We had planned the fishing trip to Madagascar back in 2019. Unfortunately, the trip had to be postponed again and again due to various circumstances, until it finally took place in 2024. But the wait was more than worth it!
The journey to Nosy-Be
The journey began with a long trip: to reach Nosy-Be in northern Madagascar, we would be on the road for almost 24 hours and change planes three times. The last flight on the outward journey was to be with the infamous Boeing 737 Max 8. We had also been advised not to eat anything during the entire trip due to the poor hygienic conditions in Africa, in order to avoid any risk of gastrointestinal problems.
After breakfast, we went over everything again: rods, reels, lures – everything was prepared. We also brought toys and coloring books for the children in the fishing village. Anticipation grew as we finally arrived at the airport in Frankfurt, met the majority of our group there, and boarded the overnight flight.
The flight to Addis Ababa was relaxed, and after seven hours we reached our intermediate destination. Here we joined up with the rest of the group and had time to discuss the fishing that lay ahead of us. It was exciting to learn what to expect in the next few days. Finally, we continued on to Nosy Be.
Arrival on Nosy Be
Upon arrival at the airport in Nosy Be, we first had the obligatory temperature measurement and the putting on of a protective mask. Since there was no air conditioning and it was almost 32°C, it was uncomfortable, but with the help of tips we were quickly guided through the process. After getting our visa and collecting our luggage, we took a shuttle to our hotel, where we checked in after a short ride.
We moved into our luxurious room and later met in the rooftop bar for a drink and to receive our first instructions from the crew. After that, we went to dinner, where we followed the recommendation to only eat well-done food, and enjoyed the live music. Exhausted, we fell into bed and looked forward to the first day of fishing.
The first fishing day
The first morning started with a surprise: I thought my husband had left the bathroom light on, but it was the sun that had already risen. It was 6 o’clock and time for breakfast. After a final check of the rods and baits, we quickly made our way to the boat. We were looking forward to the day, although we wondered how the fish would really bite there.
After a short ride, the crew spotted a school of bait fish in the water, and immediately it started: Matthias was the first to cast and a large Bluefin Trevally took the bait. A little later, I too had my first Bluefin Trevally on the hook – my personal highlight after years of waiting!
My husband caught one of the largest GTs of the trip that day, at around 27 kg, and by lunchtime we already had a few Bluefin Trevally on board. Lunch was served on a sun canopy during the trip, and during that time two bonitos came aboard, which were also quickly landed.
In the afternoon we alternated jigging and popping. One fight brought me to the edge of despair when I was sure I had a bonito on the hook, but it was actually a torpedo scad. Time passed quickly and the first day of fishing was a great success: each of us had caught at least 5-10 fish, including bluefin trevally and some GTs.
Fishing day two
The second day started like the first with a great breakfast. After that, we went back to the boat, where we quickly discovered the first baitballs. This time we caught mainly smaller GTs between 5-10 kg, but also some nice fish while popping and jigging. Matthias, who was a little less lucky while jigging that day, realized that he had hooked my jig – an amusing moment that made us laugh for a long time.
Another highlight of the day was the drill with a shark that I caught while jigging. It turned out that the “small fish” was a gray reef shark over 1.80 m long. After an exciting 20-minute drill, we landed the shark, which was then safely released back into the water.
Chill day at the resort
After a few intense days of fishing, Flo and I decided to take a rest day. We spent the day exploring the fishing village, buying toys and art supplies for the kids, and observing the local wildlife. At the resort, we enjoyed the relaxation and looked forward to the next day of fishing.
Successful day on the water
The next day we went out on the water again, this time with another couple joining our boat. The day was rather calm overall, but we still caught various trevallys and a barracuda. A particularly exciting moment was a drill in which we caught two bluefin trevallys and a GT together with Matthias and Flo. The fun and good humor on the boat was unbroken.
Farewell to Radama Island
On the penultimate day of fishing, there were a variety of new catches, including Bohar snapper, black banded amberjack and emperor. We slowly began to prepare for our departure. That evening, we went out for dinner together and discussed the best catches of the day. As we laughed and shared our experiences as a group, it was clear that this trip would be unforgettable.
Lemuria Land and Farewell
On the last day, Flo and I went on an excursion to Lemuria Land, where we saw various animals such as lemurs and giant tortoises. It was a nice end to our trip. In the afternoon, we met Heiko’s new group and answered their questions. It was clear that we wanted to continue traveling together in the future.
When we finally arrived at the airport, the return trip to Hamburg was in sight. We had caught 18 different species of fish, had countless adventures and made many new friends. We will be back – that was clear to all of us.
Thank you Jenny & Florian for the great tour and the detailed report!
Perhaps this report has whetted your appetite for a trip to Madagascar. Feel free to contact us and we will be happy to advise you on Madagascar or any other destination in our program.
SEA you soon!