Sander lucioperca Β· Also called Pikeperch
A glassy-eyed night hunter introduced from Europe. Now well established in the Fens, the Severn and many Midlands canals.
π British record: 21 lb 5 oz (9.667 kg), Upper Lode Lock, River Severn, Tewkesbury (2007)
Long, perch-like body in sandy grey with faint darker bars, two separate top fins (the front one spiky) and big, glassy eyes. Large fangs at the front of the jaw.
It's not a pike-perch cross, despite the old name.
Slow, coloured water: fenland drains, big rivers such as the Severn and Great Ouse, gravel pits and canals, especially in the Midlands.
Zander like deep channels, bridges, lock approaches, marinas and drop-offs.
Zander hunt small fish. Their eyes work brilliantly in low light, so they feed most at dusk, at night and in murky or coloured water. They're shy and drop baits if they feel resistance.
Best time: Autumn and winter, dusk into dark. Coloured water.
Small fish deadbaits
Roach or sections of a small fish, about 7β10 cm.
Soft-plastic lures
Jigged on the bottom or on a drop shot.
Lobworms
Picked up now and then.
Canals, drains and rivers at dusk
Zander drop a bait if they feel any resistance, so keep everything free-running with a light drop-off indicator. Strike as soon as line runs steadily. Use wire: pike live in the same waters.
Canals, marinas and deep holes
Bounce the lure slowly along the bottom near features. Takes are often just a 'tick' on the line. Strike at anything unusual.
Use a landing net, mat and forceps as for pike, and mind the fangs and spiky top fin. Zander are more delicate than pike, so return them quickly.
π Rules and seasons
On rivers, streams and drains in England and Wales there's a close season for coarse fish from 15 March to 15 June. Most lakes, ponds and canals are open all year, but check the water's own rules. It's illegal to move live fish between waters without a permit. Never move zander anywhere.
Check the official rules on gov.ukVideos open on YouTube. We don't make them, but we think they're good.
