There was a different feeling about this one from the start.
Excitement… mixed with something else.
Call it trepidation.
But underneath it all was something much deeper.
A childhood dream.
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A Long Time Coming
Ever since watching John Wilson’s fishing programmes as a boy, Africa had been in my mind.
Those scenes — wild places, powerful fish, raw adventure — they stay with you.
And now, years later, I was heading there myself.
Not just that.
I was doing it with my dad.
That alone made this trip something different.
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Arrival — Into the Unknown
The airport felt edgy.
Visas, language barriers, uncertainty — nothing straightforward. You’re suddenly aware you’re a long way from home, navigating something unfamiliar.
We found our fixer — essential out here — and began the next stage of the journey.
Bissau itself felt raw.
Unpolished. Unfiltered.
A world away from anything recognisable.
Then came the delay.
Wind kept us from reaching the islands, and with very little information coming through, that sense of isolation crept in. Waiting. Wondering. Not quite knowing.
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Reaching the Bijagós
When we finally made it out to the islands, everything changed.
Relief. Excitement.
And a genuine warmth from the people.
We were welcomed by local fishermen, smiles and handshakes — suddenly it all felt right.
The accommodation was better than expected. Comfortable, relaxed — a pool, a bar, even a pool table. Set overlooking the water.
And everywhere you looked — life.
Huge birds overhead. Lizards darting through the trees. Pelicans, flamingos, sea eagles.
It felt wild, but alive in the best way.
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The Fishing — Six Days of Chaos
The fishing was nothing short of mind-blowing.
Six days of it.
Bright, clear skies. Warm but not unbearable. And fish — serious fish.
Reef fishing. Lure fishing. Constant action.
Fish after fish.
And not small ones.
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Power and Violence
Everything here fights differently.
Harder. Faster. More aggressive.
Jack crevalle that hit like a train.
Snapper that buried themselves instantly.
Cobia that just wouldn’t give in.
Barracuda — long, aggressive, explosive.
Sharks cruising through the spread.
Silver croaker adding to the variety.
Every hookup meant something.
Every fish demanded respect.
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The Moment
One moment stands above the rest.
A surface bust-up.
Jack crevalle smashing bait on top.
Casting a popper into that chaos… and watching it disappear in an explosion of water.
That’s the kind of fishing you dream about.
The kind you watched as a kid, wondering what it would feel like.
Now I knew.
Pure adrenaline. Pure chaos.
Unforgettable.
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A Personal Favourite
For me, the pompano stood out.
Beautiful fish. Clean, powerful, and just different.
The kind of catch you remember not just for the fight, but for how it looks in your hands.
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Life Around It
The fishing was incredible — but it wasn’t everything.
The food was local, simple, and mostly excellent… aside from one questionable meal that reminded us exactly where we were.
Days were full.
Evenings slower.
Looking out over the water, watching the light change, taking it all in.
And sharing it all with my dad — which made it mean even more.
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People
One of the biggest parts of the trip was the people.
Our captain, Djibril.
A proper connection.
No fuss. No ego. Just someone who knew the water and wanted you to experience it properly.
Those are the people that make trips like this what they are.
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The Reality
But this place doesn’t let you forget where you are.
There’s a rawness to it.
And towards the end, that reality came back sharply.
A military coup.
Suddenly things felt uncertain again. Plans changed. Information was limited.
Getting home became the focus.
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The Exit
This is where having the right people matters.
Our fixer stepped in and made it happen.
Navigating the airport, avoiding issues, cutting through what could have been a very difficult situation.
Without that help, it could have been very different.
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Memories That Stay
This wasn’t an easy trip.
It wasn’t polished.
It wasn’t predictable.
But that’s exactly what made it what it was.
A childhood dream realised.
Time shared with my dad.
And an experience that delivered everything I’d imagined — and more.
Raw. Wild. Real.
And one of the most memorable fishing experiences of my life.
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📍 Trip Notes
Location: Bijagós Islands, Guinea-Bissau
Fishing Style: Lure fishing, popping, reef fishing live baits
Species: Jack crevalle, snapper, cobia, barracuda, sharks, silver croaker, pompano
Life That’s Reel 
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