When Is The Best Time To Catch Tilapia? Welcome to Aquaculture Design! South Africa is a country famous for its saltwater fishing. The best time to catch Vlei Kurper (Banded Tilapia) is during the spring and summer. Redbreast Kurper (Tilapia rendalli) is more commonly known around Southern Africa as the Redbreast Tilapia or Redbreasted Tilapia/Kurper. There are two indigenous species of each. Tiger Fishing South Africa: One For the Bucket List. They do prefer quieter waters in rivers, where they hold in deeper slow moving pools, and then of course dams, swamps, marshlands and floodplains. Fishing For Bream. The Vlei Kurper is omnivorous, and is an opportunistic feeder. They can attain lengths of 45 centimeters or so, and weigh in at well over 2 kilograms. Small flies are the key here, the smaller fly, the better the chance you will have of hooking one of these fish. Tilapia need temperatures of 26-30°C for maximum growth (see Figure 1). Tilapia are small fish, and you don’t really need exceptional equipment to have a good catch. Essential Aspects of Fish Farming Three aspects are essential before commencing with such an aquaculture venture. Tilapia (/ t ɪ ˈ l ɑː p i ə / tih-LAH-pee-ə) is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the coelotilapine, coptodonine, heterotilapine, oreochromine, pelmatolapiine and tilapiine tribes (formerly all were "Tilapiini"), with the economically most important species placed in Coptodonini and Oreochromini. When I lived in Zim - I spent hours catching tilapia in the dams around harare - the best was always earthworm (and flying ants in season) - a light float with a small split shot and a small hook with the whole worm (size 6 baitholder hook is best) - length between float and hook varied according to depth being fished. Otherwise, if you do not have this setup, you can target them on a 4 or 5 weight, but they won’t be much fun to catch. The male fish build a round shaped nest where the eggs are guarded with ferocity. Switch out any trebles for freshly-sharpened circle hooks for the most secure hookup. It is relatively easy to spot their beds, which appear like craters covering the pond or river bottom. If the Vlei Kurper are on the bite, they will take almost any fly. Bream or Tilapia is also called Kurper. In South Africa, naturally occurring tilapia fall into two genera: Oreochromis and Tilapia. This makes them a great target on fly. We are an aquaculture consulting, manufacturing and design facility with more than two decades of experience. Therefore pond-aquaculture of tilapia isn’t viable in this country. Tilapia for urban consumers are usually sold at a higher price per kg. This market is particularly useful for selling small tilapia of between 150g and 300g. Smaller flies can be used for the juveniles, and using a large fly with a small trailing nymph a few centimeters behind it often produces good results. You can also be lucky during the day. The Blue Kurper (Bloukurper in Afrikaans) can live in fast flowing rivers, stillwater dams and in saltwater, making it one of the more widespread and common of the South African fly fishing target species. The male fish is an extremely aggressive species, and one can target them on fly with great success during the time of spawning and breeding, which happens in Spring and Summer. Fish The Fly knows how everyone loves updates, photo's and videos, so keep updated with all the latest fly fishing news from South Africa below. Unlike pork (and maybe snails), it is heavily consumed across the various religious, ethnic and social lines that crisscross the African continent. The best time to catch tilapia is during their spawning season, which is anytime when the water temperature is above 68 degrees. The Banded Tilapia can survive and thrive in a variety of different habitats, but they prefer the calmer water of rivers and stillwaters such as dams. Tilapia Aquaculture in South Africa..... 11 9. Our expertise covers all aspects of fish farming including Re-circulating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), scientifically engineered fish feeds, comprehensive Brood Stock technology, and state-of-the-art farm designs and upgrades. They are one of the larger species of Kurper that occur naturally in South Africa, after the Blue Kurper (Mozambique Tilapia). I live in Pretoria and have caught numerous little Tilapia at Rietvlei and Roodeplaat. The Vlei Kurper (Tilapia sparrmanii) is also known as the Banded Tilapia, and is true Tilapia species belonging to the large family of African Cichlids. Bream live in large shoals and mature specimens can provide a good fight. Otherwise, if you do not have this setup, you can target them on a 4 or 5 weight, but they won’t be much fun to catch. Tilapia prefer spawning in very shallow waters with abundant vegetation to provide cover from predators. BOAT FISHING FOR KURPER. Cast out and leave and watch. The main food fish species produced in South Africa include trout, tilapia, marron (freshwater crayfish) and to a small extent, catfish. It is quite hard to catch tilapia at night. Vlei Kurper are an aggressive species, and can be caught on fly readily. Wild Tilapia is becoming a booming sport here in Australia. Again, super sharp is the name of the game. It is a small, but beautiful freshwater fish species that comes in all sorts of colour variations, depending on it’s habitat. If you want to see measurable results you really do need to deal with measurable fish. A fine kurper taken at Mkhombo Dam. Sustainable Tilapia Farming In South Africa. All sorts of retrieves can work when fishing wet flies, and a bit of wind is ideal when using nymphs. A o-2 weight rod and reel with floating or intermediate line is suggested. Characteristics of the South African Tilapia Industry ... of over-fishing and the decimation of wild shoals from the worlds oceans has led to a raft of . Eating Tilapia in South Africa Due to a limited fish-eating culture in South Africa and consumers being unaware and uneducated of tilapia, the fish is not yet popular in South Africa. They can live for over 7 years and occur naturally in the northern lowveld reaches in South Africa. They do require some form of structure, such as submerged trees, sticks, rocks and so on. There are many many places in and around Gauteng where you can catch Tilapia - If there is water there is 10 to 1 probably Tilapia. One of the best venues for big blues however is Klein Paradys outside Brits. Vlei Kurper are responsible for a lot of bites that cannot be turned into hook ups when fishing around structure and vegetation. Millions of rural people throughout tropical Africa, for example the Barotse people in north-west Zambia, survive on wild-caught tilapia of this size. You can also try live baiting – Tilapia are abundant in Jozini and work a treat. Tilapia are usually very abundant all throughout the year, but capturing them during spawning season leads to a higher success of catching. When they breed the male fish have red edgings on their fins, which make them extremely pretty to look at. Otherwise, large tilapia can be netted out of smaller containments and the rest left to grow. The best time to catch Vlei Kurper (Banded Tilapia) is during the spring and summer. If it wasn't for the fact that the Blue Kurper's preferred habitat is in the warmer, lower regions of the country, it would quite possibly be the most popular angling species in South Africa. This is because the areas where the Redbreast Kurper occurs is full of snags, nooks and crannies and all sorts of stuff where this fish can cut you off on. Their daily catch often consists of very small fish, often less than 10cm in length. They then create tunnels or burrows in the nest where the eggs and larvae stay protected. The Vlei Kurper are one of the smallest species of Tilapia in South Africa after the Dwarf Kurper (Southern Mouthbrooder) and the Cape Kurper. They can grow up to 25 centimeters or so and weigh up to 600 grams, but most specimens around 15 centimeters in length. The Redbreast Kurper can adapt and survive in a variety of different habitats. However, the high cost of tilapia production, processing and distribution remains a major challenge in Africa compared to Asia and South America. Tilapia and catfish farming is an interesting business opportunity in Africa. They are used as a fish to control weed in many dams, and they thrive in environments with a lot of aquatic vegetation. Tilapia can be selectively harvested from ponds by using a large mesh gill net that catches only fish of a certain size. The Redbreasted Tilapia breeds in pairs, where they make a nest by clearing the aquatic vegetation, often a meter or so in diameter. Aquaculture in sub-Saharan Africa has The Redbreast Tilapia is a beautiful freshwater fish species that is characterised by it’s red under belly, that can cover the entire underbelly in breeding and spawning season, which is in Summer. ... Niles however are much harder to obtain in South Africa as you need an Invasive species permit from DAFF. Oreochromis O. mossambicus: The Mozambique bream, or blue kurper, is the best-known tilapia species. They are common in most major rivers and dams in the central, eastern and northern regions of South Africa, and can be a fun species to catch on fly. As with most animals in nature, the male bream … In 1999, the contribution of aquaculture in sub-Saharan Africa to the total world aquaculture production was less than 1% in terms of tonnage produced. At least 10lb tippet should be used, especially if you find some of the bigger specimens. They will feed on algae, plants, insects and small fish, such as mosquitofish (An alien fish species that has been introduced to many waters around South Africa). Bream are a common species that can be easily found when fishing in South Africa. Mornings when the sun is rising and evenings as the sun sets are the best time to fish for tilapia. A o-2 weight rod and reel with floating or intermediate line is suggested. Nonetheless, it is good to view these systems, mainly to see how not to carry out certain aspects of tilapia culture. Fish The Fly knows how everyone loves updates, photo's and videos, so keep updated with all the latest fly fishing news from South Africa below. This species of tilapia is quite common through South Africa and is very adaptable. The most important piece of advice to follow is to use lighter fishing tackle since there is no need to go overkill on your equipment. This series on aquaculture by SouthAfrica.co.za is translated into all eleven official South African languages to educate and empower the people of South Africa on the potential of freshwater Aquaculture. Oreochromis are maternal mouth brooders, while Tilapia are substrate spawners. They prefer areas with warmer climates, but they can tolerate water temperatures of between 10 and 40 degrees celsius. Redbreast Kurper (Tilapia rendalli) is more commonly known around Southern Africa as the Redbreast Tilapia or Redbreasted Tilapia/Kurper.They are one of the larger species of Kurper that occur naturally in South Africa, after the Blue Kurper (Mozambique Tilapia).They can attain lengths of 45 centimeters or so, and weigh in at well over 2 kilograms. In outdoor ponds in South Africa, this restricts maximum growth to only a few months during summer, from November to February. More has been invested in Nile tilapia than in any other tilapia – and the results are there for all to see. The colours on this fish during breeding are magnificent. It thrives in South African freshwater systems, although currently the numbers of these fish are dwindling as a result of competition from the Nile Kurper (Tilapia), which is not originally indigenous to the South African sub-region. Nile and blue tilapia usually weigh around 5 pounds, whereas Mozambique tilapia is somewhere around 1.5-2 pounds. The Redbreast Kurper feeds mainly on plants and plant matter such as algae, but is also predatory and eats insects, crabs, worms and smaller fish. Of these, rainbow trout, African catfish and Mozambique tilapia are the three dominant species. However, tunnel aquaculture is. It is vital to make sure your fish that you buy can deliver on their growth promise – … Fish is one of the cheapest sources of animal protein and the most widely accepted animal product in Africa. they can be found in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North West, Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal. The largest consumer section for tilapia is foreign nationals living in South Africa as well as high-end consumers who are accustomed to fish in their diets. Be careful not to approach the beds too closely, since tilapia are nervous, easily spooked fish. Also, mornings during sunrise, evenings during sunset, and mid-day are all good times of the day for tilapia fishing. They are generally a metallic green or olive green colour, but they can go very light and some Vlei Kurper are almost completely black. The Blue Kurper is one of South Africa's most common inland freshwater fish species. Freshwater species currently being cultured in South Africa include rainbow trout, brown trout, crocodiles, ornamental fish, African sharptooth catfish, Mozambique and Nile tilapia, marron crayfish and common carp. due to over-fishing, aquaculture has been identified as a practice to provide protein that would otherwise have come from the ocean. South Africa, in contrast to neighbouring countries, is littered with failed fish farms devised by avaricious ‘system designers’ who have no track record of commercial success. How To Catch The South African Banded Tilapia (Vlei Kurper): The Banded Tilapia (Vlei Kurper), like many other species of Tilapia can be caught on almost any bait or small lure (Plastics and feathers work best). The Redbreast Kurper is an aggressive fish all year round, but they become particularly aggressive in Summer when they breed. A 4 – 6 weight fly setup with floating or intermediate line is best used to target the Redbreast Kurper on fly. I have even caught a Banded Tilapia on a scented camo (Dropshot) worm to see if this theory works! To start an aquaculture business in South Africa with the aim to produce freshwater fish, new fish farmers will need plans, skills, a suitable site and the right fish farming system suitable to their environment. As most transactions are done in US$ terms, African seafood importers are also being affected by the dynamics of the appreciating US$, which has a significant impact on trade. They prefer hanging around aquatic plants and submerged vegetation. They are found throughout South Africa, and have been translocated to a variety of destinations as a fodder food for Bass. Due to their aggressive nature (As mentioned above), the Redbreast Tilapia is a fun species to target on fly, and should be pursued with slightly heavier fly tackle. Many anglers catch them on nymphing techniques used for Trout and Yellowfish, but if you want to specifically target them, you will need a light fly fishing setup.