By Scotty Kyle

Zambia is a large, landlocked central southern African country with two massive rivers, three large lakes, and over 15 million hectares (57 915 square miles) of wetlands. Hundreds of thousands Zambians rely on fishing for their livelihoods, income and food. What about sport fishing? The answer is simple and most of it can be summed up in one word: tigerfish!

Main Facts about Zambia

Zambia may look small on a Mercator projection map, but at 290 586 square miles (752 614 Ha.) it is larger than Texas, or from European perspective nearly 1 ½ times the size of France. Its population is similar to New York State (about 20 million people). Zambia is rich in minerals, wildlife, and has a great agricultural potential. Although not perfect and beset by economic challenges, Zambia enjoys more freedom, democracy and stability than most other African nations. 

In the north are broad flat plains, while the Barotse floodplain drains the west of the country down into the Zambezi River. The eastern side of Zambia has high mountains interspersed by deep valleys with the highest point in the region being near the Malawi border. The climate is described as “tropical,” but, with the country being as large as it is, there is a lot of regional variation – especially with regard to rainfall. 

Fishing in Zambia: History and Modernity

Since the most ancient times, fishing has been essential for Zambians. Over 25 000 people are directly involved in small-scale traditional fishing known as “artisanal fishing”, and over 300 000 benefit from it. Traditionally artisanal fishing relied on traps, nets and poisons from indigenous plants and natural materials, but now more efficient tools like monofilament gillnets are replacing those. 

The main target of artisanal fishermen are diverse small species such as tilapias. Much of this fishing is carried out in seasonal marshlands and around lake edges, and is limited to the wet season, when huge areas of the country are flooded. Locals use small boats to set nets and fish by line in many of the larger lakes and rivers as well. Commercialization and improved transport infrastructure are resulting in over-fishing and depressed catches. 

Commercial fishing operations in Zambia are focused almost exclusively on the Kapenta (Limnothrissa miodon). This small fish, about 10 cm (4 in.) in length, is a member of the herring family, indigenous to Lake Tanganyika and introduced to the Zambezi River where it has become superabundant in the Kariba Dam in Zambia, and Cahorra Bassa Dam in Mozambique. Fishing boats use artificial light at night to attract the kapenta, and then catch them with nets. This fishery is important for both local consumption and export, and provided an unexpected bonus to recreational fishing as well: introduction of kapenta boosted the food available to predators like the tigerfish.

Sport Angling in Zambia 

Zambia is not yet a top freshwater sport fishing destination as its fishing treasures are not well known outside the region. Tourism is in its infancy and currently dominated by “big five” safari-type operators. However, a “fishing in Zambia” search query will bring you spectacular videos of happy anglers catching magnificent tigerfish along the Zambezi River. And, while this can be great fun and an exciting adventure, it is not the whole story.

What Fish Can You Catch in Zambia?

• Tigerfish, aptly named for its aggressive behavior and fearsome-looking teeth, is a highlight of Zambian angling adventures.
• Nembwe (Serranochromus robustus), a kind of tilapia, can exceed 3.5 Kg. (7.7 lbs) and has a well-deserved reputation for aggression and fighting strongly. Light-tackle fishing for many other species of tilapia can also be be excellent sport and fun.
• African pike (Hepsetus odoe), can reach 2 kg (4.4 lbs.) and has a reputation for being canny and is also a strong fighter. 
• Vundu catfish (Heterobranchus longifilis), that can exceed 55 kg. (121 lbs) and 1.2 m. (47 in.), is on the other end of the mass scale. You will need heavy tackle and local knowledge of where to cast live or dead bait, to experience landing of a truly enormous fish. 
• Sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) reaches well over 30 kilograms (66 lbs.) and is common, and easily caught, in many areas. 
• Cornish jack (Mormyrops anguilloides) is an interesting fish that can provide excellent fun and a good fight. These fish mostly eat worms and invertebrates, but large specimens, and they can reach 15 kg. (33 lbs), become predators and be caught on live or dead bait or by spinning. 

Best Areas for Recreational Angling in Zambia

In the far north of the country, about one quarter of Zambia drains into the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The other major rivers, such as the Kafue and Luangwa, flow into the Zambezi that runs south and forms the border between Zambia and Namibia, then Botswana and finally Zimbabwe. 

Throughout much of Zambia, access to prime fishing spots entails long, sometimes difficult, trips along rural tracks. In the south, however, access, and often the fishing, is much better. Reasonable roads follow the length of the Zambezi River along the Zambian Border south and eastwards to the Victoria Falls and Kariba Dam.

Kariba Dam, in the south-east of Zambia and near the capital city, Lusaka, is the foremost dam fishing venue. Along the northern border of this dam are several localities where commercial operators offer excellent opportunities for day or overnight fishing trips. While there are several other large lakes and dams in Zambia, many are seasonal, remote or have difficult access for sport angling.

When To Go Fishing In Zambia 

By law, sport fishing is only allowed between the first of March to the end of November annually to protect fish spawning, and it is generally best between May and October. The Southern Hemisphere winter is better aligned for a visit to Zambia anyway. Bear in mind that a fishing license is required for recreational angling in Zambia, and it’s catch and release only. 

Best times for fishing in a particular river or lake depend on the water levels, which in turn are often governed by far-off rainfall that fell weeks or months in the past. Get in touch with your operator well in advance, so that they can inform you of the current prospects and predictions for the season. 

Tips for Fishing in Zambia. 

The best way to enjoy fishing in Zambia is to engage a local guide or, better still, a locally based commercial fishing outfitter. From boat or on foot, they can get you easily and safely to the best spots. Safety isn’t just a word in Zambia: there are many hippos and crocodiles that can sometimes add too much excitement to a fishing trip. This is where local knowledge can increase fishing success and reduce stress, minimise wasted time, and avoid dangerous situations.

Zambia’s rivers and lakes are home to a diverse mixture of many species from the mighty tigerfish to the tiny cichlids, eels and squeakers. Most foreign fishers, however, first target the tigerfish which is the top predator, aggressive, strong, canny and with such a bony mouth that hooking it is a combination of skill and luck.

How to Catch a Tigerfish

If you target tigerfish, the options open to you are bait, lure or fly. Within these options, the bait can be live or dead and the lure can be almost anything big enough to attract the fish and strong enough to survive the powerful strike.

Fly fishing can also be productive, and an excellent sport, but you need strong nylon, possibly even a wire trace, and the hook must be of excellent quality and as sharp as possible. Added to that, the line must always be kept tight and, when a fish takes, it must pull straight onto strong resistance for a chance of setting the hook.

You will, on balance, not hook most of the fish that take your bait, lure, or fly and often the fish will leap high and strongly out of the water shaking its head vigorously making it really difficult, and stressful, to land a big specimen. There is no such thing as a lazy, successful tiger fisherman, you must always remain fully alert.

Unless the riverbank is open, flat and stable, boat fishing is the easiest, safest and most efficient way to fish the Zambezi, as well as on the Kariba Dam.

While tiger fishing is the best-known component of sport fishing in Zambia, once you are there and have achieved your initial goal, that is, have landed and photographed enough tigerfish, you can relax and enjoy further excitement. There are opportunities to target other species or safely check out hippos, crocodiles, and other wildlife. 

Explore Fishing in Zambia with BaitYourHook.com

This destination is not yet well known, but a sport fishing visit to Zambia can result in excitement, wonderful fishing experiences, plus a whole list of new species to add to your life list. The country is welcoming to foreign visitors, the infrastructure is mostly adequate and the people friendly. Whatever your taste, whether it is a top-end luxury experience or a truly wild, exciting and challenging “bush” experience, you can find it in Zambia. 

BaitYourHook.com, the online marketplace for fishing enthusiasts, gives you an opportunity to book your fishing adventure directly from trusted and carefully selected operators. Book one and be one of those lucky people smiling from the amazing photographs, while holding truly stunning fish, in beautiful environments.

Next in Fishing in Africa

Fishing in Kenya: What you need to know

By Scotty Kyle

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