The goliath tigerfish is widely known as the most fearsome freshwater fish, sporting aggressive teeth and tipping the scales at 150 pounds and up. They are found in only one area of the world: the Congo River Basin. With adventure on our minds and the thought of a toothy oversized fish on the end of the line, we made our way to search for the elusive goliath tigerfish.
We embarked on our Cape to Congo Fly Fishing tour, knowing this would not be an easy fish to come by. This would be the pinnacle of our fly fishing journey and records were there to be broken. Lucy Mantle, co-founder of City Flickers, the London-based Fly Fishing Club, was setting out to be the first woman to catch a Goliath on the fly. As we entered the Republic of Congo full of optimism, nothing could fully prepare us for what we would face on our lines.
Getting Ready:
After months of research, kit prepping, and racking the brains of anyone crazy enough to have chased these monsters before on the fly, we dialed in our gear, flies, and equipment. Where we were headed, we were on our own. This meant making sure our gear was up to standards, and we had the proper flies to tackle these beasts. Heavy wire hooks, 10 and 12-wt rods, and reels able to put the breaks to fish in heavy currents were a must. With prep done, we finally found ourselves halfway up the Congo River on a 30ft dugout canoe casting into what we hoped would be Goliath territory.
The Hunt for Goliaths:
We fished an untouched tributary of this awe-inspiring river drifting over the crystal-clear water, stripping our monstrous flies to entice one of these prehistoric fish. Armed with a quiver of rods each, we set out, praying that we hadn’t got this wrong and that goliaths would be hidden away, waiting to ambush one of our flies. After a slow start in the searing heat, our luck changed on the second day. I cast a fly that landed 3 feet from where the emerald green rainforest meets the river, and suddenly line was being stripped through my fingers at a speed I had never felt before. Within seconds, this beast tore through the 50-lb leader above the wire trace, and I was left with nothing but an adrenaline rush that I will never forget. The sheer power of these fish leaves nothing to the imagination; when they strike, you quickly realize that the goliath, or Mbenga, as the Congolese call them, is in full control.
Getting back to it, I quickly had another take in quick succession. I held on as my sinking line ripped through my hands until the tiger was off before I could wrestle back any of my line. Lucy frustratingly noted the flies they were interested in were not the bespoke goliath flies tied for us, but instead small brush flies you would use to cast at smaller vittatus tigerfish. These smaller, lighter flies were soon stripped through every pool and channel until our bodies ached, and we started to fear we might not have another chance again. This was until the drop in morale was broken by Lucy when she was thrown forward and announced, “I’m in!”.
In one swift moment, her fly was ripped upstream at an alarmingly fast rate, and a 40+lb Goliath Tigerfish broke the surface, showing us her full mammoth size. The force with which this fish was fighting quickly showed why they are so revered, and her 12-wt strained with the pressure. It powered through the fast-flowing river, tearing more line out and heading deeper into the river. Despite her best efforts to take the upper hand in this fight, the fish broke the fly line and disappeared. As we sat lamenting what could have been seeking support from the local Congolese beer, we realized that you can only appreciate this species, which has truly earned its name and reputation.
After 5 exhausting days, 3 goliaths lost, 1 vittatus landed, and enough fly kit destroyed by these infamous fish to fill a scrapyard, the trip was over. Sure, we didn’t land a goliath, but this was undoubtedly the most incredible experience with a rod in hand. The sheer power and mystery behind these fish is awe-inspiring, and while the goliath certainly won this round, we will be back.
To follow Lucy’s journey to catch a goliath and the great work City Flickers is doing, check them out on Instagram: @lucy_mantle @city.flickers.
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