Zander (Sander lucioperca)
Current record: 22lb
Water: Grafham Water, Huntingdon
The zander (Sander lucioperca), also known as the pikeperch, is a predatory freshwater fish native to Eurasia. This species is highly valued among anglers for its size, strength, and challenging behavior, making it a sought-after catch in European rivers and lakes. The zander belongs to the Percidae family and is closely related to perch and walleye. Its distinctive appearance includes a sleek, elongated body with sharp teeth, and it typically displays shades of olive-green with a lighter belly.
Zander are renowned for their predatory nature, preying on a variety of smaller fish, insects, and crustaceans. This piscivorous diet contributes to their rapid growth and robust physique. Anglers often use a variety of lures, such as crankbaits and soft plastics, to entice zander, and fishing for these formidable predators is a popular sport in many European waters.
Native to rivers and lakes in Europe, the zander has been introduced to various water bodies outside its natural range, including parts of North America and Asia. Its adaptability to different environments has led to successful establishment in these introduced areas, where it often becomes a top predator. However, the introduction of zander to new regions has raised concerns about potential impacts on native fish species and ecosystems.
Zander are also a popular target for aquaculture due to their firm, white flesh and appealing taste. Aquaculture practices help meet the demand for zander in the culinary world, and these fish are commonly featured in European cuisine. However, careful management is required to prevent potential ecological consequences associated with the escape of farmed zander into natural waterways.
Conservation efforts related to zander focus on sustainable fishing practices, habitat preservation, and monitoring the potential impacts of introductions in non-native regions. Additionally, the management of aquaculture operations plays a crucial role in minimizing the ecological risks associated with farmed zander. Understanding the ecological dynamics of zander populations and their interactions with other species is essential for ensuring the continued health of both native and introduced ecosystems.
Large rivers and eutrophic lakes are among the freshwater areas where zander can be found. They will exploit coastal lakes and estuaries and can survive brackish water. For spawning, individuals from environments with brackish water move upriver up to 250 km (160 mi).
The adults of zander, which are carnivorous, eat smaller schooling fish. According to studies conducted around the Baltic Sea, they cannibalise smaller zanders. They also hunt on European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus), ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua), European perch, vendace (Coregonus albula), and common roach (Rutilus rutilus). Additionally, they have been observed consuming Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and sea trout (Salmo trutta morph. trutta) smolts. Although its preferred diet in these waters is the common roach, zander have a significant impact on the numbers of gudgeon in the United Kingdom's canals where the water is murky owing to boat traffic.