Roger's Angling Pages
Zingel zingel		Perch family Percidae

Zingel zingel inhabits the river Danube and some of its larger tributaries. Its head is well flattened and the body shape is similar to the Pikeperch's. It is long with a very narrow tail base. Dark flecks and 4 to 5 transverse stripes in the form of wide dark lines are scattered over its yellowish brown body. The anal and rear dorsal fins are located almost exactly in line with one another although the anal fin is a little shorter. It usually grows to a length of 40 cm and a weight of 10 oz. It breeds in spring on the gravelly bottom in midstream. It stays in deep water and only now and then is there a chance of catching it. It lives on food of the river bed, but given the chance will eat larval fishes.

This species has an underdeveloped air-bladder and progress along the bottom in characteristic darting movements. It have no economic or sporting value.