Fishing - Africa Strike - Saloum Delta
Fishing – The Boats
The fishing centre has three boats: Africa Strike I, Africa Strike II and Africa Strike III. They are sporty open boats of six or seven metres, very fast, to maximise actual fishing time and limit the time spent travelling.
Each boat has been specially designed and equipped for fishing, with rod holders, gaffs, a livewell and a large Igloo cooler.
The Africa Strike skippers are by far the most experienced and qualified fishing guides in the area; they know every rock, every channel and every shoal of the Saloum Delta to perfection.
Fishing – The Tackle
We have equipped our boats without sparing any expense, with the best tackle you can imagine: 4 to 50 lb rods designed by Andrea Lia and made by Italcanna expressly for the Africa Strike fishing centre. Penn spinning and conventional reels, nylon and braided lines from 20 to 50 lb, nylon and steel leaders, Mustad hooks, Rapala, Storm and Yo-Zuri artificial lures. For surf casting, three-piece Italcanna rods, Penn spinning and conventional reels, rod stakes, etc. All the equipment, including terminal tackle and natural and artificial baits, is at the complete disposal of the guests of the fishing centre at no extra charge. This allows our clients to travel free of bulky luggage and to fish with excellent, specific tackle.
Fishing – Techniques and Seasons
One of the most interesting advantages of a fishing centre in the Saloum Delta is the endless season. The fish are there twelve months a year, with excellent coastal and mangrove fishing and full action at any time! The most productive techniques are trolling with artificial lures, in search of barracuda, cubera and jacks; live-bait fishing for big predators such as cubera (carpe rouge), guitarfish, rays and king threadfin (capitaine); general bottom fishing, with live or dead bait, for all medium-sized fish (groupers, golden-mouth croakers, cubera, threadfin and jacks). Surf casting works well especially with live bait, and you catch seabreams, croakers, capitaine, cubera, jacks and guitarfish. To obtain live bait, mullet or large sardines, the Africa Strike guides skilfully use the cast net; by boat you reach the lowest banks of the Delta, where these fish abound, and throw these special nets. While live-bait fishing, silence is a must! A little noise is enough to make the fish run away. For offshore fishing for billfish, tuna and dorado, the season runs from June to October. The beginning and end of the season are the best periods for big blue marlin, while July, August, September and October are the top months for sailfish, very numerous in Senegalese waters. Since 2009 an AL 30 Custom has been available in Dakar, so guests of Africa Strike can, before or after their stay at the Lodge, also venture into fantastic offshore fishing!
