The Nile Perch, known locally as the Mputa, is a very large species of perch that lives in the Great Rift Valley's multiple lakes and rivers as well as the Nile. The Nile Perch can grow to around 7 feet long and 250 pounds in weight.
River Monsters[]
Rift Valley Killers[]
In River Monsters Jeremy Wade caught a large perch that weighed close to 110 pounds. He also caught a smaller one earlier. The larger specimen was from a place in the valley known as the Devil's Cauldron because it has so many dangerous areas and is made out of rapids.
Unknown Waters[]
African Lake Giants[]
This fish is the subject of the 2nd episode of Unknown Waters.
Description[]
Rarity[]
At this point in time, many perch no longer bite because they remember being hooked and most fishermen in this region who go for perch are catch and release fishermen. Therefore getting a large perch is now very difficult. A very large perch was found prior to the filming of Rift Valley Killers, however, it was attacked while on the line by a crocodile. The crocodile was warded off, however the fish was not able to survive.
Jeremy's catch was so remarkable because of this. Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and many of the other lakes in the Great Rift Valley are now very scarce on Perch. Eventually, the Great Rift Valley will split Africa in two, and everything east of it will be separated from the mainland, which may cause the Perch's extinction from this region.
"Super Perch"[]
Jeremy Wade himself witnessed a bodybuilder struggling in a terrible 8 hour battle. A more detailed account of this can be found in Jeremy Wade's River Monsters book. The bodybuilder even resorted to pleading with the fish to let itself get caught while it dragged the boat 3 miles down the river. Finally they were able to secure the fish just before they would have decided to surrender because it is dangerous to be on some rivers after dark. They were expecting a very large and perhaps record-setting specimen, however, "super perch" was only 70 pounds. Jeremy Wade himself said that he would not believe it if he was not there. This fish may have had remarkable strength. Or it could have swallowed water and therefore weighed more.