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Heading for Guadeloupe
After surveying Martinique, I decided to head for Guadeloupe. As soon as I had found out about the local spots and contacted a friend on the spot, I flew to Pointe-à-Pitre a few months later. My objective: the magnificent specimens hidden in the Guadeloupean mangroves. As soon as I arrived, I was overwhelmed by the splendor of the landscape and couldn't resist the call of the water. The very next day, I met up with my friend for our first session in the heart of the mangroves.
Little by little, we make our way upstream to locate the fish. It's going to be a long wait before we get our first bite... Towards the end of the morning, Guillaume signals me to cast near the sargassum. I took a very clean hit on my medium rod: a rather sporting fight ensued with a hippo trevally! We continue to explore the area in search of other active fish, gradually moving deeper into the mangroves.
After about twenty casts, I feel a strange touch. The fish looks massive, it's holding on to the bottom and trying at all costs to get back to the rocks. I immediately realize that it's not a tarpon... And after a while, I finally spot a stingray breaking the surface! It's a first for me. To be on the safe side, we decided to unhook it directly in the water. After all that excitement, Guillaume and I headed back to port, eager to continue the adventure the next day.
A memorable session
After a good night's rest, we headed out to sea to prospect the spots we'd missed the day before. He'd told me about several areas with nice tarpon, so we take them one by one. We fished meticulously, but activity was almost non-existent. Not a fish in sight. After two or three fruitless spots, we were beginning to lose hope...
We give it all we've got and head for an isolated area with very little fishing. Sargasso, schools of whitefish... It's all there! After a quick glance, I see the first tarpon porpoising on the surface, then a second, and a third! I immediately cast a few meters away. The result was immediate: my shad was intercepted by a superb specimen. The latter gives me a hard time as it tries to pass directly under the boat...
After a few powerful rushes, the fish finally surrendered. I managed to hoist it out of the water for a few seconds, just long enough to immortalize the moment with a magnificent photo, before returning it to its element. The rest of the day was just as incredible: many other specimens followed, almost all of the same calibre. A memorable session that proves that in the mangrove, perseverance always pays off!
The rest of my stay was much gentler. I mainly fished the flats and harbors for big tarpon, which brought me a few surprises, both good and bad. One thing's for sure: this trip has made this a place I'll definitely visit again!
