The zander (Stizostedion lucioperca) is a large fish that looks like a cross between a pike and a perch and has teeth like Dracula and bulbous eyes.
It is a European species introduced to British waters by the Duke of Bedford, into the lakes on his Woburn estate in 1878 and then into the Great Ouse Relief Channel in the Fens shortly afterwards. From there, it spread across the country and has been recorded in Scotland.
This fish thrives in the murky waters of canals and waterways churned up by boats. Its bulbous eyes mean it can see small fish before they realise they are being stalked and can seriously denude stocks. In clean waters, where they do not have this advantage, zander are not so common.
The good news is that zander are excellent to eat with flaky white flesh, so much so that they are farmed for food in Europe.
Since they are non-native, it is technically illegal to return a hooked zander to British waters. The Canal and Rivers Trust, which says the species can wipe out stocks of gudgeon and other small fish, would like you to take any catches home and cook them. The British record is 21lb 5ozs (9.67 kg) so potentially a you could land a substantial meal.
