The fearsome set of choppers that see above belong to a goliath tigerfish – it is five feet long, weighs over 100 lbs, has 32 teeth that are approximately equal to the size of a great white’s and the species has been known to eat crocodiles… and attack the occasional human.
Fisherman Jeremy Wade managed to catch this one while fishing in a remote part of the River Congo. He was hunting specifically for the goliath tigerfish as part of the River Monsters series for Britain’s ITV.
Wade commented:
This fish is no tench. It is, for all intents and purposes, a giant piranha. It is quite a beast.
The teeth on it are incredibly sharp and are about the same length as a great white shark.
It also has an extremely powerful bite and has been known to consume prey the same size as itself, attack people and take pieces out of crocodiles.
It is thought that these fish attack in a reflex response to a sudden movement or splash.
It is very rare to catch one, especially by an outsider because they are found in such a remote and difficult location to get to. There are no guides or lodges on that part of the Congo River.
Wade used a large catfish as bait and reeled in the monster with a 200lb rod and line. In case you are wondering, the fish in the picture is very much alive and was returned to the river soon after it was captured.
[Daily Mail]
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