Inland Fisheries

7.3.2.1 Golden Mahseer

Mahseer is known to be the toughest among the fresh water sport fish. It is a cold water fish. Mahseer's habitat has high oxygenated water with rocky bed. It is found in Indian Himalayas. Mahseer is migrating fish, during winter fish moves to the warm water. As this fish has great smelling sense, it can detect food from quite a distance. Angling period for Mahseer can be well split in two parts Spring (pre-monsoon) and Autumn (post-monsoon). Fishing is strictly prohibited during monsoon as it is the breeding time for the fish. The best ways of Mahseer fishing is Spinning, It is a fish known for its fight. It is the largest member of the carp family in the world. Mahseer is a dream fish for anglers. However, like other wildlife, this fish is trying hard to survive the strokes of urbanisation & development. Other major threat for Mahseer is poaching. There are different poaching techniques used such as bombing, electric current, bleaching powder etc.