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FISHING IN VILAMOURA, PORTUGAL


Dan G

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Captain Cajones,

 

I printed off the world sea fishing links for reference but still unsure that a UK debit/credit card will do the trick in the local ATMs based on comments on the other forum though that could be out of date?

 

I know it is illegal to fish in the marina (shame because I've seen a lot of fish in other harbours and marinas in the Algarve) but would like to know if it is OK off the stone breakwaters? Big bass look interesting but I love trying for mullet on an occasional basis especially float fishing bread, having caught them in Dorset since the early 70s.

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Captain Cajones,

 

I printed off the world sea fishing links for reference but still unsure that a UK debit/credit card will do the trick in the local ATMs based on comments on the other forum though that could be out of date?

 

I know it is illegal to fish in the marina (shame because I've seen a lot of fish in other harbours and marinas in the Algarve) but would like to know if it is OK off the stone breakwaters? Big bass look interesting but I love trying for mullet on an occasional basis especially float fishing bread, having caught them in Dorset since the early 70s.

i think you will find that the outside edges of the breakwaters are fine to fish.normally there are signs if its not permitted.

uk cards work fine,in cash machines,always have done anyway?

good idea to contact your card provider,to let them know it will be used abroad. they sometimes stop card operations,if they notice an unusual spending pattern,as in being used out of the uk.

have fun. :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Now back from Vilamoura so here's what I found as it may be useful to others making the trip.

 

UK cash cards work in the machines for getting cash but not licences. I went to kiosk no. 3 of the 12 that are together half way around the marina. The guy there was helpful and used his card to get me a licence from the cash machine opposite the kiosk. 3 Euros for 1 month local (Faro) shore licence. You need your passport no. and also carry your passport when fishing to prove it's your licence.

 

I fished 3 times in the harbour from the stone piers (clear no fishing signs in Marina) which are not easy to get down or fish from but OK for the more agile. Main problem was that it was windy but final day wind dropped, and I knew what I was doing by then so did well. 1st trip 1 mackerel on no. 0 Mepps plus 2 tiny sea bream. 2nd trip 2 mullet on floatfished bread plus 1 mackerel on bread. 3rd trip 21 mullet, 1 mackerel all on floatfished bread 2ft deep on 12, feeding mashed bread. All short sessions 1 -3 hours, flake on size 12, 2AAA waggler was ideal, best mullet 3lbs, terrific sport. Landing net more than useful - I took an extending bankstick as handle.

 

Also saw plenty of garfish though didn't fish for them and some sizeable bass. There were more mackerel about. Locals mostly fished for bass from end of piers especially Quarteira with local equivalent of ragworm.

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  • 11 months later...
I got 'escorted' out of the marina shortly after hooking and losing a double-figure bass! I can't remember if I was more gutted about losing a double-figure bass, or about not being able to try and catch the even bigger bass that I could see swimming around!

Anyway, my 'Mee no speaka di inglish' routine didn't wash with the local police, but they were really good about it and simply told me to go and fish the beach and not in the marina!

There are some really massive bass to be caught at Vilamoura, and you can catch them off the beaches at night. Depending on where you stay, you'll see the locals fishing at dawn and dusk with bubble float rigs (for casting distance) and white Redgills. Work an artificial eel from any beach or pier and you stand a really good chance of a bass first thing in the morning or last at night. I'd quite fancy lobbing a whole squid or two out at night too - I bet that would work.

There are also loads of huge mullet to be caught too - but why fish for mullet when there are loads of double-figure bass about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Just come back from Vilamoura. Took my rods and caught a few bream and a small bass. However, a local fishing next to me had a lovely bass - must of been 8lb or so - on a whole live mackeral. He cast out a huge lead on its own. He then clipped on (with a snap swivel) a 3 ft hooklink with 2 big hooks and the mackeral. His rod was pointed skywards and the mackeral then 'zip lined' to the surf and was essentially tethered in the surf. It could swim up or down. Has anyone seen this method before? I was staggered when he nailed the big one, but he'd clearly used the method a few times...

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Just come back from Vilamoura. Took my rods and caught a few bream and a small bass. However, a local fishing next to me had a lovely bass - must of been 8lb or so - on a whole live mackeral. He cast out a huge lead on its own. He then clipped on (with a snap swivel) a 3 ft hooklink with 2 big hooks and the mackeral. His rod was pointed skywards and the mackeral then 'zip lined' to the surf and was essentially tethered in the surf. It could swim up or down. Has anyone seen this method before? I was staggered when he nailed the big one, but he'd clearly used the method a few times...

 

I have used that rig a few times, it's good when the bass are herding mackerel shoals or when fishing in shallow water. It allows you to present a live mackerel near the surface, which appears to be swimming freely - cos it can move up and down in the water column. Definitely worth a go from the shore over here as soon as the mackerel show in numbers.

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Just come back from Vilamoura. Took my rods and caught a few bream and a small bass. However, a local fishing next to me had a lovely bass - must of been 8lb or so - on a whole live mackeral. He cast out a huge lead on its own. He then clipped on (with a snap swivel) a 3 ft hooklink with 2 big hooks and the mackeral. His rod was pointed skywards and the mackeral then 'zip lined' to the surf and was essentially tethered in the surf. It could swim up or down. Has anyone seen this method before? I was staggered when he nailed the big one, but he'd clearly used the method a few times...

:lol: I used it in Mombassa from the jetty into 60ft of water, the livebait rarely reached the bottom before something hit it, usually a cuda or trevelly but sometimes something unstoppable. Oh! those were the days. :lol:

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