The River Nile below Murchison Falls in Uganda is one of the most inspiring, challenging and captivating stretches of water an angler will ever cast his line into… The Murchison Falls National Park is a world-renowned fishing destination and yet relatively little information has been recorded about past catches, fish species and the best fishing methods to use.
Fish to be caught
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Nile Perch
The prime sport fish sought in Murchison is the mighty Nile Perch. The perch in Murchison are large, wily and powerful. Living within strong currents and highly oxygenated water, hooking a perch of any size here will lead to a challenging battle. It is not unknown for perch to jump clear of the water up to five times in a bid to escape, and escape they often do, when tearing line across the numerous rocks and snags which abound within the deep and dark waters of the Nile. Also known as – Giant Perch, Niger Perch (alternative names), Mputa (local Ugandan name) Capitaine (west-Africa), Lates Nilotica (scientific name). Maximum published size: 193cms. Maximum published weight: 200kgs (circa 440lbs). IGFA World Record: 104.32kgs (230lbs) caught in Lake Nasser, Egypt 20th Dec 2000. Largest known caught in Murchison: 108kgs (237lbs) – Marco Magyar. A fish of 189kgs (415lbs) was caught in a net in Lake Albert in 2001.
Nile Perch grow around 25cms per annum for the first 2 or 3 years of life and thereafter growth slows. A 1 metre long fish is circa 7 years old. A fisherman and guide in Uganda, Paul Goldring, caught a 70kgs (154lbs) fish and sent one of its scales to a UK University where it was calculated the fish was 17 years old.
Semutundu Catfish
Also know as – Bagrus Catfish, Bagrus docmak (scientific name). Maximum published size: 127cm. Maximum published weight: 35kgs (80lbs). IGFA World Record: The Semutundu is now eligible for an All Tackle category record, which is currently open. Any application must be at least ‘trophy size’ i.e. in the upper half of the fishes maximum reported weight. Largest caught in Murchison: 46kgs (101lbs). Description: Grey-black above, creamy white below. Body sometimes shot with gold and green. 1 dorsal spine with 8-11 soft rays and forked tail fin. 4 pairs of barbels. Widespread in both shallow and deep water. Associated with rocky bottoms/coarse substrates. Feeds on insects, crustaceans, mollusks and fish. Takes any live or dead bait fished on or near the bottom. When hooked, the Semutundu tends to hug the bottom and swim in a series of characteristic tight ‘S’ bends.
Vundu Catfish
Also known as: Heterobranchus longifilis (scientific name). Maximum published size: 150cms. Maximum published weight: 55kgs (120lbs). IGFA World Record: 32.5kgs (71lbs 10oz) caught in Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe 26/12/2000. Largest known caught in Murchison: 49kgs (108lbs). Description: Greyish brown above, creamy white below. More elongated than Sematundu. Convex tail fin. 26-35 soft dorsal rays – no spines. Less common than Semutundu in Murchison. Tends to inhabit the mainstream and deep pools. Most active at night, feeding on any available food, including invertebrates and insects when young, fish and other small vertebrates when older. Scavenges off large carcasses. Lives for 12 or more years. The hardest fighting large catfish when hooked. Takes any live or dead bait fished on or near the bottom.
Also known as: Mali, Mudfish, Common Catfish, North African Catfish, Kambali, Skerptandbaber, Baber, Mlamba, Harlei, Clarias gariepinus (scientific name). Maximum published size: 170cms. Maximum published weight: 60kgs (132lbs). Largest known caught in Murchison: Not known, but 15-30kgs (30-60lbs) are not uncommon. Description: Probably one of the most widely distributed catfish in Africa. The body is strongly compressed towards the caudal fin and the dorsal fin comprises of 61-80 soft rays, which extend from behind the head nearly to the base of the caudal fin, which is rounded. The colour varies from almost black to light brown, often marbled in shades of olive green or grey. Under parts of head and abdomen creamy white, sometimes with red flush to the extremities of the fins, especially when spawning. Upper surface of head coarsely granulated in adult fishes, smooth in the young. Occurs mainly in quiet pools but may occasionally occur in fast flowing water. Has an accessory breathing organ enabling it to breath air when very active or under very dry conditions. Remains in the muddy substrates of ponds and occasionally gulps air through the mouth. Can leave the water at night using its strong pectoral fins and spines in search of land-based food or breeding areas. While usually a bottom feeder, it occasionally feeds at the surface. Forages at night on a wide variety of prey including insects, plankton, invertebrates and fish. Also takes young birds, rotting flesh and plants. Takes any live or dead bait fished on or near the bottom and is known for putting up a good fight, often making determined runs into reeds or other snags and cover.
Tiger Fish (Small)
Also known as: Ngassa (local Ugandan name), Hydrocynus forskahlii (scientific name). Maximum published size: 78cms. Maximum published weight: 1.5kgs (3lbs). Maximum reported age: 4 years. Maximum reported size at Murchison: 1.5kg (3lbs). Description: An open water predator often found near the surface and in fast flowing water. Forms shoals and feeds on fishes, preferring long bodied fish, as they are easier to swallow. Also takes insects, grasshoppers and snails. Cannibalistic. Silver with long and slender profile. Tail fin forked with bright red color, rest of fins uniformly grey. Regularly takes spinners retrieved a high speed across fast-flowing water. Fishes best shortly after dawn and after 4pm. Makes very good live bait for Nile Perch.
Tiger Fish
Also known as: Wagassa (local Ugandan name), Hydrocynus vittatus (scientific name). Maximum published size: 105 cm. Maximum published weight: 28kgs (62lbs). Maximum reported age: 8 years. Maximum reported size at Murchison: Tales of ‘large’ tiger fish in Lake Albert abound in the first half of the 20th Century, but no hard evidence of their existence has been known there or in the river at Murchison in recent times. Description: 2 dorsal spines, 8 dorsal soft rays. Body profile less slender than Hydrocynus forskahlii. Long gill rakers. Tips of adipose and dorsal fins black. Forked edge of tail fin is black. Prefers warm, well-oxygenated water in larger rivers and lakes. All but the largest fish form roving schools of like-sized fish; aptly described as fierce and voracious. Feeds on whatever prey is most abundant.
Barbel
Also known as: Golden Barbel, Barbus, Barbus byyni byyni (scientific name). Maximum published size: 82cms. Maximum reported size at Murchison: 4kgs (9lbs). Confined to the Nile and lakes that were once connected to the Nile. Feeds on crustaceans, insects, mollusks and organic debris. Found in Murchison in shallower and slacker pools, especially in the vicinity of pods of Hippo. Fights well on light tackle. Takes most seed baits (sweet corn for example), especially when presented on or near the bottom as well as spinners retrieved slowly.
Wahrindi
Also known as: Squeaker (common name), Upside-down catfish, Synodontis Victoriae (scientific name). Maximum published size: 35cms. Maximum reported size at Murchison: 1.5kgs (3lbs). The body is short and more or less compressed. Has one strong dorsal spine and spines within the pectoral fins, which are long and serrated. The spines can be locked at right angles to the body as a form of self-defence. The spines are also prone to cause septic wounds. Adipose fin is large and the caudal deeply forked. Emmits distinct ‘squeak’ when caught/distressed. Found all over the water mostly over soft bottoms and close to banks and slower flowing water in Murchison. The fish of the shallow, faster water are generally of a lighter greyish-green colour, whilst the fish of the deeps are a more darker, blacker colour. Never deliberately fished for – of little use as live bait due to spines. Takes most baits presented on small hooks towards the bottom.
Alestes Baremoze
Also known as: Ngara (local Ugandan name), Silversides, Alestes Baremoze Baremoze (scientific name). Maximum published size: 43cms. Maximum published weight: 500gm. Maximum reported weight in Murchison: 2kgs. Silver coloured with blue-grey black and white belly, greyish fins with orange colours on the lower lobe of the tail fin. Regularly caught on spinners, spoons and fly, also takes float fished dough and termites. Fights well on light tackle. Can be used as an effective live bait although less hardy than other species.
Awaka
There are a variety of local Ugandan names for this fish but we have been unable to identify the fish fully with a scientific name. Can anybody help? Maximum recorded weight in Murchison: 2kgs. This fish forms the mainstay of live bait at Murchison and is found in just about every section of the river, especially near the bank along papyrus reed beds and under overhanging trees. Most often caught on dough and sweet corn. Will also take spinners and termites. At certain times of the year forms shoals in the white water towards the base of the falls, when apparently spawning. The males turn reddish along the belly and lower fins when spawning. Very good sport on light tackle. The larger fish require a wire trace to prevent their teeth breaking the line.
Electric Catfish
Also known as: Malapterurus Electicus (scientific name). Maximum published size: 1 metre. Maximum published weight: 20kgs. Maximum reported weight in Murchison: 2kgs. Occurs among rocks or roots and favours sluggish or standing water. Most active at night, feeding mainly on fish stunned by electric shocks. The electric organ, capable of discharging 300-400 volts, is derived from pectoral muscle and surrounds almost the entire body. It is used both for prey capture and defense. Forms pairs and breeds in excavated cavities or holes. Caught on a variety of baits fished on the bottom – handle with care!
(Information concerning other commonly found species is being compiled and will be included soon)
Tackle and Tactics
Fishing for Nile Perch in Murchison is done primarily from the banks and rocky outcrops directly below the falls and from boats moored close to favourable pools and eddies further downstream. Live baits tend to provide the best results. Baits are most often free-lined but are also suspended by floats or fished on the bottom with weight. Fresh dead baits are also known to catch perch but also attract the many catfish in the river along with the infamous soft-shelled Nile Turtle, which is never a pleasant experience to hook.
Rods and reels:A matter of personal preference, but at least 30lb class gear is recommended. Rods up to 9-10ft in length (known commonly as ‘uptide’ rods in the UK) are useful when casting lures from the bank. Smaller 6-7ft ‘boat’ rods are otherwise adequate. Multiplier reels or large bait-runner fixed spool reels need to hold several hundred metres of 35-40lb breaking strain monofilament line (mono is preferred over braid due frequent cut-offs on rocks). A heavy main line is advisable due to the numerous rocks and snags, occasional dense floating vegetation, fast currents and… the potential for monster fish!
End tackle:
A wire or heavy monofilament trace/leader is essential to avoid cut-offs by the perch’s sharp gill plates and by rocks. Personal preference dictates hook choice, with many argue the merits of one or a combination of single, double and treble hooks. Hook size is mostly 6/0 or 8/0. Swivels and snap-links should all be heavy duty. As the old adage goes “your rig is only as strong as the weakest link” – so also ensure you tie your knots well!
Artificial baits are also an effective and rewarding way to meet with Perch. Most often lures are cast into fast water or through the creases where pools and eddies and the fast stream meet. Success tends to be found when lures are retrieved very quickly. Floating lures are preferred when bank fishing in order to try to avoid loses in rocks and other underwater snags. Super Shad Raps work well, with any colour being taken on its day. Rubber fish, spoons and spinners are also useful.
Fly-fishing:
Works well, especially in pools and eddies below rapids and water falls. The largest fish to fall to a fly in recent times weighed 25 kilos and was caught by fishing guide Alistair Brew. Alistair was fishing right below Murchison Falls in the spectacular pool known as the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’.
Landing:Overcoming and landing a decent sized perch from the riverbank will test even the most experienced angler. Without the luxury of a boat to avoid the rocks in the shallows and to follow a fish if necessary, the head shaking runs, the swift current and deep eddies place the odds firmly in the fish’s favour.
Once beaten, Perch have traditionally been gaffed in order to haul them on to the boat or bank. If done carefully this should not overly harm the fish, but in the heat of events it is easy to make a mistake with a gaff. Far more preferable these days is to ‘glove’ the fish out of the water. This is done wearing a suitable heavy-duty glove (they can be bought even incorporating Kevlar) and to grip the fish by its lower jaw. If large, the fish should also be supported under the belly to lift it from the water. Fish should never be suspended vertically when weighing, as small vertebrae in the spine can be broken. This can prove fatal even after the fish is supposedly released ‘alive and well’. Weighing should be done with the fish contained in a weigh sack.
When to fish:
Nile Perch and large catfish can be caught throughout the year and throughout the day. Many anglers believe that results are best early and late in the day. This does tend to hold true for most predatory fish but, in the experience of Arthur de Mello, a long time and knowledgeable fisherman in Uganda, fish can be caught at any time of the day or night as long as the weather and water are warm and the skies clear. In Murchison the best results appear to occur when water levels are low and the water is clear. In contradiction to this however, fish also seem to feed actively when weather patterns change dramatically, i.e. at the starting of a rainstorm. The river is usually at its lowest and clearest between Mid-January to Early April.
Live bait:
Fishing for live bait is best with a 6-7 ft spinning rod and a corresponding fixed spool reel. Main line should be strong enough to be pulled across rocks and through weeds and to fight fish against strong currents. 10-15 lbs test is ideal. A small light wire trace is also advisable as many baitfish have small sharp teeth.
The best baitfish include Awaka (similar to a UK Chub), Ngara (a large type of Dace) and small Tiger fish. Tilapias are a proven favourite but are less readily available in this stretch of the river. Alestes and Ngara are most common and can be caught by float fishing with sweet corn, millet dough or termites. They can also be caught on spinners, as can tiger fish. Tilapia can be caught in the slower waters on or near the bottom, mostly with worms. All of these fish are great sport in their own right, when matched with the right tackle.
Important: Conservation and the Environment.Most fishermen/women are conservation and environment minded, but sport fishing at Murchison takes place within a national park which makes it all the more important that best practices are employed. This of course includes not littering, a firm policy of catch and release and endeavouring at all costs to avoid cut-offs and to retrieve any lines and tackle which are lost. Some believe that fishing should not occur inside a protected area – litter on the bank and mammals or birds caught up in fishing line would only strengthen their argument. Please fish carefully!!!
This site supports the objectives of the International Game Fish Association:
The International Game Fish Association is a not-for-profit organisation committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical, angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping.
IGFA’s objectives are founded on the beliefs that game fish species, related food fish, and their habitat are economic, social, recreational, and aesthetic assets which must be maintained, wisely used, and perpetuated; and that the sport of game fish angling is an important recreational, economic, and social activity which the public must be educated to pursue in a manner consistent with sound sporting and conservation practices.
Reviews of Fishing
What kind of fish can withstand such a force that exists at the foot of the falls? Charles Norman describes his fishing day out with a companion who on seeing the massive fish “…let out a strangled squawk and I found myself staring at the hog-sized back of a huge fish protruding above the water at the rock’s edge – a 100kg fish with scales the size of tennis balls. Swimming next to it was a smaller one, a ‘midget’ of a mere 40kg or so”. This adventure is described by the prodigiously experienced Charles Norman as “…the most exciting morning’s fishing that I have ever known.” Other game fish found in the Nile include Barbel, electric Catfish and Tiger fish.