Off to Madeira (Funchal) for a bit of sun....will probably take travel fly and/or spin gear......anyone tried or any info on fishing there? Looks fairly rocky so may be trying for a bass or two.

Any info welcome

Mebu

Whilst I've never fished there my parents were looking to buy a place so I googled fishing.

There's plenty of it, but they don't seem to do much flyfishing. That said I did find a couple of fishing guides one which will take you up into the hills to fish for trout in the lavads. I'll have a dig around and see if I can find the details.

Most of the fishing out there seems to be for the big game species. But I was talking to a chap at a hotel over there and they go out about 300meters from shore and hand-lined with bait, he though fly fishing seemed like hard work. When I asked about the fish he rolled off a massive range that would keep any fisherman happy. I asked about Dorado as he'd missed them from his list, he snorted and said "there's always Dorado" as if they were bluebottles.

I suspect with a little research you could have some real fun and I regret not taking my fishing rod. Pop to the fish market in the middle of Funchal, you'll get a feel for species available.

Cheers

Andy

__________________
Caught it on a Big Green Hairy Thing!

Andy, thanks for that. I shall be trying from the rocks in one or two places.....may catch, may not.

At least the big game fish are not in season so I won't be temted to spend 300 euros.

Thanks, Peter

Hi Peter,

there's loads of locals who fish off the rocks. if you walk east (walk to the sea, put the town behind you and turn right) along the coast out of Funchal, you'll find a swimming pool carved into the rock, you can walk out on some big rocks and fish. The island is so steep, you should be casting into deep water.

Its a few years since I've been, but I think you can see the spot on this google map.

Madeira, Portugal - Google Maps. Looking at the satellite map there's loads of interesting spots and there's a good path along the coast.

I've always thought there must be some local lads who would take me out with them for a reasonable amount. The guy I talked to said I could go out with him if I ever went back, but sadly I never made it back and the hotel closed. I reckon £50 would have made his day and I always thought a handful of smaller fish would be more interesting than a big game fish.

Have fun, let us know how you get on.

Cheers

Andy

__________________
Caught it on a Big Green Hairy Thing!

Madeira is one of the Blue Marlin destinations of the world and a definite pop at a grander too.

Big yellowfin and serious wahoo to boot.

Cant comment on shore fishing but deep water is close in.


Lucky devil you!!



Ben

__________________


**The SKB Website**


Tackle Essentials - Pliers, Snips, Pimps etc

Utterly Pimping Reel Porn


MrTrout's Furled Leaders


Help our Heroes



*Proud Sponsor of the EYFA and Pitsford Pirates*

A mate of mine fished for rainbows in madeira a few years back,he said they were great sport only upto the 1kg mark max.It was all mountain streams that are stocked.If you GOOGLE-portugal fishing guides-madeira.and look for PEDRO MUIGEL.He was the chap that guided for my mate,he sorts the permits and also guides for sea fishing.Hope this helps and enjoy your trip.TIGHTLINES.

Thanks to those who commented. A brief synopsis on fishing around Funchal in case anyone else goes.

AS January is the bum end of the big game fish, decided not worth the cost.
Found very few places to fly fish in the sea. Trout fly fishing is available in the hills, but a full day trip, and the sea is only 50 yards away, so can do several visits for a few hours.
Quite a lot of places to spin, mainly from hotel and public jetties, where the locals seem to fish. I fished from Cliff Bay Hotel jetty. Spinning various lures, spoons and Tasman devils, saw a number of fish follow in the clear water but no takers. Exciting, but not productive.
Later found 2 local shops.....one a small tackle shop in the old town, supplying mainly locals,one on the marina supplying mainly boat fishers. Both said the lures I was using were a bit large for the shore, suggested little japanese silver mepps type things.. Have decided to visit again next year, with little silver mepps.........

The wahoo fishing is supposed to be excellent in the winter.

__________________
Silversedge
LETS TACKLE CANCER SUPPORTER
"MON THE HILL CLIMBERS!!"

Hi Mebu
good advice from AndrewM about Funchal, my advice is do visit the fish market but, whatever you do, do not use the toilets there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.Quite literally the worst I have ever smelt.
On a brighter note, you can catch horse mackerel and garfish on feathers or fly off the outer arm of the harbour just past where they load the banana boats for Portugal but you need a 8/9wt and a drop net. I saw one of the crew off a ship there catch a 4ft baracuda off the arm right at the entrance, you can see them swimming past on the tide.The inner harbour in front of the restaurants has literally thousands of mullet of all sizes swimming around,now theyare a challenge but you need to go first thing before it gets busy.Good fishing to be had all over the island...........

Are any licences required either off the rocks, inland or indeed the game boats?

__________________
[COLOR="Blue"]"A fish seen is a fish nearly caught"[/COLOR]