Blue Kurper (Mozambique Tilapia) Information And Pictures (Oreochromis mossambicus)

South Africa's Most Common Tilapia Species: The Blue Kurper

As the heading indicates the Blue Kurper is one of South Africa's most common inland freshwater fish species. It thrives in South African freshwater systems, although currently the numbers of these fish are dwindling as a result of competition from the Nile Kurper (Tilapia), which is not originally indigenous to the South African sub-region.

The Mozambique Tilapia is a beautiful fish that rarely grows over 3 kilograms in South African waters. However the South African record for this fish is close to 4 kilograms. Loskop Dam is one of the best places in South Africa to fish for trophy size Blue Kurper. An annual fishing event is held here every year to see who can catch the biggest Kurper in the dam and I think this is where South Africa's fishing record originates from.

The Blue Kurper is quite well distributed in South Africa and can be found from the Kosi Bay region all the way to the Bushman's River system in the Eastern Cape. They are scattered all the way down the coast past cape town and into the west coast region. The Mozambique Tilapia is farmed extensively and many dams, streams, rivers and freshwater lakes serve as a home for this fish species.

The favoured habitat of the Blue Kurper includes standing waters; they thrive and bread heavily in all water types except very fast moving streams and rivers. The Mozambique Tilapia can be found in brackish, fresh and salt waters and can tolerate water temperatures from 13 degrees Celsius to about 43 degrees Celsius. They feed on algae and other plant material, however large specimens will feed on insects and invertebrates. They can often be confused with Vlei Kurper in identification.

How To Catch The South African Blue Kurper Or Mozambique Tilapia

The Mozambique Tilapia is an often easily over looked fish and can provide hours of fun for all anglers on light tackle. Without a doubt worms are the best bait you can use for Mozambique Tilapia. More in particular earthworm. Mealies, small insect and small feathered lures (The ones from fly fishing) also produce very good catches of this fish.

Blue Kurper love shallow and still water with plenty of cover. You will see all sorts of sizes of these Tilapia in the same area. I once saw about a 2 kilogram Kurper lying up under some weed with about a 25 gram Kurper so if you do see smaller fish and you think to yourself there will not be any big ones here, think again! Very small hooks should be used for catching the amazingly beautiful Blue Kurper (Mozambique Tilapia).

Other General Blue Kurper Information

Common Name: Mozambique Tilapia...

Other Names: Mud Bream, Blue Kurper...

Scientific Name: Oreochromis Mossambicus...

Length: Average 20 - 45 cm...

Weight: Average weight 1 kg...

Habitat: This species can be found in estuaries with saltwater and freshwater mixed...

Distribution: Widely distributed fish, can be found in most river systems...

Bait: Fish will take any bait that is offered, eg: worms, lure, frogs, mealies, small fish etc...

Description: Dark grey to black to dark and even light green coloured fish, has a lightly coloured underside of the mouth. As the males prepare for breeding they become dark...

Fishing Strategy: The Mozambique Tilapia is a hardy species and this can make it a hard fish to catch. This fish can be targeted by casting near weeds and vegetation growth...

Eating Quality: Excellent, but only with larger specimens...

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