Marble trout (Salmo marmoratus), characterized by distinctive marbled color pattern and high growth capacity, inhabits some rivers and streams flowing into the Adriatic Sea Fish of the Salmo genus of the Salmoninae subfamily of the Salmonidae family of the Salmoniformes order of the Protacanthopterygii superorder.

Marble trout (Salmo marmoratus) was first described in 1829 by the French naturalist and zoologist Georges Cuvier (1769 – 1832).

It inhabits fast-flowing oxygenated rivers. Besides, it is found in lakes with tributaries.

The recorded maximum length is 120 cm. The maximum weight is 30 kg. It feeds on zooplankton, insects, fishes.

It’s the inhabitant of northern tributaries of the Po River, as well as the Adige, Brenta, Piave, Tagliamento and Livenza river basins (Italy), the Soca river basin (Italy, Slovenia), the Neretva river basin (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia), the Morača river basin (Montenegro) and Lake Skadar (Albania, Montenegro).

The River Neretva and its tributaries represent the main drainage system in the east Adriatic watershed and the foremost ichthyofaunal habitat of the region.

Salmonid fishes from the Neretva basin show considerable variation in morphology, ecology and behaviour. It is therefore not surprising that several species, i.e. Salmo trutta Linnaeus, 1758 (brown trout), Salmo marmoratus Cuvier, 1817 (marble trout), Salmo obtusirostris Heckel, 1851 (softmouth trout), Salmo farioides Karaman, 1937 and Salmo dentex Heckel, 1851 (no common name exists for the last two) were identified by early studies (Heckel, 1852; Karaman, 1937).

While some of these taxa have controversial histories, the existence of both Salmo trutta and Salmo marmoratus has been well accepted (Karaman, 1926; Vuković, 1982; Kosorić et al., 1983). Similarly, the marbled trout from the River Neretva has been assumed as Salmo marmoratus although no reliable analysis has ever been carried out to confirm its conspecificity with Salmo marmoratus stocks from the northern Adriatic watershed.

The status of Salmo dentex and Salmo farioides has always been questionable, mainly due to inadequate original descriptions and rare sightings.

On the basis of recent morphological study performed by Delling (2003), another new species that “in morphology appears intermediate between Salmo trutta and Salmo obtusirostris” has been described in the River Neretva and tentatively assigned as Salmo cf. montenigrinus (referring to Trutta montenigrina Karaman, 1933 from the River Morača, Montenegro).

Natural hybrids between Salmo obtusirostris × Salmo trutta and Salmo marmoratus × Salmo trutta have also been observed and reported in the Neretva basin (Vuković, 1982).

 

Only 12 km away from Mostar, overlooking the waters of the Buna River, is the charming little town of Blagaj, a medieval town of the Hum principality, which around the min-15th century became the today’s Herzegovina. Standing on the remains of the ancient city of Herzeg Stjepan, you can admire a stunning panorama of the valley of the Buna River, which justifies one-hour long hike uphill.

There is also the famous natural spring of the Buna River in Blagaj, the largest karst spring in Europe with an average annual flow rate 43 m3 per second.

The river spring is located underneath a 200-meter-high vertical cliff and by the source stands Dervish House Tekija it is the most mystical place in the present day Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The water spring out from a 15-metre-wide cavern and underground stream of Buna is about 200 m long.

Buna River is the finest example of an underground karst river and flows west for approximately 9 km joins the Neretva River. Its water, which is exceptionally cold and clean, is natural habitat of the endemic softmouth trout species – meka.

There are 11 national monuments in Blagaj, every one of them an attraction to wich the toursit flock..

The competition will be held on part of the river Buna – Fishing trail Buna, known for its rich indigenous endemic salmonids fund of the Neretva River, which the most beautiful is Nertva Softmouth trout.

FISHING GUIDES

To be accompanied by a guide or to receive technical information on fishing in the various areas affected by the championships, contact one of our guides (flyfishingbuna@gmail.com), official guides who will accompany you in discovering the competition venues. Or ask the local fishing associations directly.

Welcome to the city of bridges, light, differences – the city which is impossible to forget!
Major dr. Mario Kordić