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Popper & Jig Fishing | Hosted North Nosy Be | Madagascar

Overview

Tour code: MAG004
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We are proud to be able to offer you an exclusive hosted Nosy Be fishing holiday like no other. With our Madagascan partner Nirvana Fishing we have put together a unique hosted lure, popper and jig popper fishing trip for super hard fighting fish such as GT and the Dogtooth Tuna to name but a few.

Based on a liveaboard catamaran you will be fishing the fish-filled waters of the Indian Ocean where you have the chance to catch superb species such as Giant trevally, Dogtooth Tuna and Marlin. The dates for our trips are also especially good for popper fishing for Giant Trevally. Giving the visiting anglers some phenomenal sport while here. Add to this the fact you will have a Sportquest Holidays host with you at every step of the way, then this is one trip that really should not be missed.

Location

This fantastic fishing holiday is based in the Indian Ocean on the waters around Madagascar where you will be living aboard a stunning catamaran. You will travel to the fishing grounds on the catamaran where you will then anchor up ready for the weeks fishing. Every morning you will be picked up by one of 2 speedboats which will have 4 anglers on each.  Make sure to explore all of our Nosy Be fishing destinations – North Nosy Be fishing, South Nosy Be Fishing and West Nosy Be Fishing. 

You will then be transported to the Nosy Be fishing grounds for the day. Where you cant target all the unique species that live here. Add to this the fact that you will be staying in a single room on the catamaran; you have all the ingredients for a truly magical holiday. Head over to our YouTube channel to see how good the fishing in Madagascar is.

Fishing

Our hosted jig and popper Nosy Be fishing trip is based on board two of our stylish catamarans. You will also be fishing from two deluxe sport fishing boats perfect for casting lures. The fishing days will be based on four anglers per boat, and your host will be on board to help with everything you will need. He will spend one day on one boat then alternate his days so he will get to spend time with and help everybody. Don’t worry if you haven’t got all the fishing tackle needed as we will put together combo kits to hire of the very best tackle.

We realise that rods and reels for this style of fishing have to be up to the job, with them being light enough to hold all day and strong enough to land these aggressive hard fighting fish. The reels are top of the range and as that is what will be doing most of the work, we have spared no expense in arranging the very best tackle for you to hire.

With such amazing species to catch such as Giant trevally, Dogtooth tuna, Marlin and Sailfish you will never know what is going to hit your lure next, this is also a very good time to target Giant Trevally on the surface using popper fishing tactics which is an extremely exciting way to fish.

Guides

Your Sportquest host will be with you from start to finish on your trip. They will be alternating their days between each boat. Ensuring that customers will all get time with the guide. They will not only be helping with fishing related queries but will also be on hand to take photographs of you and your fantastic captures. Each boat will also have a Skipper/Guide on board who will be on hand at all times who will also offer advice and of course, will be taking you to the most fish-filled areas.

Contact Us

If fishing Nosy Be sounds like a fishing trip you would love to experience, contact our expert team. They will help you to organize your perfect Madagascar fishing holiday. Alternatively, you can view all our big game fishing destinations or call us on 01603 407596. Make sure to also request a free brochure.

 

 

 

Accommodation
Nosy Be Catamaran

The destination of Madagascar is different to many other holidays in the fact that you are not land based, you will be spending the holiday living on the open ocean on a catamaran. This means that you reach the spots that all other fishing holidays to Madagascar cannot reach and you get to stay on the fish. Everyday you will be taken by speedboat to these spots and will be in for some phenomenal arm-wrenching action.

Catamaran

We know how important it is that you can sleep and rest in the best conditions, 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 his or her own sleeping cabin with either a single or double bed. On board 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 wide screen TV for you to plug your cameras in to to view all your stunning videos and images of the trip. We strongly believe that the success of your fishing trip will come down to comfortable sleeping arrangements, excellent food and places to relax in the evening meaning you can completely concentrate on the fishing.

Food & Drink

The food that is served on board is delicious, varied and original and is prepared by our talented chefs. The food is produced and prepared 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, spring water bottle is kindly provided and included in the full board of our formulas.

All other beverages (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 will be assigned to you dependant on your group size.

Contact Us

If you would like to know more about the Madagascar liveaboard catamaran, please feel free to contact our experienced team who will be happy to answer any queries you have. Alternatively, you can request a free brochure.

Board: Full Board
Rooms: Single rooms
Telephone: On board Satellite phone
Power: 220 Volt
Air Conditioning: Except Catamaran Noah
Meals: On Board
Alcohol: Chargeable
Equipment Hire: Complete pop & jigg outfits
Shop: On Board Tackle shop
Cash Accepted: Euros
Species Information
Giant Trevally
Season: All Year
Peak: All Year
Weight: 10lb to 140lb
Average Weight: 55lb
Dogtooth Tuna
Season: All Year
Peak: All Year
Weight: 30lb to 220lb
Average Weight: 60lb
Giant Grouper
Season: All Year
Peak: November to April
Weight: 50lb to 550lb
Average Weight: 220lb
King Mackerel
Season: All Year
Peak: All Year
Weight: 20lb to 75lb
Average Weight: 30lb
Amberjack
Season: All Year
Peak: All Year
Weight: 20lb to 65lb
Average Weight: 30lb
Black Marlin
Season: All Year
Peak: March to June
Weight: 150lb to 1100lb
Average Weight: 300lb
Sailfish
Season: March to June & Oct to Dec
Peak: May & June
Weight: 40lb to 135lb
Average Weight: 65lb
Barracuda
Season: All Year
Peak: All Year
Weight: 10lb to 85lb
Average Weight: 40lb
Yellowfin Tuna
Season: March to June
Peak: April to June
Weight: 25lb to 100lb
Average Weight: 40lb
Wahoo
Season: All Year
Peak: March to June
Weight: 20lb to 80lb
Average Weight: 40lb
Dorado
Season: All Year
Peak: October to April
Weight: 10lb to 60lb
Average Weight: 25lb

Itinerary

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The below itinerary is only a suggested one as we have daily flights departing from the UK, therefore should you wish to extend your stay with more days, the itinerary below can be tailored to suit.

Day 1:

Depart UK (alternative routes available).

Day 2:

Arrive in Addis Ababa

Depart Addis Ababa
Arrive Nosy Be.

Once you have arrived and collected your bags, a representative from Nirvana Fishing will be waiting to meet you. Your host will then take you through the airport where you will then be transferred by private taxi (approx. 45minutes) to the marina where you will board our speed boat to be taken out to the Catamaran (approx 2.45 hours). Before you board the speed boat you will be treated to lunch with our guides and then when you are ready, you and the crew will make your way via our speed boat out to meet the Catamaran.

Once you have arrived at the Catamaran and had a chance to unpack you will be invited on deck to have your first fishing meeting.

Overnight accommodation: Catamaran (Single rooms) F/B

Day 3: Fishing day

As you have the use of our top-quality fishing boats, you can choose different fishing areas to try out different styles of fishing. One day you can be trolling for the hard fighting Black Marlin then the next day you can be jigging the many different shelves for Dogtooth Tuna. Your host will discuss with you the night before about what you wish to achieve on this holiday and will make sure that you are fishing for the species that you want to catch using the correct methods.

After each day you will be taken back to the Catamaran where you can then relax and unwind over a couple of cold beers whilst chatting about your days fishing.

Overnight accommodation: Catamaran (Single rooms) F/B

Days 4 & 5: Fishing Days

The fishing is conducted from our 10.5 metres / 34.5ft purpose-built boat perfect for a days popper or jig fishing. Our guides will help you as much as you need. Your Sportquest host will be spending alternate days on each boat ensuring that you are getting the best fishing experience possible.

Overnight accommodation: Catamaran F/B

Day 6: Fishing Day

Your fishing boat has been kitted out with top of the range downrigging equipment so you can take advantage of deep feeding fish and you just never know when you troll fish baits or shads at depths that normally are not fishable.

Overnight accommodation: Catamaran F/B

Day 7: Fishing Day

Each day you can choose to fish different styles, simply make it clear to your guide and he will take you to the best areas for your chosen style of fishing. We can organise you a days popper fishing, jig fishing or trolling it is entirely up to you, or why not take a fly rod and chance your arm at catching one of these beasts on a fly rod. Your host will be on hand to take photographs and offer advice so as to best catch the fish you want to target.

On your last days fishing, you will start earlier around 06:00 and you will fish until its time to depart back towards Nosy Be (The departure will depend on the distance needed to travel back to Nosy Be)
Once the boat has made its way back to Nosy Be, we will then transfer you to your overnight hotel in Nosy Be.

Overnight accommodation: Nosy Be Hotel (Twin Room) B/B

Day 8:

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. Your host will have some ideas for things to do and will put these to you to ensure that your day in Nosy Be is used to its full potential

Overnight accommodation: Nosy Be Hotel (Twin Room) B/B

Day 9:

In the morning once you have checked out of your hotel, you will take a taxi back to Nosy Be airport (taxi not included) to start your journey back to the UK.

Depart Nosy Be
Arrive Addis Ababa.

Day 10:

Depart Addis Ababa
Arrive UK (alternative routes available)

Prices

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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.

Start Date End Date Days Nights Fishing Angler Non-Angler Availability Notes
15/04/2021 24/04/2021 10 9 5 £4,276 On Request Enquire Now N/A

Price Notes

Prices are based on four adults sharing transfers, fishing and accommodation (unless otherwise stated) in one of our Catamarans 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 surcharge.

ATOL
Holidays or flights booked with Sportquest Holidays Limited are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority by our ATOL bond (Number 6371). ATOL protects you from losing your money or being stranded abroad. It does this by carrying out financial checks on the firms it licenses and requiring a guarantee, called a bond.

What's Included

  • All international flights
  • All internal flights
  • Nosy Be airport to Catamaran transfers
  • Catamaran for accommodation
  • All meals on Catamaran
  • State of the art 34ft fishing boat
  • Professional guide
  • 5 days fishing
  • Nosy Be overnight hotel

What's Excluded

  • Personal holiday insurance
  • Nosy Be to airport taxi
  • All drinks
  • Personal items
  • Fishing tackle and local tips
  • National Park Fees €15 a day per person

Options

  • Tackle hire: We have complete rental packages to suit all styles of lure fishing from heavy popper setups to light jigging. All rods and reels are top quality brands and come fully loaded with brand new line. The equipment on hire is completely set right for the style of fishing so if you have not got the right equipment then we highly recommend taking the hire tackle package. There is also a tackle shop onboard the Catamaran where you can purchase the correct lures and are all very reasonably priced. Anything purchased in the tackle shop must be paid in cash (Euros)

  • Popper School Special Package: Along with Alain from Nirvana Fishing, we have put together the perfect tackle hire package for this trip. It includes:

  • Light casting rod and reel

  • Heavy popper rod and reel
  • Heavy jigging rod and reel

  • We have put this hire package together from top quality rods and reels aimed at the areas you will be fishing. All reels come complete with brand new braid so all you need to do is either bring your own end tackle or why not simply purchase all you need from our tackle shop onboard the Catamaran that way you will be buying and using what works.

  • The total for the above hire package is £350

  • Flight upgrades: Please contact us for an up to date price if you interested in upgrading your flights

Price Supplements

  • There are no supplements for being a single angler

Price Match Promise

We are so confident that our packaged prices are the best available and offer great value for money.

If, however, you find an identical holiday available with any other fully bonded Tour Operator at a lower price, we will match that price.

Financial Security

Holidays or flights booked with Sportquest Holidays Limited are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority by our ATOL bond (Number 6371). ATOL protects you from losing your money or being stranded abroad. It does this by carrying out financial checks on the firms it licenses and requiring a guarantee, called a bond.

Tour Notes

Visa

A machine-readable passport with at least 6 months before expiry is required. You will be asked to fill out a tourist Visa once you arrive at Madagascar airport. This costs around €25

Medical Requirements

Malaria, Hepatitis, Typhoid and Tetanus.

Please Note

All details of visa and medical requirements are correct at time of press however please check these requirements for changes.

Departure tax

There is no additional airport departure tax when leaving Madagascar.

Flight Route & Flight Time

UK – Addis Ababa (approx 7 hours 40 mins)
Addis Ababa – Nosy Be (approx 4 hours 10 mins)

Baggage Allowance

Your actual allowance is based on both which airline you are flying with and also what class of seat you are travelling in. Normally in the economy it is 1 checked bag, Premium Economy / Business 2 checked bags, First 3 checked bags. In addition to your checked bags you are also allowed 1 cabin bag and either 1-laptop bag or ladies handbag. The actual size and weight limit for bags is dependent on the airline. We, therefore, recommend that once your flights are booked you check on the airline’s website for the up to date allowances.

If your itinerary includes private light aircraft or helicopter flights, we will advise you on your baggage and weight allowance.

Transfer Time

Nosy Be to Catamaran (approx 3.5 hours)

Questions & Answers

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WHERE IS THE DESTINATION?

The fishing will be conducted 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.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO REACH THE FISHING GROUNDS?

You will be fishing from a liveaboard catamaran, therefore, you will be very close to the fishing marks with the average travelling time being half an hour from the boat.

WHAT FISH WILL I CATCH?

When fishing in Madagascar you will be targeting many different species including Giant Trevally, Dogtooth Tuna, Jacks, Snapper and Marlin.

HOW MANY FISH WILL I CATCH?

This all depends on the species you are targeting and the tactics you are using. if you hit into a large pack of Tuna you could be in for some very frantic sport, if however, you were fishing for Marlin and Sailfish then your day could be slightly slower as these are solitary fish.

HOW WILL I FISH?

You will be fishing with lures, poppers and jigs. Using these tactics you will be able to target many species. Speed jigging is one of the best methods here though with many species falling foul to this method including the suer hard fighting Dogtooth Tuna. Another exciting method to fish here is popper fishing on the surface for Giant Trevally.

DO THE GUIDES SPEAK ENGLISH?

All the captains and deckhands speak good English. Sometimes hand signals are needed to explain things, we call it worldwide fishing language.

WHO IS BEST SUITED TO THIS DESTINATION?

This destination is perfect for those who like a lot of action as Madagascar is packed with fish. You certainly do not need to be an expert big game angler as the deckhands will take great care of you. If however, the fishing proves too much for you then you can sit back and relax whilst the others carry on fishing.

WHAT SKILL LEVEL IS REQUIRED?

This destination suits anglers of all abilities from first time big game anglers to the most experienced. As this trip is hosted you will have a host with you as well as the skipper to ensure that any issues you have are resolved and also to offer any advice that you may need.

HOW PHYSICALLY DEMANDING IS THIS TRIP?

If you choose to troll then it’s not that physical because when you hook a fish you can sit in the fighting chair and let the boat do the work or you can stand toe to toe with the fish and battle it out. You can choose to lure fish if you so wish, which is fairly demanding Speed jigging is one of the best methods to fish here but is also one of the most strenuous ways to fish, this method may leave you aching from top to bottom but this style of fishing will really produce the goods.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO?

The best time to go is between October and June with the majority of the species running between these months.

HOW DO I GET THERE?

You will fly from the Uk then onto Addis Abba airport. From here you will catch your connecting flight to Nosy Be where you will then be transferred by speedboat to your catamaran. you will then be transported to the fishing grounds on the catamaran where you will then stay for the remainder of your holiday.

WHAT IS THE ACCOMMODATION LIKE?

We know how important it is that you can sleep and rest in the best conditions, 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 his or her own sleeping cabin with either a single or double bed.

WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?

The food that is served on board is delicious, varied and original and is prepared by our talented chefs. The food is produced and prepared 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.

DOES THE HOTEL PROVIDE FISHING TACKLE?

Fishing tackle is not provided, upon booking we will advise on what tackle is needed.

IS INTERNET AND PHONE SIGNAL AVAILABLE?

This is a very remote area so phone signal and WI-FI are extremely limited

ARE THERE OTHER ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE?

You will be living on a catamaran in the middle of the sea so there are no other activities available as such. You can however go swimming and snorkelling around the boat and you can also sunbathe if you wish.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

We offer the complete package including all flights and transfers. To view all prices and availability click the “Dates & Prices” tab above.

Alternatively, if you wish to arrange all your own travel we can book just the lodge and fishing for you.

Reviews

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Vincent

Very good stay, with a wide variety of fish and techniques used (Throw, jig, slow jig). Excellent organisation

Reply from Sportquest Holidays

Thanks for your feedback and glad you liked the trip. Same again next year?

All the best

Paul

Henrik

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

Reply from Sportquest Holidays

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

Steve

1st trip with Nirvana but 3rd trip with Alain. From airport to catamaran, fishing and back to airport everything extremely well organised and stress free. Fishing was world class as usual with 7 days of non stop action on the new bigger boats - which comfortably fishes 4 pax. Beautiful part of the world with many islands to stop and swim for lunch during midday heat. We managed 32 species... highlight being a 30kg doggie on a stella 5000 with 30lb braid and a 40gram jig!! Many GTs up to 40kg. It's not a case of IF we will be back... just WHEN!

Reply from Sportquest Holidays

Hi Steve, now that is some fishing, 32 species in 7 days now that is some going. I bet your Stella was smoking with that fish..... Awesome review thanks Steve

All the best

Paul

Hannes

Awesome guides, awesome experience. Highly recommended

Reply from Sportquest Holidays

Hi Hannes, glad you had a good experience and caught some big GT's

All the best

Paul

Ali

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!

Reply from Sportquest Holidays

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

Magnus

I want to thank you for a great fishing trip, It was a pleasure to fish on your boat with all of you.
You have all great experience of Big Game Fishing and you really made my day
It was an awsome fight with the Big Eye Tuna, weight 141 kg
I want to recommend you to everybody who loves fishing
See you soon

Reply from Sportquest Holidays

Congratulations on the big Tuna. Also a huge thanks for the trip review as they are all appreciated.

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