Catching a tiger is thrill of lifetime

It seems every continent has its own great freshwater sportfish.

Gary Waite with one of the trophy tigerfish from last year’s African tigerfishing safari.

It seems every continent has its own great freshwater sportfish.

For sheer size, in Australia it’s the Murray cod, if only because wild freshwater barramundi don’t grow nearly as big as their saltwater and tidal river counterparts.

By coincidence, in Africa, a very close relative of the barramundi, the Nile perch, is “the” big freshwater sportfish.

However, for sheer aggressive, bone-jarring strikes, lightning-fast aquatic agility and spectacular airborne aerodynamics, the fight of a big African tigerfish is an experience that should be on every travelling angler’s bucket list.

I’m pretty lucky because, for the last two years, I’ve been ­accompanying groups to ­Africa tigerfishing with Matty Collins and his Tourica Tours company.

The first year was a bit of a “suck and see”.

We fished the Zambezi River above and below Victoria Falls at two destinations.

It was in May and we learnt heaps, although both the size and numbers of fish could have been better.

Based on what we learnt, last year we went to Africa in August and spent a whole eight days at a comfortable safari lodge in Mozambique, fishing the very lower Zambezi.

We found that spending the whole time at one location enabled us to wire into the fish better, plus the time of year and location meant we caught many more tigers and plenty of quality fish up to 7kg.

Note that any tigerfish over 5kg is a trophy catch, and you sure know it when you’ve got one on!

This year, we are going on tiger safari again, but not until October. It’ll be hot, and the African wet season will hardly be weeks away, but our “on-the-ground” research trips tell us that this is when the tigers will be most active, and with big ones on the chew.

The destination will be the lower Zambezi again, but right next to the Lower Zambezi National Park, and I can’t wait!

It’s not unusual to see bull elephants crossing the Zambezi River when you’re casting at tigerfish.

It’s barra like this 103cm fish caught by Bonnie Keogh a fortnight ago that the 100-odd competitors in this weekend’s Top End Barra Series will be chasing at Shady Camp.

We’ve learnt so much over the last couple of years, including the tackle and techniques to land these amazing fish.

Travelling with Matt Collins and Tourica Tours ensures everything is taken care of to the “Nth” degree.

We will be staying at the luxurious Mvuu Lodge on the river, fishing from specialised boats with knowledgeable guides, and at a top location at the right time of year.

Because Mvuu is next door to the Lower Zambezi National Park, daily wildlife viewing tours are also available for those who don’t want to fish all the time.

I’m also looking forward to more amazing wildlife viewing, this time at the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya where we will experience the last of “The Migration”.

I can’t wait to get back to Africa and tigerfishing for the third year in a row, especially as everything is slotting into place to ensure an amazing fishing adventure during a truly professionally organised tour.

Spaces are limited, so put your hand up now if you’d like to join us. You can email me at [e-mail], and also check out Tourica Tours’ link to this fabulous trip: http://www.touricatours.com/14-day-lower-zambezi-tiger-fish-frenzy-with-alex-julius.html

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OLD mate Colin Burdon from Reidy’s lures has been at it yet again.

“We fished Black Jungle Creek down the Adelaide River on the top of the tide and I landed an 89cm on a Big B52 with a special prototype colour that we will do soon,” Colin told me.

“Then we moved up and found a couple of creeks pumping good colour change and I landed a 53cm and a 61cm. At this stage, my mate Paul “Zorny” Zorn wasn’t happy.

“Well within minutes of grumbling, he hooked up and called it for a good fish so I moved the boat into open water and he took his time landing the big girl.

“She measured just over the 114cm mark and was released without any hassles,.

“Zorny used the standard B52 with the standard VMC hooks and rings we use.

“This lure is a trial colour so is not available anywhere but it will be soon,” Colin revealed.