Big Game Fishing – Casa Velha Do Palheiro

Madeira Island is one of the world’s most popular destinations for big game fishing.

Lying in the Atlantic Ocean nearly 1000 km (621 miles) from Lisbon, this verdant, sub-tropical jewel is lapped by the mild waters of the gulf stream and enjoys warm, comfortable summers and short, mild winters. This enviable climate makes it an enchanting and appealing all-year-round holiday destination.

For sport fishermen, the conditions are ideal. The summer months, between May and October, bring with them an abundance of sleek shark, Atlantic blue marlin and other splendid billfish.

In winter, from February through to late April, the cooler waters draw feisty bluefin and bigeye tuna, among other pelagic species. Actually, Madeira is ideally placed at the migratory route for large game fish, and the depths teem with sea life.

A day out on the ocean in search of the “Big One” is an adrenaline-fuelled adventure.

The steely-eyed Atlantic blue marlin is smart and swift, a cunning adversary and the ultimate catch for any angler. To land a fish like this takes skill, courage and a boatload of respect for one of Nature’s most majestic and awe-inspiring creatures. Suitably, the Balancal operates a ‘catch and release’ policy.

Map