KARIBA resort town is bracing for the annual Kariba Invitation Tiger Fishing Tournament (KITFT) with several tourists having already booked for the event.
The event, which is popular with sports tourism lovers, has been running for more than 50 years attracting local and international anglers.
Last year, tournament organisers introduced the catch and release system which meant that fish caught by an angler is returned to the water after its weight is recorded.
The move is expected to conserve the tiger fish species population currently threatened by poachers prowling Lake Kariba.
The catch and release system replaced the catch and kill system which had been in existence since the launch of the tournament more than half a century ago.
This year’s edition will run from October 11 to 13 at the National Angling Union of Zimbabwe, Charara.
KITFT has been held since 1962 and anglers compete in teams to catch the tiger fish which is regarded as an iconic species.
Tournament marketing contractor David McAllister told NewsDay yesterday that the organisers started preparations last year.
- Anglers prepare for tiger fishing competition
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“There are regular committee meetings being held with progress being made on all fronts on a daily basis. We are planning on 100 teams participating and hope that we will be able to exceed that target with all the pre-tournament excitement that has been generated already,” he said.
“A new development this year is Tiger Fest. Tiger Fest will be a pre-tournament festival to be held at Borrowdale Country Club on the 9th of September.”
The fest is also targeting people from across the world.
“This event will give them a chance to meet the committee and to interact with the sponsors, see some of the prizes up for grabs and test their skills in some fishing games.
“People that are interested in fishing at KITFT will be able to enter on the day and there will be a team of volunteers on hand with information and encouragement,” said McAllister.
