A Weary Eyed Crew Fly Fishing in Gabon

fly-fishing-GabonWhen we got back to Sette Cama Camp last night at 1:15 AM after another outstanding fishing session I made a huge decision – I was taking todays morning session off.  I’ve only missed one session of fishing in my life and that was in 2016 right here in Gabon.  Unless you can take naps, the fishing schedule here can take you down.  I have not succeeded in afternoon naps.  I was going down.  I was delirious on the beach last night.  Sunbird – Photo by Scott Smith

 

flyfishing-GabonWell it turns out I didn’t miss this mornings session after all even though I didn’t get up until 8:30 AM.  Just as we went to bed last night a big thunderstorm hit and never let up.  At 5 AM the lightening was too severe for the guys to go fishing.  Everyone went back to bed and from what I hear no one was all that disappointed.

 

Michael-Lodge-flyfishingBy the time I relaxed with my computer and coffee the sun was peeking out.  I worked on my blog for a few hours.  Gradually my group woke up with a few not until lunch at 12:30.  Everyone including myself was refreshed after some extra sleep.  Then after lunch the guides offered to take us out for a short session to make up for the one missed this morning.  I fished with my buddy Mike whom you’ve seen several times fishing with me on this blog in the Seychelles.

 

fly-rod-species-Jeff-CurrierMike and I shared the boat with guide Oliver.  We fished our way down to the mouth of the estuary with Mike casting a popper from the bow and me with a Clouser from the back.  I’m happy to say I ticked off a species I’ve been after, the African brown snapper (Lutjanus dentatus), on about my fifth cast.  The toothy fish was tight to the mangroves and despite not that big, he put up a fight.  This puts my count at about 480.

 

Mike-Lodge-fly-fishingMike managed a new species as well.  He got his first grunter.  He also caught a Guinea barracuda.  He caught a couple of these unique cudas earlier this week but didn’t take the time for a photo.  When you fish with me, I don’t let a nice shot slip by and made sure he proudly held this one out for the camera.

 

Jeff-Currier-fly-fishing-GabonWhen we got to the mouth of the estuary we saw some of the other guys and the report was there wasn’t much going on.  I asked Oliver what he thought about getting out and fishing the open ocean beach side on foot.  He thought it was calm enough to try so we did.  The fish didn’t exactly jump on the line but we did chase down some small jack crevalle and I spotted an extra-large longfin ripping through the surf.  I connected with a brown Clouser.

 

longfin-Jack-Jeff-CurrierI probably should have been casting my 12 Winston but I was resting my shoulder and had my 9-weight.  This fish took off with vengeance and my Bauer sizzled.  The jack cleared each and every wave and ended deep in my backing past the furthest waves.  My immediate concern was he was going to get sharked.  Luckily, it was then that he stopped and I began hoisting him back.  I was using a leader of straight 40lb and after a good five minutes I finally won the battle.  A fish like this from the beach in rolling surf is a dandy!

 

forest-elephantWe kept the session short because we had another big night of catching the tides.  After the jack we played another 30 minutes or so but when we didn’t see another fish we called it.  There were also a few forest elephants making their way down the beach.  They are nothing to mess with – particularly this big bull.  Mike took this incredible photo then we jumped in the boat and left them their space.

 

saltwater-flyfishing-blogsWe enjoyed a restful late afternoon.  I grabbed a seat on the porch and listened to the birds and sounds of the jungle.  I attempted a nap but as usual was unsuccessful.  Just as well though, it was time to make notes for the upcoming blogs and edit some photos.

 

Sette-CamaPrime fishing time tonight was 11 PM till 2 AM.  Not fun hours but after the incredible action we had the last two nights, not a one of us was going to miss it.  Head guide Mike scheduled our departure for fishing for 10 PM so we ate dinner at 9 PM.  As usual dinner and desert were to die for.  Here we are in remote Africa and we have our own amazing chef!

 

Randy-James-Lee-flyfishingIt’s a known fact that each late night session will be shorter and likely not as productive as the night before as we fade away from the new moon spring tide toward the next neap.  Tonight this was very evident.  As a group we caught only three threadfins.  When you consider last night at least a dozen were caught along with a pair of Kob, things have changed.  Randy landed two of the three including this beautiful thready specimen.

 

For me it was another tackle buster.  I was right down at the end of the mouth of the estuary – exactly where I lost a fly line to a huge tarpon last night.  I was hoping for my first Senegalese Kob but this species is becoming a new menace species for me.  Instead, I hooked another oversized freight train.  Tonight’s tarpon did a repeat of last night and I lost another of the guides fly lines when my backing broke again on the outreaching sandbar.

 

That’s all I got.  Due to the slow fishing we returned to Sette Cama by 1 AM.  But I’m absolutely dusted and off to bed.  We’re sleeping in a little and heading out fishing in the morning at 8 AM instead of 5:30.  Sounds wonderful!

 

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

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