Port Gentil

One of the most anticipated moments of the year — the start of the Port Gentil Tarpon Experience — has finally arrived. The opening week did not disappoint, with our guest Tony from South Africa landing a beautiful tarpon in the jungle on the very first morning. It wasn’t the biggest fish of the week, but getting one to the boat so early set the tone for what was to come. Later that day, we came across groups of tarpon of all sizes hammering bait packed along a current line. Although they were completely locked in on the bait and wouldn’t take a fly, watching those silver giants crash through the surface was an incredible sight.

Port Gentil – Gabon’s Tarpon Hub

Port Gentil is Gabon’s second-largest city, located on Mandji Island off the country’s central Atlantic coast. It’s a lively port town known for its oil industry, French-African culture, and easy access to some of the wildest stretches of coastline in Africa. The surrounding waters are a blend of tropical lagoon, estuary, and open ocean — an extraordinary mix that creates one of the continent’s most exciting fisheries.

Just a short flight from Libreville, Port Gentil serves as both the gateway to Gabon’s coastal wilderness and the base for the African Waters tarpon programme. The area’s proximity to deep water, tidal current lines, and jungle-backed estuaries makes it an ideal home for tarpon, jack crevalle, and cubera snapper. It’s a place where urban energy fades quickly into raw nature, and where the next cast could connect you to a 100lb fish in less than two metres of water.

Windy Mornings and Explosive Action in Port Gentil

The wind can still make things tricky this time of year, and it only allowed for short fishing windows each morning. Still, the fish were there, and the team had several chances, jumping some enormous tarpon and seeing plenty of follows and surface boils.

Other species were unusually quiet this week, with tarpon dominating the action. One exception was a large tripletail laid up on the surface. We had several shots at it — it followed three or four times before finally sliding off into deeper water.

Catch of the Week – Tony’s 189lb Tarpon

The highlight of the week came midway through Tony’s trip when he hooked into a true giant. We’d just arrived at one of the key tarpon spots and were setting up a drift when big fish started rolling nearby. Fifteen minutes later, Tony was retrieving his fly back to the boat when the water erupted — the tarpon took just a metre from the rod tip.

It blasted off in a violent run, jumping and tearing into the backing before we could react. By the time we caught up with it, the fish was nearly a kilometre away. The long run took its toll, and Tony managed to gain control, working the fish patiently until we could grab the leader. The length-to-weight conversion put the fish at 189lb — an absolute monster and a moment none of us will forget.

Massive congratulations to Tony on his fish of a lifetime. We have no doubt we’ll be seeing him back at Port Gentil again.

Get in Touch

Dreaming of your own Port Gentil tarpon experience? Join us this season and experience the raw power of these incredible fish for yourself. Contact our team to book your spot.