Fishing in Madagascar
Big fish. Wild water. Some of the most exciting sport fishing in the Indian Ocean.
Madagascar Was Made for Fishing
Madagascar offers something increasingly difficult to find — vast stretches of wild coastline, remote islands, offshore banks, reefs and deep blue water where serious fishing is still possible far from the crowds.
From the waters around Nosy Be and the Mitsio and Radama archipelagos to Madagascar's far north and remote offshore fishing grounds, the variety is extraordinary.
Anglers can target giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, yellowfin tuna, king mackerel, wahoo, sailfish, marlin, grouper, snapper, amberjack and many other species using techniques ranging from popping and jigging to trolling, casting and bait fishing.
And there is no single way to experience it.
Stay at a specialist fishing lodge. Combine fishing with an island resort. Base yourself in a private beachfront villa. Head offshore on a multi-day liveaboard expedition. Or take things underwater on a dedicated spearfishing adventure.
The question isn't whether you can fish Madagascar. It's how wild you want to go.
CHOOSE YOUR MADAGASCAR FISHING EXPERIENCE
LIVEABOARD FISHING
Go further. Stay longer. Wake up on the fishing grounds.
Multi-day expeditions from Nosy Be take you beyond the normal day-fishing range to remote reefs, islands and offshore banks. Choose between fishing and living aboard the same power catamaran or the Nomad concept using specialist sport-fishing boats with a separate liveaboard base.
Minimum 4 guests | Maximum 8 guests
SAKATIA BEACHFRONT VILLA FISHING
Your own beachfront base with fishing built around your group.
Stay together in a private beachfront villa on Nosy Sakatia and head out for dedicated fishing days from the Nosy Be area. A relaxed option for groups wanting to combine sport fishing with a private island-style holiday.
Best suited to groups of 6
MITSIO FISHING LODGE
Remote island fishing with a specialist lodge as your base.
The Mitsio archipelago combines serious sport fishing with the simplicity of returning to a comfortable island lodge each evening. An excellent choice for anglers looking for dedicated fishing in one of northern Madagascar's most exciting marine environments.
From 2 guests
DIEGO SUAREZ & THE FAR NORTH
Wild northern Madagascar and extraordinary variety.
The waters around Diego Suarez and Madagascar's far north offer another completely different fishing environment, with reefs, currents, offshore structure and an impressive range of game fish.
From 2 guests
RADAMA ISLANDS RESORT
Fishing adventure meets remote island escape.
Combine dedicated fishing days with a stay in the beautiful Radama Islands. This option works particularly well for anglers who want serious fishing without giving up the pleasures of an island resort — and for groups where not everybody necessarily wants to fish every day.
From 2 guests
SPEARFISHING EXPEDITIONS
Take the Madagascar fishing adventure underwater.
Dedicated liveaboard spearfishing expeditions head for remote offshore waters where blue-water pelagics meet productive reef systems. Target species can include dogtooth tuna, Spanish mackerel, GTs, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, grouper, snapper and other game fish.
Liveaboard catamaran | Minimum 4 guests
WHAT CAN YOU CATCH IN MADAGASCAR?
Giant Trevally (GT)
Explosive, brutally powerful and one of Madagascar's most iconic sport-fishing targets.
King Mackerel
Fast, aggressive predators found around reefs and offshore structure.
Sailfish & Marlin
Madagascar's blue water also offers opportunities for billfish.
Yellowfin Tuna
Fast, powerful blue-water fish encountered in Madagascar's offshore waters.
Dogtooth Tuna
Brutally powerful and one of the great prizes of Madagascar's offshore reefs and banks.
Wahoo
Speed, teeth and spectacular runs — a classic offshore target.
Grouper & Snapper
Powerful reef species adding even more variety to the fishing.
Amberjack & Other Trevallies
Hard-fighting fish perfectly suited to jigging and casting.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO FISH MADAGASCAR?
Madagascar offers excellent fishing through much of the year, but the best time to travel depends on where you want to fish, the species you want to target and the style of fishing you prefer.
Different areas have different seasons, and conditions on the offshore banks can vary considerably from those around the islands and reefs.
Rather than treating Madagascar as having one single “fishing season”, we recommend choosing your dates around your target species and fishing area.
Tell us what you want to catch and when you are thinking of travelling, and we'll recommend the best area and fishing option for you.
WHEN TO FISH MADAGASCAR
Different seasons. Different species. Plenty of reasons to come back.
Fishing seasons are a guide rather than a guarantee. Fish movements, water temperature, currents, tides, moon phases and weather conditions can all influence fishing from year to year. Our seasonal recommendations are based on local fishing knowledge and the experience of operators working in northern Madagascar.
APRIL – JUNE
Excellent conditions for a wide variety of reef and offshore species, with GTs, dogtooth tuna, king mackerel, wahoo and other trevallies among the potential targets.
JULY – SEPTEMBER
A productive period for offshore and reef fishing, with opportunities for dogtooth tuna, GTs, yellowfin tuna and a broad mix of species.
OCTOBER – NOVEMBER
One of the most exciting periods of the fishing year, with warming water and strong opportunities for GTs, dogtooth tuna, yellowfin, wahoo and billfish.
DECEMBER – MARCH
Fishing is still possible in some areas, but weather and sea conditions become more important and options can be more location-dependent.
What about tides and moon phases?
Tides, currents and moon phases can have a significant influence on fishing. Interestingly, around Nosy Be a full moon is not necessarily considered the best time to fish, and the most productive periods can vary according to target species, location and tidal conditions. When planning a dedicated fishing trip, we can help match your dates to the fishing area and the conditions generally favoured by our local operators.
Planning around a particular species?
Tell us what you want to catch, your preferred fishing style and when you can travel. We'll recommend the areas and fishing options that best suit you.