I switched from shooting 35mm slides to digital images in 2006, and I don’t think I have loaded and shot a roll of film since. The thing is I still have a massive selection of slides that is counted in the thousands, and many of these are un-replaceable. Throughout the 1990’s I travelled extensively throughout Africa visiting and fishing in around 15 different countries on that continent, along with numerous other exciting destinations around the world. Aside from catching some truly memorable fish I saw and photographed some spectacular wildlife invariably amidst a National Geographic setting, be it Africa, Central America, The Caribbean or Indian Ocean.
Many of these memorable trips are recorded on slides, but up until now I have not known what to do with them. Phill Williams, a fellow angling photo/journalist based in the north of England will be no stranger to readers of sea angling magazines, and he’s been a good friend of mine for 25 years. Recently Phill offered to scan many of my favourite slides on his high resolution scanner, and when finally I got around to sorting out a few hundred of my favourites, this is exactly what he did. Visit Phill at his excellent website at: http://www.fishingfilmsandfacts.co.uk
The results are amazing and I have since spent many hours looking through the recently revived images while reliving memories of dozens of trips. Many of these trips are recorded in essay form under the Memorable Trips section of this site, but up until now I have been unable to illustrate them. Now, thanks to Phill, I have images of my first GT’s, Sailfish and yellowfin tuna caught on fly, my first blue, black and striped marlin, broadbill swordfish and many other very special fish.

One of my first & biggest GT’s, 100lb+, caught in Kenya, one of 5 of similar size all caught in one day
Over the course of the next few weeks I am going to uploaded dozens of these special images, which hopefully will help bring many of these previously un-illustrated pieces of work to life. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, and I’d love to hear what you think. I have started off with Kenya Broadbill Swordfish, Tanzania tigerfish, Mfangano Nile Perch and Turks & Caicos bonefish; why not take a look, you’ll find these and many more under the Memorable Trips section of this site?
Next year already I have fully booked group/hosted trips to Panama, Belize and Nicaragua, all favourite and highly productive destinations that we’ll likely be returning to again in 2017. In addition, we are planning hosted trips to Guinea Bissau, probably in March-prime BIG tarpon time, and Mongolia in August. If you think you might be interested you can obtain more details from Anglers World Holidays on Tel: 01246 221717.
Finally my good friend and editor of Sport Fishing Magazine, Doug Olander, recently sent me this link to information about angler friendly airline Copa, which any of you planning trips throughout Central or South America should find of interest. Take a look at: http://www.sportfishingmag.com/copa-airlines-changes-its-baggage-policy-accommodate-fishermen
Great pictures Dave love the strange man in them.
Sent from my Sony Xperia™ smartphone
Yes I know what you mean, wait until you see some of the others!
Hi. I have only just realised that my reply to many comments on this site have not been forwarded to the correct recipient! I can only apologise for this, and say if you have not received a reply from me please contact me again. Looking forward to hearing from you. Dave try: david.lewis21@hotmail.com