This Sportquest Holidays exclusive solo traveller week has been carefully designed to allow single anglers the chance to experience an action-packed bluewater fishing adventure in Madagascar. While our standard trips to this stunning location are based on two anglers sharing flights, accommodation and fishing, this specially curated departure allows you to join a group of like-minded Sportquest customers as a solo guest, with no single supplements or surcharges.
This is Nosy Be, Madagascar’s wild frontier for popper and jig fishing. Explosive GTs, savage Dogtooth, and Sailfish chasing lures to the boat. It’s full-bore, lure-eating chaos in water few anglers ever reach. You’ll fish from fast sports boats launched directly from your liveaboard catamaran; no roads, no lodges, just a floating base that keeps you right on top of the action. Travel time is short. Pressure is light. You’ll cover fresh ground almost every day.
One day it’s a Giant Trevally detonating on a popper. The next, it’s Marlin, Sailfish, or Dorado blowing up your spread. Throw in Dogtooth, King Mackerel, Giant Grouper, and Amberjack, and every cast comes loaded with potential. Topwater over coral heads. Vertical jigs on deep drops. Local guides know exactly what’s feeding, where; and they’ll tune every setup to maximise your shot at the fish you came for. If you want fully guided topwater violence in tropical isolation, and serious kit-testing action, Nosy Be is where your adventure begins.
As with all our Solo Traveller weeks, our dates have been hand-picked in collaboration with our trusted lodge partners to coincide with some of the season’s peak weeks, based on historic catch records and local conditions.
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 & October to December
Peak: May to 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 joining a group to achieve the required group size for the holiday. The price is based on single rooms. All prices are accurate at the time of publication but may vary slightly due to factors such as travel dates, booking time, airline pricing, or fuel surcharges set by 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.
| From | To | Days | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/11/2026 | 09/11/2026 | 8 | £4,198 | Sold Out |
| 26/10/2027 | 02/11/2027 | 8 | £4,299 | Enquire Book Now |
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.
"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"
"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"
"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 "
"Hi paul, thanks for the trip it all went to plan. We even managed to catch some fish which I have got lots of pictures if you want anything just let me know. "
"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 fishing in Madagascar is different from many other destinations, as it’s not land-based; instead, it gets based on liveaboard catamarans. The catamarans are floating bases and can reach some of the most remote fishing spots offshore, many of which are simply out of reach for land-based operations. As with all fishing, these remote, neglected and unfished spots produce the best action. It also means you’re able to stay in the vicinity of the best fishing marks throughout the trip. Each day the sports boats and perfect fishing vessels that travel with the catamarans will take you to a series of spots for some phenomenal arm-wrenching action.
After an intense day on the sports boats, battling with some of the fiercest predators in the Indian Ocean, having a comfortable base to head back to is essential. So with that in mind, we have carefully selected the best catamarans in the region, known for their quality and comfort. On this exclusive trip, we offer two boats, both of which feature a sleeping cabin for each angler, a widescreen TV, electricity to recharge your batteries and devices and fresh running drinking water.
Here at Sportquest, we firmly believe that as well as fishing, a successful trip also gets based on comfortable sleeping arrangements, excellent food, and relaxing atmospheres.
The food served onboard is delicious, varied and original, prepared by the boat’s talented chefs. The food is produced and designed with local fresh produce and is mostly organically grown, featuring fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and eggs.
Breakfast and evening meals get served and eaten on board, while lunches get prepared and packed on the sports boats to be enjoyed whilst out fishing. As for drinks, bottled water is provided and included. All other beverages, including soft drinks, beers, wines, spirits, and espresso coffee, are extra, payable on the Catamaran at the end of your stay.
Are you searching for your next extreme fishing adventure? Look no further than Nosy Be, Madagascar, where we are proud to offer one of the most exciting popper and jig fishing experiences anywhere in the world. Fishing from a fully equipped liveaboard catamaran and top-spec sportfishing boats, you’ll explore an incredibly diverse range of unpressured waters, from the deep northern channels and vibrant southern reefs to the dramatic drop-offs of the west coast.
This part of Madagascar has only recently opened up to anglers, meaning you’re casting into waters that have seen little to no fishing pressure for years. With the catamaran anchored in prime locations and the fishing grounds just minutes away, you’ll spend more time chasing hard-hitting species and less time travelling. Expect explosive topwater strikes and brutal fights from such as Giant Trevally, huge Dogtooth Tuna, Grouper, King Mackerel, Amberjack, Black Marlin, and Sailfish, to mention just a few, in a setting that feels completely untouched.
Worried about gear? Don’t be. We offer complete hire packages, including high-end rods, reels, poppers, jigs, and all the tackle you need, so you can travel light and fish hard.
Welcome to Nosy Be, raw, remote, and ready to deliver.
The popularity of bluewater popper and jig fishing has exploded over the past couple of decades. With significant advances in tackle and a growing number of exotic, untapped destinations around the world, more anglers than ever are now chasing the thrill of hooking hard-fighting predators in open water.
Poppers are surface lures designed to mimic distressed fish or struggling prey. Their explosive action and water-splashing commotion attract aggressive strikes from predatory species. Fished with a fast retrieve and a strong ‘popping’ motion, they work best around rocky outcrops, reef edges, and submerged structures, areas where big predators like GTs, Tuna and Snapper lie in ambush.
Popper fishing can be physically intense. Repeated long casts and heavy retrieves, combined with the sheer power of surface-feeding pelagics, demand stamina and strong tackle. Fortunately, if you need a break during the day, there’s always the option to switch to trolling and recharge while still staying in the game.
Jigging targets the deeper layers of the water column and is ideal for reaching predatory fish holding on ledges, drop-offs and structure. The technique involves dropping a metal lure, available in various lengths, weights, and colours, to the bottom, then working it back up through the water using specific movements to trigger reaction bites.
Popular jigging styles include speed jigging, slow-pitch, and butterfly jigging, each suited to different conditions and species. The key is to read the water and adapt your technique accordingly. Thankfully, with expert guidance from your host, captain, and deckhands, you’ll always know what’s working best on the day.
When fishing in Madagascar, the tackle needs to be up to the job and super strong spinning rods, matched with reels with a drag of 30kg, teamed up with PE8-10 braid, 150lb mono trace and tough split rings and swivels of at least 150kg breaking strength are a must.
If you don’t have all the tackle you need, then a whole range is available to hire on request. If you’re new to this style of fishing, then the crew onboard can offer you lessons.
If you’d like more information on popper and jig fishing in Madagascar, you can read our blog: popper and jig fishing around Madagascar or alternatively visit our YouTube channel.
The popper and jig fishing around Madagascar and Nosy Be ranks among the best in the world. These waters are teeming with marine life and toothy predators eager to smash your lures, making it an exciting and rewarding destination for travelling anglers of all experience levels. With frequent encounters and no shortage of action, most days offer non-stop opportunities on the water.
Nosy Be, a volcanic island off Madagascar’s northwest coast, boasts an incredibly diverse underwater topography. With more than 120 kilometres of coastline and a continental shelf stretching over 15 kilometres wide, it’s a true playground for anglers. Steep underwater rock formations and dramatic reef structures create the ideal habitat for large predatory fish. These include Giant Trevally, Dogtooth Tuna, Grouper, King Mackerel, Amberjack, Black Marlin, Sailfish, and many others, all of which gather here in significant numbers to feed.
Fishing is typically focused on three key regions – the North, South, and West of the island – each offering a unique variety of species and habitats. Our experienced captain and dedicated host will be on hand throughout your trip, helping you identify the most productive spots, adjust your approach, and maximise your chances of catching your target species.
The fishing charters you’ll use during your trip operate alongside the liveaboard catamaran, taking you from your anchored base to the fishing grounds each day. These sportfishing boats are comfortable, highly functional, and fully equipped with top-tier safety gear. Designed to handle offshore conditions with ease, they comfortably accommodate up to four anglers and make light work of navigating Madagascar’s waters. With the catamaran anchored close to prime fishing areas, you’ll rarely travel more than 30 minutes before dropping lines.
Each day, you’ll depart from the catamaran to fish aboard the sport boats, guided by experienced local skippers and deckhands who know the surrounding waters intimately. These knowledgeable crews are there to support you every step of the way, whether it’s rigging gear, adjusting your technique, or landing your next trophy fish. All the guides speak good English, and when needed, the universal language of fishing (and a few hand signals) always gets the job done.
The rich waters of Madagascar are teeming with life, and this destination delivers opportunities for anglers of all levels. Whether you’re a first-time angler or a seasoned jigging enthusiast, the team on board will ensure you’re well looked after. And if the action gets a little too intense, there’s no pressure; take a break, sit back, and enjoy the ocean views while others keep casting.
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
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
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
Hi paul, thanks for the trip it all went to plan. We even managed to catch some fish which I have got lots of pictures if you want anything just let me know.
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.
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