One question always comes up: "Are there any predators in Corsica? The answer is yes, there are a few artificial lakes on the island of beauty that are home to carnivorous fish. These reservoirs are designed either to generate electricity or to serve as reserves for irrigation or drinking water. These artificial lakes were not home to any fish when they were first impounded. The fishing federation then set about making these reservoirs attractive to fish.
Perch and pike-perch
Carp, rotengles, tench, perch and zander were the first to be introduced. Perch and pike-perch are present in virtually all lowland dam lakes. They are relatively abundant, but the poverty of most lakes prevents the growth of specimen fish. Poaching and abuse by many of the island's "fishermen" add another layer. These include night fishing and fishing on pike-perch spawning grounds in April...
Tolla's pikes
In addition to percids, Master Esox is also found in Corsica! pike has been introduced very locally. Sterile fish have been introduced into the Codole lake (in Balagne, near Ile Rousse) to combat the proliferation of roach and rotengles, which had no predators until now. It can also be found in Lac de Tolla, a large, majestic lake high above Ajaccio that has nothing to envy certain lakes on the mainland. Tolla is, however, very difficult to fish. The banks are steep, the water deep and the pike very hard to find! Some people have reported catches in other areas, but these are very difficult to confirm...
Catfish
At Tolla, you'll find another resident you might not think of: the catfish. It is present in this lake, but also downstream in the Prunelli and Gravone rivers. The latter was probably introduced by private individuals, the first specimens necessarily coming from the mainland. At Tolla, the catfish population seems to be growing. Numerous small specimens can be seen and fished. Big ones (over 2m) are very rare... for now?
Black bass
The last carnivore (apart from wolffish and salmonids) to be found in Corsica is the black bass, the sport fish par excellence! Like the catfish, the black bass has not been officially introduced to Corsica. It probably comes from two distinct sources: Sardinia (the Italian island to the south of Corsica, renowned for its large bass-filled lakes such as Coghinas) and the mainland. Black bass can be found in several Corsican lakes. In Codole (mentioned above), it effectively regulates roach and rotenglet populations. It has also been found for some time in a reservoir near Bastia. It should be noted that these two bodies of water are classified as first category fish stocks and can be fished from March onwards. Look for the error...
Chub
No asp in Corsica, but chub are also present. This omnivore is also present at Tolla, in the Gravone and Prunelli rivers, as are catfish.
Fish present but moody
It's possible to do some great predator fishing in Corsica. However, spending time there on vacation can prove tedious. This is especially true in summer, when the fish are less active, except in the evenings and mornings. Even if you're here all year round, it's not uncommon to break your teeth on untrained, moody fish.
Dam lakes are tricky to fish from shore. The banks can be unstable or scabrous, and in the mineral maze you can lose many lures while scratching for pike-perch, which can quickly discourage you... Carnivorous fish are present but have to be earned! You need a good knowledge of the water, acquired through hard work and experience, to make the most of it. Large specimens can be caught, but you'll need a lot of luck and, above all, a lot of diligence and application.
Don't forget to release your catches for the future of the island's predators!
