Madeira Fishing Charters

The best out of 21 charter fishing deals in Madeira - enter dates to check availability

Top Madeira Destinations

Madeira: 21 fishing charters available
Excellent
4.8 / 5
(18 reviews)
Funchal
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $454
Excellent
4.9 / 5
(50 reviews)
Calheta
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $405
Excellent
4.9 / 5
(79 reviews)
Calheta
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $270
Excellent
4.7 / 5
(17 reviews)
Machico
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $378
Excellent
4.4 / 5
(18 reviews)
Funchal
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $756
Excellent
4.8 / 5
(14 reviews)
Funchal
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $648
Excellent
4.9 / 5
(30 reviews)
Funchal
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $194
Excellent
4.8 / 5
(52 reviews)
Calheta
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $459
Very good
4.0 / 5
(2 reviews)
Funchal
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $756
Excellent
4.9 / 5
(28 reviews)
Funchal
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $756

Frequently Asked Questions about Fishing Charters in Madeira

According to customer reviews, some of the most popular fishing charters in Madeira are: Full list of top fishing charters in Madeira

The average price for a private 4 hour Madeira fishing trip is US $568, while an 8 hour private trip will cost you US $1,277 based on prices on FishingBooker.com.

Fishing charters in Madeira that received great reviews from families are:

The top 3 fish species targeted on guided fishing trips in Madeira are:

The top 3 fishing techniques in Madeira are:

The top 3 types of fishing in Madeira are:

Many fishing charters in Madeira provide rods, reels and tackle. Some of the top rated are:

According to customer reviews on FishingBooker.com, some of the best rated charter captains in Madeira are:

Who are the top awarded captains in Madeira?

Some of the fishing trips offered by fishing charters in Madeira are:
  • 2-hour fishing trips โ€“ US $343
  • 3-hour fishing trips โ€“ US $379
  • 4-hour fishing trips โ€“ US $549
  • 6-hour fishing trips โ€“ US $875
  • 7-hour fishing trips โ€“ US $1,027
  • 8-hour fishing trips โ€“ US $1,070
  • 10-hour fishing trips โ€“ US $1,483

Fishing in Madeira

Madeira is hands down one of the best places in the world to go fishing. Located some 500 miles off the coast of Morocco, this Portuguese island features in bucket lists for gander Blue Marlin fishing all over the internet. Madeira fishing, quite simply, is epic.
 
What makes fishing in Madeira so great? For starters, the fish get really big. Blue Marlin aside, everything from Bigeye Tuna to Bluefish hit incredible sizes here. You don’t have to travel far to find them, either. Even on a half day trip, you have plenty of time to turn your arms to jelly. And if you’re just out for a fun day at sea and a few fish to show for it, you can catch a boatload of delicious table fare with the dramatic cliffs of Madeira as your backdrop. There’s something for everyone on “the Pearl of the Atlantic'.”

Types of Fishing

 

Offshore

The big game fishing Madeira is famous for draws in the world's top sportfishers. The seafloor drops almost vertically from beach to bedrock, so you can catch bluewater species just a couple of miles from land. And there are plenty to choose from. Blue and White Marlin, Bluefin, Albacore, and Bigeye Tuna, Longbill Spearfish, Mahi Mahi, and Wahoo all show up over the course of the year.
 
May through October is the peak Billfish season. Show up in September, and you can catch the full range of big game species on offer here. But you can catch huge Wahoo even in the middle of winter and Albacore live here all year round. There’s never a bad time to fish offshore in Madeira.
 

Nearshore

There’s never a bad time to fish the reefs, either! Huge Snappers are reeled in every month of the year, and resident Amberjack hit incredible sizes on the island’s deep-water reefs. Grouper, are always around, too, although they’re not nearly as common as Snappers. If you want to add some extra fight to your day, monster Bluefish hunt around the island’s rocky nearshore waters.
 

From Shore

More interested in variety than size? Shore fishing in Madeira can be a great way to bag a variety of fish. You can hook Bluefish and Barracuda from shore in many spots, alongside weird and wonderful species like Ornate Wrasse and Canary Damselfish. If you’re fishing from the rocks on Madeira’s north shore, you should watch out for the high winds and swells that batter the island during much of the year.

Fishing Techniques

Madeira Marlin fishing focuses almost exclusively on trolling. Fast-trolling with lures is the most popular tactic here as it lets you cover more ground on the hunt for big fish. Most boats use heavy trolling rods and reels, hoping for the island’s next grander. You can sometimes find kites flying above bigger boats, especially when they’re targeting big Tunas.
 
Up for something with a bit more finesse? There are a few specialist charter companies which offer everything from saltwater fly fishing for White Marlin, Tuna, and Almaco Jacks to spinning and popping for monster Bluefish. You won’t find much finesse on bottom fishing trips, though. Not with the size that Amberjack and Snapper reach here!
 
If you’re fishing from shore, you can pick up great baits at the local fish market. If you prefer artificial baits, be careful–Pufferfish can and will take a chunk out of anything that comes their way, so leave your favorite soft plastics in the box.

Need to Know

 

Getting there

Most charters operate out of the region’s capital, Funchal, or the beach resort of Calheta, a 40-minute drive up the coast. Flights from London take around 4 hours and can cost as little as   €110 return, even in the middle of Marlin season. Flights from Lisbon take less than half that and cost about the same. You can get direct flights from cities all over Europe, but you’ll need to change in London if you’re flying from the US.
 

Budget

Madeira fishing prices vary greatly depending on the style of angling you’re after. A half day on the nearshore reefs will bag you a ton of tasty fish for around €350-400. Full day trips targeting Marlin, Tuna, and other deep sea species cost anywhere from €1000-1300. Boats vary from center console-style vessels to large sportfishers with outriggers, tuna tubes, fighting chairs–the works. If you’re looking to land a grander Marlin, it’s well worth the extra money to get a good boat.
 

Rules & Regulations

Anglers planning on fishing from shore will need to buy a Sport Fishing License (Licença de Pesca Desportiva) before they can even think about making a cast. Get these by contacting the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. By all accounts, this can be a bit of a nightmare as a foreigner. The good news is that you don’t need a license to fish aboard Madeira fishing charters, as you will be covered by the boat’s operating license.
 
Madeira is the ultimate island escape. Stunning scenery and great weather meet deep waters and some of the world’s best sportfishing. This is a popular vacation spot for people in Europe, even without the angling. Throw in the chance of a grander Marlin or a record Amberjack, and you wonder why you’d go anywhere else!
Madeira
Excellent
4.6 / 5
Based on 28443 reviews by FishingBooker anglers

Madeira Fishing Seasons

January

Wahoo season ends as the year starts, so head out and bag these bluewater bullets before they move on. Otherwise, there are a ton of different bottom fish to go after.

February

It’s Carnival in Madeira! This week-long festival brings a storm of color and music to the streets of Funchal. There’s plenty of fun on the water, too, with Snappers, Amberjack, and so much more.

March

Bigeye Tuna explode onto the scene in March, kicking off an 8-month season of huge, tasty fish. There are plenty of monsters on the reefs, too, with Grouper, Snapper, Amberjack, and more.

April

The first few Marlin start to show up in April. Head out in search of these monsters, and you could also run into Bigeye and Albacore Tuna. As always, the reefs are full of tasty fish!

May

Blue and White Marlin arrive in huge numbers around Madeira in May, joined by the often-overlooked Longbill Spearfish. If you’re after a Billfish Grand Slam, this is a good time to try.

June

Madeira celebrates these incredible waters with the month-long Atlantic Festival. Enjoy everything from roots and arts events to pyromusical shows. Don’t let it distract you from the ocean itself, though!

July

All over the world, pro sportfishing teams head offshore to take part in the Blue Marlin World Cup. Madeira has won this event more than once in the past. Are you feeling lucky?

August

August is the hottest month of the year in Madeira, so expect the beaches to be busy. There’s plenty of space out at sea, though, if you don’t mind fighting Marlin for it! 

September

Every big game species is biting hard in September. Blue and White Marlin, Bigeye, Albacore, and Bluefin Tuna, Longbill Spearfish, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi–they’re all here and they’re all going crazy!

October

October is your last chance to catch Marlin in Madeira, and the Bigeye Tuna are about to move on, too. Don’t miss your chance–get out there and battle some sea monsters!

November

The Billfish may have moved on, but Wahoo, Albacore, and Bluefin Tuna are still around in force. The reefs never go quiet here, either. Just take your pick and enjoy. 

December

Christmas in Funchal is a wonderland of colorfully-lit streets and seasonal joy. Hit the reefs to catch some delicious bottom fish and bring home a real Christmas feast!

Madeira Fishing Calendar

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Featured photos from Madeira

What anglers said about fishing in Madeira

Que vรฃo pescar com a ODF-Madeira, a empresa mais indicada e com excelentes profissionais
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Que vรฃo pescar com a ODF-Madeira, a empresa mais indicada e com excelentes profissionais
ODF - Ocean Dive & Fishing LDA
ODF - Ocean Dive & Fishing LDA Lisbon, 11
Understand that nothing is guaranteed- itโ€™s fishing. Enjoy the time out on the boat and youโ€™ll have a good time.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Understand that nothing is guaranteed- itโ€™s fishing. Enjoy the time out on the boat and youโ€™ll have a good time.
Madeira Fishing Charters โ€“ Prime
Madeira Fishing Charters โ€“ Prime
Our trip was a 4 hour bottom fishing trip 4 of our family had not fished before ,but all managed to catch with the help of the crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Our trip was a 4 hour bottom fishing trip 4 of our family had not fished before ,but all managed to catch with the help of the crew
Madeira Sea Fishing
Madeira Sea Fishing
The boat was well appointed, spotlessly clean. Hennie and Franklin made a great team, professional, courteous and hard working. They really worked hard, and agreed plans were always flexible as they sought out fish for us. We would thoroughly recommend them as we had a great experience. We arrived as clients and left as friends so will be booking again as soon as we can.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
The boat was well appointed, spotlessly clean. Hennie and Franklin made a great team, professional, courteous and hard working. They really worked hard, and agreed plans were always flexible as they sought out fish for us. We would thoroughly recommend them as we had a great experience. We arrived as clients and left as friends so will be booking again as soon as we can.
Aventura Fishing Charters
Aventura Fishing Charters Aberdeen, Scotland
Plan the fishing trip according to the weather and the direction of the wind. Fish in the wind shadow of the island for smaller waves.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Plan the fishing trip according to the weather and the direction of the wind. Fish in the wind shadow of the island for smaller waves.
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours Madeira, 30
Book with Native Crew! Theyโ€™ll do the rest. Captain is fluent in English which helped communication greatly. Be sure to get out early in the morning while still cool and fish are biting.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Book with Native Crew! Theyโ€™ll do the rest. Captain is fluent in English which helped communication greatly. Be sure to get out early in the morning while still cool and fish are biting.
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours Lake Junaluska, NC
Don't expect to catch a big game first time! I've been 4 times all over the world and still not had my big catch but still pulled up all kinds of colourful fish!! And some big snapper! A day out on the boat is better than a day not on the boat! Just go and have fun and you may get lucky! Also check season times, summer is best for certain types of fish so can be hard before the season
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Don't expect to catch a big game first time! I've been 4 times all over the world and still not had my big catch but still pulled up all kinds of colourful fish!! And some big snapper! A day out on the boat is better than a day not on the boat! Just go and have fun and you may get lucky! Also check season times, summer is best for certain types of fish so can be hard before the season
Madeira Big Game Fishing - Our Mary
Madeira Big Game Fishing - Our Mary London, England
Use a local captain. If you can fish with Capt. Anders, do not hesitate to do it. My wife and I stayed at a convenient Airbnb Loft - Madeira - Funchal - Calheta.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Use a local captain. If you can fish with Capt. Anders, do not hesitate to do it. My wife and I stayed at a convenient Airbnb Loft - Madeira - Funchal - Calheta.
Madeira Fishing Charters โ€“ Prime
Madeira Fishing Charters โ€“ Prime Bethune, SC
The fishing trip on Flipper 2 was excellent. Could not recommend it any more enthusiastically. Practical tips before your trip - Bring change for the metered parking at Calheta Marina and we would not recommend using the Calheta Marina ATM which offers a really poor exchange rate. Get any cash you need before you arrive at the Marina.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
The fishing trip on Flipper 2 was excellent. Could not recommend it any more enthusiastically. Practical tips before your trip - Bring change for the metered parking at Calheta Marina and we would not recommend using the Calheta Marina ATM which offers a really poor exchange rate. Get any cash you need before you arrive at the Marina.
Flipper II Madeira
Flipper II Madeira Figueira Da Foz Municipality, Coimbra
You can try everything you like. The captains always will ask you what you want to fish and how. I have chosen trolling but there is also bottom fishing,... We rent an appartement near the harbour. So it was an easy walk in the morning (5 minutes)to the boat. And as you leave very early in the morning you can get breakfast at the harbour promenade. There is a nice Cafe which was open at 8 when I arrived.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
You can try everything you like. The captains always will ask you what you want to fish and how. I have chosen trolling but there is also bottom fishing,... We rent an appartement near the harbour. So it was an easy walk in the morning (5 minutes)to the boat. And as you leave very early in the morning you can get breakfast at the harbour promenade. There is a nice Cafe which was open at 8 when I arrived.
Madeira Marlin - Balancal
Madeira Marlin - Balancal Baden Bei Wien, 3
There are no guarantees of catching . That's fishing though. As far as charters are concerned,the Gavito and crew were the best.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
There are no guarantees of catching . That's fishing though. As far as charters are concerned,the Gavito and crew were the best.
Madeira Fishing Charters - Gavito
Madeira Fishing Charters - Gavito Coventry, ENG
Not to worry, the people from Madeira are so helpful. Just take sun cream and a coat as it can get cold at night.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Not to worry, the people from Madeira are so helpful. Just take sun cream and a coat as it can get cold at night.
Madeira Sight Casting
Madeira Sight Casting Edinburgh, SCT
To trust Gavito's crew and you are in for a great experience. Do take lots of sunblock and maybe a book to read whilst resting a bit in the cabin during the intense midday sunny periods. Stay close to the fishing chair so you will be prepared when you get a bite. Train your hand for some tough reeling in when the fish is on the hook!!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
To trust Gavito's crew and you are in for a great experience. Do take lots of sunblock and maybe a book to read whilst resting a bit in the cabin during the intense midday sunny periods. Stay close to the fishing chair so you will be prepared when you get a bite. Train your hand for some tough reeling in when the fish is on the hook!!
Madeira Fishing Charters - Gavito
Madeira Fishing Charters - Gavito Ghajnsielem, Ghajnsielem
Book with Captain Graham on Gavito.! Pick your target species and go for it.! You never know what will happen.!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Book with Captain Graham on Gavito.! Pick your target species and go for it.! You never know what will happen.!
Madeira Fishing Charters - Gavito
Madeira Fishing Charters - Gavito Portugal
Bottom-fishing out by the islands is awesome, super-rich with fish. Smaller fish but still very fun.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Bottom-fishing out by the islands is awesome, super-rich with fish. Smaller fish but still very fun.
Madeira Big Game Fishing - Our Mary
Madeira Big Game Fishing - Our Mary Funchal, 30
It depends on their experience. It also depends on whether you are solo or in a group. Even inexperienced anglers can try for 1000 lb Marlin.!! We all have to start somewhere. In the end it is down to personal choice. Go with Gavito and Graham Venters and you can try both big game and bottom fishing all in one day.!!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
It depends on their experience. It also depends on whether you are solo or in a group. Even inexperienced anglers can try for 1000 lb Marlin.!! We all have to start somewhere. In the end it is down to personal choice. Go with Gavito and Graham Venters and you can try both big game and bottom fishing all in one day.!!
Madeira Fishing Charters - Gavito
Madeira Fishing Charters - Gavito Ponta Do Sol, Madeira
If you can wait as late as possible to book so you get the right weather conditions and be patient !
Excellent
5.0 / 5
If you can wait as late as possible to book so you get the right weather conditions and be patient !
Madeira Marlin - Balancal
Madeira Marlin - Balancal Stockton-on-Tees, England
Let the crew know you're first timers and listen when they tell you what to do. Be prepared for a good fight if you want big fish :)
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Let the crew know you're first timers and listen when they tell you what to do. Be prepared for a good fight if you want big fish :)
Madeira Fishing Charters - Gavito
Madeira Fishing Charters - Gavito Oslo, Oslo County

How did anglers rate fishing charters in Madeira?

Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
4.3 / 5
(30 reviews)
Great day on the Beercuda! The fishing was proactively adapted to give us the best chance of catching fish and having a great time online with the ever changing weather conditions. Passionate skipper and knowledgeable of the local area and fish, we caught 9 species and look forward to returning!
Rory  I.
Rory I.
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(30 reviews)
I bought this trip for my husband and he absolutely loved it! Pedro and his first mate Alfredo were fantastic! Very professional, very friendly, very helpful. My husband caught fish and had a great day. We would definitely recommend!
Alan  M.
Alan M.
Aventura Fishing Charters
Aventura Fishing Charters
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(18 reviews)
Great crew. Tried hard to catch tuna but 7 hours with no strikes. Great button fishing .
Niels  P.  H.
Niels P. H.
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(30 reviews)
We had a great trip with Captain Pedro. He went out of his way to make sure that we were on the fish the entire trip and even extended our half day trip by a couple of hours so that he could get us to better spots. We spent the trip catching countless amberjacks and snappers. We finished up with a 10+KG snapper which made the trip! I highly recommend booking a trip with Captain Pedro!
Andrew  W.
Andrew W.
Madeira Big Game Fishing - Our Mary
Madeira Big Game Fishing - Our Mary
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
4.7 / 5
(106 reviews)
I did a full day shared trip with a nice German couple. We seen dolphins right away and that was awesome. We spent half the time trolling for big game and the rest bottom fishing. We were still a few weeks too early for the tuna and I knew that going in. We did catch some fish bottom fishing tho. It was a good time. They were very nice and they know what they're doing. I'll definitely hire them again when I come back.
Adam  H.
Adam H.
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(30 reviews)
Great day with guaranteed succes! Even in less ideal circumstances, Pedro got the best out of the day with some amazing fish hooked!
Alexander  V.
Alexander V.
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
4.3 / 5
(30 reviews)
Very friendly Captain, we went to nice spots! Meanwhile we had good drinks from Madeira. I highly recommend that fishing trip.
Franziska  M.
Franziska M.
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(30 reviews)
Captain Pedro and crew were fantastic, the boat, tackle, bait and fishing were excellent, we caught lots of fish and enjoyed a couple of snappers for dinner, all facilities 100%, would definitely book again.
Kevin  W.
Kevin W.
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(30 reviews)
Crew worked very hard to get us on fish. We all caught fish and enjoyed the trip.
Ed  H.
Ed H.
ODF - Ocean Dive & Fishing LDA
ODF - Ocean Dive & Fishing LDA
Fishing charter in Machico
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(17 reviews)
We loved it . Caught fish to eat at Christmas Then fish for the most superb curry Want to go again v soon Ember to was the best
Fiona  R.
Fiona R.
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(30 reviews)
It was a difficult day because of wind and high tide. Our captain Pedro did a great job to guide us and we had a great time. Hope we will come across him again and spend longer time than we did today. Thanks, Pedro!
Takuro  A.
Takuro A.
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(30 reviews)
I only went for a half day morning fish and within two minutes we were into fish - a 5 kilo snapper down deep at 100m , we continued to catch some great fish including amberjack , barracuda and grouper ! Iโ€™m definitely coming back - thanks Pedros
Lin  S.
Lin S.
Madeira Fishing Charters โ€“ Prime
Madeira Fishing Charters โ€“ Prime
Fishing charter in Calheta
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(50 reviews)
We searched along the shore for flocks of fishes. Stressless. Just enjoyed the moment. The team was quick to react to whether there were fish below us. Really nice afternoon on board! And perfect dinner! Thank you!
Inga  S.
Inga S.
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(30 reviews)
Pedro is kind of captain who really tries all his best efforts to catch the fish, taking even extra time which is very rare. All in all highly recommend
Andrey  Z.
Andrey Z.
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
4.7 / 5
(30 reviews)
Very good experience. Pedro and his mate made everything possible for us to be successful and feel good. He knows what to do and the spots very well. We were happy to catch some fish. We did a half day trip and it was enough for our level.
Claudio  D.  M.
Claudio D. M.
ODF - Ocean Dive & Fishing LDA
ODF - Ocean Dive & Fishing LDA
Fishing charter in Machico
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(17 reviews)
Our group of 7 had a great time! We all caught fish. Fun fishing with a beautiful island backdrop.
George  M.
George M.
Madeira Fishing Charters โ€“ Prime
Madeira Fishing Charters โ€“ Prime
Fishing charter in Calheta
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(50 reviews)
Had a great half day out with Capt. Anders! We were wahoo fishing and hooked into a good one but lost him before we could get him in the boat. Would absolutely go out with him again. Boat and gear were in top shape. He wants to catch fish and definitely makes every effort to find them.
Joe  R.
Joe R.
Madeira Sea Fishing
Madeira Sea Fishing
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(14 reviews)
Captain and crew worked hard to get us on the fish ,we had 4 new angler's and they made them so welcome.We all caught ๐Ÿ‘
Colin  T.
Colin T.
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Native Crew โ€“ Fishing & Tours
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(30 reviews)
We had such a fun time on the boat and catched some nice fish. The crew did a great Job and did everything they could for us to have a nice day on the water
Tim  H.
Tim H.
Aventura Fishing Charters
Aventura Fishing Charters
Fishing charter in Funchal
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(18 reviews)
Crew were fab, had a great half day, good introduction for my two sons who had never fished on a boat. When we come back Iโ€™ll take them for tuna.
Marshall  H.
Marshall H.

Top Targeted Species in Madeira