Thaindian News

London, Oct 21 (IANS) Jeremy Wade, a 52-year-old British angler and TV show host, hooked a Goliath Tiger fish, a ferocious crocodile-eating, five-foot-long freshwater specimen, during a fishing expedition up the Congo river in Africa.

Wade held the fish at arms-length for fear of being bitten by its four inch razor-sharp teeth while posing with it for the camera.

The giant fish has 32 teeth that are of similar size to those of a great white shark and has been known to attack humans and even crocodiles, reports the Daily Mail.

The Goliath Tiger fish is one of the world’s most fearsome freshwater fish said to be a much bigger and deadlier version of the piranha.

It has only ever been caught by a handful of fishermen due to the danger it poses and the fact that its habitat is notoriously hard to reach.

Wade, the host of ITV’s River Monsters show, said he took extra care when reeling in this specimen, which weighed more than 45 kg and was five-foot-long.

The TV programme looks into mythical reports from around the world of humans being attacked by unknown monsters from the deep before the British host sets out to find and catch the suspect.

Commenting on the Goliath Tiger fish, Wade said: “This fish…for all intents and purposes, (is) a giant piranha. It is quite a beast.”

“It also has an extremely powerful bite and has been known to consume prey the same size as itself, attack people and take pieces out of crocodiles,” Wade said.

“It is thought that these fish attack in a reflex response to a sudden movement or splash. It is a very dangerous fish to handle. If you aren’t careful, it could easily take your finger off or worse,” Wade added.

Wade, who spent eight days trying to land the fish, said he returned it to the river soon afterwards.