20 Year Tiger

Tigerfish are like piranhas on acid. They exist in many of southern Africa’s beast rivers, lakes, dams, and tributaries. I guess, to survive alongside Nile crocodiles and hippos, you must have a bit of a mean streak. 

 I’ve always wanted to catch a tigerfish, but the opportunity just never presented itself. But, in 2021 our family took a few days away on the Lower Zambezi to recuperate, refresh, and reset; and to celebrate our 20th year of ministry involvement

in the nation of Zambia!

These fish can be caught all year round, though the best fishing takes place between May and June or between September and December.  When you hook a tiger, they run hard and fast. Some have been known to breach out of the water, and in many cases, they dive incredibly deep as well. They are notorious for throwing hooks or breaking line. As we fished up and down the Lower Zambezi, our guide explained that we needed to be careful each time we reached over the side of our boat to bring fish in or check our bait, because of the number of crocodiles in the area.  We were told that it was not uncommon for a hooked fish to be bitten in half by a crocodile and you end up with only the head!  

Thankfully, this was not the case on our fishing trip.

Early in the trip, we had some nibbles, but never a proper bite.  On the 3rd day of the trip, though, we did hook a Vundu catfish, the largest fish in these rivers, and after 35 minutes of fighting and getting him to the edge of the boat (we could see him!), the monster somehow kicked free, and we lost what probably was more than a 40 pounder! Still no tigers, either.

 On our last day, we spent hours and hours on the river. It wasn’t without its adventure because we got to hear lions waking up on the Zimbabwe side.  We saw cape buffalo, elephant, crocs galore.  We navigated around many hippo pods,

and the bird life was crazy!  

We even traded steel fishhooks with an elderly fisherman in a dugout canoe, and in return, he gave us some of his smaller catch that we could fillet and use as bait. I asked him if he was afraid to spend so much time on a dangerous stretch of water because of all the crocodiles and in such a small vessel.  He flatly said it was his daily work.  It was normal.  He’d done it since he was a boy, and for more than 50 years. I remember being in awe of his resolve and his bravery.  Anyway, as morning gave way to afternoon, we headed back towards our lodge, but my son Liam asked for one more cast. We were in a faster flowing channel on the Zambian bank of the Zambezi, so he cast far out behind our boat to allow the current to push it back towards us.  And almost instantly, I saw his pole tighten and bend.  I thought he grabbed a log, but the line started to run, and the reel sounded different than a snag.  

We had a tiger on the line!  

Liam fought the tiger on his own for a while. These things are physical, and when we finally got it to the side of the boat and threw the net over the side, the tiger‘s gnashing teeth tore through the net like razor blades. We still managed to tangle him enough to pull him into the boat.  We had landed our 20-year tiger. A fifteen-pounder, at that! It wasn’t me though, it was my then 12-year-old son, Liam.  But it was a family win!  What a celebration!  

We all have dreams and goals, hopes and ambitions.  Some are big and some are small.  But they’re all milestones to aim for and are worth keeping treasured.  Catching that tiger reminded me that God is good. He’s kind.  He’s in a good mood, and he loves me.  Remembering these truths can profoundly change the way you live and go about your day. He does love you. He is in a good mood. He is on your side, and he wants you to succeed.  He wants to give you the desires of your heart and in most cases, He placed those desires there in the first place!  

 Accept that kindness and that love.  Team up with God who can work miracles and go get your 20-year tiger.  Go visit that place you’ve never been to.  It might just become your home! Take a risk. Try that idea out.

The course of your life could change. 

 I am so thankful that my dream of even visiting Africa became a reality for the first time, way back in 2001.  Beyond that, I’m thankful that my dream of living there to be a full-time learner of the culture, enjoyer of the people, and servant of the nation of Zambia came true, too!  That’s totally a gift from God.  I’m over the top joy-filled that my sons were largely raised in Zambia.  I couldn’t wish for a better shaping experience in worldview development than that.  

As we celebrated 20 years of relationship with that nation, God gave us our 20-year tiger. It will always be a memory that we hold dear and a reminder that God is with us, and cares about what we care about.  

Dream big, lions!