Gambia (Xmas)

[glenyates]

I'm off to gambia, Kotu on the 19th dec-3rd jan and need some advise on the terminal tackle to take for different species.

I was thinking of fishing of the beach with a beachcaster and a spinning rod.

Any advise would be Appreciated.:clap3:

If anyone is there during this period and wanted to join up for some fishing let me know.

Regards

Glen.

[GrumpyBloke]

You will need some plugs , Toby's etc with short wire traces around 20lb.Pike traces work for me.
Bottom fishing is done with prawn or bonga fish fillets.
I normally use 2 hook traces with 2/0 and 40lb hook lengths, or single 6/0 on 60lb pulley rig.Take a spool of elastic , makes casting the prawns easier.
I am going to experiment with circle hooks when I,m over in Jan as I hope these will avoid being bitten off by butter fish.
Its a personal thing but I reckon clear hook lengths make a difference.
Everyone has different ideas how they like to fish , just bear in mind that beach casting could connect you to fish over 50lb!! and don,t use your favorite bass lure as the barracuda will destroy it.

[mr40rose]

I'm off to gambia, Kotu on the 19th dec-3rd jan and need some advise on the terminal tackle to take for different species.

I was thinking of fishing of the beach with a beachcaster and a spinning rod.

Any advise would be Appreciated.:clap3:

If anyone is there during this period and wanted to join up for some fishing let me know.

Regards

Glen. Hi glen going the same dates stoping at kololi beach a few miles down the road hope to go out on a boat takeing a beach caster and a few other bits so if you would like to meet up and have a dabble that would be great. ps stopping at the holiday beach club thanks mick

[letemallgo]

I've been there a couple of times. I go again on 4th December but I'm only there for a week.

BAIT: You can use shrimps (local name Sippa Sippa). Bonga (an oily fish). Both these can be purchased at Bakau market. They'll even fillet the Bonga for you Use either a Bonga fillet , three or four shrimps or a combination (thread the shrimps up the trace and mount the Bonga on the hook.

At Denton Bridge, you can catch live mullet (on size 6 or 8 feather trace) or buy them for a few dalassis from one of the locals. I bought a big bucket at Backau market and took a battery operated air pump to keep them alive.

When boat fishing, half a dozen shrimps threaded up the trace with a live mullet on the hook often works when other baits fail.

TERMINAL TACKLE:

Best to use strong forged hooks (leave the fine wire Aberdeens at home).

Big hooks and big baits catch big fish same as at home. When shore fishing I used 3/0 to 2ft 30lb trace either ledger or pulley rig. Wired lead of 3 to 5 ozs. For smaller fish a hook between 2 and 1/0 baited with a single shrimp or Bonga strip is successful. You'll need a wire trace if you are fishing specifically for barracuda but I found wire put the other fish off.

From the boat 3/0 to 5/0 hook on 3 ft ledger, 40 to 50lb nylon trace. Again use wire for barracuda, but I heard that Captain Fish (threadfin salmon) don't like wire. Your skipper will tell you what species you are after.

I found casting downtide from the boat and periodically lifting the lead off the seabed and paying out a little line was the most successful method. You'll need 4 to 8 ozs of lead depending on the tide.

WHERE TO FISH:

You can fish from most beaches. Sanyang Beach is reputed to be the best. Denton Bridge and the beach alongside it can be good. You could try Backau Pier if you don't mind a hundred local kids for company.

For boat fishing if you get a taxi to Denton Bridge, there are plenty of boats for charter on the south side of the bridge upstream of it. If you pop down a couple of days before you want to fish you will usually get fixed up. It will cost about £40 for 4 to 5 hours fishing. I booked with Seedy Gassama(seedy_gassama@hotmail.com). His skipper Veeay is a really nice guy. If you don't want to take boat rod and reel, the skipper can supply them.

I can't tell you much about spinning. I've heard that they spin for Barracuda at Cape Point and we took barracuda trolling big (8 inch) sinking Rapala type lures behind the boat.

CAUTION: If you haven't been to The Gambia before (and expecially if you have a female companion) beware of the Bumsters, they are a total menace. They hang around the tourist areas and tag along with you as you walk around. They will act 'friendly' but in reality they are conmen. Avoid getting engaged in conversation or you will not shake them off. Don't try to be polite, it doesn't work. Either refuse to acknowledge them or very firmly tell them to 'go away' (or some expression conveying the same meaning). Best method to avoid them is to employ a Gambian who you trust to tag along with you (one of your hotel staff or a taxi driver) and he'll keep them away.

Believe me they really are a menace.

[mr40rose]

I've been there a couple of times. I go again on 4th December but I'm only there for a week.

BAIT: You can use shrimps (local name Sippa Sippa). Bonga (an oily fish). Both these can be purchased at Bakau market. They'll even fillet the Bonga for you Use either a Bonga fillet , three or four shrimps or a combination (thread the shrimps up the trace and mount the Bonga on the hook.

At Denton Bridge, you can catch live mullet (on size 6 or 8 feather trace) or buy them for a few dalassis from one of the locals. I bought a big bucket at Backau market and took a battery operated air pump to keep them alive.

When boat fishing, half a dozen shrimps threaded up the trace with a live mullet on the hook often works when other baits fail.

TERMINAL TACKLE:

Best to use strong forged hooks (leave the fine wire Aberdeens at home).

Big hooks and big baits catch big fish same as at home. When shore fishing I used 3/0 to 2ft 30lb trace either ledger or pulley rig. Wired lead of 3 to 5 ozs. For smaller fish a hook between 2 and 1/0 baited with a single shrimp or Bonga strip is successful. You'll need a wire trace if you are fishing specifically for barracuda but I found wire put the other fish off.

From the boat 3/0 to 5/0 hook on 3 ft ledger, 40 to 50lb nylon trace. Again use wire for barracuda, but I heard that Captain Fish (threadfin salmon) don't like wire. Your skipper will tell you what species you are after.

I found casting downtide from the boat and periodically lifting the lead off the seabed and paying out a little line was the most successful method. You'll need 4 to 8 ozs of lead depending on the tide.

WHERE TO FISH:

You can fish from most beaches. Sanyang Beach is reputed to be the best. Denton Bridge and the beach alongside it can be good. You could try Backau Pier if you don't mind a hundred local kids for company.

For boat fishing if you get a taxi to Denton Bridge, there are plenty of boats for charter on the south side of the bridge upstream of it. If you pop down a couple of days before you want to fish you will usually get fixed up. It will cost about £40 for 4 to 5 hours fishing. I booked with Seedy Gassama(seedy_gassama@hotmail.com). His skipper Veeay is a really nice guy. If you don't want to take boat rod and reel, the skipper can supply them.

I can't tell you much about spinning. I've heard that they spin for Barracuda at Cape Point and we took barracuda trolling big (8 inch) sinking Rapala type lures behind the boat.

CAUTION: If you haven't been to The Gambia before (and expecially if you have a female companion) beware of the Bumsters, they are a total menace. They hang around the tourist areas and tag along with you as you walk around. They will act 'friendly' but in reality they are conmen. Avoid getting engaged in conversation or you will not shake them off. Don't try to be polite, it doesn't work. Either refuse to acknowledge them or very firmly tell them to 'go away' (or some expression conveying the same meaning). Best method to avoid them is to employ a Gambian who you trust to tag along with you (one of your hotel staff or a taxi driver) and he'll keep them away.

Believe me they really are a menace.thanks for the info when you come back can you please put a report on thanks mick....... ps hope you have a nice time

[stonefish]

Just got back from Gambia on the 28th Nov, my mate and I had some pretty good fishing with our guides. If you want a good chance of catching some nice fish, i suggest you use my guides (with land rover). Too many people try to go it alone or fish with locals who promise ' catch a big barracuda' and return disappointed.
I will post a report with photos, including an excellent night had at a new venue to me.
Tony.

[NJJ]

Latemallgo wrote For boat fishing if you get a taxi to Denton Bridge, there are plenty of boats for charter on the south side of the bridge upstream of it. If you pop down a couple of days before you want to fish you will usually get fixed up. It will cost about £40 for 4 to 5 hours fishing. I booked with Seedy Gassama(seedy_gassama@hotmail.com). His skipper Veeay is a really nice guy. If you don't want to take boat rod and reel, the skipper can supply them.

I would be very carefull gonig to Denton Bridge as there are some real rouges about. I can without hesitation recommend Mark Longsters company and most of his Captains - Hassan and Bala in particular.

Last year Mark was fully booked and I picked up another boat at Denton Bridge on speck and it was a nightmare. He ran out of fuel when crossing the sandbank and we were out of control in a difficult situation. As it upsets me so much I do not want to go into any more detail but please please be warned.

Nick J

[GrumpyBloke]

Welcome back stonefish , looking forward to the post.

[glenyates]

Hope you had a good time Stonefish, If you could PM me with your guides contact numbers, that would be great.
I have made contact with Mark and hoping to get a trip with him.

Thanks for all the info guys.....:clap3:

[fishermike35]

:schmoll: :schmoll: just come back from there the fishing was crap mark longster has gone hes gone to senigal and hes not stupid the gambia has had it guts netted out of it its turned to be very disapointing indeed we fished everywere cape point labato the south sang yang best fish was a captian fish about 8lb and there wernt many fish at that the skipper taken over from mark is a guy called steve he knows as much about fishing as my 1 year old daughter what a total **** his boat almost killed me the engine fell off and almost went through the hull so check whats taking u out before u go dont want to put a damper on your holls before u go but as for the 12 anglers who went out we will never go back ever again sorry