Hello all,
I went to Madeira, Portugal for two weeks in february for spearing.
Unfortunately I was out of luck with the weather and got less cathes than I had hoped for but still did alot of diving. From what I learned I had the two worst winter weeks from a spearing/diving perspective in the last ten years or so, hehe. I had been hoping for a big amberjack or wahoo but was out of luck.
Madeira apart from spearing is an island manageable in size for tourist-style-touring but a car is a must. If you do have a car though you can get to spearing spots on the whole island on a day trip. The first days had alot of waves and low viz so we went all around the island on two days without hurrying at all.
The island landscape is very scenic with steep mountains falling into the atlantic and narrow deep valleys and villages but not a party place. I think I was the only one under 65 on the plane there. Madeira is very popular among the senior citizens of sweden.
Spearfishing wise it is a great place. I was unlucky to get alot of rain and low wiz but picked a bad time to go. In the summer to september or so there when there is less rain I was told the average visibility is 20m and 30+ is not uncommon.
The spots I went to were mostly in the 10-25 m depth range. The coast is rocky so one can find good spots accessible from the shore. The noth coast has more fish but often bad conditions.
There were less smaller fish than in norway which I think is the best place in scandinavia, but madeira has what norway has not, nice big fish like greater amberjack and wahoo. There does not seem to be a shark problem compared to some places but they see hammerheads on occasion.
One can get a license for spearing in the city of funchal. The rules are not more than 5 fish per day per person, no groupers. There is a stretch on the south coast were spearing is not allowed, a marine park, from funchal to reis magos.
I you go there dont miss to try out 'espetada', big chunks of grilled meat on a skewer, honey cake, and poncha which is lemon juice, honey and strong alcohol, impossible to avoid.
I went to Madeira, Portugal for two weeks in february for spearing.
Unfortunately I was out of luck with the weather and got less cathes than I had hoped for but still did alot of diving. From what I learned I had the two worst winter weeks from a spearing/diving perspective in the last ten years or so, hehe. I had been hoping for a big amberjack or wahoo but was out of luck.
Madeira apart from spearing is an island manageable in size for tourist-style-touring but a car is a must. If you do have a car though you can get to spearing spots on the whole island on a day trip. The first days had alot of waves and low viz so we went all around the island on two days without hurrying at all.
The island landscape is very scenic with steep mountains falling into the atlantic and narrow deep valleys and villages but not a party place. I think I was the only one under 65 on the plane there. Madeira is very popular among the senior citizens of sweden.
Spearfishing wise it is a great place. I was unlucky to get alot of rain and low wiz but picked a bad time to go. In the summer to september or so there when there is less rain I was told the average visibility is 20m and 30+ is not uncommon.
The spots I went to were mostly in the 10-25 m depth range. The coast is rocky so one can find good spots accessible from the shore. The noth coast has more fish but often bad conditions.
There were less smaller fish than in norway which I think is the best place in scandinavia, but madeira has what norway has not, nice big fish like greater amberjack and wahoo. There does not seem to be a shark problem compared to some places but they see hammerheads on occasion.
One can get a license for spearing in the city of funchal. The rules are not more than 5 fish per day per person, no groupers. There is a stretch on the south coast were spearing is not allowed, a marine park, from funchal to reis magos.
I you go there dont miss to try out 'espetada', big chunks of grilled meat on a skewer, honey cake, and poncha which is lemon juice, honey and strong alcohol, impossible to avoid.