Senegal & sport fishing: a reputation born off Dakar
Senegal did not need to invent a reputation as a fishing nation: it lives off fishing. Dakar occupies the Cap-Vert peninsula, whose Pointe des Almadies is the westernmost point of mainland Africa, and the big fish of the open sea pass within reach of an outboard. Along this coast, upwellings of cold, plankton-rich water feed the whole food chain, from the sardinella caught by the pirogues to the predators that sport anglers come looking for.
Big-game fishing has been practised off the peninsula, between Ngor and the Almadies, for decades. Today, a national federation organises a calendar of competitions off Dakar every season, from summer to late autumn, chasing mainly blue marlin, then tuna. The detail matters: in these competitions, a released fish earns points, provided the release is proven.
The coast’s other hero is not caught at the surface. The thiof (white grouper) lives near rocky bottoms, and it is the fish everyone expects in ceebu jën (fish and rice), the national dish inscribed on UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2021. Its popularity comes at a price: the stock has been overfished for years, and the thiof is getting smaller and scarcer on the market stalls. Alongside it, jack and barracuda are the fighters you will come across almost everywhere, at sea and in the bolongs alike.
The law sets the framework. The 2015 Fisheries Code regulates sport fishing: the permit is issued to a specific boat, which must belong to an affiliated sport-fishing club or centre, and it is forbidden to sell what you catch. You fish for the fight and for your table, never for the market.
Formats: from big game offshore to the line in a pirogue
- Big-game fishing from Saly: the boat, the fishing gear and the return transfer are included, for a half day (in the morning) or a full day. You can go out alone or with up to six anglers. The catch is yours: take it home or share it.
- Palangrotte or offshore by pirogue, in Saly: two ways of fishing in one listing. Palangrotte, a weighted line dropped close to the bottom, is done near the coast, with no technique to master; the offshore trip goes for bigger fish. Depending on the season, jack, barracuda or sailfish. Departures in the morning or afternoon.
- A morning’s fishing in Ngor: a half day leaving from the beach, around 08:30, back in the late morning. Captain, crew, rods, bait and life jackets for adults and children are provided. Beginners and experienced anglers alike will enjoy it.
- Line fishing in the Saloum bolongs: from Ndangane, by pirogue, for a half day or a full day, you go after jack and barracuda in the mangrove channels. A shorter version, two to three hours, introduces traditional pirogue fishing in the delta.
- Fishing in Casamance: from Cap Skirring, three moods. Two hours in a rowing pirogue, with no engine; a half day or full day in the bolongs; the same at sea, offshore. Gear provided.
- The fishermen’s return in Mbour: you do not fish, you watch those who do it for a living. A half day to see the pirogues land on the beach at Mbour and understand how much the sea weighs in the life of the Petite Côte.
Where to fish in Senegal
- Dakar: the cradle of Senegalese big-game fishing, and the competition ground. In our catalogue, it is Ngor that takes you out, for an accessible morning off the island. No additional official fees.
- The Petite Côte: Saly has most of what is on offer, from big-game fishing to palangrotte by pirogue, with a sea that is often easier to handle than in Dakar. Mbour for the spectacle of the pirogues coming home.
- The Sine-Saloum: sheltered fishing in the bolongs, to the rhythm of the tide. Ideal when the ocean is rough or when you would rather have a calm trip. If the route enters the national park, the listing says so: the official fee is then payable on site and not included in the price.
- Casamance: the wildest version, between open sea off Cap Skirring and the bolongs of Lower Casamance. Combine it with a stay in the south.
When to go
You can fish in Senegal all year round, but not for the same fish. Sailfish arrive with the warm water: the best period runs from June to October, peaking in high summer. Blue marlin drive the competitions from summer to autumn. Tuna take over at the end of the year, off Dakar. Thiof, jack and barracuda, on the other hand, can be caught in every season, at sea and in the bolongs alike.
The water ranges from about 20 °C at its coolest (February–March) to 28 °C at its warmest (September–October). In the dry season, November–May, the trade wind can whip up a chop on the open sea; the rainy season (hivernage), July to October, brings heavy heat and storms, but coincides with the best sailfish period. Either way, set off early: the sea is calmer in the morning and the fish more active. The crew has the final say, depending on the day’s weather.
Good to know & budget
Before comparing two trips, check the price unit. Three approaches coexist in this section. Big-game fishing in Saly is priced per boat, for up to six anglers, and the Ngor morning is a package per boat for up to four people: the same price for two or four. The Ndangane and Cap Skirring trips are a group package, depending on its size; in Ndangane, it is free for under-8s and half price for ages 8 to 15. The short Saloum trip and the fishermen’s return in Mbour are paid per person. On your own, the per-person price almost always wins; with four or more, the whole boat quickly becomes the better deal.
On Que Faire Sénégal, the price shown is the price of the service. You pay 20% to secure your booking (the booking fee). The balance is paid on site, on the day of the trip. If you live in Senegal, you get the resident rate: up to 30% off (the exact rate is shown on each listing). Any official fees are payable on site and not included in the price; otherwise, the listing states that there are no additional official fees.
On board, bring a cap, sunglasses, sun cream, a windbreaker for the way back, water and a snack: drinks are not always included. If you are prone to seasickness, take your medication before boarding, or choose the bolongs. A life jacket must be provided: insist on one for children. As for the catch, one simple rule: keep what you will eat, release the rest, and put sailfish and marlin back after the photo. A small thiof has no business in a cool box.
Who is it for?
For experienced anglers, a day offshore in sailfish season, with a few of you to share the boat. For beginners and families, the Ngor morning or palangrotte by pirogue: you never quite miss out when the jack are biting close in.
Residents have the calendar on their side: they can wait for the right sailfish week, book a Saturday of flat sea, come back for the tuna season, and the resident rate helps them do it again. Visitors, for their part, have to fit the trip into their stay: in summer for sailfish, any time for coastal fishing, and early in the stay to keep a fallback date if the sea is too rough.
In late November 2025, off Dakar, a big-game fishing competition was a reminder of what a released fish is worth. For a release to count, the crew had to film it without a break: the fight, the gesture that frees the fish, then the fish swimming off on its own. Points do not only go to the tuna brought back to the quay: the marlin you managed to return to the sea scores too. In Senegal, the finest fishing trophy is often the one that stays in the water.
Frequently asked questions
Is the price per person or per boat?
It depends on the listing, which says so. Big-game fishing in Saly and the Ngor morning are priced per boat, for up to six and four people respectively; Ndangane and Cap Skirring are group packages; other trips are paid per person.
What is the best season for sailfish?
From June to October, peaking in high summer, when the water is warmest. Blue marlin are fished from summer to autumn, tuna at the end of the year.
Can I keep the fish?
Yes, for your own consumption: on the Saly big-game trip, the catch stays with the customer. The law does, however, forbid selling the catch from sport fishing, and sailfish and marlin are released after the photo.
Do I need to know how to fish or bring my own gear?
No. Rods, bait and guidance are provided, and both the Ngor morning and palangrotte by pirogue suit beginners and children.
How is this different from a boat trip?
Here, fishing is the programme. Boat trips offer coastal outings, islands and sunsets; boat hire gives you a private boat for a tailor-made programme.
Do residents get a special rate?
Yes. If you live in Senegal, you get the resident rate: up to 30% off depending on the trip (the exact rate is shown on each listing). It doesn’t apply to official fees.
