Fishing in Gabon

Straddling the equator on the western coast of Africa, Gabon is known for its rich mineral and forest resources. In addition, because it faces the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean, it is strategically situated along the migratory route of many pelagic species, especially sailfish, blue marlin, bigeye tuna, and wahoo, as well as sharks—not to mention huge tarpon and other species inshore. Its rivers are virtually unexplored by anglers.

The long shoreline of Gabon is south of Equatorial Guinea and north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Much of the country is a flat plain covered by dense equatorial forest; the coastal lowland perimeter encompasses golden beaches and mangrove shores in the vicinity of Libreville, the capital and largest city, and Port Gentil, the east- ernmost point and estuary for the nation’s most prominent watershed, the Ogooué River.

The presence of huge tarpon off Port Gentil was established in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when a number of fish over 200 pounds and up to 250 pounds were captured, some establishing records at the time. Nevertheless, tarpon are lightly fished here, as well as in the other numerous river systems and estuaries along the coast, especially to the south. Many of these waters have undiscovered fishing potential and are believed to hold huge tarpon as well as snapper, jacks, grouper, barracuda, and sharks. The Ogooué River and its numerous serpentine tributaries extend far inland, although its fisheries resources are uncertain.

Offshore, however, Gabon boasts excellent year-round blue marlin angling. During the two dry seasons, when migratory marlin are descending, strikes are more numerous, but the fish tend to be smaller, averaging 350 pounds. A brief dry season occurs from December through mid-January; a longer one runs from June through mid-September. In the wet season, from mid-September through June, blue marlin are in the 500-pound range.

The primary reason for the aggregation of billfish, tuna, and other species off the entire West African coast are the shifts in the frontal zone of the Canary Current and the Equatorial Counter-current. This is especially significant to the Ekwata Fishing Center, Gabon’s principal sportfishing site, situated about a half-hour by boat from the Libreville airport. There is a good five-boat charter fleet at Ekwata, and anglers can troll productive water 50 minutes after leaving the docks. The typical fishing day is a long one, about 11 hours, not because of a long run to fishing grounds, but because the captains are committed to covering as much ground as possible. The weather and sea conditions are usually good in the Gulf of Guinea, but waters can sometimes be rough during the dry seasons.

Arrangements to fish the area can be made through the Big Game Fishing Club of Libreville, and accommodations are available at Ekwata, where there is a comfortable lodge.