stonefish
24-02-2006, 23:07
I hope anyone thinking of fishing the Gambia will find this helpful.
I have just returned from the Gambia this morning after a one week family holiday with as much fishing as I dared !! We stayed at the Palm Grove Hotel which is only five mins by taxi to Denton Bridge, the centre for all your fishing needs. You will find that most hotels are no further than 20 mins here.
I telephoned Mark Longster and his partner Tracey a week before departure and was told that as a single angler, to just pop along on the first morning and they would tailor my fishing needs. I would advise phoning in advance though just in case. Their website is www.gambiafishing.com . Note that the site hasn't been updated for ages and the phone numbers have changed. Contact them on 0020 7721228 and you will find them most helpful.
I made plans for a day boat fishing over Mantel Reef and two days guided beachcasting at Sanyang, a paradise beach about 45 mins drive to the south.
Mark loaned me a cool box full of prawns and bonga as I planned to have a solo session off the beach by the hotel that afternoon.
Here is a quick lowdown on the tackle I took.
ZZiplex 50/50 Dreamcast
2 penn 525 mags loaded with 25 lb Suffix Tritanium and 60lb Greased weasel shockleader. ( 20 lb would have been ok)
A selection of clipped down single paternosters with 20-24" hook lengths in 60 lb greased weasel (very supple in this heat). Hooks, 3/0 to 5/0 mustad Power point single or pennel. (had a couple bitten off by the Butterfish)
150 and 170 gram breakaways. ( only used the 150's)
Beach tripod. (not really necessary as tubesare supplied)
A 40-80 gram spinning rod with 10 and 20lb line and 14 lb braid, with a selection of rapalas and surface poppers. ( Didn't get time for a proper go though)
I also bought a Flambeau Bazuka pro 6095 rod case. (£60) airline approved, from www.fly-fishing-tackle.co.uk which holds many rods and a tripod rest. 2 day delivery.
Boat tackle was supplied and of good condition. Beachcasters suplied were also adequate, matched with fixed spool reels. (I did use one of thier Abu Commodore Tempest 12 foot as a second rod ).
Take some 40 to 60 lb wire and crimps for barracuda.
Here's how I got on:
Friday 17th feb.
First afternoon on the hotel beachfront, I landed a 9 lb Butterfish first cast (teeth like Esther Rantzen). I fished for two hours and had nothing else. Still, I was well happy. I gave the fish to the local Rastas who were watching and they cooked it over charcoal with a few herbs that evening. Delicious !!
Sunday:
Boat fishing at Mantel Reef. Cost: £45 Bait and tackle all in. (prawn, bonga & live baby mullet)
Three boats headed out at 9.30 am, I was alone with my captain for the day, Bassa. The boats hold three anglers plus the captain with reasonable comfort. Although I believe there are larger craft. With just Bassa and I fishing up to 6 rods, I was very hopeful. Some big fish had been landed recently including a 200+ kg stingray.
However, all I caught was small catfish, a 6 lb cassava and a couple of other species I can't remember. We missed a couple of snappers, though I did see a couple landed on the other boats. Estimate 20lb+. Still that's fishing, other days you may strike lucky.
Definately take some heavy duty sun lotion, wide brimmed hat and sleeves. That sun is intense.
Monday:
Decided to try fishing Denton Bridge with lures and freelined livebait, hoping for a barracuda on light tackle. However, I somehow got talked into trolling the creeks with lures for barracuda and jacks. £10. The guide was knowledgeable but we had no luck. We stopped at a semi submerged wreck to try bottom fishing and I also casted some surface poppers. Nothing doing.
Tuesday:
Sanyang beach. £25. inc bait and tackle if required.
Picked up at the hotel at 8.45 in a Land Rover with guides Tom and Assan. Stopped off to pick up 3 other anglers, Malcolm, Duncan and Steve. (great laugh)
We then stop at the market to pick up bait, ice, water and fruit.
It takes about 40 mins to reach Sanyang , a long expanse of deserted palm-fringed white sandy beach. Paradise.
We fished until 4pm, with some hectic sport. Cassava to 5 lb. Loads of sunpat to 4 lb, lots of small stingray around 6 lb, and butterfish 6 lb. I then had two 35+lb stingray in the space 45 mins. Arm aching stuff and by far my heaviest fish from a beach. (previous best, a 11 lb bass and cod). I rounded the day off with a 6 lb captain fish. Beautiful.
I cannot speak highly enough of Tom and Assan. Casts of 50 yards got you into fish.
Tom tells me he has seen stingers to 95 kg here as well as huge guitarfish (40 pounder last week). Infact all these species go much bigger! However, we all left as very happy customers.
Wednesday:
Sanyang again, but just me and the two guides.
Today the sport was slower. We tried a different mark first. Assan had a 30 lb stinger first cast. A local on a very rusty bike watched as it was landed, then asked if he could keep it. I've got a funny photo of him riding off with this big stingray lashed to his rack and with it's tail trailing behind on the sand !
Tom then had a guitarfish (about a 5 lb baby) and I had a 5 lb cassava. Bites stopped so Tom suggested we move about 3 miles south to where we fished the previous day. Bites were scarce, with just a few small stingers. The guides did their best to find some bigger fish and we finished with a late flurry. I twice lost hooks to butterfish, landed another stinger while Tom and Assan finished with a captain fish of about 7 lb.
The guides are on poor wages so if you have a good day, please tip. I also lightened my tackle for the journey home by giving sinkers, hooks, line etc.
I was also informed that huge Tarpon were shoaling up at Dog Island, hard to catch but well worth a try. World record fish a possibilty. Tracey, Mark's partner hooked a 150 pounder on a 15 pound spinning outfit this week,(didn't stand a chance ! ) Though she tells me she is determined to beat the women's line class record very soon. Small tarpon to 50 lb shoal by Denton Bridge during summer months.
Finally, I did see someone land a nice baracuda from the bridge yesterday morning.
I cannot recommend the Gambia highly enough. Fab weather, wonderful people, beer 60p, steak and chips £3 to £4, no bad guts. It may be a culture shock to the Benidorm Brigade, but this is real Africa and my family (kids 4 & 12) loved it.
Biggest gripe: The week was over in a flash.
You can PM me for further info or photos. Tony.
I have just returned from the Gambia this morning after a one week family holiday with as much fishing as I dared !! We stayed at the Palm Grove Hotel which is only five mins by taxi to Denton Bridge, the centre for all your fishing needs. You will find that most hotels are no further than 20 mins here.
I telephoned Mark Longster and his partner Tracey a week before departure and was told that as a single angler, to just pop along on the first morning and they would tailor my fishing needs. I would advise phoning in advance though just in case. Their website is www.gambiafishing.com . Note that the site hasn't been updated for ages and the phone numbers have changed. Contact them on 0020 7721228 and you will find them most helpful.
I made plans for a day boat fishing over Mantel Reef and two days guided beachcasting at Sanyang, a paradise beach about 45 mins drive to the south.
Mark loaned me a cool box full of prawns and bonga as I planned to have a solo session off the beach by the hotel that afternoon.
Here is a quick lowdown on the tackle I took.
ZZiplex 50/50 Dreamcast
2 penn 525 mags loaded with 25 lb Suffix Tritanium and 60lb Greased weasel shockleader. ( 20 lb would have been ok)
A selection of clipped down single paternosters with 20-24" hook lengths in 60 lb greased weasel (very supple in this heat). Hooks, 3/0 to 5/0 mustad Power point single or pennel. (had a couple bitten off by the Butterfish)
150 and 170 gram breakaways. ( only used the 150's)
Beach tripod. (not really necessary as tubesare supplied)
A 40-80 gram spinning rod with 10 and 20lb line and 14 lb braid, with a selection of rapalas and surface poppers. ( Didn't get time for a proper go though)
I also bought a Flambeau Bazuka pro 6095 rod case. (£60) airline approved, from www.fly-fishing-tackle.co.uk which holds many rods and a tripod rest. 2 day delivery.
Boat tackle was supplied and of good condition. Beachcasters suplied were also adequate, matched with fixed spool reels. (I did use one of thier Abu Commodore Tempest 12 foot as a second rod ).
Take some 40 to 60 lb wire and crimps for barracuda.
Here's how I got on:
Friday 17th feb.
First afternoon on the hotel beachfront, I landed a 9 lb Butterfish first cast (teeth like Esther Rantzen). I fished for two hours and had nothing else. Still, I was well happy. I gave the fish to the local Rastas who were watching and they cooked it over charcoal with a few herbs that evening. Delicious !!
Sunday:
Boat fishing at Mantel Reef. Cost: £45 Bait and tackle all in. (prawn, bonga & live baby mullet)
Three boats headed out at 9.30 am, I was alone with my captain for the day, Bassa. The boats hold three anglers plus the captain with reasonable comfort. Although I believe there are larger craft. With just Bassa and I fishing up to 6 rods, I was very hopeful. Some big fish had been landed recently including a 200+ kg stingray.
However, all I caught was small catfish, a 6 lb cassava and a couple of other species I can't remember. We missed a couple of snappers, though I did see a couple landed on the other boats. Estimate 20lb+. Still that's fishing, other days you may strike lucky.
Definately take some heavy duty sun lotion, wide brimmed hat and sleeves. That sun is intense.
Monday:
Decided to try fishing Denton Bridge with lures and freelined livebait, hoping for a barracuda on light tackle. However, I somehow got talked into trolling the creeks with lures for barracuda and jacks. £10. The guide was knowledgeable but we had no luck. We stopped at a semi submerged wreck to try bottom fishing and I also casted some surface poppers. Nothing doing.
Tuesday:
Sanyang beach. £25. inc bait and tackle if required.
Picked up at the hotel at 8.45 in a Land Rover with guides Tom and Assan. Stopped off to pick up 3 other anglers, Malcolm, Duncan and Steve. (great laugh)
We then stop at the market to pick up bait, ice, water and fruit.
It takes about 40 mins to reach Sanyang , a long expanse of deserted palm-fringed white sandy beach. Paradise.
We fished until 4pm, with some hectic sport. Cassava to 5 lb. Loads of sunpat to 4 lb, lots of small stingray around 6 lb, and butterfish 6 lb. I then had two 35+lb stingray in the space 45 mins. Arm aching stuff and by far my heaviest fish from a beach. (previous best, a 11 lb bass and cod). I rounded the day off with a 6 lb captain fish. Beautiful.
I cannot speak highly enough of Tom and Assan. Casts of 50 yards got you into fish.
Tom tells me he has seen stingers to 95 kg here as well as huge guitarfish (40 pounder last week). Infact all these species go much bigger! However, we all left as very happy customers.
Wednesday:
Sanyang again, but just me and the two guides.
Today the sport was slower. We tried a different mark first. Assan had a 30 lb stinger first cast. A local on a very rusty bike watched as it was landed, then asked if he could keep it. I've got a funny photo of him riding off with this big stingray lashed to his rack and with it's tail trailing behind on the sand !
Tom then had a guitarfish (about a 5 lb baby) and I had a 5 lb cassava. Bites stopped so Tom suggested we move about 3 miles south to where we fished the previous day. Bites were scarce, with just a few small stingers. The guides did their best to find some bigger fish and we finished with a late flurry. I twice lost hooks to butterfish, landed another stinger while Tom and Assan finished with a captain fish of about 7 lb.
The guides are on poor wages so if you have a good day, please tip. I also lightened my tackle for the journey home by giving sinkers, hooks, line etc.
I was also informed that huge Tarpon were shoaling up at Dog Island, hard to catch but well worth a try. World record fish a possibilty. Tracey, Mark's partner hooked a 150 pounder on a 15 pound spinning outfit this week,(didn't stand a chance ! ) Though she tells me she is determined to beat the women's line class record very soon. Small tarpon to 50 lb shoal by Denton Bridge during summer months.
Finally, I did see someone land a nice baracuda from the bridge yesterday morning.
I cannot recommend the Gambia highly enough. Fab weather, wonderful people, beer 60p, steak and chips £3 to £4, no bad guts. It may be a culture shock to the Benidorm Brigade, but this is real Africa and my family (kids 4 & 12) loved it.
Biggest gripe: The week was over in a flash.
You can PM me for further info or photos. Tony.