| The Nile Perch (Lates niloticus) is one of the worlds | | | | found in possession of a live Nile Perch as it is a |
| largest fresh water fish growing to a maximum | | | | direct competitor with the native Barramundi. |
| length of around 2 metres (6 feet) and reach a | | | | However, in Lake Nasser in Egypt, the Nile Perch has |
| weight of over to 200kg (560lbs). Not surprisingly, it | | | | thrived. Lake Nasser is an artificial lake created by the |
| is a highly sought after fish by fishermen who are | | | | construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s |
| looking for an angling adventure of a lifetime. | | | | and once the species was introduced, it has |
| The Nile Perch is found in many parts of Africa | | | | attracted sports fishermen from all round the world. |
| including Congo, Nile, Senegal, Niger, Lake Chad, Volta | | | | The conditions of the lake mean that the Nile Perch is |
| and Lake Turkana to name a few. It is a large mouth | | | | far more likely to grow to larger sizes than it would in |
| game fish which feeds on smaller fish in the lakes and | | | | a river and there are a huge number of specimens of |
| rivers where it lives. | | | | more than 100kg (220lbs). |
| Although Lake Nasser is renowned for its Nile Perch | | | | The fishing opportunities at Lake Nasser are from the |
| fishing, the record fish was hooked in Lake Victoria | | | | shore as well as from boats and leading anglers are |
| where the species was introduced in the 1950s. The | | | | on record as saying that the fishing at Lake Nasser is |
| fish weighed in at an impressive 232kg (516lbs) but | | | | unlike anywhere else in the world. In addition to the |
| the species had a disastrous effect causing the | | | | Nile Perch, Lake Nasser is also home to the ferocious |
| extinction or near-extinction of many native species | | | | Tiger fish and the Catfish. In order to conserve the |
| on which it preyed. It is consider among the 100 | | | | fish population, many companies who run fishing trips |
| worst invasion species and although it has been | | | | here operate a catch and release policy which |
| introduced into a number of lakes in Africa, the state | | | | ensures that the larger fish live to fight another day. |
| of Queensland in Australia will heavily fine anyone | | | | |