Senegal over Xmas?

[backman]

My daughter is spending the fall semester in college in Dakar, Senegal.

I'll be visiting around Xmas/New Years - looking for any pointers on big game fishing in or near Dakar as well as routing suggestions as to pitstops in the Canaries or the Madeira' on the way home to Boston.

[merry marlin]

Backman, not often that we hear of someone going to Sénégal on here!
Lived 12 years in Dakar before moving to NC. Christmas is not really an offshore big game time of the year there. The trade winds have started and water has cooled off.
There is a Rock 70 miles NW of Dakar called "Le Dalton" that only a few boats can go to. That sometimes has warm blue water at that time but it's hit or miss. You can see that underwater volcano on Google earth. That place is a guaranteed Blue marlin placefrom may till November.
A few big yellofins and Big eyes may be around but that also is a little late in season.
That was bottom fishing time for us and you may want to take a trip to the Gambia or Senegal river and catch some Tigerfish or Nile perch. Christmas and New Years was hunting inland for us....
For advice on Madeira or the canaries contact "Patudo".... He's the man for that area but I guess the water will be cold too!
Good luck and pm me if you need more details...
MM

[R'nR Bob]

Time of year for bottom fishing from Dakar. A side trip to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, down around the corner into the Bay of Guinea may be an option. Foto is a Blue taken in late November from the Abidjan area. Safe travels.
R'nR Bob

[Patudo]

Fishing in the Canarias and Madeira is very unlikely to be worth your while in that time of year.

I would considering routing through Cape Verde. TACV fly from Boston to Cape Verde and there are regular flights from Cape Verde to Senegal. Xmas/New Year won't be prime season for Cape Verde either but there may be some wahoos and maybe YFT around and there is always the chance of getting a blue marlin bite. Let me know if I can help more.

[backman]

I get it. Any recommendations for who to try for Dakar inshore fishing/ Xmas time?

[Roddy Hays]

Backman,

The only fella I know down that way is Bertrand Vachette, who used to be in charge of the Saly Fishing Club, 50 miles south of Dakar. He should be able to help you out with info, and if it was me, I'd go fish with him anyway - it's a great place with good boats and accomodation. His e-mail, last time I wrote, was sflamantin@arc.sn. If that does not work he's also on FaceBook.

If you have no joy there, try another friend of mine in France who has all the contacts and may be able to put you in touch with someone actually in Dakar - where unfortunately commercial pressure is greater for bottom fish. His name is Stephane, and his e-mail address is stephane@pechextreme.com

There is some pretty good inshore fishing off Senegal, big snappers, sharks and other stuff. You should have a whale of a time.

As Patudo says, I wouldn't bother going via either Madeira or the Canaries. It's way out of season for them both, though it could be worth checking with Jason Pipe ( bocinegro@hotmail.com ) before you make plans, in case he has a suggestion. Stephane, on the other hand, may well be able to recommend another destination en route (or after route) that would suit you better - and believe me when I say that the French have plenty of really good fishing destinations in Africa that no one else ever even hears about !

Remind yourself to visit the dentist before departing, and don't forget that sterile kit !

Hope this helps.

[backman]

Thanks Roddy - will reach out to him. Anglais S'il vous plait? The Saly Club looks interesting.

[Roddy Hays]

Backman,

I dug out a winter-time photo that perfectly illustrates why you shouldn't be banking on fishing in Madeira at that time of year. This is the hotel on the south side of the island in Funchal where many anglers stay in summer while marlin fishing. The wee blue and white building is a very popular sea-food restaurant. This area is flat calm for six months of the year, and rather variable the rest........

As you can see, surf is UUUUUPPPPP !



"I insist on a room with a sea-view, please....."