Nosy Be is Madagascar’s frontier for popper and jig fishing, a remote island base surrounded by some of the richest waters in the Indian Ocean. Here, explosive Giant Trevally crush poppers on the surface, Dogtooth Tuna rip jigs from the depths, and Sailfish light up the spread in clear blue water. It is fast, aggressive fishing with variety and power on every cast.
You will fish from fast sportfishing boats launched directly from your liveaboard catamaran. With no lodges or roads, this floating base keeps you close to the action, cutting travel time and opening new ground almost every day. Pressure is light, fish are fresh, and opportunities are constant.
One day it may be a GT detonating on a coral head, the next a Marlin, Dorado, or Wahoo crashing through bait offshore. Add Amberjack, King Mackerel, and Giant Grouper to the list, and the fishery proves why Madagascar is one of the most exciting lure destinations on earth. Local guides know the reefs, the drops, and the tides, tailoring each session to your goals.
Each boat fishes up to four anglers, with high-end rods, reels, poppers, and jigs available to hire.
Back aboard, unwind in your private cabin with freshly prepared meals, sea views, and the comfort of a stable catamaran. After long fights and hard fishing, it is the perfect balance of adventure and rest.
If you like the idea of remote water, ferocious predators, and the thrill of fishing straight from a liveaboard, Nosy Be is the ultimate frontier.
The season runs from October to June.
Season: October to June
Peak: October to May
Weight: 10lb to 140lb
Average Weight: 40lb
Season: October to June
Peak: October to June
Weight: 30lb to 220lb
Average Weight: 60lb
Season: October to June
Peak: November to April
Weight: 50lb to 550lb
Average Weight: 220lb
Season: October to June
Peak: October to June
Weight: 20lb to 75lb
Average Weight: 30lb
Season: October to June
Peak: October to June
Weight: 20lb to 65lb
Average Weight: 30lb
Season: March to June
Peak: April to June
Weight: 25lb to 100lb
Average Weight: 40lb
Season: March to June & Oct to Dec
Peak: May & June
Weight: 40lb to 135lb
Average Weight: 65lb
Season: October to June
Peak: March to June
Weight: 150lb to 1100lb
Average Weight: 300lb
Depart Any international airport - Arrive Nosy Be
Depart Any international airport - Arrive Nosy Be
Depart: TBA
Arrive: Fascene Airport
General Note
General Note
Please note: Depending on your chosen international airport, an overnight flight and/or hotel stay may be required, which may affect your departure and return dates. Your itinerary will be finalised once travel arrangements are confirmed.
Independent flight/travel arrangements can be accommodated, though our flight-inclusive packages are recommended to ensure seamless integration into your holiday plans.
Transfer from Nosy Be Airport to Nosy Be Marina
Transfer from Nosy Be Airport to Nosy Be Marina
Once you’ve touched down and collected your bags, a representative from our partners will be waiting to meet you. From there, you’ll be transferred by private taxi to the marina, which is a journey of approximately 45 minutes.
Transfer from Nosy Be Marina to the Catamaran
Transfer from Nosy Be Marina to the Catamaran
When you arrive at the marina, your guides will treat you to lunch before you transfer to the catamaran. The journey is made by speedboat and takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Depending on the time of year and prevailing weather conditions, you’ll head out to fish around the north, south, or west of Nosy Be. If you have a preferred area, you can request this at the time of booking.
Catamaran
Overnight Accommodation
Catamaran in a Single Room on a Full board basis
Fishing
Fishing
On your first two fishing days and over the entire fishing week, you will depart with your boat and crew to the various areas to fish different methods or target your chosen species. All the fishing is conducted from 10.5m/34.5ft purpose-built boats perfect for a day’s popper or jig fishing.
Throwing poppers and jigging can be pretty extreme at times, so if you would like a rest from this style of fishing, then you can troll some lures for fish such as Sailfish and Tuna.
Catamaran
Overnight Accommodation
Catamaran in a Single Room on a Full board basis
Fishing
Fishing
On your third and fourth fishing day, if there’s a particular species on your bucket list that you’d like to tick off, speak to your guides, and they will do their best to make it happen.
Our guides will help you as much as you need, but they are always on hand to help you every step of the way, giving you the best experience possible. All the captains and deckhands speak good English, but sometimes hand signals are needed to explain things, and we call it the worldwide fishing language.
Catamaran
Overnight Accommodation
Catamaran in a Single Room on a Full board basis
Fishing
Fishing
On your last fishing day, you will start fishing earlier (around 6:00am) and fish until it’s time to depart back towards Nosy Be.
Transfer from the Catamaran to Nosy Be Marina
Transfer from the Catamaran to Nosy Be Marina
On departure day, you will be transferred back to Nosy Be Marina. The departure time will depend on the distance from your fishing location to the marina and will be arranged accordingly to ensure a smooth return.
Upon arrival and after checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to relax or explore at your leisure.
Nosy Be Standard Hotel
Overnight Accommodation
Nosy Be Standard Hotel in a Single Room on a Bed & Breakfast basis
Day at leisure
Day at leisure
This is a free day to relax and explore Nosy Be. This is a stunning beachside location so there are plenty of things to keep you occupied.
Note: Alternatively, if you give us plenty of notice and subject to availability, we can extend your fishing days, giving you an extra day and night on the Catamaran.
Nosy Be Standard Hotel
Overnight Accommodation
Nosy Be Standard Hotel in a Single Room on a Bed & Breakfast basis
Transfer from your overnight hotel to Nosy Be Airport
Transfer from your overnight hotel to Nosy Be Airport
In the morning once you have checked out of your hotel, you will need to take a taxi (not included) back to Nosy Be airport for your return flights home.
Depart Nosy Be - Arrive Any international airport
Depart Nosy Be - Arrive Any international airport
Depart: Fascene Airport
Arrive: TBA
General Note
General Note
Please note: Depending on your chosen international airport, an overnight flight and/or hotel stay may be required, which may affect your departure and return dates. Your itinerary will be finalised once travel arrangements are confirmed.
Independent flight/travel arrangements can be accommodated, though our flight-inclusive packages are recommended to ensure seamless integration into your holiday plans.
Prices are shown per person and are based on single rooms and four anglers per boat, unless otherwise specified. All prices are accurate at the time of publication but may vary slightly depending on factors such as travel dates, booking time, airline pricing, or fuel surcharges set by the operators.
Flights are always priced at the most competitive rates available at the time of enquiry to ensure you receive the best possible value when booking.
Proudly an ATOL bonded company, our trips are complete packages, including all flights, transfers, accommodation, and fantastic fishing and shooting experiences.
| Travel Available Between These Dates | Days | Price | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/10/2026 | 30/11/2026 | 8 | £3,842 | Enquire |
| 01/12/2026 | 31/12/2026 | 8 | £3,942 | Enquire |
| 01/01/2027 | 31/01/2027 | 8 | £4,336 | Enquire |
| 01/02/2027 | 30/06/2027 | 8 | £4,261 | Enquire |
| 01/10/2027 | 30/11/2027 | 8 | £3,940 | Enquire |
| 01/12/2027 | 31/12/2027 | 8 | £4,040 | Enquire |
| 01/01/2028 | 31/01/2028 | 8 | £4,441 | Enquire |
| 01/02/2028 | 30/06/2028 | 8 | £4,366 | Enquire |
| 01/10/2028 | 30/11/2028 | 8 | £4,043 | Enquire |
| 01/12/2028 | 31/12/2028 | 8 | £4,143 | Enquire |
If your preferred week or travel dates do not appear in the calendar above, please get in touch. Many lodges release availability in stages, and some dates depend on tides, seasons, guide schedules, or short-notice changes. By speaking with us directly, you will receive the most up to date availability and clear guidance on securing the strongest options before popular weeks fill.
Enquire now and we will check live availability for the dates you are considering.
Our ATOL protection, means you have financial security on your booking.
All our destinations are thoroughly researched by our team of experts.
We have worked hard to be able to provide you with the best prices possible.
We offer complete holiday packages, making booking a holiday simple.
"Gts, Dogtooths, snappers, sharks and even hooked a Marlin. We all needed another holiday once we got back home. This is an extreme trip due to casting heavy poppers around and the jigging was arm aching stuff. The pre trip tackle list could do with updating as pink lures were working the best. Thank you and speak to later about getting some more dates "
"WOW..... thanks Sportquest and Nirvana. this was our 3rd popper fishing holiday and this one will take some beating. How they managed to cook such nice fresh food on the Catamaran still amazes me. Great bunch of guys on the Cat and the fishing guides really know their stuff. Thanks"
"I recently spent a week fishing in Madagascar with Nirvana Fishing. I can highly recommend them during! Over the week I witnessed them to be a highly professional fishing company. The boat was top class. The service was second to none and overall a very enjoyable fishing trip. So much so I have rebooked for next year. Cheers guys!"
"Awesome guides, awesome experience. Highly recommended"
"Great trip with Big GT”s on the surface, a lot of fish jigging, great crew both on the fishing boat, and the catamaran.best damn food ever, every night and lunch. no doubt in my mind that I will be back in 2019"
"Fantastic trip we all managed some huge fish. Alain was brilliant and very patient with us. With this being our first popper fishing trip we certainly have caught the bug. Top marks "
"The worst bit was the travelling, it seemed to take ages to get there but once that was out of the way, the guys that picked us up were great. Even treated us to some lunch at the boat dock. Next time we will go with a lot more tackle "
"The weather was awful getting out to the fishing area but once there the Catamaran sheltered behind an island. The storm soon passed us and then we were greeted by awesome weather. The fishing was a little slow to start with but picked up towards the end of the week. We all still really enjoyed the trip "
"2nd time to madagascar a great destination for popping if your prepared to work there will be a 3rd trip for sure kind regards Mike Leavesley "
"This was our second fishing trip planned by Sportquest Holidays and it was a wonderful! The fishing staff was beyond wonderful! Our food choices were delicious and varied. We caught plenty of fish and many different varieties. Additionally our guides allowed us to visit several surrounding islands. Our stay at the Nosy Be Hotel was wonderful. We enjoyed touring the town and spending a day at the beach. It was great having my meals specially prepared on the flights. Sportquest Holidays did an awesome job planning our trip!"
"Good flights on a new aircraft. Beautiful country and well looked after by the local staff and crew. Think I can safely say we all had a great time especially catching Yellow fin on spin gear and tiny circle hooks.
"
The destination of Madagascar is different from many other holidays because you are not land-based; you will be spending the holiday living on the open ocean on a catamaran, meaning that you reach the spots that all other fishing holidays to Madagascar cannot go. You get to stay on the fish. Every day you will be taken by speedboat to these spots and will be in for some phenomenal arm-wrenching action.
We know how important it is that you can sleep and rest in the best conditions on your North Nosy Be Fishing, especially after intense days of fishing, and that’s why we carefully select the best Catamarans for their quality and comfort for sleeping. Each angler will get their own sleeping cabin with either a single or double bed. Onboard the Catamarans, you will have access to electricity (220 V sockets) to recharge your batteries and devices.
There is also fresh running drinking water available on board. On our Catamarans, you will have a widescreen TV to plug your cameras into view of all your stunning videos and images of the trip. We strongly believe that your fishing trip’s success will come down to comfortable sleeping arrangements, excellent food, and places to relax in the evening, meaning you can completely concentrate on fishing.
The food served onboard your North Nosy Be Fishing is delicious, varied and original, prepared by our talented chefs. The food is produced and designed with local fresh produce and mostly organically grown (fruits, vegetables, meat and eggs).
Breakfast and evening meals will be served and eaten on board the Catamaran, and the lunches will be prepared and packed on the fishing boat for you to enjoy whilst out fishing. As for drinks, bottled water provided and included in our formulas’ full board.
All other beverages on your North Nosy Be Fishing (soft drinks, beers, wines, spirits, espresso coffee) are extra, payable on the Catamaran at the end of your stay. We have a selection of Catamarans; all are of a high standard and depend on your group size.
The most recent addition to our fleet of boats is the Adventurer Catamaran, a powerful inboard motor catamaran (2 x 240hp) and the flagship of our expeditions’ innovative “Fish & Live Aboard” concept in Madagascar. Designed to deliver the perfect balance of comfort, safety, and full fishing functionality, this vessel offers a memorable offshore fishing experience for groups of up to six anglers.
With four double-bed cabins, each equipped with fans and air fresheners, plus four private bathrooms and an electric flush toilet, Adventurer ensures you’ll rest in comfort after a day on the water. The boat features a stylish indoor lounge and bar, a fully equipped kitchen, a shaded outdoor living area, and a spacious flybridge with an extra seating area, providing ample space to relax between fishing sessions.
Purpose-built for modern lure fishing, the vessel is equipped for a range of techniques, including jigging, popping, trolling, and more. The wide open spaces at the bow and along the sides, combined with a stainless-steel full-body guard rail fitted with cushioned supports, offer comfort and safety. With multiple rod holders, outriggers and downriggers, and a 15-inch GPS/fishfinder screen visible from the outdoor seating area, everything is in place for serious fishing.
View a 360° virtual tour of the new vessel here.
Are you looking for your next extreme fishing adventure? We are incredibly pleased to offer the very best popper and jig fishing Nosy Be fishing in Madagascar has to offer. Utilising our liveaboard Catamaran and top of the range sports boats, you will be fishing a hugely diverse range of unspoilt and un-fished areas around the stunning Island of Nosy Be, located just off Madagascar from the deeper waters of the North than many different reefs of the south than the many big deep shelves of the west. We are very excited to bring exclusively to all UK anglers this tremendous new adventure where we will see people fishing the waters that saw absolutely no pressure from fishing up until a couple of years ago. A massive advantage of fishing from a Catamaran is that you will be fishing waters that see little to no pressure from local boats. With the liveaboard Catamaran anchored in a prime location, the fishing grounds are very close, meaning more time fishing.
Additionally, there is no reason for you to worry about purchasing expensive rods and reels as we can hire you the complete package along with lures, poppers and jigs. We have everything available to make your Nosy Be Madagascar fishing adventure the best it can be.
This trip is also available as an exclusive Sportquest solo traveller and is ideal for single anglers, pairs of friends and even small groups. You can see our solo traveller tour here.
North Nosy Be Fishing takes place in the waters from the north-western coast of Madagascar. From the legendary Cap Saint-Sébastien to the fiery Cap d’Ambre (the extreme north of Madagascar) to the surprising and unknown area of Banc Intermediaire or the famous Courrier Bay. These are preserved sport fishing sites around North Nosy Be Fishing and are exceptional for their breathtakingly wild beauty and vibrant sport fishing opportunities. North Nosy Be fishing, and the surrounding Southern and Western fishing areas are fabulous playgrounds on a coastline of over 120km and a continental shelf over 15km wide. You will have the possibilities to fish in several different areas during your stay, which you will discuss with our fishing guides once onboard the Catamaran. North Nosy Be fishing, South Nosy Be Fishing and West Nosy Be Fishing. All are offering a unique experience and scenery around Madagascar.
West Nosy Be 40 km north-west of the island of Nosy Be, discover the fabulous Leven bench, which covers an area of about 2500 km². West Nosy Be is by far the most significant offshore bank of Madagascar. In connection with the auxiliary benches of the Great Beaver in the South, the Voltigeur in the South-West and the Cordelier in the North, it forms a base of volcanic origin, 90 km long and 15 to 30 km wide, appearing as a vast mass tabular with cut out contours. A gigantic playground whose surface swollen by uprises to 15 meters deep, where many coral formations develop.
South Nosy Be We fish some of the most famous areas from the archipelago of the Radama through to Nosy Lava Island, Narinda Bay, Moramba Bay and the gates of Majunga (according to the length of your cruise). You will soon discover the vast, diverse fishing opportunities that South Nosy Be offers, and you may even fish virgin spots still abundant with big uncaught fish. You will travel out to the fishing grounds upon your liveaboard Catamaran, which you will use as your fishing base while fishing these amazing fish-filled waters.
Throughout the season, the species on offer are massive. One day you could be battling with super hard fighting GT’s and the next watching Sailfish chase down lures. The species available to catch include Giant Trevally, Dogtooth Tuna, Giant Grouper, King Mackerel, Amberjack, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado and many more.
Nosy Be gives you an incredible opportunity to target multiple species from one location on many different methods. The guide on your boat will assist in recommending the best-given method for your chosen species. They know their waters very well and will make sure you are fishing correctly, with the correct lure and the right speed.
We will endeavour to tick as many species off your bucket list as possible; make it clear at the start of your trip what your groups’ targets are, and our guides will try everything to make your fishing wishes come true. The new record for GT in Madagascar (a 64kg or 140lb monster) was caught in March 2017 in this great area with our partner Nirvana Fishing. Do you think you have what it takes to beat this record?
The fishing charters you will be fishing from following the Catamaran out to the fishing grounds. They are very functional, comfortable, equipped with unparalleled safety equipment and are top quality boats. They accommodate up to 4 anglers, and they can navigate with ease by the seas. You will be departing from the liveaboard Catamaran each day on the sports boats; therefore, you will be very close to the fishing marks, with the average travelling time being half an hour from the boat. Remember to always dress correctly as when you are out on the sea; the sun rays are intense, so make sure you wear protective clothing for fishing in the sun.
When fishing, you will be fully guided by local guides who are very knowledgable in the waters. These guides will be on hand to help you at every step of the way on your fishing trip, giving you the best experience possible. Head over to our YouTube channel to see how good a fishing vacation to Nosy Be can be. All the captains and deckhands speak good English. Sometimes hand signals are needed to explain things, and we call it the worldwide fishing language.
The destination of Nosy Be Fishing is perfect for those looking for lots of action as Madagascar’s waters teeming with fish. You certainly do not need to be an expert lure angler as the deckhands will take great care of you. If the fishing gets too much for you, you can always take a seat and relax on the boat while others carry on fishing. This destination suits anglers of all abilities, from first-time lure anglers to the most experienced. In our saltwater blog section of the website, we have written many blogs to help you get the most out of your holiday. Blogs worth reading are the top 10 tips for successful popper fishing, tips on popper fishing for Giant Trevally and an excellent read is popper and jig fishing around Madagascar.
Gts, Dogtooths, snappers, sharks and even hooked a Marlin. We all needed another holiday once we got back home. This is an extreme trip due to casting heavy poppers around and the jigging was arm aching stuff. The pre trip tackle list could do with updating as pink lures were working the best. Thank you and speak to later about getting some more dates
WOW..... thanks Sportquest and Nirvana. this was our 3rd popper fishing holiday and this one will take some beating. How they managed to cook such nice fresh food on the Catamaran still amazes me. Great bunch of guys on the Cat and the fishing guides really know their stuff. Thanks
I recently spent a week fishing in Madagascar with Nirvana Fishing. I can highly recommend them during! Over the week I witnessed them to be a highly professional fishing company. The boat was top class. The service was second to none and overall a very enjoyable fishing trip. So much so I have rebooked for next year. Cheers guys!
Hello Ali and Martin, thanks for your review and glad you guys really likes it. The pictures you sent us are great and well done Martin on that huge GT.
Look forward to helping you next year
All the best
Paul
Awesome guides, awesome experience. Highly recommended
Hi Hannes, glad you had a good experience and caught some big GT's
All the best
Paul
Great trip with Big GT”s on the surface, a lot of fish jigging, great crew both on the fishing boat, and the catamaran.best damn food ever, every night and lunch. no doubt in my mind that I will be back in 2019
Thanks for your review Henrik. So glad you managed your GT off the surface, something I know you wanted out of your trip.
All the best and speak soon
Paul
Fantastic trip we all managed some huge fish. Alain was brilliant and very patient with us. With this being our first popper fishing trip we certainly have caught the bug. Top marks
The worst bit was the travelling, it seemed to take ages to get there but once that was out of the way, the guys that picked us up were great. Even treated us to some lunch at the boat dock. Next time we will go with a lot more tackle
The weather was awful getting out to the fishing area but once there the Catamaran sheltered behind an island. The storm soon passed us and then we were greeted by awesome weather. The fishing was a little slow to start with but picked up towards the end of the week. We all still really enjoyed the trip
2nd time to madagascar a great destination for popping if your prepared to work there will be a 3rd trip for sure kind regards Mike Leavesley
Thank you for your feedback. Looking forward to hearing from you to book your next trip.
This was our second fishing trip planned by Sportquest Holidays and it was a wonderful! The fishing staff was beyond wonderful! Our food choices were delicious and varied. We caught plenty of fish and many different varieties. Additionally our guides allowed us to visit several surrounding islands. Our stay at the Nosy Be Hotel was wonderful. We enjoyed touring the town and spending a day at the beach. It was great having my meals specially prepared on the flights. Sportquest Holidays did an awesome job planning our trip!
Hello Lorraine, thank you for taking the time to send us your feedback from your Madagascar fishing holiday. Sounds like you guys had the best experience. It must be hard for you to find trusted fishing holiday companies and with you being from the States and us from the UK, but rest assured you are in good hands. Where next now?
Tight lines, Paul
Good flights on a new aircraft. Beautiful country and well looked after by the local staff and crew. Think I can safely say we all had a great time especially catching Yellow fin on spin gear and tiny circle hooks.
Exclusive to Sportquest Holidays, our Solo Traveller weeks to the Andaman Islands offer single anglers the chance to join like-minded adventurers on a no-surcharge, fully guided saltwater experience, where GTs explode on poppers and Dogtooth Tuna tear through jigs in some of the wildest waters on earth. You'll explore legendary reefs during hand-picked peak weeks, for a memorable popper and jigging adventure.
This exclusive Sportquest Holidays Solo Traveller week invites single anglers to experience Colombia’s Pacific coast in style, no supplements, no surcharges, just world-class bluewater action shared with like-minded guests in a spectacular beachfront setting. From Marlin and Tuna offshore to Tarpon and Roosterfish inshore, Anigua Beach House delivers thrilling fishing by day and luxury by night.
Nubian Flats is home to some of the best saltwater fly fishing available with miles of untouched and unspoilt areas to explore. Previously these waters were inaccessible until now. With our partners, we can now offer two liveaboard fly fishing operations, one in the north and a longer trip in the deep south giving you access to some of the most virginal saltwater fly fishing around.
Our famous hosted trips to Christmas island have become legendary; they offer you the best saltwater fly fishing along with world-class popper jig fishing. Combine this with light offshore trolling provides one of the most diverse fisheries in the world. A fishing adventure that should not miss at any cost.
Pomene Reserve is self-proclaimed as the Giant Trevally capital of Mozambique, offering some unrivalled sport from both the boat and shore. Based on just four anglers per week, this wild and remote destination is one of the most secluded and beautiful spots in the country, offering an intimate and extraordinary experience in a pristine setting.
