Cassava
Saltwater Fish Species of The Gambia



Identification
Cassava Types: Cassava Croaker
Gambian Names: Un-guka
Scientific Names: Pseudotolithus Senegalensis
General Catch Size: 5lb to 40lb
 

Best Baits: Live Baits using juvenile herring, mullet, and croakers are for best results: dead baits, fillet of bonga or herring, rack of shrimps tipped with bonga making a cocktail, also small baby calamari.

Top Tips: Cassava are best fished over broken rocky ground especially if you can find a rocky edge onto open sandy ground. Often found in shoals they will constantly follow a featured edge and can be concentrated. It is possible to be just off the mark. Large shoals on the feed can be frenzied fishing. Live herring, mullet, croakers are best fished on a medium (15lb to 20lb) outfit with 20lb to 30lb main line. A running ledger set up with 60lb swivel and 40lb to 50lb leader 3ft long and quality 5/0 to 6/0 hook. Cassava will hit with a 'bang, bang' type bite as they disarm the live bait and then chomp down on it. You need to strike at a Cassava on the second or third 'bang'. On smaller baits they can take the whole bait & hook; on larger baits they can 'bang' it and 'leave' it so strike at the bite.

Hook the live bait under the dorsal fin on the back (without hitting its spine) as Cassava will often 'bang on the bait' in the middle first to disable it.

When: All year-round

Recommended TACKLE

Rod: 20lb / 7ft boat rod
Reel: Fixed spool or multiplier
Main Line: 20lb to 30lb mono or braid
Trace Line: 40lb to 50lb mono (3ft)
Swivels: 100lb
Hooks: 5/0 to 6/0 strong Mustard

     African Pompano
    Barracuda
    Guinean Barracuda
    Butterfish
    Captain Fish (Threadfin)
    Cassava
    Jacks  
    Ladyfish
    Nine-Bone
    Shark
    Snapper
    Spanish Mackerel
                                     Rays
                                     Tarpon

Mark Longster

SEE BOAT CHARTER PRICES