Sette Cama Lodge

The first week of the season at Sette Cama Lodge meant the guides’ shark-fishing spree finally ended, and work began. We kicked off with a fly-fishing group made up mostly of anglers from the UK, with one American and one Australian in the mix. It didn’t take long for The Ashes to make an appearance, with a few jokes about sandpaper aimed at Mike, the lone Aussie.

The Fishing

With the rains still holding off, conditions were tough, but the jacks kept everyone busy. Each angler managed one or two solid longfin jacks on fly. Casting along stranded logs and rocky drop-offs produced small snappers in the mornings, with a few better brown snappers mixed in. A couple of broken leaders hinted that the big ones were close.

Fly-fishing after dark was no easy task, but Mike’s commitment stood out. He barely took a break and was rewarded with several kob on fly, a strong Cubera snapper, and even a jumped tarpon in big surf and strong wind. Some decided to abandon the fly rods altogether, preferring to swim live mullet instead. Every day we stray further from God. That move paid off with Cuberas around the 10 kg mark, a solid kob for Christin — the only lady in the group — a small bull shark, and a few sand sharks that kept Nigel, the oldest and most enthusiastic angler, entertained.

The Bull Shark Battle

Once most of the group crossed into bait territory, the next obvious challenge was a bull shark. Out of four hookups, only one made it to the beach. The first spat the hook, and two others were cut off when sharks swam into the line mid-fight. Oliver finally landed a 218 cm PCL bull shark, weighing about 195 kg. Watching a fish like that roll out of the mouth is always something to see — and a good reminder why no one swims there.

Into the Forest

With the early-week fishing expected to be slow, we encouraged a few side activities. One was a guided forest walk, always a highlight no matter what we find. This one was exceptional — putty-nosed monkeys, crowned monkeys, and long-tailed hornbills all showed up. The real highlight was a large group of chimps calling from the trees around us. Every chimp encounter is special, and we’ve had them in good numbers leading up to the season. Hopefully, they stay close.

A Strong Start

Even with challenging fishing, it was a week full of good humour and effort. Everyone made the most of every chance, and it showed. Here’s hoping to see this crew again, whether back at Sette Cama Lodge or another far-flung corner of Africa.

Click here if you would like more info about this fishery.