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| Some of the boats and anglers from Crokango Angling Club that assisted the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine resources with the EUS survey in Mahangu Game reserve |
One of the core functions of Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute
(KIFI- Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources MFMR) is Fisheries Research. This is a broad and vital function that includes
different types of research such as Fish Biological Surveys, Water Quality,
Brood stock collection and Fish Disease monitoring.
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| Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute (KIFI). Next to Mahango Game Park. Yellow line on the bottom is Botswana border |
Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute (KIFI) has an International and Regional obligation to
monitor fish diseases such as Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS). It was against this background that we conducted a joint fish disease survey in the Mahangu Game Park with anglers from the Crokango Angling Club using sport
fishing techniques (rod & reel) to minimize the disturbance of fish and the
ecosystem. Catch and release was strictly implemented with the recording of
fish data on our Recreational Angling Forms. Only affected (EUS) fish were kept for sampling purposes.
The survey took place from the 8 -11 August 2013 and consisted of 5 boats, 8 anglers and 5 MFMR personnel including myself. My son Dawid also participated
Fishing started Friday (2 August) morning at 8:00 local time. Only a lunch break (13:00-14:30) interrupted fishing which continued to 17:00 every day. Sunday (4 August) we stopped fishing at 12:00.
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| Mr. Alex Muhero (KIFI) with a Threespot tilapia. Fish with lessions taken for sampling |
Species targeted:
Those prone to EUS infection. This included the Humpback and Thinface Largemouth, Nembwe and Pienk Happy.
Samples taken:
16 fish with lessions were taken for sampling and testing for EUS
Water condition:
17 degrees celuis, murky to clear water. Most fish caught next to reed banks and in backwaters and lagoons behind sand banks.
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| Backwater of Okavango in Mahangu Game Park |
Tackle used:
Mostly small plastics with 1/4 ounce jig heads and smaller. Also small efzet spinners and small rapala, halco and other brand lures. Humpbacks were biting on the bottom. Most success when small plastics were pulled along the bottom next to reed banks or in backwaters and lagoons behind sand banks.
Catch report:
250 Humpback Largemouth (Serranochromis altus) and Thinface Largemouth (Serranochromis angusticeps)
15 Nembwe (Serranochromis robustus)
5 Pienk Happy (Sargochromis giardi)
7 Catfish
15 Tiger fish (did not target tiger fish)
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| Largemouth with plastic (drop shot) |
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| Largemouth with plastic (drop shot 1/4 ounce jig) still in his mouth |
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| Dawid with Nembwe caught in backwater with dropshot (1/4 ounce jig) |
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| Dawid with Tiger Fish caught on 1/2 ounce jig and plastic minnow (paddle tail) |
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| Jig head still in tigers mouth. Minnow gone...with such teeth |
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| Alex Muhero with a Largemouth caught next to reed bank |
