Tiger Fishing Africa

Tiger Fishing Africa: Fishing in Tanzania always brings a mix of anticipation and curiosity, and this past week in the Kilombero Valley carried both. A full group of South Africans arrived with a clear goal in mind. Some were returning for the fish that slipped away on their previous trip. After settling in, everyone gathered on the sandbar with a gin and tonic in hand, watching the light fade and talking quietly about the days ahead.

Slip Catches and Small Miracles

Early in the week, Doc Mac delivered a cast between two tight logs on the upper Mnyera. Two strips later he was in. The fish wrapped itself around branches immediately, and the calm morning shifted into organised chaos. We pushed the boat into the timber, Doc traced the line back through the sticks, and to our surprise the pressure returned.

When the tiger surfaced near the boat it shook free and the fly came out clean. The disappointment lasted a second. Then we saw the net. The fish had landed in it mid-jump. A strange way to land a tiger, but it counted. Twelve pounds. A moment that the whole group replayed for the rest of the week.

A Bit of Friendly Competition

Towards the end of the week, four anglers set up an informal challenge: KZN versus Eastern Cape. Nothing official, just steady banter carried between the boats. On the Ruhudji, the KZN side edged ahead. On the Mnyera, the numbers evened out. Gnu’s fish shifted things, though—a solid tiger that gave his boat a clear talking point for future trips.

The Value of Hammock Time

By midweek, shoulders and forearms started feeling six days of casting. That’s when camp slows down naturally. Lunch ends, hammocks appear, and everyone disappears into the shade for a short break. It’s a simple routine, but running a 9-weight through fast water all day gives you a new appreciation for a slow hour with nothing to do.

The Rapids Deliver

Riley and Gnu walked into the rapids on the final afternoon with a sense that something might happen. At Double Up, tigers were already following flies right to the rocks. They landed a pair of fish—five and nine pounds—then decided on one more cast.

The next eat was unmistakable. The fish moved hard across the pool, jumped several times, and pushed both angler and guide into full concentration mode. After a steady fight, the net went under a broad-shouldered tiger weighing 23 pounds. A memorable fish and a fitting way to close the week.

Two Anglers, Four Casts, Two Fish

Double Up kept producing. Ray stepped up first, drew a swirl on his opening cast, and hooked a 12-pounder on his second. Matt followed the same pattern—interest on the first cast, contact on the second. His fish tucked itself into the rocks, but slow pressure brought it free. It measured 18 pounds.

That pool continues to offer moments that stay with you.

Stories Around the Fire

The final evening settled around the fire, as it usually does. A relaxed fines session, plenty of stories about close calls and lost fish, and a sense that the group had made the most of their week in this valley.

If this chapter of the 2025 season has you thinking about your own trip, get in touch and we’ll walk you through the available dates. – Tiger Fishing Africa