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Meeting point for White Marlin fishing August

ALGARVE SHARK FISHING

The waters of the Algarve offer some wonderful shark fishing opportunities. Our main target is Blue Sharks, which can weigh over400lbs. The big females come around April to breed and some stay around all summer; we have even had them on New Year's Day! From May into October we often have vast numbers of smaller sharks which we catch on light tackle, that's basically pike gear - fantastic fun for all the family! When the water temperature is high we get big runs of Mako sharks. Makos are fantastic fighters, often jumping 12ft in the air. My mate even had one jump clear over the boat!!! These have been taken to 450lbs but we are reliably informed by experts from the states who regularly take Makos to over 1,000lbs that they believe we have the sea conditions and food (Tuna and Swordfish) to attract the monsters. We just need to find their patrol / migration route, and fish with suitable tackle to get them,i can confirm fish up to 1,200lbs have been tacken in nets here.I have seen big Hammerheads well out to sea while Marlin fishing and there have even been two reports of Great White Sharks taken in a net, so anything is possible…

For 24 years I have been shark fishing from the Algarve. For the first 21 years I tried all the charter boats, but gave up in frustration at their outdated methods and unprofessional operations. So five years ago I approached my mate who has a good boat (Starfisher) to see if he was interested in trying shark fishing. He jumped at the chance, and so using my gear and my improved fishing methods (researched from around the world) we set off to see what we could catch.

RESULTS

Best one-day catch: 19 sharks

Best big shark catch: 9 Mako sharks

Best blue shark catch: 12 fish including two estimated at 200lbs - they were 8ft long!

WE AIM TO AVOID ALL THE POOR PRACTICES SEEN ON CHARTER BOATS

So what can you expect on our trips?

1) We never go out in poor weather

2) Our trips are eight hours not the normal six hour charter trips

3) We go out on time and stay out longer if catching

4) Maximum six persons fishing (plus friends/family watching) not the silly 20 that some boats do.

5) Very good gear

6) We do not sit around all day waiting for shark runs but encourage you to catch other fish whilst waiting

7) We practice light tackle fishing, as well as using the big game gear so if you fancy a 30lb shark on a pike rod and bait runner reel thats what we do

8) Sharks are all safely returned

PRICE GUIDE

Boat, exclusive charte including fishing permits, food ,soft drinks  and the odd beer €500 per day 8am till 4pm for up to four people fishing

Extra  €50 per angler after that, maximum six fishing

No charge for family/friends watching

For a full 7 day holiday with 6 days fishing price starts at only 1,000€ per angler.

ALGARVE SHARK FISHING

The above report which I put together a few years ago is still valid but based on my observations over this past few years we are making some nice changes to the way we take clients Shark fishing.

1)     Over the last few years we have seen a big increase in sightings of giant Bluefin Tuna, indeed my friends have actually hooked three at the same time. So from 1st July until the end of the season in November we are going to run out two 130lb big game outfits with 300lbs fluorocarbon leaders and circle hooks baited with live Mackerel. I started this last week no Tuna but lots of Blue Sharks without a problem and for sure it will take Mahi Mahi when they come as well.

2)     Although we have landed three Blue Sharks around 200lbs most of our sharks are around 50 lbs. These are good fun on 30lb class outfits but even more fun on a Pike rod and bait runner reel. So we now run one light outfit out close to the boat in the chum trail. This can be very effective and we have taken as many as 11 Sharks in a day this way.

3)     The wind normally gets up around 3pm and the fishing gets uncomfortable after that so we like to head back to port around 2pm. So to give you a good length of fishing time we like to leave around 7.30am could be 7am if you are up for that.

4)     We now include lunch with drinks as well as your fishing license in with our charter price so no hidden extras.

5)     Now hear we are very different to all the tourist charter boats we encourage you to have some fun catching other fish whilst waiting for a Shark run. This  is normally jigging targeting Red Snappers which can go to near 40lbs but most are under 10lbs you will catch other fish as well this way. We even hooked a monster Bluefin Tuna last year doing this. In the chum trail we often get other fish attracted mainly BIG Garfish some over 5lbs Mackerel even small Tuna and my favourite  Mahi  Mahi I had 19 one day on a barbell rod. Again unlike most charter boats you may keep what fish you catch. Obviously the Sharks are catch and release.

BASIC ALGARVE SEA FISHING

We have over 200 different species that it’s possible to catch. These include monster Grouper (protected so we must return them), Corvina to 100lb, big Conger and Red Snappers.

As we have small tides, we can fish with small leads and light rods making the fishing good fun, but we also run shark rods at the same time (we have had up to 11 sharks in a trip whilst bottom fishing). We take a monster big game outfit out with us just in case the giant Tuna turn up; my mate had one last week near 500lb which took a hook baited with three live Mackere, max 8 fishing 7.30am to 2pm the wind normally comes after 2pm so we like to come back to port then.Food drinks and permits included.

Bring friends or family to watch at no extra charge - they can even dolphin watch at the same time!

NOTE: We do not do short three hour tourist trips, but full 8 hr day or night trips not the silly 3hr or 6hr tourist trips most do.We are for serious anglers who appreciate a quality experience.

Some of John's fishing tackle you can use

Portimao meeting point

OUR ALGARVE BOAT FISHING OPTIONS

White Marlin

1)     Fishing with very experienced Marlin expert from Australia aboard his own boat going out from Olhao. Here there is deep water only a 20-minute run out so you get the max time fishing. Three to the boat price 700 for the day including lunch and drinks.

2)     On the same boat from Olhao shared charter Saturday and Sunday only €350

3)     Fishing with me out from Portimao €1,000 for up to 6 anglers.

4)     If you book all night trip targeting Swordfish 25 miles out then on the way back we can have a steady chug back using White Marlin and Blue Marlin lures.

Bluefin Tuna only 1st July to October

1)     Trolling out from Olhao €700 max 3 on boat

2)     Trolling out from Portimao €750 max 6 on boat

3)     Chunking out from Portimao€ 650 max 4 on boat you can jig and bottom fish at same time and we would expect to catch Sharks as well.

Swordfish - October is best as it can be calm at night.

This is pioneer fishing which a few friends have been doing for a few years and keeping it secret. We go out around 5pm and fish all night in the deep water 20 miles out from Portimao. We target Swordfish but there are some very big sharks out there, mainly Blues but also Hammerhead and Mako. My mate hooked a Mako one night which jumped over his boat!! We fish till around 7 or 8 am then have a nice slow run back to port and can run big lures for Tuna, Blue Marlin or if you like small lures for White Marlin, small Tuna and Mahi Mahi.

Shark fishing - this is our bread and butter fishing at which I believe we are the best on the Algarve.

€500 for up to 4 fishing €50 each after that with max 6 fishing

Bottom fishing

Mario, my skipper, is in my opinion simply the very best at this as can be seen as he is booked solid every weekend with locals fishing with him.

We can catch over 200 different species