Fishing in Madeira: an adventure in the heart of the ocean. Discover the wonders of fishing in Madeira, waters rich in a variety of species and breathtaking landscapes. Explore the techniques and best fishing spots of this unique destination.
Madeira fishing Part 1, discovering the sea ...
Poncha, delicious fruit, good weather, a Rainshadow SB-781-3CG and breathtaking scenery: what more could you want!
Madeira, a volcanic island with multiple assets.
Madeira is a pretty Portuguese volcanic island located north of the Canaries and off the coast of Morocco. Some 60km long and 30 wide, the landscapes and climate differ at the four cardinal points. The south of the island, where the capital Funchal is located, is sunny and mild. The east is arid and dry, with yellow and ochre volcanic cliffs brightened by cacti. The north and west are cooler, with rich green vegetation decorating the black volcanic cliffs. The center of the island, culminating at 1800m, offers a multi-faceted mountainous landscape with beautiful, fresh Live bait rivers. It's easy to get a complete change of scenery in just a few kilometers!
This "pearl of the Atlantic" has everything to seduce nature lovers! So why not let yourself be tempted by a fishing trip to Madeira?
Fishing in Madeira?
Small fish not so easy to lure.
A quick trip to the Friday morning fish market in Funchal reveals that the bulk of the stalls are made up of tuna and black swordfish, which can be found in every restaurant. On the other hand, you have to be on board to have a chance of catching some ... Me, I just fished from the shore!
In shore fishing, in the Funchal area, the most common fish are sparids. They're plentiful and the bites just keep on coming! On the other hand, they're not so easy to catch ... The majority of fish caught from shore are small and lures must be adapted accordingly ...
12g Casting jigs and 3 or 4 inch soft lures are ideal! Don't hesitate to stock up! Volcanic bottoms are greedy and Dentex teeth don't give LS...
a second chance.
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One of Madeira's Red bream / Porgy with a really nice backbone and colors! Caught on a Black Minnow 120 (like many others) in 12g TP and with my trusty Rainshadow SB-781-3CG which now follows me wherever I go in the world![/caption]
If you leave the lures a little longer in the Funchal riprap, you can have a good laugh at lizardfish and small groupers (although you can still come across some nice specimens). It's as simple as that for our old ladies in France: slow fishing and scratching the rocks is enough to make the difference. The creatures work extremely well!
One of Madeira's Red bream / Porgy with a really nice backbone and colors! Caught on a Black Minnow 120 (like many others) in 12g TP and with my trusty Rainshadow SB-781-3CG which now follows me wherever I go in the world![/caption]
If you leave the lures a little longer in the Funchal riprap, you can have a good laugh at lizardfish and small groupers (although you can still come across some nice specimens). It's as simple as that for our old ladies in France: slow fishing and scratching the rocks is enough to make the difference. The creatures work extremely well!
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A lizardfish not naughty? The bite is violent but the fight isn't very long ... Watch your fingers though! The locals are very wary of them!
A lizardfish not naughty? The bite is violent but the fight isn't very long ... Watch your fingers though! The locals are very wary of them!
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One of the small groupers of the trip. Couldn't get any bigger but I've seen photos and stories of 4-5kg fish caught from the shore! Given the struggle of this little one, it's a dream come true!
One of the small groupers of the trip. Couldn't get any bigger but I've seen photos and stories of 4-5kg fish caught from the shore! Given the struggle of this little one, it's a dream come true!
The North, a "Breton"-style fishery.
On the last day, we took a short trip to the north of the island. There, the scenery would make any fisherman dream! Cliffs whipped up by the waves, current, variable bottom, in short, it smells of big fish! But I didn't find it ^^...
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glaucous lichen (Trachinotus Ovatis), it's a change from Breton fish ...[/caption]
glaucous lichen (Trachinotus Ovatis), it's a change from Breton fish ...[/caption]
On the other hand, I managed to catch a glaucous lich (Trachinotus Ovatis) always with the casting-jigs so versatile over there! Be sure to stock up if you want to keep the fish coming...
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Breathtaking scenery for fun fishing full of surprises.[/caption]
Breathtaking scenery for fun fishing full of surprises.[/caption]
In the short time I spent fishing, I really enjoyed discovering these fish, which were a change of scenery from those on the Brittany coast. The best time to fish in Madeira, as is often the case, was sunset (sunrise must have been pretty good too ^^).
The locals we met fishing were friendly and curious to see LS, which don't seem all that common over there!
The rod used on this trip: Rainshadow SB-781-3CG
All the fish on the trip, in the sea, were caught with my Rainshadow SB-781-3CG. It's a 2-metre, three-section line with a 70 cm mini mini footprint. It's really versatile and allows you to use most of the lures you'll need for shore fishing: from 5 to 20g. Its action is Fast and its power reserve means you can have fun on small fish but not be afraid on bigger fish either.
You'll find a slightly more comprehensive review on the forum: https://www.rodhouse.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5161
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Rainshadow's 781-3CG at the comparator with its big sister, the 783-3.[/caption]
Don't forget your rod if you're heading to this part of the world to try your hand at Madeira fishing!
Rainshadow's 781-3CG at the comparator with its big sister, the 783-3.[/caption]
Don't forget your rod if you're heading to this part of the world to try your hand at Madeira fishing!
1 comment
Florian Duclos
Super article je vais sur madère 8 jours si tu as des coins à me conseiller pour une pêche merci 👌🏽✌️
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