The Grays Sporting Journal Expeditions & Guides 2025 has a goliath tigerfish photo essay set in Tanzania. Page 70. The Dusan Smetana link here has the pix featured.
A 2011 study which reconstructs the phylogenetic history of genus Hydrocynus using comparisons of a protein-coding gene called cytochrome b, revealed several mtDNA clades in this region, suggesting a higher tigerfish species richness than traditionally recognized. The study’s analyses indicate that populations of H. goliath may have been prevented from upstream dispersal in the geologic past by knickpoints, or sharp changes in the channel bed slope, in the Luvua river. This prevention of upstream dispersal would restrict H. goliath to the Congo River Basin as reflected in the modern range of the species.[7] Four additional species (H. vittatus and three unknown species) appear to be present in this Basin, while two (H. vittatus and an unknown species) appear to be present in Lake Tanganyika.[7]
Per the Wikipedia entry on Hydrocynus goliath.
This is news to me I haven’t heard that there was this diversity before. It suggests the article was featuring a different look a like species to the Congo fish.
Jeremy Wade, of River Monsters fame, wrote Somewhere Down The Crazy River: Journeys In Search Of Giant Fish: The Story Of The Rediscovery Of The Indian Mahseer And The Goliath Tigerfish Of The Congo with Paul Boote. It is still the best fishing adventure book I have ever read.
Steve referenced one of Wade’s books as a classic in his A Sportsman’s Library. See Chapter 29 there.
While looking up the book image, I saw someone was trying to sell it for $2000.00. On looking, 10x less is more likely but I am still glad I have 3 copies.
When the book was new, nothing was known of Mbenga as a sportfish. Since then, as the book predicted, it has become a cult fish with the usual abuse and commercialization. There is loads more on the web, of course, these days. It shocks me how much the web has changed everything.
On Star_Trek:_Strange_New_Worlds the doctor is called M’Benga, who likes fly fishing. I think I saw somewhere that was not a coincidence. River Monsters may have inspired it.