I'm off to Gambia at the beginning of April.

Just wondering if anyone has experience of Tarpon fishing in Gambia and could recommend a guide/boat charter or would recommend trying fishing for any other species out there? (Have done the tiger fish thing in Zambia)

I'll be around Banjul and would love to throw a fly at a tarpon if possible. Are 12wts the order of the day?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Ryan

Give Charl a call at Farlows in London think he has fished there, 12's will be the order I would think and good ones at that!

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Tomo

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Cheers, Will do. Now to get a 12wt!

Cheers,
Ryan

The Gambia is a funny place as a fishing resort, the problem is, in my experience for fly and lure (sight) fishing is that it is essentially a huge river mouth and the water carries much sediment and allways appears dirty.
We went Tarpon fishing (unsuccessfully) and it's true that there are huge Tarpon there, we saw them leaving the water, bigger that me and the dolphins that were swimming by them but its not practical to fish for them as you would in such as Florida or Cuba. They were in a place off Dog Island (I think) out in open, deep and dirty water and it livebaits that catch them at depth.

I went as a lure and fly angler and found oppertunities other than trolling from reef to reef to the "creeks" and mangroves to bait fish were scarce and was put off by my guides.

I think that there is still some decent fishing there but you need to do your research and speak to people who have been rather than the tour operators as myself, anglers there and people who I have spoken to since felt we were sold a lemon by the companies we booked through. I would also say that you shouldn't book the guides from the UK as their mark ups are HUGE! you can get the same trips and guides booked there at about the third of the cost (with the same people!) when you are there and I really felt the UK operator did **** all to justify what they took and friends who has problems got nil back up from them. Denton Bridge Resort if its still there was the best place, run by English guys and had some decent local guides. Watch out though, they like to help themselves to your gear as they can't get it there!

That said we did have some great experiences there, even though the fishing wasn't great, particularly the guided beach fishing!

Ginea Bissau on the other hand, I would love a stab at!

Thanks for that. Very helpful. I'll maybe reconsider getting a 12wt outfit.

Ryan

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Marcel pretty well said it all , I used to go twice a year and the water was always too muddy for the fly . I caught this fellow on a livebait in the river , had it on for 90 minutes on a broomstick , estimated 300lb . Pulled us nearly a mile upriver . This is the only pic i got as it shed the hook at the side of the boat .
I did get 2 30lb catfish when the tide turned as well .
Most consistent fishing was from the shore outside the Atlantic hotel at night using prawns , ladyfish are pretty strong and will smash you up on the groynes . Take some strong deet .
Bob

Its worth saying as well that although they are generally friendly and happy people, you do need to be firm with them as you end up with them latching on to you "bumsters" as they are known will try and be your guides for your stay. Sound enough people but ever so annoying!!

Terry I think is the guy who runs Dentons and Alan who helps him when I was there. There were also a couple of others who spend alot of time at the bridge and launch their boats from the, one of them was a scouser and I think his name was Peter, nice feller and a very good and knowledgable angler who I'm sure would point you in the right direction. But we met a load of expats there offering to have days out with us, which was very cool and we did fancy a return trip and go right up the river after tigerfish.

My Gambian trip made me think I would be unlikely to book guides again through an agent in the UK.