Shiya Karuseb

It was one of those sunny Swakopmund afternoons when I found myself driving away from Tiger Reef (https://lhg.na/tiger-reef/) after dropping off my teenage daughter. As I passed the space behind the Beach Hotel, (https://www.beach-hotel-swakopmund.com/) my curiosity got the better of me.

This was the spot where fishing boats dock to offload their catches and get cleaned up. I’d always wondered: could you actually buy fish here? Fresh, unfrozen fish isn’t exactly easy to come by in Swakop, so I decided to find out.

I parked my car and wandered over. And there he was—leaning casually against a pillar—Henry Loubser, the legendary “Sea Dog” of the Skeleton Coast. If you know Swakop, you’ve probably heard of him.

Henry isn’t someone you’ll find on social media or posting selfies, but his reputation precedes him. Naturally, I couldn’t resist asking if I could interview him for LIN.

Henry didn’t seem fazed at all. With a shrug and a smile, he said, “The ocean didn’t disappoint. The fish were biting well all through December—we went out every single day. Everyone in the fishing safari business did great this December, and most of the catch has been Kabeljou.”

My dreams of walking away with a fresh fish were dashed, as the catches, it turns out, belong to paying customers. Fair enough, I suppose. If you’ve been out braving the waves of the Atlantic, you’ve earned the right to keep your haul!

So while I didn’t score a fish, I did walk away with a story—and a newfound respect for Swakop’s “Sea Dog” and the world of fishing safaris. Maybe next time, I’ll book a trip myself and see what the Atlantic has to offer!

© LIN

Henry’s fishing company is: Henry’s Fishing Safaris: https://www.instagram.com/henry_fishing_safaris/ e-mail: boatfish@iafrica.com.na and Phone: 064404828 /  +264811280621