Cape Verde Islands

**PanamaJack** · 03-06-2005, 14:44

This is really just a brief update from anyone contemplating a trip to the Cape Verde Islands some 1000 miles south of the Canaries, 400 miles off the coast of Senegal, West Africa.

Firstly unlike some of the threads regarding the Canaries it's not somewhere you should contemplate going and expect to book an odd day on spec. Whilst we were there the 6 boats in the fleet were fully booked, mainly with Dutch, German and Austrian anglers. The boats varied from a 31' Bertram through to a 46 footer. And daily charter rates were in the 500 to 700 Euro range.

We fished from Sao Vincente island and released 8 smallish Blue Marlin in the 200 to 450lb range in 5 days fishing - two on stand-up tackle.

In the roughish waters - the Trade Winds, funnelling between the islands blow fairly constantly at around 25 to 30 knots - most came on big lures. Hook-up rates were not good. On our best two days we went 3 for 6, and 2 for 8. And although we persevered with a couple of short teasers for the first 3 days the only fish we attracted wouldn't switch to the bait. He swam straight past it, still trying to eat the teaser!

As well as the Blue Marlin which are present between May and October they also catch White Marlin and Spearfish. And Yellowfin Tuna and Sailfish also turn up in good numbers.

If you're seriously hoping to catch your first Blue Marlin and not wanting to spend a ridiculous amount of money this is where I would recommend. Last year two of our members had 16 Blues in 5 1/2 days fishing! Contact me though if you want any further information - David.West@scbi.org.uk.

Kindest regards
Dave
Sportfishing Club of the British Isles

**PanamaJack** · 07-06-2005, 10:22

It appears they're still catching Blue Marlin in numbers, including some big fish up to an estimated 750lbs.

If you want to keep updated on progress the mate on Andromeda, Olaf, regularly posts catch reports to his personal web site, it's - Olafs Site .

Alternatively you can view the web site of the boat we used, the 46' Bertram - Andromeda, at Andromeda . (In that earlier posting I got the charter rate completely wrong. Whilst the local boats are in the 500-700 Euros range, Andromeda is 1200 Euros a day.) The web site for Berno's fleet (Berno skippers one boat and a Brit Simon his other) is Bernos Boats
Kindest regards
Dave West
Chairman - Sportfishing Club of the British Isles

**PanamaJack** · 14-06-2005, 12:29

From: CAFANTER@aol.com [mailto:CAFANTER@aol.com]
Sent: 13 June 2005 21:51
To: David.West@RMC.CO.UK
Cc: David.West@scbi.org.uk
Just to demonstrate how prolific the fishing in Cape Verde can be. This is an e-mail I've just received from an American friend just back from CV. He was similarly fishing from the island of Sao Vincente.

Certainly a much better conversion rate than we achieved!

David,

Had trip of a lifetime with Zac and Olaf. I went 19 for 37 on blues in eight days fishing. On last day on Andromeda we went 5 for 9. Fished with Calu on my last day as Andromeda had a new charter, went 3 for 8 on blues and 3 wahoo.

Cheers

Andy

**Scrudgy** · 14-06-2005, 13:45

Hmmmmm, wonder if the wife would like to go to Cape Verde next time.

**PanamaJack** · 14-06-2005, 16:58

The Cape Verde archipelago of which I think there are 10 inhabited islands is a bit like I remember Gran Canaria in the late 70s. Barren and windswept and not too much in the way of tourist development. They're are volcanic in origin though and most have a lee shore.

But things are changing, especially on the main island of Sal where the international flights arrive from. There're a lot of appartments being built together with the infrastructure. And the beaches looked superb and it is of course the nearest destination to mainland Europe that's in the tropics. Talking as well to some of our 'continental neighbours' they really rate it for body and wind surfing and hiking, as well as sun bathing.

The island that we stayed on, Sao Vincente, is a 40 minute plane ride from Sal. It's got the one main town, Mindelo, where we stayed that has a population of about 80K plus two small villages and a developing tourist complex near the airport. We stayed in a very pleasant 3 * hotel, the Mindel, a 5 minute walk from the marina. But there was another very pleasant 4* hotel in the centre of town. I'm not though certain what it had in the way of facilities - pool, etc.

You've probably guessed that it's not the sort of place my wife would like. But she's not a 'sun worshipper'. In fact she's getting decidedly techy about temperatures in Boston, where we're off to on Saturday. Although that's a family holiday I'm managing to squeeze in three days fly fishing on Nantucket Island and Cape Cod for Striped Bass and Bluefish.

Let me know if I can help further though in terms of Cape Verde. I know there're no guarantees in this life, but it does have a lot of Marlin.
Kindest regards
Dave
Sportfishing Club of the British Isles

**PanamaJack** · 20-06-2006, 11:16

How many times do we try and take pictures of fish jumping only to be disappointed when you get the results - shots out of focus or, more likely, just holes in the water and lots of white water.

You may want to look at the photographs on this particular thread on an American - Southern Californian - web site. It shows some excellent shots of Blue Marlin jumping off Sao Vincente - http://www.marlinnut.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/1098.html. It's posting number 14.

Is this the justification for taking the wife along?
Dave

TomBettle · 01-08-2006, 08:32

Fantastic photo's Dave.
Can't wait to get out there on a rekkie.

....Even more excited now after your help and advice the other day.

Cheers again
Tom

**PanamaJack** · 01-08-2006, 11:16

Here're some more Tom - http://ingridmarie.eu/. As well as the Blue Marlin there're some commercially caught Yellowfin and some really impressive-sized Jacks.
Dave

**PanamaJack** · 11-04-2007, 11:10

Just got this note through from Berno, one of the German skippers in Cape Verde, that I thought might be of interest. His season's just started. The reference to Bananas is just an ongoing 'wind-up' we have about their impact on the fishing. Many skippers 'go ape' if you take them out......not Berno though!
Dave

I am pretty sure you all will hate me after reading this news:

I was out today first day and fished the south of Sao Vicente, tons of baitfish everywhere, birds-action all over and some Blues were also around. Unfortunately I went 0 for 3 (strikes), but chre tcheu made it 2 for 5.

That’s the bad news..............but now.

Capt. Simon on Happy Hooker II left this morning on his way with 4th of July winning angler Chris and his friends to Sao Nicolau where Bebiche caught 10 blues out of 22 bites in a half day’s fishing yesterday. On his way down there he caught a small Yellowfin and when I called him late afternoon at Tarafal harbour (Sao Nicolau) he had 6 Blue Marlin release flags and a tuna flag bending his outrigger! He reported 9 bites and all good size to big fish again, 400 lbs to 800 lbs!

After talking to Simon, i called Ferdy on Bebiche, and they broke the record on that boat catching an amasing 14 blues out of 29 or 30 bites !!!!!!

Hey Dave, ;-) Simon took about 5 kg of bananas out this morning!!!

**Ravelling Tangler** · 01-06-2007, 15:47

the fishing is still good-to-very good !

on 19th May local boat "Bebiche" caught 14 blue marlin (out of 20-something strikes/offers/"looks") and "Amelia" run by Zak Conde had 8 (out of 15/18 strikes)

The following week they averaged 2 marlin per angler per day sized from about 200lb to about 900lb

This week someone has been getting 1 a day (on "Bebiche", I think) ..... but most of those have been over 600lb.[/B]

In many places, most years, you count yourself lucky if you get 1 in a week....maybe 2