin to fiercely resist, and thanks to the huge weight of the struggle between man and fish becomes serious. For this, fishermen need to have such qualities as dexterity, good coordination of movements, agility and extreme attention. Of course, an even greater force is of no small importance. But even with all these qualities and great experience, perch is often ripped out and leaves to the depth unscathed.

If the Nile perch Intends to react to the bait, then it does so immediately, with the first or second cast, and much less often - with further attempts. These giants stick to the ambush, and the attack of the predator is swift.

Interesting Facts

His perch fry in the oral cavity. This helps them to survive and save a large population. The giants feed on crustaceans, small fish and insects. There are rumors that huge perches can also eat a man. But there is no confirmation of this yet.