The Team heads on one of their biggest adventures yet to Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire Africa. Just two months prior the team cleared customs here before heading to Ascension Island. Now they plan to spend 20 days fishing the Ivory Coast for Giant Blue Marlin.
Two years ago at the start of the World Tour in Madeira, Portugal. The team met Stephane Millez, a French fisherman who told them stories about giant fish in Abidjan. The team knew they wanted to go but needed someone to show them around the unknown country. After nearly a year of planning a trip was put together with Stephane.
Upon arrival the teams first obstacle starts in customs. Where there’s an issue with Kevin’s visa. After nearly two hours in the customs office and several phone calls to Stephane and others the team finally gets the green light to exit. It should be noted that upon entry to this country everyone is required a yellow fever shot and Malaria pills are recommended as both illnesses are very common in the region.
Outside the airport the team is greeted by their friends Carey Chen, Frothy and Stephane. After a short drive to the Abidjan Port the team takes a 30 minute boat ride on Stephane’s boat, the Black Pearl, to where their 150 Damen mothership is anchored. With everything unloaded the teams make plans to meet at the inlet at 7am.
The team is up the next morning early prepping the 33’ L&H Gameboat for the next 3 weeks of fishing offshore. Before long the team is off on their first day fishing the Ivory Coast… well most of the team. James Roberts and Woodys plane was struck by lightning the day before, delaying their arrival.
After meeting Stephane and his team at the Port inlet the trip is officially underway. The first few days are slow producing only a handful of bites as Stephane shows the team all his favorite local FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices) to fish. The badco team only has 7 days to be shown all the local spots before Stephane and his team leave the country.
The team finally manages to catch a small blue Marlin after a handful of days trolling around lures and decides to try something different. Live baiting. After running the daily 40 miles offshore to the local FADs the boys put out some small tuna feathers and Clark spoons and load up on small yellowfin and skipjack. A couple more days pass and the team is rewarded with another Marlin on live bait.
In addition to the poor fishing the first 10 days, the weather was also unusually poor. Abidjan is known for calm seas but likely due to the El Niño was experiencing irregularly high winds and rough seas.
In an attempt to gain some fishing time
Anthony asks the mothership crew to try their luck anchoring offshore in the shallows. As there is a large shelf that continues over 25 miles offshore. Shortly after dropping anchor the mothership gets hit by a surprise storm with winds up to 45 knots. They call the fishing team to warn them but the team must travel through the storm in order to reach the mothership.
The 150 mothership only lasts two nights offshore at anchor. As the rough seas and high winds prevent the fishing team from getting much sleep.
Stephane constantly encourages the team to remain patient, as this place is known to change like a light switch...
For more information about the Team, Fleet, or World Tour merchandise. Head over to our website www.badcompanyfishingadventures.com
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FEATURING:
Anthony Hsieh
Captain James Roberts
Captain Kevin Bohannon
Captain Stephane Millez
OB Morton
David Lassley
Videography & Film by David Lassley | IG @david_lassley
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CONTENTS:
00:00 Intro
02:15 Day 1 Fishing
04:47 James and Woody join the team
05:13 James interview
06:35 The Team visits their first oil tanker FAD
08:23 Boys hook their first Abidjan Blue Marlin
09:51 Join Badco Crew
10:48 Fishing New FADs
12:15 Catching Live Bait
13:12 James Explains Live Baiting
13:57 Team Experiences Issues with Trash and the Mothership
15:06 Boys Hook Their First Live Bait Fish of the Trip
16:24 A Storm Rolls In
17:07 Team Runs back To Mothership and Fuels
18:23 Team Wakes up 30 Miles Offshore
18:50 Anthony Reflects on the Challenges of Anchoring Offshore
19:39 Team Catches Juvenile Gamefish on FAD
20:33 Stephane Millez Introduction
21:10 Stephane Tales of Grander Blue Marlin in Abidjan
21:37 Fishing in Poor Weather at Baobab
22:14 Night Fall in Côte d'Ivoire
23:06 End of Video