PLACES
AJ Pretorius with a spectacular Cubera snapper (left) and tarpon (right) both caught off the beach in Gabon.
Targeting tarpon in the surf in Gabon By AJ Pretorius S the last bit of daylight disappears in the west, the sky turns an eerie dark grey. The beautiful red and oranges colours we marvelled at a few minutes ago are suddenly gone. Behind us to the east, the first stars appear and the jungle is already dark and quiet. It’s the time of day just before the night time sounds of crickets, frogs and other jungle sounds take over from the day time sounds of sunbirds, kingfishers and parrots. This is the magic time at Setté Cama — time for big tarpon to roll in and use these low light conditions to ambush bait in the river mouth... The light is fading fast and it’s hard to see. On the bank above the beach, the guides and gillies, with well trained eyes adapted to these conditions, scout the waters for signs of tarpon rolling. Below them on the beach the
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anglers are lined up.A few “just in case” casts are made, sending lures into the dark, probing, hoping, anticipating. A small dress rehearsal, twitching lures, feeling the rip of the current, figuring out the angles for the best drift. Hoping to be “the man” when the time comes. “Tarpon!” The shout from behind gets everyone into a frenzy. Blind casts are made to make-believe shapes. Some claim they saw a ghost and exclaim it’s a “#$%&ng BUS”. Some are not sure and shout “Where? Where?” “Behind the rock!” comes the reply from the dark behind us, followed by “Cast! Cast!” Some harsh words are spoken when casts don’t go according to plan. Everything that was rehearsed is now forgotten and it seems that suddenly fingers turn into thumbs. “Viskoors!” (fishing fever) comes an unnecessary sarcastic comment from someone along the beach.A few choice
words sound in response from another angler. I have not yet made a cast. I did not see the ghost in the dark, but I heard a splash off to the left. I walk to the edge of the channel, feel for the edge of the drop off and take a few respectful steps back. I have seen the sharks that patrol these waters, and am not up for that kind of fight. I peer into the dark and can just make out the turbulent water over the rock ledge in the middle of the channel. I hooked a tarpon there the night before. I feel around to make sure my line is not tangled, then I raise my rod tip to see the shape of the blue, battlescarred CID lure. Checking that the leader knot is outside the rod tip, I turn the drag knob a few clicks, making sure I am not going to be “that guy”. I place my index finger on the line, open the bail arm and start moving slightly to the left, trying to get the right angle for the assault on the rock. SKI-BOAT July/August 2022 • 31
