MY Balancal
6
32,81 ft
Funchal, Madeira (PT)
From
700,00 €
Fishing in Madeira
We, anglers, love fishing in Madeira. Bottom fishing produces all kinds of smaller reef fish like Snapper, Jack, Sea Bream, Skate, Dentex and many other local species. The big game fishing charters in Madeira target Blue Marlin, Tuna, White Marlin, short bill Spearfish, Albacore, Tuna, Dorado and Wahoo.
Madeira, - which means wood in Portuguese - is an island located 400km north of Tenerife and 550km west of the country of Morocco. The island has a volcanic origin and there are peaks of up to 1860 metres. Madeira is known for its wine, the flowers, the great hotels, surfing and its the home of football great, Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Tom recommends you these fishing boats in Madeira
9 Charter in Madeira
Tips & Tricks, bait and more
The archipelago of Madeira is situated southwest of Portugal, less than 400km north of Tenerife (Canary Islands). The archipelago consists of the Madeira island, Porto Santo and Desertas. The area was discovered by Portuguese sailors in 1419, today Madeira is a popular tourist destination known for its wine, flowers, landscapes and its famous fireworks displays.
TOP SPECIES
Blue Marlin: Big game fishing in Madeira means targeting Blue Marlin. This fish is one of the most respected and well-known species around the world for its size, strength and power. Known for performing impressive jumps during the fight, Blue Marlin can reach a size of 4.3m and weigh more than 1200 pounds (500kg). Fishing Blue Marlin is full of emotion and action, attracting thousands of fishermen from around the world each year, to try their luck at catching a Grander. Many world record-sized Marlins have been caught in the waters of Madeira.
Fishing in Madeira has earned itself much fame since the ‘70s when fishermen began to capture specimens of over 1000 pounds (450 kg). Every May, the first Blue Marlin reach the waters of this archipelago and fishermen go to these islands each season to put their skills to the test.
Responsible fishing is practised with these predators: after their capture, they are tagged and released alive to ensure the preservation of the species. The best place to fish them in Madeira is to the south of the island. Protected by high cliffs, the sea here is protected from the prevailing winds from the Northeast and North.
White marlin: The average weight of the White Marlin is about 20 to 30 kg and they usually move in small groups in waters more than 100m deep. The White Marlin feeds on a wide variety of fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. The best time for fishing White Marlin in Madeira is between July and November and these summer months can also result in catches of species like the short bill Spearfish.
Tuna: Bluefin Tuna and Bigeye Tuna can be found off Madeira between February and November; the best months for Tuna fishing in Madeira are October & November. Albacore and Yellowfin Tuna are around from October to January.
Dorado: The Dolphinfish is highly sought after not only for its meat but also for its acrobatic leaps and its intense yellow colour. In Madeira, the best way to target Mahi Mahi is trolling with light tackle – and in certain areas you can also catch this predator chumming and spinning. Both techniques produce great results. Dorado fishing in Madeira is best between June and September (when the marlin is around)
Wahoo: This predator has razor sharp teeth and is found around the world in tropical and subtropical waters. Wahoo are famous for their impressive speed and prized meat. They can be up to two and a half meters long when fully grown and can weigh 83kg. Wahoo is mainly caught trolling with artificial lures.
Top sport fishing species in Madeira
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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 40 kg (90lb).
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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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 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 Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) is known by anglers as being a fast, aggressive and strong fish of the ocean. They are fun to target and give a real challenge to anyone who comes across them while fishing. They inhabit temperate and subtropical waters around the world. Bluefish have extremely powerful jaws with razor sharp teeth. They can grow over a meter and weigh over 10kg.
MORE INFO >Bluefish
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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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Grouper is common name for all the bass-looking-fish from the Epinephelinae Family. This family also includes sea bass by the way. Grouper are colorful predators who like to live in rocky areas, reefs, wrecks where they can hide.
MORE INFO >Grouper
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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 ever 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 Madeira
Autumn and winter: The winter months in the Madeira fishing season are ideal for deep-sea fishing, you can have excellent sessions of bottom fishing or jigging in Madeira. The irregular and rocky bottoms are an attractive habitat for Red Snapper, Pink Dentex, Amberjack, Red Grouper, Mackerel and other sedentary species.
From the end of January, tuna fishing in Madeira starts slowly with the arrival of Bluefin Tuna and the patudos (Bigeye tuna), which are mainly caught trolling.
Spring and summer: Big game fishing Madeira starts late May with the arrival of Blue Marlin and White Marlin. August & September are the best months. Other pelagic species like Wahoo & Dorado are also around when the waters are nice and warm around the island, just like the Algarve in Portugal.
TOP FISHING TECHNIQUES IN Madeira
OUR USERS IN Madeira
TOURISM & OTHER ACTIVITIES
Shopping in Madeira, Eating out, Walking & Hiking, Whale & dolphin spotting safaris, Scuba Diving, Sailing, Beaches & Swimming pools, Surfing, Canyoning.
Enjoy the local food in the hundreds of bars & restaurants in the area. Madeira’s nightlife, fine dining, perfect climate and spectacular scenery attracts more and more young travellers to the island.
Funchal fishing, Calheta etc.
LEGISLATION / REGULATIONS
For all your Madeira fishing trips, you need a fishing license to fish in freshwater and saltwater (also for Madeira beach sea fishing). The fishing charters in Madeira normally have the fishing license included in the price, so you don't need to buy one if you're chartering a boat.
