TANZANIA SPORT FISHING

Tanzania and East Africa waters in general is renowned for their fish. These include therRainbow trout in the Kilimanjaro foothills and extends to the Striped Marlin in the Indian Ocean. Sport fishing or recreational fishing in Tanzania is an experience you won't forget easily as it's fun packed and filled with adventure.

Tanzania's deep waters of the Indian Ocean along the coast have lots of big-game fish like the big blue marlin, sailfish, dorado, king fish, barracuda and lots of other species.

Tanzania waters are only just beginning acquire world-wide fame meaning these waters have less boats and fishing is excellent. Private companies arrange for deep sea fishing in Tanzania offering specialization in ocean trips and boating. Hotels and lodges with close proximity as well do offer day trips to the coast.

Sport fishing at the coast is carried out all year round and the boats provided by hotels are equipped to the highest international standards of safety and latest technology like navigational aids, fishfinders, color echo sounder.

To enjoy the countries sceneries at a leisurely pace fly fishing and Fishing in the lakes outside of national parks is very rewarding as fishing in the national parks is prohibited, although it is a source of livelihood for many Tanzanian households. These fishing safaris can be arranged by tour operators, safari lodges, private companies during a day's trip and longer safaris together with the local fishermen in the countryside.

Tanzania's freshwater lakes and rivers offer abundant fishing opportunities for tourists wanting to venture into the wilds of Africa. Lake Victoria offers an opportunity to encounter freshwater lake fishing and observe Tanzania life as the local fishermen gladly organise for you to tag along with them on their fishing expeditions to haul their nets of tilapia and Nile Perch to the waters offshore. The main fishing areas on the lake is Rubondo Island National Park which offers base for those venturing on the fishing excursion.

 

Sport fishing is basically a fishing Safaris and is a famous and fun adventure. In Tanzania fishing safaris can be carried out in Zanzibar islands, Mafia Islands as well as on Lake Victoria.

Recreational fishing or angling is done on lake victoria as well as on the indian ocean islands of Zanzibar and Mafia. Basically during recreational fishing the fish caught either for food or its released for fun. On the other hand sport fishing is done to break records especially on the Rubondo islands national park on Lake Victoria where huge Nile perch have been known to be caught weighing hundreds of kilos. The skill lies in landing the largest fish on the smallest fishing rod and line. Recreational fishing and sport fishing differ from commercial and artisanal fishing in terms of purpose.

There are many fishing clubs on the shores of lake Victoria in Tanzania and Uganda as well.

The Main Methods Of Fishing

A variety of methods are used, this depends on ones' interest of the type of fish one wants to catch and the type of waters one is fishing in. These are the main methods of sport fishing in Tanzania a long the coast, the islands of Zanzibar and Mafia and on Lake Victoria.

Fly-Fishing: This involves the use of lures to attract the fishing to the boat within range and is mainly done in shallow waters.

Drift Fishing: Here hooks are used to catch fish in fairly deep waters.

Spearing Fish: Involves the use of spear or harpoon fired from a gun to spear the fish and dragging it to shore or the boat.