Surf Fishing

Surf Fishing has a way of revealing itself slowly in Sette Cama. This past week in Gabon felt like a turning point. Stable water, heavy cloud building through the afternoons, and the first proper rain feeding the lagoon. The jungle has shifted back into that deep, saturated green, and you can feel the system waking up again. If you are new to this fishery, it is worth looking back at our previous Sette Cama report where we unpacked the early signs of this transition and what it means for the fishing. You can link to it for context.

Evenings on the South Point

As the light dropped each evening, the river mouth came alive. Tarpon, threadfin, kob and snapper were pushing past the south point with intent. This is Surf Fishing at its most honest. Stickbaits into the dark, reading water rather than structure, and waiting for that moment when everything lines up.

David had one of those moments. A big tarpon ate in the wash, went airborne, and threw the lure back at him after a wild jump. You know that feeling when you are gutted but still smiling because you saw the fish properly. That was written all over his face.

Mixing It Up in the Lagoon

Not everything happened off the beach. Johannes picked up the fly rod one morning almost as an afterthought and ended up landing two solid jacks and a snapper from the boat in the lagoon. It is a good reminder that being flexible here pays off. Conditions shift quickly and the fish respond just as fast.

David stayed on the heavy end of things. He turned his attention to the bullsharks working the mouth and managed to land a proper one before the week was out. It was a fitting way to round things off after losing that tarpon earlier.

Early Mornings and Aggressive Takes

The mornings were just as productive. Dennis connected with a powerful jack crevalle on a popper, the kind of fish that leaves you checking your knots twice. Jean and Franco dialled in the cubera snapper bite around the reefs inside the mouth, landing some truly impressive fish.

Most evenings, a few casts with a popper around sunset were enough to draw snapper and the odd serious barracuda crashing in. If you are wondering when to fish here, those low-light windows continue to do the damage.

Wildlife on the Move

As the rains edge closer, the fishing is not the only thing changing. Elephant bulls have been appearing regularly on the grassy peninsula, and a herd of thirteen buffalo has been moving through the same stretch. Standing on the beach, rod in hand, watching that unfold around you puts everything into perspective. How often do you get to share your fishing session with that kind of wild company?

What This Means for the Weeks Ahead

If this week is anything to go by, Surf Fishing in Sette Cama is only going to improve as the season shifts. More water, more movement, more life. The fish are there and they are feeding with intent.

If you want to understand how this fishery evolves through the season, go back and read the previous Sette Cama blog and then keep an eye on what comes next. Get in touch if you want to plan a trip or talk through what to expect at this time of year.