The Sette Cama season starts in a few days but the team have already had some real angling excitement. We are delighted to share this update from the lodge as preparations for the season get underway.

Over to the team on the ground:

With the a Goliath grouper making an appearance behind camp, the excitement for the Sette Cama fishing season could not be higher. Just 10 days out from opening, the guides are already in camp, sharpening systems, fine-tuning gear, and building team spirit. In the days leading up to this moment, they’ve been micro-jigging in the lagoon, exploring new fishing areas, and even heading into the forest where one group had the rare privilege of spotting chimpanzees in the wild.

Then came the encounter of a lifetime.

As the sea finally calmed, guide Aiden du Toit pinned a barracuda head and lobbed it just past the backline. After 45 minutes, his rod folded flat and the drag howled. The fight dragged on for half an hour—Aiden working the fish into the shore break, only for it to surge straight back out. At first, everyone thought it was a sand shark or stingray.

But as the broad outline surfaced, Oli—ready with gloves to leader the fish—shouted in disbelief:

“It’s a Goliath grouper!”

Giant grouper, Sette Cama Lodge, Gabon, Aardvark McLeod

This hulking, prehistoric predator can grow over two metres long and weigh more than 300kg. Once common across tropical waters, numbers have fallen sharply due to overfishing, making this catch incredibly rare. Known for their immense power and cavernous jaws, Goliath grouper are true apex predators of the reef and estuary systems they inhabit.

For Aiden and the team, landing such a fish in the surf at Sette Cama was a moment of awe and celebration. The kind of catch that sets the tone for an unforgettable season.

If you would like more information on Sette Cama Lodge please contact Charlotte Chilcott or call us on ++44 1980 847389. Alternatively click HERE if you would like us to contact you.

 

Charlotte Opperman, Aardvark McLeod

About the author

Charlotte Opperman

Charlotte's primary role at Aardvark McLeod is all things marketing – but she’s also got a keen eye for what appeals to the part-time fisher