THE ZANDER - Stizostedion lucioperca
The zander is not a native fish to Britain, it was introduced in 1878, when twenty three zander were released in to Woburn abbey lakes. Here they remained segregated until 1963 when ninety seven zander were released into the great Ouse relief channel in Norfolk. Now they have spread to many eastern British rivers, lakes and fens.
The zander has a green-black back, with dark bars along it golden or silver sides, with a light under belly. Zander are a member of the perch family, it has large eyes which are designed for seeing in coloured water, or at night. The zander has a mouth full of needle sharp teeth, making this a mighty hunter.
The zander is a shoaling fish, and does well in slow moving rivers and fens, where they hunt for there pray. Between April and June is when zander will start spawning, the female digging a nest in the gravel bed of the river, were the eggs are then deposited, and up to 2,000,000 are laid. Then both parents lay watch over the nest, protecting the eggs from predators until the fry hatch.
Once hatched the fry live off their yolk sack, then turn to eating plankton and water larvae. Until they reach about 10cm (4in) in length and start feeding on other fish.
A specimen zander is about 10lb(4.5kg) and have so far been caught to nearly 19lb.But in there native countries were it is much warmer they have been caught to nearly 30lb (13.6kg).
