Are there fish left in Gambia - exploratory part one

[richardsheard1]

Gambia Exploratory May = June

Ok here goes

We took 2 groups of 6 anglers over 2 weeks to assess the potential of the offshore and wreck fishing available in Gambia .


We stayed at Sitanunku lodge on Dog island , which was excellent good food great service and comfortable en suite rooms , and great cool breezes in the evening to keep the Mozzies down.

Day one , Bluewater fishing ,well to put it simply absolutey nothing , Nada !!!. Baitfish everywhere , maybe too many bait fish , but after an early start and 8 hours trollling the sole bag was a lot of Yabouys in the livebait well but nothing else .

Day Two , Back to the Bluewater which was showing some kinds of cleaning up . My boat again saw plenty of bait on the surface , but nothing much coming in with them . My Boat get skunked again , Lady Jane caught one midsized Dorado and dropped a Sailfish , Nothing very encouraging there then.

Day Three Upriver . Travelled to James island to take a look at Bintang Bolong . The Bolong is said to hold the Gambia rivers potulation of Bull sharks , who travel into the river to breeed. Lady Jane was fishing on the far side of James Island we fishing on the Bolong side . We didnt get a single touch until we started to wind in then the middle rod buckled over and screamed off . Vincent was duely strapped in a fought the fish for 2.5hrs , the fish constantly moving slowly of every time we tried to get close. Nothing panicky like a shark , just slow plodding which means either Big Ray or Big grouper. Finally as Vince tired the fish doubled back under the boat and it was impossible for us to avoid the line which wrapped around the engine and cut him off. In my opinion probably one of the Monster rays that Gambia river is famous for .

Day 4 Day off . Whilst everyone went for lunch , I went to tanje in search of co ordinates , the major purpose of the trip was to find the wreck of the MV Joola , the fery which sank in Oct 2003 { i think } . I took Seydou my deckie with me to the fishing villages down the coast and we set out to find someone that fishhed the wrecks . Not easy because most of the Senegalesse fishermen do not use GPS , As they are drift net fishing they do not need to be that specific. I was amazed to find out that the guys who actually go out furthest are the single anglers in the 15ft pirogues with a 15hp engine , specialising in targetting high value fish on hand lines .

Anyway after 1.5 hrs and more Green tea than I am sure is good for you , we found a couple of guys , I wasnt expecting this to go well at all . But Seydou being Senegalese was chatting away like a good un , within 5 minutes I had 7 recommended reef marks and a mark which I was told was 1.25kms SE of the wreck. More green tea and then another guy arrives with Snappers , Big Thiofs , Mbour { Black Cassava } , He said he had the mark for the Joola but his GPS had been stolen , but he promised that tommorow when his brother came back from fishing we would have the mark . I didnt call him till 7pm and he yes , Ive got it so , I asked him what he was doing the next day and if he wanted to join us for the day. The deal was 500dalasis and any fish we caught off the Joola ,

Day four . It was all looking far too good until one of the 150 hp Yamahas , decided to start knocking . Draft in the local boys and they began to tear it apart. One of the mechanics arrived and said that he could get an engine block but he would need 300 dalasis to keep the night watchman quiet. From this i gathered they were stealling it , but it wasnt until 4 hrs later I realised they were stealing taking the good parts off rebuilding it and putting it back were it came from.

Well hoo hum thats the way of africa .

So our little Senegalese skipper turned up gave us the co ordinates and took us to the wreck , not only did he do that , he had also tied a bouy on it the last time he was out , so as we arrived he pointed it out and on the sounder there it was rising up massively from the sea bed 80mts long and 2100 tonnes , in 17mts of water . Then having found the wreck he kicked all our arses with his hand line . Big Thiofs , Nice Snappers , Black Cassava and Big Sun Pats . We probably caught 10 or 12 in an hour of which he caught about 9 . Anyway time was pushing on because he said we should leave because we would never make it to the other wreck , other wreck , what other wreck . According to our boy there is an even bigger cement freighter just 15 km from the Joola . HE also suggested that therev were as many as Nine more wrecks within striking distance of the mainland with my boats . He gave us in all 14 co ordinates and this also included Sailfish fishing spots , He was looking awfully good value for his 500 dalasis and a few fish , I can imagine how much petrol it would have cost me to find that lot.

photos and more later