Wild Gabon: Six South Africans, two Canadians, one Frenchman, and an American walked into the bar… This would read as the start of a bad joke, but all involved quickly realized that fishing at Sette Cama is no joke. This past week, we had a mixture of Sette Cama stalwarts and some who had no clue what they had signed up for. Among the six South Africans were three kids, who, by the end of the week, we all agreed had ruined their fishing for life, and they just need to beg their dads to return regularly to get their fix. The highlights are too many to document, so we will just reflect on a typical evening session for the week.
The tides were perfect for fishing the south bank of the mouth. We have largely been focusing the fishing around the evening twilight. The fish have been incredibly active around this change of light period, irrespective of tides or conditions. One or two anglers would start hitting the surf zone with lures. Although the tarpon and threadfin were “full up” in the gutters and channel, so were the bull sharks. After a few taxed fish and lost lures, we all decided to refrain from the temptation due to the unnecessary death of fish and secretly the guides being tired of redoing leaders. The inside of the lagoon did not disappoint, however. Longfin Jacks would always get everyone bent before the sun sunk below the ocean. As the light started to fade, the sense of the unknown would mount. What would the next cast result in? Will it be stoppable?
Some spectacular cuberra snapper and threadfin came out almost every session, with 27kg and 35kg being the biggest of the trip, respectively. The tarpon would roll into the mouth, and every night someone had an encounter or two. Five silver kings made it to shore during the week, including two on fly.
The three fly fishers in the group had the best saltwater fly fishing they had ever experienced. Numerous good threadfin and some quality snapper (over the 20kg mark) were fooled by the steel wrapped in materials from various animals. One night in particular, we faced a big problem on fly; the tarpon were just too big! The subtle tap on the swing would become a massive explosion in the dark followed by a mad dash down the bank towards the surf and a silent prayer or two (guides included) that the reel wouldn’t be stripped, and everything would hold. Unfortunately, in this part of the world, there are just some fish that are unlandable. Shattered nerves, frayed leaders, and bent hooks would be addressed, and the fly would be put back into play, maybe the shattered nerves would remain.
Fly fishing here has a feeling about it which one may not be able to replicate elsewhere. Lost in your thoughts in the dark, swinging a fly that belongs in the jungle canopy, and being scared awake either by an eat or a cuberra smashing mullet at your feet. The fact that we hook this caliber of fish right in front of us, mere meters away, enforces the notion that being in the water is a dangerous place.
Fishing ain’t the be-all and end-all at Sette Cama; elephants were seen daily whether on terra firma or swimming across the lagoon. One morning the lagoon fishing was sacrificed by two clients to go look for our local celebrities, the wave-catching hippos. As is often the case, effort equals reward, and some paparazzi shots were taken of their dawn surf session. Some “lesser” famous forest buffalo and elephants were also seen taking beach strolls.
It was a fantastic week on all fronts; everyone left happy and amazed. On the last night, at the bar, some numbers were tallied (there may or may not have been some intoxicated maths). 900 was peer-reviewed and agreed upon, but we wouldn’t be surprised if a longfin jack or two were left out.
AW guide, Riley Meyer
CONTACT US
If you fancy doing battle with the hard fighting Nile Perch of Cameroon then the Gassa Camp is a destination for you. If you’d also like any further information, you can contact our fly fishing specialist Peter Collingsworth on 01603 407596 or email at peter@sportquestholidays.com.
