Spinning in the Gambia

[Steveh24]

I have been fishing the Gambia for the past 3 years, but mainly beach fishing and this year I want to try spinning with Popper's for Cuda, Jacks and anything else that will have a go.

I have been advised to use Braid, but I have never used Braid on a fixed spool before so not sure what BS I should load and if I should use a mono trace before the wire trace.

Does anyone have any expereince with this type of fishing in the Gambia and where are some good marks to try poppers.

[OffshoreKite]

I have been fishing the Gambia for the past 3 years, but mainly beach fishing and this year I want to try spinning with Popper's for Cuda, Jacks and anything else that will have a go.

I have been advised to use Braid, but I have never used Braid on a fixed spool before so not sure what BS I should load and if I should use a mono trace before the wire trace.

Does anyone have any expereince with this type of fishing in the Gambia and where are some good marks to try poppers.


I've been researching this recently as I'm taking my spinning kit to the Red Sea next month... at a complete loss I stumbled across Mike Ladle's website and saw his one stop set up!

Shimano Stradic 4000 rear drag loaded with 30lb Berkley Whiplash with a 3ft mono leader of 15lb mono for the UK and 40lb mono for the tropics and the wire after that!

If he can do it so can I... why reinvent the wheel. I'm taking a few poppers and some floated shallow (jointed and non-jointed) divers and one or two deeper divers.... although as intend to spin from the beach the latter may be redundant!

My first post here as well!

[Steveh24]

Hi OffshoreKite

Thanks for the reply, that's just the sort of info I was looking for and as you rightly say, if it's good enough for an expert like Mike Ladle.

Let us know how you get on.

[DanBlueMarlin]

Hi Guys

I have just bought a spinning outfit for the tropics and was advised by the tackle shop not to go for braid! But to go with one of the thinner Mono's now available and chuck a heavier mono leader on instead of wire.

I would be interested if anyone thinks this is correct as I'm going away next month and don't want to be stuck with the wrong setup!

I'm going to Mauritius and will post a report on my return.

[Steveh24]

Just as a coincidence, but I was out on my mates boat last week and as we left the harbour entrance we noticed a lot of Terns diving, so though there must be some Bass about, so I borrowed my mates spinning rod which had 20lb braid on it, which I've never used on a fixed spool before, but it was brilliant and even with a light lure I could cast it miles and I had not problem with the braid, so looking forward to my trip to the Gambia armed with my new spinning rod and fixed spool loaded with whiplash

[OffshoreKite]

I've gone with 0.35 Power Pro (thats 66lb in our money... the mono equivalent size is 12lb!!! I'm also a follower of Dave Lumb!) and I have a spool of 30lb Amnesia for a long leader and then to a wire trace... The mono leader is to stop the beggars trashing the braid on the rocks!

[NJJ]

I have been to te Gambia 3 Times and Bara are ofeten caught at Denton Bridge itself.
I am not sure if poppers will work but if you go to the seaward side of the bridge by the Sports Centre you may get some there.

Nick J

[crisdafish]

Hi,
Been to the Gambia many times, the most productive mark that I've come across for spinning are the reefs at SanYang Point.
Fish these at low water when there's a bit of movement on the water, preferably at dusk, using surface poppers, krills or cebars.
Hire one of the locals with a land rover and you can drive right on to the reef.
I have heard reliable reports of ninebones being caught on shads but i've never tried them over there.
The other mark that is probably worth a go is Atlantic point

[stonefish]

Hi,
Been to the Gambia many times, the most productive mark that I've come across for spinning are the reefs at SanYang Point.
Fish these at low water when there's a bit of movement on the water, preferably at dusk, using surface poppers, krills or cebars.
Hire one of the locals with a land rover and you can drive right on to the reef.
I have heard reliable reports of ninebones being caught on shads but i've never tried them over there.
The other mark that is probably worth a go is Atlantic point

Was going to say the same place I think. Between Sanyang and Tanje there is reef outcrop at low water. Not tried it but it was pointed out by the guides. Tom and Assan

[Steveh24]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the info, I know the Pool at Denton Bridge often produces Bara's for the boats and have caught there myself on one of Mark Long's boats a few years ago, but it is the reefs that I really want to try.

Has anyone fished the rocks at Lebato Beach as it looks very fishy and I've seen small Tarpon landed there on lures

[paddyc]

Ive not fished at Lebato Beach but i will give it a go this year as im going with spinning in mind more so the beach casting, that rock/reef mark you mentioned between sanyang and tanji is batakunku point, and its a cracking spot, but saying that last year we spent the whole day on it from low water right up and we blanked,,,,we were using tsunami poppers and skitter pops and even baitfished to see if we could tempt anything but not a fish, but the year before it was on fire we had jacks to 16kg and plenty of ladys/snappers, so its well worth a look imo.
One year as we started walking out on to it i noticed a shadow just to the left at nearly the first inlet in the rock and there a massive grouper was just sitting there easily the guts of 70/80lb so i flicked out my lure and brought it back twards it in the hope of a take but the water just exploded as it took off just before the lure got to him i obviously spooked it.
On another note last year i found it well worth a try spinning along the beaches right outside the hotel i walked from figara to senagambia and baged 9-jacks (and as many julbrew) up to 5kg and my mate had a barra just over 6kg all on poppers, the water was realitivly flat and we fished right up untill dusk.
Any recent reports of deep water on any of the beaches..?
really looking forward to getting back over

[lucky]

I have just bought a spinning outfit for the tropics and was advised by the tackle shop not to go for braid! But to go with one of the thinner Mono's now available and chuck a heavier mono leader on instead of wire.
A lo depends on the grond tou're fishing over in the tropics. If there's coral about or a lot of rocks there's less chance of getting broken off with mono than there is with braid. Also if there's barracuda about you'll need a couple of foot of wire leader as they'll bite straight through mono.

[OffshoreKite]

Just back from Egypt... 7 Barracuda and a Trevally.... 0.35 PowerPro onto 30lb Amnesia 5 foot leader onto 30cm Rapala Gamaflex wire... no issues and best lure was a silver Rapala CD9

[AWHM]

Braid is excellent for spinning, so long as you don't overfill the spool. Also, knots need about twice as many turns as mono.

[Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar]

Whiplash is a great casting line but for fishing, not so good. When I have had to go for the pull while using Whiplash (50lb) main line and Kriston Quicksilver hook links (25lb) and leaders (25 to 45lb), its always, and I mean always, the Whiplash that goes first.

I now use 22 or 34lb Dynon Braid. Its brilliant and unlike the Whiplash wears very well. Admittidly its a little thicker in diameter but I have more confidence in 22lb Dynon than 50lb Whiplash, John Beachcomber.

P.S. The abrasion resistance of Dynon is also far superior and as in sea fishing there is no spodding or marker work to be done then as far as I'm concerned there is no use for Whiplash............