It was in spring of 2003, that I decided to make plans involving a trip to Namibia, to fish for the Bronze Whaler sharks, off the Skeleton Coast. The Bronze Whaler, or Copper Shark (Carcharhinus Brachyurus), is essentially a coastal or inshore species of shark, which is characterised by its copper coloured back. It is very common along the Atlantic coastline in Namibia, and typically grows up to 300lb+ in weight.

I first heard about the fishing in Namibia, about six years ago, and I heard a lot about the fighting qualities of these sharks. I have always considered myself an adventurous angler, and I always liked the idea of having a battle with a very large shark on conventional beach fishing gear. Of all the foreign destinations I have visited over the last ten years, this trip definitely met the criteria for me, in that I was almost guaranteed to catch a big fish, and I was definitely sure to have the battle of my life when I hooked one up!

A two week trip was arranged in February 2004, and my holiday was expertly arranged and handled by Steve McGuire of Mola Mola UK, who specialises in trips to the Skeleton Coast, In Namibia. My adventure involved ten days’ fishing and I was to fly out on the 7th February. I could not wait!

I would be fishing with three other anglers, Paul McMullen, a sea fishing fanatic from Jersey, William Bell, a farmer, keen angler, and Sunderland FC supporter from Northumberland, and Paul Morgan, a keen match angler, who on a previous trip to Namibia, caught an impressive 300lb+ bronzie. Coincidentally Paul Morgan also lives in Milton Keynes, where I come from! We were also joined by another three anglers, John, from Ipswich, and Greg, and Ian, from Southampton who would be socialising with us but fishing as a separate group.

We all agreed to meet up at Heathrow Airport terminal 1, on Saturday 7th February and we got on the 4.45pm flight to Frankfurt, followed by a nine hour flight to Namibia's capital Windhoek. Our final flight from Windhoek to Walvis Bay meant that we finally arrived at the Courtyard Hotel, in Walvis Bay at 2pm on Sunday, some 18 hours after leaving Heathrow Airport!

After a superb evening meal, of fresh locally caught fish, and crayfish, we all retired to the bar, to have a few beers, and to talk about shark fishing. I also had the chance to talk to our guide for the next two weeks, local surf fishing expert Terence Clark, who had joined us for the evening, to talk about the fishing.