{"id":24951,"date":"2023-08-14T00:04:12","date_gmt":"2023-08-13T22:04:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/?p=24951"},"modified":"2023-08-14T17:24:34","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T15:24:34","slug":"how-big-do-nile-perch-get","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/how-big-do-nile-perch-get\/","title":{"rendered":"How Big Do Nile Perch Get? (Average and Maximum Size)"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:63.103448275862%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:66.724137931034%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:216.49048625793%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:66.379310344828%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Featured image courtesy of Martin Bowler<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As one of the world&rsquo;s largest freshwater fish species, the Nile perch is a rite of passage for many aspiring anglers. Its enormous size makes it a staple food source and a fantastic game fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Commonly found in the river basins of Africa, the Nile perch has an average length of 30 to 40 inches and a weight of 10 to 25 lbs. Research has shown that this fish can measure over 6 feet and weigh between 450 to 500 lbs.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So whether you want to know more about these fascinating fish or the lowdown on catching yourself a record-breaking giant, keep reading to learn more about the mighty Nile perch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is the Maximum Size of Nile Perch?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-editorskit-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"580\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/192307094_323973425955464_6917784259488831856_n-min.jpg\" alt=\"a sport angler on lake nasser with a realyl big nile perch \" class=\"wp-image-25359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/192307094_323973425955464_6917784259488831856_n-min.jpg 580w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/192307094_323973425955464_6917784259488831856_n-min-150x95.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"580\" height=\"366\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20580%20366'%3E%3Crect%20width='580'%20height='366'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"a sport angler on lake nasser with a realyl big nile perch \" class=\"wp-image-25359 eager-load\" sizes=\"(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/192307094_323973425955464_6917784259488831856_n-min.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/192307094_323973425955464_6917784259488831856_n-min.jpg.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/192307094_323973425955464_6917784259488831856_n-min.jpg.webp 580w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/192307094_323973425955464_6917784259488831856_n-min-150x95.jpg.webp 150w\" data-svg=\"1\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Courtesy of <a aria-label=\"CatFish World (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CatFish.World.Official\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">CatFish World<\/a> by Yuri Grisendi (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/catfish-world\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"YouTube channel (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">YouTube channel<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>As the largest freshwater fish, the Nile perch (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nile_perch\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Lates niloticus<\/em><\/a>) can be found in plentiful supply all across African river basins, as far east as Senegal, all the way to the Nile delta in the East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also known as the African snook, Goliath perch, or African barramundi, this giant fish has played an essential role in developing Africa&rsquo;s food security and fishing industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While most mature specimens will weigh somewhere between 100 and 200 lbs, both scientists and local fishermen have reported much bigger fish.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It has been stated that the Nile perch can reach a&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liveabout.com\/species-profile-nile-perch-3572501\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">maximum weight of 400 to 500 lbs<\/a>&nbsp;and a maximum length of more than 6 feet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This potential size is understandable, given that the Nile perch is an apex predator in many habitats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But there&rsquo;s some controversy around this monstrous fish! While the Nile perch&rsquo;s gigantic size is a win-win for sport anglers and local fishermen, it has earned a bad reputation for conservationists worldwide.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many wildlife organizations, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), list the Nile perch as one of the&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iucn.org\/content\/african-freshwater-species-threatened-livelihoods-stake\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">world&rsquo;s worst invasive species<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though native to African waters, the Nile perch&rsquo;s introduction to lakes, such as&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liveabout.com\/species-profile-nile-perch-3572501\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lake Kyoga and Lake Victoria<\/a>, has decimated smaller-sized fish like tilapia and African cichlids, causing these species to go extinct in those regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their numbers soared to such degrees that attempts to introduce the Nile perch for competitive fishing in&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nas.er.usgs.gov\/queries\/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=412\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">countries like America<\/a>&nbsp;were scraped.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many countries like Australia have bans to prevent the buying, selling, or raising of these fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>DID YOU KNOW: In zoology, the Nile perch is a member of the &lsquo;megafauna&rsquo; club, a classification reserved only for giant animals. It joins the elite ranks of the African Elephant, Masai ostrich, and Sperm Whale as the biggest of the biggest!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is the Average Size Nile Perch?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-editorskit-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"580\" height=\"387\" src=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/365430163_1739363576489913_538642241663985995_n-min.jpg\" alt=\"a young angler holding a nile perch of around 20 lbs\" class=\"wp-image-25349\" srcset=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/365430163_1739363576489913_538642241663985995_n-min.jpg 580w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/365430163_1739363576489913_538642241663985995_n-min-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"580\" height=\"387\" src=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/365430163_1739363576489913_538642241663985995_n-min.jpg.webp\" alt=\"a young angler holding a nile perch of around 20 lbs\" class=\"wp-image-25349 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/365430163_1739363576489913_538642241663985995_n-min.jpg.webp 580w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/365430163_1739363576489913_538642241663985995_n-min-150x100.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/365430163_1739363576489913_538642241663985995_n-min.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-2\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Courtesy of Erik Granlund<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Generally speaking, Nile perch have an average size of about&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.columbia.edu\/itc\/cerc\/danoff-burg\/invasion_bio\/inv_spp_summ\/Lates_niloticus.htm\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">30 to 40 inches<\/a>. The fish typically weigh between&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/figure\/Length-weight-relationship-of-L-niloticus-from-Lake-Victoria-Kenya_fig2_319741736\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10 and 25 lbs<\/a>&nbsp;at this length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, average sizes can vary significantly from water to water, and many factors influence the fish&rsquo;s growth rate. These can include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Water quality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Availability of food<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Competition by other predators<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Overfishing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Population genetics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Nile perch prefer water rich in oxygen (which is partly why their introduction into America&rsquo;s swampy waters wasn&rsquo;t a success).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&rsquo;s why most Nile perch, in both lake and river systems, are found in depths between&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.columbia.edu\/itc\/cerc\/danoff-burg\/invasion_bio\/inv_spp_summ\/Lates_niloticus.htm#:~:text=The%20Nile%20perch%20is%20known,the%20Ethiopian%20region%20of%20Africa%20.\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">30 and 200 feet<\/a>, as the water down there is colder and hence holds more oxygen.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, this fish faces many obstacles, and stocks in many water bodies have decreased significantly over the last two decades.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nile perch are voracious eaters, adapting their diet to whatever prey is nearby. As they grow, their appetite increases tenfold. This can cause problems for populations if prey stocks are depleted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In some instances, Nile perch may become&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.columbia.edu\/itc\/cerc\/danoff-burg\/invasion_bio\/inv_spp_summ\/Lates_niloticus.htm#:~:text=The%20Nile%20perch%20is%20known,the%20Ethiopian%20region%20of%20Africa%20.\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cannibalistic<\/a>, reducing the numbers of bigger fish in some areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, as food-security fish in Africa, industries have been set up along rivers to capitalize on capturing this fish species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The resulting overfishing by commercial fishermen and charter boats has led to a stark decrease in population, average, and maximum sizes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>RELATED ARTICLE: <a href=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/how-big-do-barracudas-get\/\" class=\"ek-link\">What Is the Maximum Size of Barracudas?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is the Biggest Nile Perch Ever Caught?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-editorskit-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"473\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-473x1024.jpg\" alt=\"a man standing next to a giant nile perch\" class=\"wp-image-25346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-473x1024.jpg 473w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-355x768.jpg 355w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-444x960.jpg 444w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-499x1080.jpg 499w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-555x1200.jpg 555w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-150x325.jpg 150w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 473px) 100vw, 473px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"473\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-473x1024.jpg.webp\" alt=\"a man standing next to a giant nile perch\" class=\"wp-image-25346 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-473x1024.jpg.webp 473w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-355x768.jpg.webp 355w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-444x960.jpg.webp 444w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-499x1080.jpg.webp 499w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-555x1200.jpg.webp 555w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1-150x325.jpg.webp 150w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1.jpg.webp 580w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 473px) 100vw, 473px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lates_niloticus_2-min-1.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-3\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">By smudger888, <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=5886446\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>According to the International Game Fish Association, the world&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/igfa.org\/member-services\/world-record\/common-name\/Perch,%20Nile\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">biggest Nile perch<\/a>&nbsp;was caught by angler William Toth on Lake Nasser, Egypt, in 2000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The famous fish weighed an astonishing 230 lbs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although there&rsquo;s no record of its length,&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheIGFA\/posts\/18-years-ago-today-angler-william-toth-set-the-all-tackle-world-record-for-nile-\/10156969615053112\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the pictures alone<\/a>&nbsp;make this fish appear quite enormous, taking four full-grown men to hold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of length, the longest Nile perch ever caught on record measured 4.79 feet, or 57 inches. It was captured by Christopher S. G. Tan in Murchison Falls, Uganda, in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Again, it must be said that many researchers and fishermen have stated that these figures do not reflect the biggest Nile perch out there, with stories of 500 lb+ fish becoming folk legends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where Are the Biggest Nile Perch Found?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To find yourself a record-breaking Nile perch, pay a visit to the following places, which have all produced winners in the past:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Lake Nasser, Egypt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rusgina Island, Victoria, Kenya<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Senegal River, Senegal,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Murchison Falls, Uganda,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lake Victoria, Kenya,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rubondo Island, Lake Victoria, Tanzania<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing to note: if you want to catch a behemoth-sized Nile perch, be prepared for a fight!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Large fish can easily take hundreds of&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liveabout.com\/species-profile-nile-perch-3572501\" target=\"_blank\">yards of line from a reel<\/a>, and local flora like water hyacinths add more challenges in capturing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Fast Do Nile Perch Grow?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-editorskit-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"580\" height=\"385\" src=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/366256028_611447697783258_7178788872679530545_n-min-1.jpg\" alt=\"a happy angler holding a nice nile perch caught in egypt\" class=\"wp-image-25353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/366256028_611447697783258_7178788872679530545_n-min-1.jpg 580w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/366256028_611447697783258_7178788872679530545_n-min-1-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"580\" height=\"385\" src=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/366256028_611447697783258_7178788872679530545_n-min-1.jpg.webp\" alt=\"a happy angler holding a nice nile perch caught in egypt\" class=\"wp-image-25353 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/366256028_611447697783258_7178788872679530545_n-min-1.jpg.webp 580w, https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/366256028_611447697783258_7178788872679530545_n-min-1-150x100.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/366256028_611447697783258_7178788872679530545_n-min-1.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-4\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Courtesy of Erik Granlund<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Research suggests that Nile perch grow incredibly fast in their first year, as they can reach&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fao.org\/fishery\/docs\/CDrom\/aquaculture\/a0844t\/docrep\/008\/AD864E\/AD864E04.htm\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lengths of up to 20 inches<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After that first year, their growth slows to about 5 to 10 inches annually. Which, nonetheless, is still pretty fast for a fish species.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Females tend to grow larger than males, with 2-year-old female fish measuring on average 20 to 25 inches, while males of a similar age typically measure 18 to 22 inches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>RELATED ARTICLE: <a href=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/how-big-do-wahoo-get\/\" class=\"ek-link\">How Big Do Wahoo Really Get?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Old Do Nile Perch Get?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Records indicate that the Nile perch can reach a maximum age of&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.columbia.edu\/itc\/cerc\/danoff-burg\/invasion_bio\/inv_spp_summ\/Lates_niloticus.htm\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">15 to 16 years<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, the likelihood of a fish surviving this long is rare because of its popularity as a game fish and its role as a food source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is the Biggest Fish In the River Nile?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The River Nile is home to over 128 species of fish. And though the Nile perch is easily the biggest, there are some close contenders in length and weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marbled_lungfish\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">marbled lungfish<\/a>&nbsp;can reach an incredible 6.5 feet in length and weigh up to 40 lbs, and is considered a local delicacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vundu\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vundu<\/a>&nbsp;is a giant air-breathing catfish with large dorsal fins and barbels. These incredible fish can reach 5 feet in length and weigh an impressive 100 to 120 lbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, be on the lookout for the&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tigerfish\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">African tigerfish<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nicknamed the piranha of Africa, these highly aggressive fish are often used as bait to catch Nile perch but have the potential to grow up to 3 feet in length and weigh up to 40 lbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Articles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/how-big-do-bull-sharks-get\/\" class=\"ek-link\">What Is the Biggest Bull Shark Ever Caught?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/how-big-do-sturgeon-get\/\" class=\"ek-link\">How Big Do Sturgeon Get?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/how-big-do-great-white-sharks-get\/\" class=\"ek-link\">What Is the Average Size of Great White Sharks?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Commonly found in the river basins of Africa, the Nile perch has an average length of 30 to 40 inches and a weight of 10 to 25 lbs. Research has shown that this fish can measure over 6 feet and weigh between 450 to 500 lbs. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25347,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","ub_ctt_via":"","disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"","disable-critical-css":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[268],"tags":[270,1357,753],"table_tags":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Max Loesche","author_link":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/author\/max-loeschegmail-com\/"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min.jpg",1200,802,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-1024x684.jpg",1024,684,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-768x513.jpg",768,513,true],"large":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min.jpg",1200,802,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min.jpg",1200,802,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-728x410.jpg",728,410,true],"mv_trellis_1x1":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-728x728.jpg",728,728,true],"mv_trellis_3x4":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-546x728.jpg",546,728,true],"mv_trellis_4x3":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-728x546.jpg",728,546,true],"mv_trellis_4x3_high_res":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-728x546.jpg",728,546,true],"mv_trellis_4x3_med_res":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-480x360.jpg",480,360,true],"mv_trellis_4x3_low_res":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-320x240.jpg",320,240,true],"mv_trellis_16x9":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-728x410.jpg",728,410,true],"mv_trellis_srcset-960":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-960x642.jpg",960,642,true],"mv_trellis_srcset-1080":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-1080x722.jpg",1080,722,true],"1200x1200":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min.jpg",1200,802,false],"web-stories-poster-portrait":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-640x802.jpg",640,802,true],"web-stories-publisher-logo":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-96x96.jpg",96,96,true],"web-stories-thumbnail":["https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/367378602_1740604773074436_1294993275192230078_n-min-150x100.jpg",150,100,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Max Loesche","author_link":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/author\/max-loeschegmail-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Commonly found in the river basins of Africa, the Nile perch has an average length of 30 to 40 inches and a weight of 10 to 25 lbs. Research has shown that this fish can measure over 6 feet and weigh between 450 to 500 lbs.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24951"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24951"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24951\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25363,"href":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24951\/revisions\/25363"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24951"},{"taxonomy":"table_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strikeandcatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/table_tags?post=24951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}