Katjoa
5
122,17 ft
Faro, Algarve (PT)
From
700,00 €
Fishing in Faro
Situated in the south of Portugal, Faro is the main hub of the Algarve. It's the perfect destination to combine culture, beaches and fishing. The Atlantic Ocean offers excellent conditions both in-shore and off-shore sport fishing.
All year round inshore species such as gilt-head seabream - also known as dourada -, seabass, large snapper, flounder or grouper can be targeted.
Further offshore, especially between June and October, fishing charters target blue shark, bigeye tuna, skipjack tuna, albacore and marlin.
Faro and Olhão are the closest ports in the Algarve to the drop-off (only 5 miles), which makes this a great destination for big game marlin fishing in Portugal. The marlin hotspot "Picos" is around 35 miles from Faro.
SEE AVAILABILITY FROM FISHING CHARTER
Tom recommends you these fishing boats in Faro
9 Charter in Faro
Tips & Tricks, bait and more
Faro is a premium Big Game Fishing destination. The continental shelf is quite narrow in this area and the drop-off is about 5 nautical miles off Faro’s port. So, it’s a relatively short ride before you can start fishing. Many big game fishing charters in the Algarve operate in this area where they target large Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Swordfish, Tuna and Shark.
The famous Marlin hotspot Picos Herminios or simply Picos is around 35 miles off Faro. Here, the underwater mounts pass from about 1000 meters to 260 meters for its southern slope and 700 meters to 260 meters for its northern slope. It forms a table at its summit of about 4 nautical miles square. Picos is definitely a Marlin magnet, but you need very long days to come fishing here (12-14 hours).
May & June are the best months for tuna fishing (Bluefin Tuna, Bigeye Tuna, Albacore…). July to October are the best months to target Blue Marlin & White Marlin; and it’s also a good time to hook tuna, wahoo, dorado and shark.
All year round one can do bottom fishing for all kinds of smaller species such as sea bream, gilt-head sea bream, sea bass, mackerel, grouper, conger eel or sole with natural bait (octopus, squid, sardines, worms, etc). Spinning plastic baits, minnows and jerk bait sea bass can be hooked, especially early in the morning and in the evening. You can also catch bigger predators like the Dorado (Pink dentex), grouper, amberjack and corvina with life bait or jigging around rocky areas or wrecks.
Top sport fishing species in Faro
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The blue shark (Prionace glauca) is a migratory, live-bearing shark that feeds mainly on smaller fish and squid. They can be found in all the oceans and sees around the world.
MORE INFO >Blue Shark
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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
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The White Marlin (Kajikia albida) is a very nice predator which can be caught off shore in warmer waters. This powerful fighter usually feeds during day time on fish, octopuses and squids. They can be caught trolling with artificial lures or with dead bait (bonito, mackerel...).
MORE INFO >White Marlin
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The Albacore (Thunnus alalunga) has large eyes and long pectoral fins. This is why this species is also known as longfin tuna. The largest Albacore can reach up to 140 cm (4.6ft) and weigh up to 60kg (130lb).
MORE INFO >Albacore
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The skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) have a strong body with black stripes on the side. The largest skipjack tuna can reach up to 100 cm (40 inch) and weigh up to 10 kg (22 lb). Skipjack are mainly caught trolling lures.
MORE INFO >Skipjack Tuna
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Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus) belong to the tuna family just like Bluefin Tuna, Albacore or Yellowfin Tuna. They can grow up to 200kg (450lb) and over 2 meters long. These pelagic fish are found in temperate and tropical waters (off shore) and are targetted mainly trolling.
MORE INFO >Bigeye Tuna
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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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The Little tunny or False Albacore (Euthynnus alletteratus) is easily identified by the dark spots under its pectoral fins. They like warm temperate and tropical waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The larger Little Tunny weigh up to 35lb and can reach 1,2m.
MORE INFO >Little tunny
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Atlantic Bonito (Sarda sarda) is a rapid fish species known for being great hunters. They have striping on their backs with silver-coloured undersides and they grow up to 30 inches long. They have a hydrodynamic body shape, even more so than larger tuna.
MORE INFO >Atlantic Bonito
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The dentex (Dentex dentex) is a common saltwater fish in the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and sometimes they appear in the Canary Islands, Morocco and Senegal. They have very strong teeth to feed on fish, squid and mollusca. Dentex are a great species for sportfishing and are targetted mainly trolling or jigging. The larger fish are 1m long and can weigh up to 15 kg (35 lb).
MORE INFO >Dentex
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The pink dentex (Dentex gibbosus) is a saltwater fish distributed from Portugal to Angola, Canary Islands and the warmer areas of the Mediterranean Sea such as southern Spain and the Gibraltar Strait area, Morocco, southern Italy, Tunisia and Algeria. The larger fish are 1,2 m long and can weigh up to 18 kg (40 lb).
MORE INFO >Pink Dentex
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The northern red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) is a popular fish often caught reef fishing in the Atlantic waters of Florida, Gulf of Mexico and also the Caribbean. This sought-after game fish can reach 1 m and weight up to 50lb.
MORE INFO >Red Snapper
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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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Spearfish (Tetrapturus) are a generic name for several species such as the shortbill spearfish and longbill spearfish. These billfish are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world: Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.
MORE INFO >Spearfish
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Gilt-head Bream (Sparus aurata) is a common species in the Mediterranean Sea and also in the Atlantic Ocean from Britain to Cape Verde. Popular in the Mediterranean cuisine, the fish is easily recognized by the gold bar marking between its eyes. The largest gilt-head bream are 1 metre long and can weigh up to 7kg (15lb).
MORE INFO >Gilt-head Bream
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This fish is of the Balistidae family. There are about 40 species of triggerfish. The largest trigger triggerfish can grow up to 75 cm (30 inch).
MORE INFO >Triggerfish
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Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) are probably the most sought after sport fish in the world. They live in the sub-tropical and tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. Swordfish can grow over 3 meters in length and weigh more than 600 kg (1350lb).
MORE INFO >Swordfish
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Black bass (Micropterus) is a common name for several species like the largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and spotted bass for example. Famous for its great fighting skills, they are a very sought after game fish. Black bass are found in fresh water in the Canada, United States, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and France. Black bass are mostly caught spinfishing. They can grow up to 60 cm / 25 in.
MORE INFO >Black Bass
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Carp (Cyprinus carpio) originally come from Asia, but since ages they are native to Europe. In the Middle Ages, monks introduced carp into ponds and lakes for food. Carp thrive in virtually any environment and can grow up to 80lb! Carp fishing is extremely popular in the U.K. and in Western Europe.
MORE INFO >Carp
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Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) or simply mackerel have a great back with irregular black bands. They're very common and like the temperate waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and the northern Atlantic Ocean. Mackerel are typically between 25-35cm.
MORE INFO >Atlantic Mackerel
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The sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is for many sport fishermen a trophy fish because of the nice fight they offer but also because they're an excellent eating fish. Sea bass, also known as European bass, are found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, from northern Norway to Senegal, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. They can grow up to 1 metre and weigh up to 12kg.
MORE INFO >Sea bass
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The common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) is a type of snapper, common in the Meditarranea Sea, but is also present in the eastern Atlantic coastal areas from Cape Verde to Scandinavia. The biggest pandora can grow up to 50cm (20 inch).
MORE INFO >Common pandora
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The Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is a pelagic fish that can grow up to 500kg (1000lb). The biggest Bluefin Tuna every caught was 780kg (1496lb). These great fighters can be caught trolling, jigging, casting or drifting; mainly off-shore.
MORE INFO >Bluefin Tuna
FISHING SEASON IN Faro
The Blue Marlin fishing season starts towards the end of june, when the ocean starts to warm up. They stay till the end of october. White marlin stay till end of november. Bluefin tuna can be caught between june and august.
Other great sportfish are albacore, dorado, spear fish, skipjack and amberjack. Blue sharks are the most common shark but you can also catch Mako and Hammerhead sharks. There are yearly marlin fishing tournaments run from Vilamoura marina and Tavira.
Inshore, bottom fishing, jigging, spinning and bait fishing can be done all year round.
OUR USERS IN Faro
TOURISM & OTHER ACTIVITIES
Apart from fishing in Faro you can also go cycling, kite surfing, wine tasting experience, snorkeling & diving, sailing, hiking and much much more.
Visit the old city center (don’t miss the Faro Cathedral, Faro’s waterside gateway “Arco da Vila” and it’s bars & restaurants). Faro is surrounded by the “Muralhas”, pre-Roman walls that protected the city from attacks.
The Ria Formosa is a nature reserve home to many bird species such as flamingos, ospreys, spoonbills, just to name a few.
Enjoy the local food in the of bars & restaurants of Faro and nearby villages like Vilamoura, Tavira, Portimão, Albufeira & Sagres. Try the oysters from the Ria Formosa, the typical Portuguese fish stew Caldeirada, flounder, or seabass or sardines on the grill.
There are daily flights from all major European Airports to the Airport of Faro.
LEGISLATION / REGULATIONS
A Sports Fishing Licence (Licença de Pesca Desportiva) is required to go fishing in Faro and surroundings. Children under the age of 14 are exempt if accompanied by a parent who holds a valid fishing licence. Normally the fishing licence is included in the price, but not every fishing boat or fishing charter in Faro does included this in the deep sea fishing trip. When you're looking for fishing trips in Portugal in general, check if your days fishing includes the fishing license. The good news is that the licenses are really cheap and can be purchased on board. Whether you go reef fishing, full day deep sea fishing or big game fishing, the price for a license is the same. A Daily Fishing license will cost you 5€.
