Monster zander killed after terrorizing Swiss swimmers

[fishwater]

Monster fish killed after terrorizing Swiss swimmers

Jul 13 12:30 PM US/Eastern

Police divers have ended the reign of terror of a huge fish that was attacking swimmers in a Swiss lake.

The zander, which was 70 centimeters (two feet three inches) long and weighed eight kilos (17.5 pounds), was harpooned on Sunday after it bit six swimmers over the weekend, fish warden Fabio Croci told local media.

Two swimmers were treated in hospital for bite wounds up to 10 centimetres (four inches) long after being attacked on Lac Majeur, which borders Italy, he added.

Police divers at first tried to capture the carnivorous fish with a net, but when this failed they pursued the zander with a harpoon and managed to kill it.

The meat from the captured fish was served up to tourists at the lake.

"It is quite unusual for zanders to bite humans", Croci said, adding he suspected the fish was suffering from a hormonal imbalance which could be responsible for its aggression.

[Jackpine Rob]

Can you imagine if our state fish tried to pull this?

Hmmm. Sounds like an SCTV skit.

[DonBo]

WOW! Can you imagine a 27" walleye weighing over 17 lbs? Heckuva fish.

[SunneyeDay]

I feel bad for the tourists- I would have asked for a 15-19in zander that was biting tourists...

[pinkfloyd4ever]

that had to be a sight watching them out there trying to harpoon it. Love the whole, "sorry this fish had a hormonal imbalance and was attacking you, once its harpooned will filet it and you can eat it"

[fishwater]

As you can see from the photo, it was a precision operation. They had the dive team out to assist. I believe it may have been an underwater harpoon job!

[koonie]

"It is quite unusual for zanders to bite humans", Croci said, adding he suspected the fish was suffering from a hormonal imbalance which could be responsible for its aggression.

A hormonal imbalance? Must have been a female. Oops! Did I just say that.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

LOL, ya you went there, even though I'm sure most of us guys thought that

[kingfish689]

I can see it now. Police say the lady was harpooned because of a hormonal imbalance lol

[Boxcar Wllie]

That is one big "Fresh Canadian Walleye"

[SunneyeDay]

Does anyone know what restaurants were involved in that scam?

I would hope that my beloved Tavern on Grand would not do such a thing...

[pinkfloyd4ever]

I think the main culprits were the red shellfish chain but I don't remember

[rockingroy]

I don't think the culprits were the restaurants themselves, but the companies that supply them fish. Not sure though.