Madeira is a Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s known for its wine, flora, fauna, and historic laurel forests and is a popular year-round resort for tourists. However, amongst the bluewater and big game fishing communities, it’s famed for being one of the best destinations in the world for Blue Marlin.
For many years, this volcanic island has been the go-to destination for many specimen hunters who dream of landing the Marlin of a lifetime, a ‘Grander’, a Blue Marlin that exceeds 1000lb. Each year, Maderia produces more fish of that size and is bigger, than many other fishing destinations on the planet; it also boasts an impressive average size of fish landed to around 700lb. Maderia regularly enters the Blue Marlin World Cup and has taken the prestigious trophy on more than one occasion; it truly is the Marlin hunter’s paradise.
As well as being one of the best fishing destinations, it’s popular among travellers, attracting visitors worldwide. Its beautiful beaches, stunning scenic backdrops and abundance of extra activities make it the perfect destination to share with your non-angling companions and families. If you’d like to learn more about the fantastic Blue Marlin fishing on offer in Madeira, visit our YouTube channel.
The island of Madeira is the top of a massive submerged shield volcano that rises about six kilometres from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean; it’s located a mere 621 miles from the mainland of Portugal and the capital city of Lisbon. It’s a vibrant, sub-tropical island, lapped by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream; it benefits from comfortable warm summers and mild winter temperatures, making it an ideal all-year-round holiday and fishing retreat. If you’re travelling to Maderia as a non-angler and are looking for some extra activities, you may find this blog helpful: Top Things To Do In Maderia.
For travelling anglers, the best time to visit is between the summer months of May and October. During these months, the most significant number of Blue Marlin are present, with July and August being two of the peak months. September is also another popular month; although there can sometimes be fewer fish, those present tend to be bigger.
During the winter and early spring months of February and April, the waters tend to be cooler, and the Marlin are less abundant. However, they are replaced by good numbers of Giant Bluefin and Big Eye Tuna. The average size of the Bluefins is between 300lb and 600lb, which can provide anglers with some explosive action.
Due to the island’s volcanic makeup, which rises steeply from the sea bed, the waters in and around it are prime for big Blue Marlin. The key attribute of this is the water depth, as within five minutes of leaving the harbour, the water deepens very quickly, as the coastal mountains plunge through the water column to the sea bed. This is not only perfect for the Marlin, who enjoys deep water, but it also means that very little fishing time gets wasted steaming offshore to remote marks. The whole coastline of the island is similar, and it’s not unusual to have Marlin striking within a few hundred metres of the shore.
Once the boat leaves the marina, a spread of artificial lures will be put out in a formation using the outriggers; typically, there will be two outside rods and two centre rods, along with some teasers. All the tackle is included and is top-of-the-range, with rods and reels from Penn hand-picked, and perfect for battling these ocean giants. The same comments apply to the crew, skipper, and boat. The boat is the ‘Luna’, a vessel built for the rigours of big game fishing around the island. It features everything you’d expect from a big game fishing boat and is packed with all the latest electronics and includes a flybridge, fighting chair and outriggers. It can comfortably accommodate six passengers. When fishing on the boat, drinks like beer, water, juice, and various snacks and sandwiches are also included.
A typical fishing day is around eight hours long, but all the fishing pick-ups and drop-offs will be discussed with your captain when you arrive.
Blue Marlin are often considered fishing’s most significant challenge and thrill amongst sport and big game fishing communities. They’re a true bluewater species that spend most of their lives in the open ocean, mainly near the water’s surface; they are also highly migratory. They are one of the largest species of bony fishes, beginning as microscopic larvae and reaching lengths of more than 16ft and weighing over 1000lb. The largest ever caught by IGFA angling rules is a fish that weighed 1,402lb. Fish of over 1,000lb are often referred to by big game anglers as ‘Granders’, and females can grow up to four times the weight of males.
They are one of the fastest and hardest-fighting fish in the ocean. They are renowned for their scintillating bursts of speed and acrobatic fighting style; they can test tackle and anglers to their limits, and battles lasting many hours aren’t uncommon. They’re aggressive predators and feed on Mackerel, Tuna and Squid, using their bills to slash through dense schools of baitfish, stunning and injuring their prey before returning to eat their wounded victims.
Marlin fishing in Madeira was first discovered in the 1970s when Dr Antonio Ribeiro was supposedly the first person to catch a Blue Marlin from its shores, which weighed 740lb. His two sons, Roberto and Joe, still religiously fish for Blue Marlin and carry on their father’s legend.
The beautiful, all-inclusive Calheta Beach Resort is perfect for anglers, non-angling companions and families – it’s a modern and stylish resort with a contemporary design and extensive facilities. It’s one of the few hotels on the island with a beach on its doorstep – a couple of sheltered lagoons act like bookends, and the Atlantic Ocean laps at the shoreline in front.
The hotel offers a wide array of rooms, all with a balcony and a mountainside or sea view. Amenities include air-conditioning and a TV with satellite channels, while if you opt for a suite, you’ll have extras like a lounge and a kitchenette. Our most popular choice is:
These double bedrooms have space for two adults and a child bed for a child up to 12 years. They come with satellite TV, air-conditioning and a balcony with a sea view.
– Air-conditioning
– Balcony
– 1 Child Bed In Bedroom
– Shower
– Sea View
– WC
Outside the resort, with an incredible view of the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll find a large pool with a kid’s section, two bars for beach cocktails and snacks and ping pong and pool tables.
The onsite spa lines up treatments like marine algae massages, while there’s also a sauna, Turkish bath, pool with a hot tub, and a fully loaded gym.
The resort offers a range of activities for the whole family, including cooking lessons, aqua aerobics for adults, and a kids’ club and play area for children.
The Calheta Beach Resort is an all-inclusive hotel, which means all your food and drinks are included during your stay.
Mornings start with a buffet with all the Full English essentials. You can expect soup, grill and salad stations at dinner, and there’s even the option of a light lunch on the sands, thanks to the hotel’s beach bar.
When you fancy a change, the à la carte restaurant deals in Madeiran cuisine. Menu highlights include a wine-marinated tuna steak, black scabbardfish and spit-roasted meat.
The below itinerary is flexible should you require additional fishing days or additional free days to explore; we can tailor this itinerary to suit you personally. Feel free to talk to our travel consultants who can explain all options available.
Depart Any international Airport (See Details)
Arrive Funchal
On arrival at the airport once you have collected your bags you will need to take a taxi (not included) to the Calheta Beach Resort, which is around a 45 minute drive. Once you have checked in to the hotel and been shown to your room, the rest of the day is free for you to either relax or explore.
Overnight accommodation: Calheta Beach Resort (Twin Room) F/B
After breakfast, you will need to make your way to the Marina (a one minute walk) where your boat captain and crew will be waiting to take you for full days big game fishing. You will have the sole use of the boat so however many people are in your party will be allowed on board. As this is mainly a Marlin fishing holiday, you will be taken out each day in search of the elusive and super hard fighting Blue Marlin. The crew will rig the rods up for you and position them on the outriggers in their favourite patterns. You are more than welcome to assist them with this if you feel confident enough.
Overnight accommodation: Calheta Beach Resort (Twin Room) F/B
Fishing is conducted from our big game boat that is rigged with top of the range fishing equipment. The captain and crew will work the lures to maximize the chances of raising a billfish or two, swapping the lures around during the day all dependant on light levels. The Captain and deckhand have been fishing these waters for many years and know everything there is to know about increasing your chances whilst out on the water. After a full day of fishing, you will be transferred from the marina back to your accommodation.
Overnight accommodation: Calheta Beach Resort (Twin Room) F/B
In the morning you will need to take a taxi (not included) back to the airport, which is around a 45 minute drive, ready for your flight home.
Depart Funchal
Arrive Home
The season runs from May to August.
Season: May to September
Peak: June to July
Weight: 400lb to 1100lb
Average Weight: 550lb
Season: January to August
Peak: May to July
Weight: 30lb to 160lb
Average Weight: 75lb
Season: February to April
Peak: February
Weight: 150lb to 550lb
Average Weight: 200lb
If your group size is smaller or larger than the standard please contact a member of the Sportquest Holidays team who will then give you an up to date price
Remember that Sportquest Holidays' services are completely FREE! When you book a trip with Sportquest Holidays, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge and flights independently.
From | To | Duration | Price | Availability | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01/02/2025 | 30/04/2025 | 4 | £4,512 | Enquire Now | ||
Tuna fishing season | Tuna fishing season | |||||
01/05/2025 | 31/05/2025 | 4 | £4,562 | Enquire Now | ||
01/06/2025 | 30/06/2025 | 4 | £4,562 | Enquire Now | ||
Peak Blue Marlin Season | Peak Blue Marlin Season | |||||
01/07/2025 | 31/07/2025 | 4 | £4,712 | Enquire Now | ||
Peak Blue Marlin Season | Peak Blue Marlin Season | |||||
01/08/2025 | 31/08/2025 | 4 | £4,712 | Enquire Now | ||
01/09/2025 | 30/09/2025 | 4 | £4,562 | Enquire Now |
Prices are based on two adults sharing fishing and accommodation (unless otherwise stated) and are correct at the time of going to press. Subject to time of year or date and currency fluctuations, these prices may fluctuate slightly due to flight price increases or fuel surcharges.
Perfect holiday from start to finish, thank you and if anyone has ever wanted to fish for big Marlin, try this out the team at Sportquest are spot on.
Thank you for your such kind comments, it was a pleasure in dealing with you also. We look forward in assisting with your next fishing adventures. Paul
My 15 year old son managed to catch an 850lb marlin which took him over one and a half hours to land and then it was released in a healthy condition. Thank you from both of us for a great holiday.
James, that is what makes our job worthwhile when customer return giving us stories like that, 15 years old and your first Blue Marlin at 850lb dream stuff. See you both back soon Regards Peter
So good we went back 6 weeks later and guess what? It was even better, now the proud member of the 1000lb Blue club, Pure magic.
Congratulations Charlie and welcome to the club. So happy for you, I told you that it could do it for you. Where are we going to send you after that? Regards Peter
Reading the Sportquest brochure, the page that really jumped out and grabbed me was the Marlin fishing in Madeira. I had never caught a Marlin before, but just had to give it a go and booked a couple of days at the end of August. Booking was very easy, a phone call and cheque in the post and Sportquest then took care of everything. On arrival at Funchal, a driver was waiting to take me to the hotel. It was then a 5 minute walk to the harbour to meet the skipper and the 3 anglers who had just fished for 2 days. It was bad news - no sign of any Marlin. After a great start to the season, things had slowed down. As a lifelong big fish hunter I know that things can change from one day to the next and all you need is 1 take for the fish of a lifetime.
With very deep water close in, it was great to be fishing within minutes and not having to motor for hours. We trolled with 4 big lures and at about 3pm on the first day, a Marlin followed one but didn't take. On the second day there was another follow on one of the short range rods and this time the reel started screaming. I have never seen line disappear from a reel so fast. I picked up the rod and by the time I was in the chair and had hooked up the harness, I was down to the backing. After what seemed like hours of pumping, I saw the fish through my polaroids and it was soon brought to the side of the boat. The captain said it was around 500. After unhooking, tagging and photographing, I watched my first blue marlin swim away - the biggest fish I have ever caught. The catch and release flags were then hoisted as we carried on fishing but no more takes were forthcoming. On return to the harbour, no other boats were flying the flags but a fish was lost by one of the others.
The hotel was excellent and after a days fishing it was great to dive into the pool for a swim to cool off.
There is nothing like a big fish for putting you on a high and I can't wait to get back next year in search of a grander. Regards Nick
Now thats the way to catch your first Blue marlin Nick. Happy that you had a great time from start to finish and thank you for the detailed feedback. See you again next year. Regards Peter
What a great island - makes such a difference to find a place that has not been over commercialised.
Julie, you are correct one of the nice things about madeira is the control they have on the island to keep it low key. happy that the whole group enjoyed your stay. If there is anything else we can help you with in the future do not hesitate to contact us directly. Regards Mel
What a great top captain; the first day we hooked up with a 750lb Blue Marlin. Imagine our surprise when 3 hours later we had another one on which if landed was estimated around the magic 1000lb mark. A big thank you all for two fantastic days.
Brian, do not worry about the 1,000lb fish as the capture of the 750 was a perfect result. Just gives you an excuse to go back and chase the one that got away. Kind Regards Paul
I went on the 4 day fishing trip to Maderia. Managed to catch my first white Marlin and dorado which was great. Boat was well equipped and comfortable, crew knowledgeable and helpful. Hotel was a bit more up-market than I was expecting and the grounds and setting were beautiful and tranquil. I did not realise how good the hotel golf course was; spectacular views and well maintained. Wish I had arranged to stay an extra day for a round of golf! I hope to go again someday and hopefully catch something a little larger.
Hi Robert,
Thank you very much for your feedback form and it was great to have a quick chat today. It was such a shame you didn't manage to get a picture of your White Marlin but at least you got it to the boat.
The hotel is as you said, very good and is set amongst some fantastic gardens. Sorry we did not mention about the Golf maybe next time
Hope you like the look of the hosted Mexico trip next year and i will try my hardest to get you your Sailfish
Look forward to speaking to you again
All the best
Paul
Meals were fantastic as was the service the best we have ever
experienced.
Location peaceful and gardens immaculate lovely golf course.
Four days fishing resulted in three small dorado one tuna two white marlin ..with one complete blank day
We saw Dolphins common and spotted - whales - minke fin and sperm most days.
All in all it is an excellent trip but the fish are hard to come by as Peter had informed us..but it's the chance of a big blue ...a fish of a lifetime....that is the luck of the draw and that's why it's fishing not catching.
Costa Rica spoiled us In comparison with the amount of fish.
Tony / Alison
Thank you for taking the time to complete your returning feedback form. Glad you enjoyed the holiday and the resort it is a wonderful place.
As I did suggest Madeira is a big fish destination, however you guys done very well for its not uncommon to have 4 days fishing with out a single bite. Having said that as you quite correctly stated you go to Madeira for the chance of a fish of a lifetime a huge huge Blue Marlin. This is what keeps bringing customer back again year after year. I have had them in Madeira to just over 800lb and boy that is one experience you never forget.
Looking forward in fishing with you both in January :)
Tight Lines Peter
We had the most amazing week and came home thinking we had been a way for much longer. The accommodation, food, was to a very high standard and service was excellent.
The arrangements such as transfers were all as planned
The setting with the adjacent golf course and gardens was prefect for a stroll and although not that far from Funchal seamed a world a away from the hustle of the city.
Overall our expectations were superseded.
The only downside was Manchester airport and the endless waiting in queues.
7 marlin in 3 days 6 white to 60lbs 1 blue 250lbs great fishing loved the boat with a great crew.
Stephen
What can we say but wow 7 marlin in three days what a great result, I look forward to the pictures.
So happy you all enjoyed the holiday and it was exactly if not even better than we said it would be.
It was a pleasure dealing with you and we look forward in managing your next adventure
Kind Regards Peter
The hotel was lovely in every way.
The staff and food were great and the weather was just perfect. Although the hotel is a 15 minute trip from downtown Funchal, the hotel has it's own courtesy bus which makes life easy.
Although we are seasoned travellers we can't think that we have had better service from hotel staff anywhere.
The fishing was good with my friend Colin catching an 80lb white marlin and I caught a 300lb blue marlin.
All in all a fantastic trip.
John
Thank you for your feedback and great scores on all the services, It is so nice to hear two customers having a great holiday and a real testament that you do not think you have ever had better service anywhere else.
Also thank you for the pictures as its always nice to see customers catches.
Look forward in assisting you both again soon to some amazing adventures.
Kind Regards Peter
Perfect holiday, now we can both enjoy our holidays as it suited us both. PS I did manage to slip out a 650lb Blue Marlin that made it that extra little special.
We did hear you had a big Blue and a very good job in landing such a huge fish. Madeira is a great choice for those who just want a short break with a couple of days fishing
How did Tracey get on on the boat? i Remember you mentioning that she suffered a little sea sickness hope everything was ok
Cant wait to see the pictures
Regards
Paul
Casa Velha do Palherio offers a fantastic stay with excellent service from friendly staff. The location is within the Palherio Estate next to the golf course and gardens which offers a very peaceful and tranquil setting. The hotel has a good first rate restaurant offering a set or A la Carte menu. This is our second year and our intent is to book again for 2016 and would highly recommend a stay.
The hotel boat the Balancal offers fishing straight out from the harbour so no long distance travelling to the fishing grounds is required, so an early morning start is not required. The boat offers a good stable platform with excellent gear which is a bit over the top for the smaller species but the boat does carry some lighter gear which is used when the smaller species are about. This year we had slightly different weather with some cloud and haze and a wind from the South East which restricted the fishing to the South West end of the Island and it was clear on arrival that fish had been thin on the ground for some time. as well as some small Dorado over the three days fishing we had two hits. The first on the first day resulting in a 70lb White giving a spectacular air borne display even on the heavy gear. The second hit was on the third day as we had a fishless second day. A 1 hour 45 minute fight from the second hit saw a massive Blue at the boat and the weight was called at 900lb. A fish of a life time.
Booking for next year - six days over two years and seven Whites and two Blues.
Hey Stephen congratulations on the Blue Marlin, you have now had two great trips there and its no surprise that you are all ready making plans to return.
So glad that both you and your wife love the place, Madeira is a great island so much to see and do plus the people are very welcoming (Can not do enough for you)
As pr the chat on the phone when you have some dates lets get both Madeira and Cost Rica all confirmed up.
Tight lines Peter
Had 2 days fishing on Balancal in Madeira. The weather was lovely and the seas calm. On day one we had a strike on the big lure on the starboard side and the marlin missed but came up again on the shotgun lure. Unfortunately we did not get a hookup but had still had a nice day.
On day two we had another strike from a good sized white marlin but again no hookup. So the fishing gods did not deliver this time but all in all we still had a good time. Saw lots of whales and dolphins.
The crew and equipment on the Balancal are first class and so is the hotel. Would definately go again.
Hi John, Was great to chat to you again. Shame those fish did not get hold of the hook, but as you said thats Marlin fishing for you.
Look forward in dealing with you all again soon
Regards Peter
The hotel was lovely; the staff could not have been more helpful, everything beautifully clean. Food was amazing and so much! Expect to put on weight.
Lots of lovely extras such as afternoon tea, roses on the pillow at night, the bar staff were great and drinks not too pricey, the cocktails very drinkable.
Cannot fault anything at all.
Will be back as soon as we can
Linda, so happy for you both, also to talk to you on the telephone, I bet your husband could not believe the size of that Marlin. I will be more than happy to help you with a return trip. Regards Mel
Hi, just thought we would let you know how our trip went. It didn't start off very well as easy jet lost our bags…….. Luckily they turned up at the hotel the following day. We had 3 days fishing and we didn't even see a fish but i guess that is fishing as we have all been fishing else where and know that sometimes things do not go to plan. The crew on the boat worked very hard for us but it just seemed like everything was against us.
The hotel was good and the food was spot on, a little quiet for us but i guess next time we will request somewhere a little busier
All in all once we got our luggage back it was a great holiday and thanks for putting it together at such short notice
Hi Paul, thats such a shame about the bag going missing but at least it turned up and didn't inconvenience you too much. As mentioned when we spoke that madeira is a little like that sometimes. Sometimes there are lots of Marlin around then all of a sudden there are none. The week before you, there were 6 caught up to 700lb's
The hotel is a little quiet but a lot of people like that so next time we will look at putting you up in town
Look forward to helping you next year
Regards
Peter
We thought we would leave our feedback for future anglers. This really isn't the place to visit if you want lots of fish. We had 3 days fishing and saw one bill fish but that soon disappeared. The hotel was ok but there were better accommodation on the Island
I can see the potential in the place and have seen other reports on how good the fishing can be. Perhaps also look at offering other accommodation
I hope this helps other travellers to the Island
Hi Gerald, it was a real shame that you didnt catch, Madeira can be like that as we always warn people that it is a big fish destination and if you have never been Big Game fishing before then it probably isn't for you.
We have looked in to alternative accommodation and have now found some great Hotels that offer better services, we have kept the hotel you stayed in as we have had some great reviews in the past and i suppose it is personal preferences
We love feedback like this as it is important for future clients that they understand what a place is really like and we have never hidden the fact they Madeira is an easy Big Game destination in fact it probably is one of the hardest but if you do catch one then it will be big
Thanks for your comments and i hope we have answered you
Regards
Paul
Well what can i say but a huge thank you for organising our 40th wedding anniversary. The flowers in the Hotel room were a real touch. Gary managed his Marlin i think he said it was around 600lb's which he has assured me is a big one
The hotel staff were very warming and made us feel special. The Island itself is stunning a little steep in places but very picturesque many great restaurants
Our warmest gratitude to all that was involved
Mr and Mrs Taylor
Sounds like you both had a fab time and we are so pleased Gary managed his Marlin
You have to thank Mel in the office for the flowers i shall pass on your thanks
Look forward to helping you again
Regards
Peter
People need to be made aware that they may not catch anything in Madeira as we didnt. We saved very hard for this trip and was highly disappointed with the fishing. After 3 days of floating around on the sea not catching or seeing anything we were very ready to come home
The hotel was more of a couples hotel which if your team had asked then we as a group of four guys would of opted for something different.
I think you should check with your future customers a bit more in detail their actual requirements of the holiday they are booking
Sorry if this sounds like a moan but i have just returned to work and thought i would air my grievances
Look forward to your reply
Hi Nigel i am so sorry your holiday didnt live up to your expectations. Madeira is a hard destination for any angler. We always try to let customers know how hard it is and never hide this fact.
Madeira is having a good year in general and lots of people have caught so it was very unfortunate that you and your group didnt.
As for the Hotel, i have looked your booking up and noticed that Paul in the Office did actually send you a link to the Hotel so you could view it and didnt hear anything back so took that as you were happy with it.
Madeira is a very pretty island and is aimed mainly at couples they want to try and stay away from lots of bars and nightclubs, that we can not control. We have three different hotels to stay in now and hopefully if you choose to go back then you may find something a little more suitable next time
Hope this has helped with your comments
Regards
Peter
Madeira is a short flight and the accommodation and Island were excellent; very friendly staff and people.
Although I have fished for tuna and kingfish in NZ and also in Australia, this was my first experience of "big game" fishing using 130lb class tackle. I found this very unusual: rather like holding a broom handle instead of a rod.
Constant trolling of lures can be boring. I was surprised that other methods (eg live baiting) were not an option.
Unfortunately for the days I was there the fishing was very slow but all hell broke loose at 4pm on the second (and my last) day when a massive fish (the guide estimated that it was 800lb+) took one of the surface lures. Alas the fish wasn't landed as it slipped the hook after about 10 mins fight.
The guide was excellent and very informative. He was far more upset than I was at losing the fish!
I think I will return to the hotel for a further attempt at catching a marlin.
Mr Ball
Thank you for taking the time to complete your feedback form. I am glad you liked the island and resort as you are correct everyone is very friendly. Shame about the fish on the last day as it only takes one fish to make that trip of a lifetime. With only two days fishing it is always hit or miss if you catch, but when you do they are always huge fish as this is what Madeira is famous for.
The tackle on our boats is 130lb test as you do really need these size rods and reels when Marlin fishing. The Marlin in Madeira will range from 600lb to over a 1000lb and they take some beating.
Thanks for the list of other trips you would like to do and I will talk to you about them on the phone.
Thanks for choosing Sportquest Holidays and we look forward in helping you with all your future holidays.
Kind Regards Peter
Dear Peter,
Apologies for the delay in my reply to your feedback request - Currently I am away on business in the middle east.
I would like to say firstly that the holiday was really well organised, the hotel was simply faultless and provided an excellent standard of dining with a relaxed atmosphere - Perfect.
The fishing guide Claudio was superb and he tried relentlessly to get us amongst the fish on the first day's fishing, unfortunately we didn't catch but sighted Marlin approaching the lures. Sadly the fish appeared to be spooked, possibly by unusual vibration on the boat - But that's fishing, and the lack of takes may have been for any number of reasons.
Sadly on the second day the craft broke down in harbour, this appeared to be a relatively simple fault (starter motor solenoid), which the Captain was aware of from a previous starting failure? Thankfully, Claudio saved the day and managed to call in a favour from a friend (who gave up a family day out) and got Steven and I out fishing on another vessel for most of the day. Again a sterling effort from Claudio who has both of our sincerest thanks.
All in all a nice trip, however with holiday time being extremely precious, I would question the reliability of the boat and the contingency planning for the fishing package.. without Claudio's efforts we would have lost 50% of our fishing time, which ultimately was the main aim of the trip.
Kind regards,
Matt Baugh
Matt
Thanks for the feedback, shame the marlin only followed the lures and did not bite but on some days this is just the case and why its called fishing.
I was informed about the boat breakdown, unfortunately it turned out to be quite a big job and the boat was out of action for a few weeks. However like the case with you we did manage to secure a replacement boat. However i understand exactly the point you are making that if the boat breaks down on the actual day you are fishing there is always the chance we can not find a temporary replacement boat in time for your fishing day.
With out the additional expense of having a stand by boat at all times waiting in the dock we all have this issue.
When you get back to the UK after working away give us a call and we can then also look at what you guys fancy doing next time.
Sadly on this occasion we failed to catch but then that's fishing. We did raise a couple of White Marlin on the second day but they dropped the lure without being hooked up. I believe other boats had a similar problem with no marlin being caught while we were there.
The captain and crew tried everything in their power to put us on fish but sadly there were very few about. This may have been due to the lower than usual surface temperature, the wind had been in the North for some considerable time and prevented fishing around the Desertas due to increasingly choppy seas . However, the water temperature was on the rise so anybody fishing on the Thursday and Friday may have stood a better chance.
The organisation of the trip from start to finish was first class so I'd like to thank everybody involved. The hotel and their staff were brilliant. Even with no fish the hotel was incredibly relaxing and quiet and the food was excellent. The staff were probably the most helpful of any that I have experienced, anywhere in the world, and nothing was too much trouble.
If I could make one observation, it would be that a lack of air con did make the room a little stuffy (although very comfortable) but as this is an early 1800s hunting lodge I suspect that there may be issues around installing an air con system.
All in all, and in spite of no fish, this was a very well organised trip, wonderful accommodation and an excellent venue. I will certainly be looking forward to returning.
Chris
Chris
It was nice to catch up with you on the telephone. Thank you again for taking the time to complete the feedback. Sorry to hear that the big Blue Marlin did not put in an appearance, also a shame that the White Marlin did not stick when they hit.
At l;east you did see a bit of action over the 2 days fishing. The odds were not good for as you said the weather had cooled down the surface water which was making all the fishing hard.
You know what this means? A return trip to level the scores...
Thank you for your custom it is always appreciated and we look forward in assisting you again soon.
Regards Peter
After the successful previous 2 years angling it was a bit of a disappointment that this year we did not see a single fish. This was just not the hotel boat the Balancal suffering, but the whole of the Funchal fleet. Even on the days not fished, no flags were seen on the boats to note any catches. So the highlight was Dolphin watching even with the crew trying their hardest to find a fish.
The water clarity was excellent, however the feedback was the water temperature 21 - 22 degrees which is a couple of degrees below the optimum for Marlin, so if there were any fish around, they were deep and not inclined to feed.
That's fishing - no guarantee. But over the three trips, Marlin catch rate is still pretty good, so will be probably booking again next year.
Casa Velhado Palheiro was excellent again and we would go back even without the fishing.
Hi Stephen, thanks so much for taking the time and effort to fill out and send back your feed back form. Such a shame you didnt keep up your very lucky streak you have been having at Madeira. To have 9 Marlin to 900LB in only 3 visits is probably the best effort we have ever heard of. Hopefully it will get back to normal for you next year and you can add a couple more to your tally
All the best
Paul
A real nice trip
David
Thank you for taking the time to complete the feedback scores as it is very much appreciated.
I look forward in assisting you both again for your next fishing adventure, plus seeing a copy of all your pictures.
Hotel was better than expected although a brochure/leaflet about it before travel would be excellent.
Food + drinks good + despite being 5 star was good value.
Voucher for meal a little confusing as I thought the evening meal when fishing was included, so was the voucher extra or that meal?
Easy Jet flights cramped as seats have no leg room.
Travel wallet gift nice but not needed - a fishing T-shirt would have been better.
Sally
Thank you so much for the feedback and also your great comments. We do not have separate leaflets for the accommodation, however in future we could direct booked customers to the accommodations own website which has lots more details.
In relation to the meal voucher, sorry if that confused you both as the evening meal is just a complementary meal on the first nights fishing, so i will look at that and try to make this clearer to customers.
Yes Easyjet flights are cramped, we do have better airlines but it does increase the price considerably plus tend to be indirect flights via Portugal.
We are looking at expanding the free gifts as we have lots of customers who travel with us again and again so keep sending them the same free gift is pointless. So what this space.
I have sent you a private e-mail with a link so you can upload all the holiday pictures to us.
Again a huge thank you for your comments and custom which is very much appreciated, we can not do what we do with out customers.
Regards Peter
Another excellent stay in Funchal, Madeira at Casa Velha do Palheiro Estate's Quinta or Manor House Hotel. 5 Stars does not do its justice. It is beautiful and it's gardens exquisite. Food at hotel excellent, staff very friendly and go out of their way to assist you. Third visit now, and they remember us each time.
Hi Kathleen, what a great review and thank you so much for taking the time to send it to us. We believe these feedback forms are are huge help to assist people in making decisions on their holiday plans.
All the best
Paul
Another relaxing stay at cash Velhia.
The food and service were excellent as usual
The fishing was a little too relaxing but I did hook a marlin late of the first day which was estimated around 800LB shame it came off as I did not get the chance to admire it up close.
I am sure we will return next year but this time for longer.
Chris
It was great catching up with you and shame that the fish shed the hook, after wanting one for so long. It will come next time as this time you came so close.
Also glad your partner also enjoyed the trip as madeira is a great destination for everyone.
If you wish to return just opt in and see me in the office at anytime.
Thank you for your continued custom.
Regards Peter
Best moments - hooking a 900 lb Marlin!!!!
Filmed and has appeared on your website & on youtube with 2000plus hits!
Hotel Palheiro wonderful 5* hotel with 5* cuisine + service also offering golf on its own course as well as horse riding and free transport to & from Funchal from its 1500 feet above sea level.
Hello Peter, I am so pleased that you managed such a dream catch. That really is a fish of a lifetime and something that a lot of people can only dream of.
The hotel we use is very good and we only ever get excellent reviews and thank you for taking the time tom fill out your feedback form.
It was great to talk to you when you got back and hopefully you would like to return back to Madeira another time
Kind regards
Paul
We had a good holiday again in Madeira although the flight back home took 32 hours due to strong winds and the plane that should have picked us up could not land. In all fairness to Jet 2 they did find us a bed for the night and provide vouchers at the airport where some had to spend the night at the airport.
The fishing was generally poor for the whole fleet, there were 2 guys on the boat for three days before me and they did not see a fish. On my second day another boat had a 700lb blue which was the first since the 18th July for the whole fleet. On my last day the crew told me they were out for 4 hours the following day and they landed a 700lb Blue. thats fishing looking at their web site looks like the Marlin have been very thin over the end of July.
Hi Steve, such a shame about the huge delays but Jet2 sound like they helped you out.
Its funny you say that about the fishing, I was under the impression that the Marlin fishing was redhot and was the best they had been having for years! But like you say thats fishing and I know how much you love Madeira. Maybe next year!
Tight lines
Paul
We had an absolute amazing time. We were not fortunate to hook onto a Marlin over the course of our three days fishing but that's why it's called fishing and not catching. Our guide Salamao Lopes on board the Balancal was an absolute gentleman from start to finish. You are dealing with a really good person and fisherman here so I'd advise to keep working with him into the future.
Waiting time in London Gatwick to Funchal & Dublin was longer than I would have hoped for. I was on one of the last flights out of gatwick and ended up being in the airport for around 8 hours. Not ideal after a lovely relaxing holiday.
My brothers flight from Lisbon to Toronto was missed due to a delay in Funchal and was not possible once he landed in Lisbon so that was unfortunate too but what can ya do.
Overall, we were very happy and I'll be in touch again in two years time to book another trip of a lifetime. Thanks for all your help.
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
Thank you so much for taking the time to fill out your feedback form and it was good to talk with the other day. Such a shame about your Marlin, next time.
I will pass on your lovely comments about the skipper I am sure they will be pleased to read it.
All the best and catch up with you guys soon.
Paul
Excellent - Only comment hotel long way out of town - 30 Euro return - no bar near by!!
We managed to get a double hook up of 2 x 650lb Blue Marlin...... How lucky we landed. The deck hands and skipper worked so hard and is very rare to land two at the same time. Massive thanks Sportquest and boat team for making our dreams come true
WOW....... a huge congratulations to both of you and a massive well done to the crew as I know how hard this can be when to huge Marlin are on the rods wanting to go different directions. That must of been some sight and I do believe you guys have become famous on youtube.... Thanks for your feedback
Tight lines
Paul
Dear Sportquest
22/06/2019-01/07/2019
I know that marlin are far from easy to catch and those above 600lb, even more difficult!
On my two previous trips to Madeira I have dropped two whites and a blue before we had truely become acquainted. However, that all changed this year.
I arrived to find that my first day had been cancelled due to bad sea conditions and my second day was cut short due to an unseasonal storm coming in from the west.
The crew, Salamao and David, apologised profusely and offered to do extra hours and give another day to cover lost time. I can't praise these guys highly enough. They provided great effort and knowledge and looked after myself, as the angler, and my partner, as a passenger, fantastically well.
On the alternative day (to cover the cancellation) I hit two marlin, one of 750lb that shed the hook about 10m from the boat, and a real monster that was estimated at 900lb+ and fought for over 90 minutes, of which 30 minutes+ was at the back of the boat. There was some great greyhounding and a lot of water was displaced.
We had the leader three times but David was totally unable to bring the fish's head up. She just went side to side at the back of the boat. On one occassion almost pulling David through the game door. Unfortunatley all the side to side movement eventually wore through the hook link but we did see a truely huge tail and a pectoral fin longer than my arm!
On my second day of fishing I hooked and successfully released a 650lb fish. We released her very quickly as she was showning real signs of exhaustion and stress but she swam away strongly. Shortly after the release we had another take, this time from a fish of around 700lb, which ran long and hard before going straight down in 1000m+ of water. To avoid killing the fish the captain (Salamao) back down on her and I fought it slowly to bring her up a metre at a time. Unfortunately, she shed the hook before anybody touched the leader but at least she swam away strongly.
On my third day I had yet another fish (800lb) which fought well for about 45 minutes but really came into it own when David grabbed the leader. She really danced at the back of the boat and provided great photo opportunities!
This was a really great trip and the results were way past what I could have hoped for. Five marlin over 600lb hooked in three days is good by any standards. In addition, we had factored in enough time to enjoy the rest of the island, which is really beautiful, and managed to find a beer festival in Funchal (only the second one to be held on Madeira), which to any beer-loving fisherman was a truly awesome find after they've lost a day and a half fishing time.
Thanks to all the Sportquest Team, the hotel staff (very good hotel and food!) and of course the boat crew. They were truly great!
Chris Jones
Hi Chris
Thank you for the amazing feedback.
It sounds like you had an excellent holiday and all those hook ups from big marlin!! Wow, that is phenomenal fishing.
Hopefully we will get to chat soon.
Tight Lines
Matt
Everything went smoothly, the flight, transfers, hotel and the fishing was 1st class. I think Sportquest have got it spot on and I can not fault them
Hello Gavin, thanks for taking the time to send us your feedback. The skipper we use in Madeira is one of the best and will always try his hardest to catch your target fish. So glad you want to go back and will try and catch up with you as soon as possible
All the best
Paul
Caught 2 Marlin on the first day and the first fish was estimated at 500kg and the second fish was 300kg
Hi John
Thank you for the great feedback.
Those are some truly giant Marlin and some great catches.
Tight lines
Matt
Great holiday as usual. The accommodation was superb and staff were as as polite and helpful as ever.
Sadly, storm Oscar caused severe disruption to the fishing over the previous weeks and the marlin were still way to the South. There was very little caught by any of the boats in the time we were on Madeira.
That said, we are still going back next year.
Hi Chris, so glad you both had yet another great holiday to Madeira, shame that fish eluded you this time but there is always next year.
Tight lines, Paul
All good , but this was supposed to be a fishing holiday. Unfortunately the sea state was not favourable , we went outside the harbour for about an hour , but it was pointless fishing .
The crew offered the option that i could return next year and carry two days fishing forward which i accepted .
No complaints , just a bit disappointing. That's fishing !!
Ended up landing in Portugal for fuel on the flight back ,as the plane couldn't carry enough fuel to get back to Gatwick as it was crammed full, and wouldn't take off due to not enough head wind !!. work that one out !!
Thank you for your feedback. It was unfortunate that the weather wasn't favourable, hopefully better luck in 2024.
We have been to Madeira with Sportquest for the past 8 years and, whether we catch fish or not, it is always well planned and extremely relaxing.
We had a small problem this year, as the boat we usually use was sold by the hotel, but this was quickly remedied at quite short notice. By enabling us to keep the same crew, people we had built up a relationship with over the previous trips, we felt very comfortable on the new boat, as well as being sure of the crew's ability and knowledge.
Everyone at both Sportquest and in Madeira have always been very efficient and helpful but if I have one criticism, it is that I think the hotel could have given more notice of the boat sale and contacted people already booked on it. I found out because I'm friends with the crew so probably knew the situation before Sportquest. Given the many years that Sportquest had used the hotel and boat, this isn''''t great business practice.
Hello Chris, thank you for your feedback and glad that we managed to sort out a new boat at short notice. Everyone at Sportquest always appreciate your re-booking and roll on 2025 there is a very large Marlin with your name on it. Tight lines, Paul
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