While spinning for tigerfish in the Ruaha river in Tanzania near Kilombero, I caught this unusual fish. It took a copper Blue Fox spinner out in the main current of the river, and jumped just like a tiger. It was only when I landed it and saw the head that I realised that it was not a tigerfish at all, but something completely different.
Here is a closeup of the fish’s mouth and head area. A small round mouth, with stubby little teeth.
Compare that head with that of a Tanzanian Tiger below.
On my return to South Africa I sent pics to the guys at Rhodes University and they confirmed that it was a species known as Alestes stuhlmanii, but quite a bit bigger than they had thought it grew to. I thought I would just post it here, as it is an unusual catch, and if anybody is going fishing in that part of the world they may also come into contact with one of these strange fish.
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