Goliath Grouper

With the Goliath Grouper making an appearance behind camp, the excitement for the Sette Cama fishing season could not be higher. Just 10 days out from opening, the guides are already in camp, sharpening systems, fine-tuning gear, and building team spirit. In the days leading up to this moment, they’ve been micro-jigging in the lagoon, exploring new fishing areas, and even heading into the forest where one group had the rare privilege of spotting chimpanzees in the wild.

Then came the encounter of a lifetime.

As the sea finally calmed, Guide Aiden du Toit pinned a barracuda head and lobbed it just past the backline. After 45 minutes, his rod folded flat and the drag howled. The fight dragged on for half an hour—Aiden working the fish into the shore break, only for it to surge straight back out. At first, everyone thought it was a sand shark or stingray.

But as the broad outline surfaced, Oli—ready with gloves to leader the fish—shouted in disbelief:

“It’s a Goliath Grouper!”

This hulking, prehistoric predator can grow over 2 metres long and weigh more than 300 kg. Once common across tropical waters, numbers have fallen sharply due to overfishing, making this catch incredibly rare. Known for their immense power and cavernous jaws, Goliath Grouper are true apex predators of the reef and estuary systems they inhabit.

For Aiden and the team, landing such a fish in the surf at Sette Cama was a moment of awe and celebration. The kind of catch that sets the tone for an unforgettable season.

A Wild Start to the Season

From lagoon jigging to chimpanzee sightings and now the capture of a Goliath Grouper, the team has already had a taste of how extraordinary this coastline is. With camp ready and spirits high, the season promises incredible stories both on the water and in the wild.

Will you be the next to add your name to it? Click here to book your rod!