Abstract.A comparative study of ‘mpasa’,Opsardium microlepis(Günther), and ‘ntchila’,Labeo mesopsGünther, was made with regard to spawning strategy. While fractional spawning was routinely observed in mpasa, total spawning of ntchila suggests a less efficient survival strategy. Ova and oocyte counts varied from 34510 to 65657 in mpasa of 54‐57.7cm total length and were numerically higher than those observed in ntchila, which ranged from 10479 to 47957 in 19‐29.3cm fish. Gonadosomatic indices were 3.75 to 10.97 for the former and 9.66 to 16.09 for the latter fish. Because of the breeding behaviour, broodstock and hatchery management is easier with ntchila than with mpasa. This could be a basis for a culture‐based fishery which has so far been unexplored in Malawian waters. Possibilities for enhancement of the two fisheries are alluded to in light of