Albatroz
4
32,81 ft
Sal, Cape Verde (CV)
From
$ 378
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
Fishing in Cape Verde
The fishing season in Cape Verde spans across the entire 365 days of the year. It’s true that in January and February the winds can be strong which can make it d...
Read more..The fishing season in Cape Verde spans across the entire 365 days of the year. It’s true that in January and February the winds can be strong which can make it difficult for fishing in Cape Verde, but the rest of the year this archipelago offers excellent conditions.
Also commonly referred to as the world's capital for Blue Marlin fishing, the months of March, April, May and June provide the best time for Atlantic Blue Marlin big game fishing in Cape Verde. From June to October the marlin fishing is still very good, with calmer seas and you can also target popular fishing species such as Wahoo, Yellowfin tuna, Dorado and Sailfish.
Cape Verde is also a great place for jigging, especially between July and December when the winds tend to drop a little. Jigging produces huge Amberjack, Black Jack, Grouper, tuna and many other species.
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Most popular fishing boats charters in Cape Verde
Reviews from the users
One this trip unfortunately did not catch but on second trip caught a large wahoo.
Ship mates both excellent and very helpful.
Only aspect that puzzled me was that the boat was not the Albatroz but that was not a great concern
Carlos, top bloke, saw me off both times(collect the money!) and had an excellent meal at his Sol Doce Creperia foc
If in Santa Maria would go again with his crew
martin martin
Great crew and I am sure they know what they are doing. The boat was a bit worn out, but the trip was fine.
Jacob Jacob
The captain and the boat where very good. I can everybody recommend this boat and crew.
Bram De Leeuw van Weenen
16 boats for charter near by Cape Verde
Tips & Tricks, bait and more
As mentioned above, big game fishing in Cape Verde is renowned for being the best fishing site in the world for the prized Atlantic Blue Marlin. This predator lives here all year round, but the best time of year to fish for them is from mid-March to late June. In summer these pelagic fish migrate north towards the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores for example. There are fewer of them found in September and October but the ones that stay tend to be larger. From September to December, the waters of Cape Verde are extremely interesting for fishing, as they are offering for example Yellowfin tuna up to 150kg.
Trolling you can also catch fish such as Wahoo, Dolphinfish and Barracuda.
The northeast coast of Santo Antão is especially effective for this technique because this is where the greatest concentration of Wahoo can be found. The rocky and volcanic seabed is an ideal habitat for Amberjacks, and here they can reach a weight of 60kg. Jigging is also very popular and this technique can help to catch Blackjack, Barracuda, Grouper and Oilfish.
Around Cape Verde, fishermen practice a lot of deep-sea fishing in depths of 100m and this can bring excellent results from areas that are practically untouched. Cape Verde is also a great place to fish for sharks such as Tiger sharks, Bull sharks, Hammerhead and Manta Grande, which can reach up to 300kg.
Top species in Cape Verde
Atlantic Blue Marlin
Cape Verde is known as the best place in the world for fishing Atlantic Blue Marlin. They live here all year round, but mid-March to late June is the best time to find them.
Without a doubt, the best island for fishing in Cape Verde is São Vicente and dozens of fishing boats depart from its port every day in search of marlin. The islands of Santiago, Santo Antão, Sal and Boa Vista are also great places to catch a marlin. In fact, there are so many fish here that fishermen often complain if they "only" catch two Marlin in one day. Times are tough hey!
White marlin
White Marlin usually move in small groups in waters deeper than 100m, feeding on a variety of fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. The best time for fishing white marlin in Cape Verde is between July and November.
Yellowfin tuna
From September to December, the waters of Cape Verde are great for fishing Yellowfin tuna, which can weigh up to 150kg. The Yellowfin tuna is renowned and prized for its speed and strength whilst fighting with fishermen and this fish is very popular for sport fishing in many parts of the area.
Wahoo
Wahoo can be caught at any time of year by trolling with lures. This technique can also help to catch Dolphinfish and Barracuda. The northeast coast of Santo Antão is great for wahoo because there is a large concentration of them.
Amberjack
The best way to fish for Amberjack in Cape Verde tends to be with live bait or trolling, whilst some may use jigging techniques with large, elongated jigs ("blades"). The rocky, volcanic seabed is an ideal habitat for Amberjacks and they can be massive, sometimes impressively exceeding 60kg. Due to the winds and strong currents, it is advisable to fish with heavy jigs (over 300g).
Other fish you can catch jigging are Blackjack, Grouper or Oilfish just to name a few.
Top sport fishing species in Cape Verde
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Mahi Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) are also commonly referred to as dorado, dolphin or dolphinfish. They are recognizable by their bluntly shaped heads, long dorsal fin and their bright colouring, dark blue and green on their dorsal side and yellow on their sides and underside.
MORE INFO >Dorado
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Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri), also known as Ono (meaning “delicious” in Hawaiian), are found in many subtropical and tropical waters. They’re identifiable by their blue-green upper body which shifts into silver towards their belly. They also have blue vertical striping along their sides. These predators are torpedo-shaped and have long and largemouths with teeth.
MORE INFO >Wahoo
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Yellowfin tuna grow fast, up to 400 pounds (180kg) in about a 7-year lifespan, and they range in length from 59 inches to 88 inches long. They’re known for their torpedo shape, with a pointed nose and a sickle-shaped tail, and have dark blue backs with yellow sides (thus their name) with a silver underside.
MORE INFO >Yellowfin Tuna
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The Amberjack species are a game fish that are found both in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Jigging and live bait fishing are the best techniques to target these magnificent fighters. Greater Amberjack can weigh up to 170 lb (80 kg).
MORE INFO >Amberjack
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The Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) is probably the most wanted fish in the sport fishing world. The magnificent fighter usually feeds during day time on fish, octopuses and squids. Blue Marlin is mainly caught trolling with artificial lures or with dead bait (bonito, mackerel...).
MORE INFO >Blue Marlin
FISHING SEASON IN Cape Verde
Autumn and winter
Fishing in Cape Verde from September to December can prove very interesting as you can catch Wahoo and Yellowfin tuna with the latter weighing up to 150kg. These are caught by trolling with artificial lures. This is also the most recommended season for vertical jigging in Cape Verde. Since there is less wind, there’s less drift and the jig falls more vertically. Using this technique, you can catch big Amberjack of up to 60kg, Blackjack, Barracuda, Grouper and Oilfish during your day trips.
Spring and summer
Cape Verde is the mecca fishing area for catching Atlantic Blue Marlin. Although they live here all year round, mid-March to late June is the best time for big game fishing in Cape Verde. July, August, September and October are also very good months for marlin, there might be fewer marlin than May and June, but those that are caught tend to be much larger. For White Marlin, July to November is a very good time to fish.
TOP FISHING TECHNIQUES IN Cape Verde
TOURISM & OTHER ACTIVITIES
There’s more than just the sea fishing around Cape Verde Islands to keep you busy. You can also go kitesurfing, windsurfing, Mountain biking, snorkelling & diving, sailing, horse riding, hiking and much much more.
Be sure to also visit the pier in Santa Maria (Sal Island), São Vicente or Santo Antão and watch as the fishermen bring in their freshly caught fish.
Enjoy the local food in the bars & restaurants in the area. The Cape Verdean cuisine has a Creole, Portuguese, African and Brazilian influence and is known for rice, fried potatoes, cassava and vegetables, and of course the great fish: fresh wahoo, tuna, dorado...
LEGISLATION / REGULATIONS
You need a fishing license for your fishing trips in the Cape Verde Islands. The fishing charters normally have the fishing license included in the price, so you don't need to buy one when you book a fishing charter in Cape Verde.
How much does it cost to rent a boat to fish in Cape Verde?
Depending on the charter fishing boat and on the duration of your fishing tour, you’ll pay more or less for the tour. The price for a private 4 hour Cape Verde fishing trip with a boat in Sal and Boavista is €349, while an 8 hour private trip will cost you €749 on this island. A fishing charter in São Vicente is between €1350 and €1500 for a full day tour.
What does the price include?
The price usually includes the captain, fishing tackle, fuel, bait & lures and licenses. On every listing we indicate whether drinks and food are included.
Once you’ve made a booking, the captain will contact you to arrange the meeting point and the departure time. Also, we recommend you contact the captain a couple of days before the tour to confirm the weather forecast.
