Fish

Cassava croaker

Corvina de casava (bombo)

Pseudotolithus senegalensis

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

2–10 lb.

Depth

Surf to about 230 ft (70 m).

Best time

Early morning, evening and night.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A long, silvery-gray croaker shaped like a seatrout, with a pointed snout, a big mouth with a couple of large canine teeth, a long second dorsal fin and a slightly pointed tail. Darker gray-brown on the back.
Typical size: 2–10 lb.
Maximum size: About 3¾ ft (114 cm) and about 26 lb (12 kg).
Diet: Small fish, shrimp and crabs.
Behavior: Lives near the bottom along the coast in schools, feeding over mud, sand and rock; one of the most important food fish of West Africa.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Morocco & West Africa and Gulf of Guinea & Central Africa. Coastal waters from Senegal and the Gambia to Angola (rare north of Senegal), over muddy, sandy and rocky bottoms; small fish stay shallow but seldom enter estuaries.
Habitat: Coastal waters from Senegal and the Gambia to Angola (rare north of Senegal), over muddy, sandy and rocky bottoms; small fish stay shallow but seldom enter estuaries.
Depth: Surf to about 230 ft (70 m).
Fishing depth: 10–100 ft on the bottom.
Best season: Year-round.
Best time: Early morning, evening and night.
Best tides: Moving tides near river mouths and along the coast.
Best weather / conditions: Calm seas.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Shrimp, cut fish and small live fish.
Best artificial lures: Small jigs, soft plastics and spoons near the bottom.
Tackle setup: Medium 7 ft spinning or bottom rod.
Hook size: 1/0–4/0 hooks.
Line: 15–30 lb braid.
Leader: 25–40 lb fluorocarbon (watch the canine teeth).

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Leader Lures Hooks Rig

As an Amazon Associate, BigJoe earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep this guide free.

Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Coastal waters from Senegal and the Gambia to Angola (rare north of Senegal), over muddy, sandy and rocky bottoms; small fish stay shallow but seldom enter estuaries.
Rig up: Medium 7 ft spinning or bottom rod. 25–40 lb fluorocarbon (watch the canine teeth).
Pick your bait: Shrimp, cut fish and small live fish. Lures: Small jigs, soft plastics and spoons near the bottom.
Fish it: Drift or anchor near river mouths and coastal banks with shrimp or cut bait on the bottom, or work soft plastics slowly along it.
Time it: Early morning, evening and night. Moving tides near river mouths and along the coast.

Fishing techniques: Drift or anchor near river mouths and coastal banks with shrimp or cut bait on the bottom, or work soft plastics slowly along it.
BigJoe's tip: In the Gambia River mouth and around Banjul, fish the edges of the channel on the turning tide.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Excellent white fish — fried, grilled, in pepper soup and stews.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp canine teeth — use pliers.
Regulations: Listed as Endangered by the IUCN because of heavy commercial fishing; local rules vary by country. Keep only what you'll eat. Licensing is handled country by country and is usually arranged through the charter boat or lodge; national parks and marine reserves (such as Loango in Gabon and the Bijagós in Guinea-Bissau) have their own rules, often catch-and-release.
Conservation: Endangered from overfishing — release small fish and don't overharvest.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits