With the current global growth in the use of mobile handheld devices, we also set out to develop ways to use GPS enabled devices to record more detailed, geo-referenced information about recreational fishing activities. Using the innovative and freely available Cybertracker data collection software we designed a data collection routine to run on GPS capable PDAs. We called our routine TigerTracker and used it to log fishing activity from Wildtracks. Read more about how mobile devices can be used to assist conservation and see examples of how the information collected can be used to examine the duration, location of fishing effort, identify activity hotspots, look at the species composition of catches and assess the potential impacts of catch and release angling across the entire catch or for particular species of interest:

REPORT – TigerTracker

The TigerTracker routine was developed using Cybertracker software. Find out more about how it works here.

This work was funded by a grant from the Rufford Small Grants Foundation.

We invited a select group of guests to leave the chill of the Copperbelt, Lusaka and Johannesburg (well, relative chill for some) to come and enjoy an extended weekend of fishing, sandbanks and sundowners on the river. As is usual for this time of year, the weather was perfect. Crisp mornings and sunshine, without the blazing heat of October. The question was, would we be able to entice some fish onto the bite. As it turned out, the fishing certainly did not disappoint.  There were certainly plenty of bites, although getting them to stick was not always so easy! With the colder water conditions, bait fishing did not really produce much and it was those who turned to lures who had the most success.

All told, more than 20 kilos of tigerfish were landed and released. While the number of fish caught was not outstanding, the quality of fish was consistently ranging from the 2 kilogram mark right up to a feisty 7 kilos. First timers and locals alike were on the board, setting a good mark for things to get even better once the water warms up again and the summer fishing kicks off.

The weekend was not only about fishing, and everyone enjoyed Wildtracks’s usual brand of easy-going hospitality with a good dose of sandbar sundowners, elephants, good food and great company. This was matched by the generosity of our visitors who made some substantial donations towards conservation in the area. Collectively, the group made a sizable donation towards the Lower Zambezi Catch and Release Initiative. This will provide a great boost to the further expansion of the inititaive and the promotion of responsible sports angling on the Zambezi. Conservation Lower Zambezi also benefited from another donation for Wildtracks to hand over towards their conservation work in the area.  To all our our guests this weekend, your generosity is much appreciated and will go a long way towards ensuring that the Zambezi valley remains a special place to visit for years to come.

Thank you very much from Wildtracks and the Vrdoljak family, to all our guests this weekend, Ken and Cindy, Jill, Ron and Sonja, Rusty and Di, and Sean and Janine. It was a really special weekend and hope that you all enjoyed being here as much as we did having you.  We look forward to welcoming you all back soon, and hope to make our Winter Invitational Weekend an annual fixture on the Wildtracks calendar.

While sport fishing is a great way to get out into wild places like the Zambezi, increasing  pressure on fishing areas, more traffic and boat traffic and the effects of increasing development on the river banks, are threatening the very resources that fishermen come to the valley to enjoy.  At Wildtracks we believe that as a general principle, fishing guides and recreational anglers should aim to minimize their impact on the environment. This entails fishing in an ethical and responsible fashion and ensuring we create minimal disturbance and avoid interfering with the natural behaviour of animals around them. Fishing,  is by nature a consumptive activity that is at odds with this principal of minimal disturbance. In order to get around this dilemma, catch-and-release fishing has become more popular as a means of enjoying fishing as a sport, without removing fish from the population. Catch-and-release is considered to be an environmentally friendly option and is promoted as a conservation measure for protected areas around the world.

We practice catch-and-release fishing on our boats and encourage all our guests to fish on a strictly catch-and-release basis. There is more however to catch-and-release than just throwing a fish back into the water. The key assumption of catch-and-release is that a released fish will survive after being released.  This is based on the observation that released fish usually swim away, apparently unharmed. Research has found however, that fish mortality mostly occurs some time after release, as injuries or distress caused by catch and release only become apparent some time later. It is important to understand that there will always be some mortality associated with catch and release fishing. A recent review across many species found average mortality to be around 16 percent, but this figure varies and can be much higher for certain species.  Keeping this mortality to a minimum depends largely on factors that the angler can control – the tackle used,  the length of time that the fish is played, minimising the amount of time that the fish spends out of the water and how the fish is handled during the release. Despite the issue of post-release mortality, catch-and-release, if practiced properly, can minimize the negative impacts of recreational angling and should be encouraged.

It was with this in mind that the Lower Zambezi Catch & Release Initiative (LZCRI) came into being. As responsible anglers we have an obligation to protect the fish resources of the Zambezi. If we want to continue to enjoy fishing on the Zambezi, we need to ensure that we not only mitigate the negative impacts of our activities, but actually make a positive impact. In addition to reducing the number of fish removed from the population, catch-and-release can also be a valuable tool for conservation management and research in terms of the large amount of information about angler behaviour, and the effects of recreational fishing on fish and fish populations that can be gathered if these releases are recorded.

The vision of the LZCRI is based upon three central tenets as a model for responsible fishing:

Respect  - This is a respect for every single fish we catch and the environment in which we catch them. We need to consider the welfare of every single fish caught.

Record - Keeping catch records should be part and parcel of responsible angling.  Not only can keeping records be personally rewarding, and the information collected can be used for monitoring and conservation planning.

Release – Catch-and-release can be an effective tool to minimise the impact of recreational angling. To ensure the survival of released fish, it is important that anglers are aware of and follow the latest best-practice in catch-and-release

See our factsheets and guides for more useful catch-and-release information

So far the LZCRI has been well received in the valley. As most of the lodges in the GMA and the national park already practice catch-and-release, they are keen to be involved in the initiative. Sven Vrdoljak, who is running the LZCRI from Wildtracks, has given lectures on catch-and-release at this year’s guides training and has also visited several lodges to talk to guides and distribute logbooks for fishing guides to record their catches on a daily basis. It has been very encouraging that the guides are keen to learn about the principles behind catch and release, as well as share their own experience and expertise. By sharing information in this way, we can improve the already high standards of guiding in the area. Lodge managers have been very supportive of the programme and have been more than willing to take on the task of keeping catch records. As the programme develops we hope to continue to expand our support base, with an aim to getting all of the lodges and anglers recording and submitting catch records.

The LZCRI will be publishing more guidelines and information sheets on catch-and-release, incorporating international standards with local knowledge from Lower Zambezi guides. The growing library of information will be a useful reference for lodges, guides and visitors to ensure that everyone who fishes in the Zambezi valley is equipped to do so in a responsible and environmentally friendly way. We are s also exploring other ways to facilitate the collection of fishing data and catch records, including the development of a customised Cybertracker routine to record catches on handheld devices (see the Cybertracker website for more information on their software).  As the project progresses, there will be regular updates on the LZCRI page on the Wildtracks website. This is where all the LZCRI guidelines and other information and resources will be available for download. The LZCRI is a collaborative project and will only work with the participation and support from operators the sport fishing community who enjoy the premier fishing that the Lower Zambezi still has to offer.

The initial development of the LZCRI has been funded by a grant from the Rufford Small Grants Foundation, but will need further funding as it develops. If you would like to find out more about the LZCRI, get involved or offer support, please contact Sven Vrdoljak using the LZCRI contact form, or phone +26097 486 1752  for further information. The  LZCRI would like to thank all the lodges and managers who have committed to join the initiative so far and hope to see lots of good catch records coming in as the fishing season progresses.

Good baseline data is essential for the management and conservation of recreational fisheries

The Valley Classic, hosted for its second year at Wildtracks is an invitation only, charitable fishing competition held at the end of the season. Originally conceived in 2010, the idea of the competition is to give everyone a chance to celebrate another successful year in the valley, put something back by supporting the work of Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ) and, in true valley fashion, have a rip-snorting, hoof-flicking, name-throwing party.

It's a thirty pointer!

The 2011 competition fielded 7 teams from lodges in the GMA and the National Park, all competing for the coveted and much admired floating trophy donated by Wildtracks this year. In fact, some teams were so keen  that they even pitched up a whole day early for Captain’s meeting.  After arrival of the other teams, the real Captain’s meeting and very lively team auction was held on Saturday evening and fishing got underway in earnest on Sunday. The competition followed a very basic catch and release format, targeting tigerfish, vundu, Cornish jack, nkupe, bottlenose, chessa, bream. Although there were no size restrictions achieving the daily bag limit of five individuals for each species attracted bonus points and encouraged teams to pursue as many different species as possible. Fishing on the first day ranged from fiercely competitive to fiercely hungover, although most teams got their bag of at least one species.

After a somewhat more relaxed evening on the boma, fishing got a bit more serious on day two as reputations and in some cases wild bets were at stake. After the final tally, the points were close at the top of the table, but at the end of the day it was the shockingly pink Master Baiters, led by Scott Brown (returning to the valley for a cameo appearance) who led his team of Brendan, Natalie and Debbie to sweep the field with a total of 235 points. They were closely followed by the WLZ Boozers on 215 points and in third place, Sausage Trackers who bagged a respectable 138 points in their first Valley Classic outing. The final evening saw a return to form for most of those who had suffered from ‘dehydration’ and other competition related afflictions during the day and the competition closed with much jubilation. There was also dancing. Furious dancing…

All told the team auction, corporate sponsorship from each team and individual donations the Valley Classic 2011 raised $4 000  to be donated to CLZ to support the excellent work that they are doing for conservation in the valley. This was twice the amount raised in last year’s competition and reflects the enthusiasm and commitment that all of us who are lucky enough to live and work in the Zambezi Valley have for ensuring that it is conserved for the future.

True to the spirit of the competition, Brendan Graham and Mick Kennedy who bought first and second placed teams respectively, both donated their auction prize money towards the final contribution to CLZ. A big thank you to all who participated, contributed organised and helped make the Valley Classic 2011 a great success. The magnificent Giant Rapala trophy currently resides at Royal Zambezi Lodge held by the Master Baiters (for those who wish to gaze upon it’s awesomeness and perhaps be inspired to make a further contribution towards conservation in the valley) until next year when it will return to Wildtracks for the Valley Classic 2012.

The Master Baiters get to grips with the trophy

Enjoy the festive season and we’ll see you back on the river in the new year!