Catfish and Nile perch are very interesting specimens. The first is kept in an aquarium, and the second is caught. Moreover, some individuals grow into real giants. They were first talked about in ancient Egypt. Residents affectionately called such a fish the "Princess of the Nile." Perch is most common in freshwater in Africa. Most giants are concentrated in the rivers Congo, Nile, Senegal and Volta. Often, huge perches are found in lakes Albert, Chad, Victoria and some others.
Catfish
Catfish (or Nile Clarius) is an aquarium fish. It should be kept alone because it is an eternally hungry and large predator. When you buy a catfish it seems elegant and harmless. But this fish grows very quickly and at the same time eats other brothers in the aquarium.
Nile catfish can be of several colors. It is also found in water bodies in America and Europe. This fish received the nickname "walking catfish." The reason was its feature. When the pond dries, the catfish can easily crawl to where there is water. Basically, fish make “transitions” during rains. Nile catfish adapted to breathe atmospheric air thanks to a special suprajugal organ that resembles a sponge.
Nile giant
Nile perch is an African giant. He is part of the Lats family, a class of ray-feathers. This fish is the largest of the freshwater representatives. The Nile giant can reach enormous sizes - more than a person. The head of the fish is flattened, slightly extended forward. The fins are rounded, the scales are mostly silver with a blue tint. But the coloring 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 is pointed.
Sizes of Nile Perch
Nile perch is the largest representative of its kind in the world. An individual can reach two meters in length, and the weight of giants ranges from 150 to 200 kilograms. When a fish turns 15 years old, then its weight exceeds already 30 kg. Due to its huge size, perch is a dominant in its habitat. For the rest of the fish, the giant is a dangerous predator.
When breeding Nile perch in artificial ponds, individuals are somewhat inferior in size to their free relatives. But such instances are in great demand. Giant perch meat is very tender and tasty. It is highly regarded in industrial production.
Tackle
Catching of Nile perch should take place on powerful gear, as this fish is very strong because of its huge size. A weak fishing line simply can not withstand a lot of weight. Nile perches prefer wobblers of natural colors and Fire Tiger. Fishing is carried out by trolling. In this case, gears with cords are used, in which the breaking load is more than forty kilograms. In case of uneven terrain, the wobblers should be with different immersion depths.
Interesting fishing
Nile perch is very popular among fishermen who love to capture trophy specimens. The hunter attracts fish with its gigantic size, huge weight and behavior. According to reviews, one of the best places for fishing on the Nile perch is the Egyptian lake Nasser. You can also hunt for a giant within the framework of the African safari. His programs often include fishing for perch.
The best time for this is from May to October. Peak peaks mainly in July. Winter fishing is quite rare. From late autumn to the end of March, perch bite very badly. In April, he begins to spawn, so this month you can’t hunt for giants.
Fishing tactics
First, a few casts are made. If the perch has not reacted immediately, then you must move. If the depth of the reservoir begins immediately off the coast, then the wobbler is brought to the slope at an acute angle. On a gentle shore, you can make a long throw. Since the perch is hiding in ambushes, you need to look for the giant in precisely such places.
If he went for a wobbler, but did not take the bait, then re-casting, topping up is done. In most cases, it is at this time that the fish comes across. And then follows the stage of fishing perch out of the water. This is pretty tricky. Nile perch, trophy fishing which attracts many fishermen, is an individual with great weight.
And even with a mass of 10 kilograms, the resistance will be quite violent. Moreover, as noted by fishermen who have already hunted perch, its jerking is much stronger than that of other fish with the same weight. For hunting, it is better to prepare in advance - 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.
Behavior features
Each type of fish has its own behavior. This also applies to Nile perch. It is a predator, therefore it is very aggressive towards other inhabitants of water bodies, up to the destruction of some species of fish.
Nile perch prefers artificial lures, so experienced fishermen use trolling to hunt the giant. But catching a perch is half the battle. Fish still need to be able to get out of the water. This is quite difficult, as the Nile perches begin to violently resist, and thanks to the enormous weight, the struggle between humans and fish becomes serious. For this, fishermen need to have such qualities as dexterity, good coordination of movements, dexterity and utmost attention. Of course, even greater strength is important. But even with all these qualities and great experience, perches often break out and go unharmed to the depths.
If nile perch intends to respond to the bait, he does it right away, on the first or second cast, and much less often on further attempts. These giants adhere to an ambush line of behavior, and the attack of a predator is swift.
Interesting Facts
The perch carries its fry in the oral cavity. This helps them survive and maintain a large population. Giants feed on crustaceans, small fish and insects. Rumor has it that huge perches can also be enjoyed by humans. But there is no confirmation of this yet.