Big game fishing trips Boa Vista

The main draw here is simple: you leave Sal Rei behind and troll the open Atlantic for blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, or amberjack. This is not a sightseeing cruise with a fishing rod added at the last minute. The boat heads to fishing grounds, and the captain spends the morning looking for real game fish.

I like the private format for up to three people, which gives your group room to fish and ask questions. I also like the practical setup: a 7-meter, roughly 22-foot motorboat with GPS, marine radio, fishing radar, and a front sun deck. The main consideration is that fish are never guaranteed, and the ride depends on weather and sea conditions.

• Open-ocean trolling: The boat moves slowly while lines are set for large pelagic fish.
• Small private group: The price covers up to three people, not a seat on a crowded shared boat.
• Te Manché departure: You leave from the fisherman’s pier in Sal Rei at 8:00 am.
• Modern onboard equipment: GPS, fishing radar, and marine radio help the captain work the water.
• Real fishing, not a staged catch: Fish may be released or sold at the fish market.
• Strong practical feedback: One outing produced about nine amberjack during speed jigging, while another group praised the crew’s timing and organization.

Fishing Boa Vista’s Atlantic waters from Sal Rei

This trip begins at Avenida dos Pescadores, at the fisherman’s pier in Te Manché. The start time is 8:00 am, a sensible hour for a five-hour outing. You have enough time on the water to make the trip worthwhile, but you are not committing an entire day to fishing.

The boat first moves through the bay and along the harbor. That opening stretch gives you time to settle in, watch Sal Rei recede, and get a feel for the boat before fishing begins. Once you reach open water, the captain starts looking for the right conditions and runs the boat at low speed while trolling.

I like this gradual start. It makes the trip feel like an actual fishing run rather than a quick ride straight to a marked spot. At the same time, you should know that the first part of the journey is transport, not constant casting. The focus is on finding fish, and patience is part of the deal.

The activity ends back at the same meeting point. Pickup is offered, so ask about the arrangement when you book. If you are staying at Hotel Riu Touareg, a taxi to the pier costs €50 and is not included in the tour price. That extra cost matters when you calculate the total, especially if you are comparing this with other activities on Boa Vista.

A 7-meter boat built for serious fishing

The boat is described as 7 meters long, or about 22 feet, with a motor suited to reaching open water. For a private group of up to three, that is a well-apportioned size. You should have enough space to fish without feeling packed in with strangers.

The equipment is one of the best reasons to choose this trip. The boat has GPS, a marine radio, and fishing radar. These tools do not promise a catch, but they help the captain work with better information and respond to changing conditions. For you, that means less time guessing where to go and more time focused on the fishing itself.

There is also a front sun deck. That gives you a place to sit when you are not handling a rod, though the boat’s main purpose is fishing rather than lounging. Bring practical sun protection and expect exposure to wind and sun on the water.

The setup is especially useful for a group with mixed experience. If one person is keen to fish every minute and another wants occasional breaks, the boat has at least some flexibility. The private arrangement also lets you keep the pace suited to your group instead of adapting to a full boat.

How the trolling and jigging work

Big game fishing here uses trolling. The boat moves slowly through the water while bait or lures are pulled behind it. This approach is suited to fish such as wahoo, tuna, and blue marlin, which may strike while moving through open water.

The captain can explain fishing techniques and help you manage the equipment. That matters if you have never tried this type of fishing. Large fish require more than simply holding a rod. You may need advice on timing, positioning, and how to respond when something takes the line.

The available information also includes a speed-jigging trip that produced about nine amberjack. Speed jigging is different from trolling, so you should not assume every departure follows exactly the same method. Still, it shows that the crew may use more than one approach when conditions and target fish call for it.

The key point is that this is active fishing, but not nonstop action. You might spend time waiting, changing position, or watching the radar and sea. That is normal for game fishing. If your ideal boat trip requires a fish on the line every few minutes, this may test your patience.

What the captain adds to the morning

The captain is a local fisherman with experience in the waters around Boa Vista. You are not simply handed a rod and sent out with directions. The captain chooses fishing areas, explains techniques, and helps you work the catch when a fish takes the line.

That local know-how is valuable because conditions change. A fishing trip depends on water, weather, fish movement, and timing. A captain who regularly works these waters can make better decisions than a visitor relying on a general map.

The strongest praise for the experience focuses on the crew’s organization and judgment. One group felt the crew took them to the right spots, watched carefully for fish, and gave them several good drifts. They caught about nine amberjack during the day’s speed jigging. Another group highlighted the smooth hotel pickup, the easy move onto the boat, and the captain and first mate’s helpful attitude.

Those details give you a useful picture of the service. The value is not only the chance of catching a large fish. It is also having a crew that handles the practical work, watches conditions, and helps you make the most of a limited five-hour window.

No captain can control the sea or guarantee a blue marlin. That is worth keeping clear in your mind before booking. You are paying for access, equipment, time, and professional effort, not a guaranteed trophy.

The fish you might target

Blue marlin is the headline species, and it is the fish many people picture when they hear big game fishing. Tuna and wahoo are also named targets. Each offers a different kind of challenge, but the trip description does not promise which species you will encounter.

Amberjack is another useful reference point. The speed-jigging outing landed about nine, showing that the area can offer more than the headline marlin experience. If you are mainly interested in catching fish rather than pursuing one particular species, that may make the trip more appealing.

The handling of the catch is also worth noting. Fish are released back into the sea or sold at the fish market. You should not assume you will take your catch back to your hotel. Ask the captain about the plan for the day if this is important to you.

This arrangement fits a practical local fishing operation. It treats the catch as food or as a living fish to release, rather than presenting a staged photo opportunity. For many people, that makes the outing feel more connected to Sal Rei’s fishing culture.

How the $571.34 group price works

The price is $571.34 per group of up to three people. That works out to about $190 per person if three people share the boat, before any extra transfer cost. For a private five-hour charter with a captain, fishing equipment, and a boat fitted with navigation and fish-finding gear, the price can make sense for a small group that is serious about fishing.

For two people, the per-person cost rises. For one person, it becomes a costly private outing. I would book this with two friends, a partner, or family members who all want the same kind of morning. The private format is a strength when everyone is interested, but poor value if one person plans to watch from the sun deck while others do all the fishing.

The €50 taxi fee from Hotel Riu Touareg is the main listed extra. Since it is charged for the ride to the pier and is paid on arrival, include it in your budget. Pickup is offered in general, but the exact arrangements depend on your hotel and should be confirmed before the morning of departure.

This trip is often booked about 44 days ahead. That suggests you should not leave it until the last day of a short Boa Vista holiday if fishing is a priority. Booking early also leaves you some room to move the trip if the weather turns poor.

Weather, comfort, and the physical side

The trip requires a moderate level of physical fitness. You need to manage a boat environment, handle fishing gear, and stay steady while the boat moves. The available details do not give specific age or mobility rules, so ask the provider directly if anyone in your group has physical concerns.

Weather matters enough that the trip may be canceled in poor conditions. If that happens, you are offered another date or a full refund. That is a fair policy for an open-ocean activity, where safety must come before keeping a fixed schedule.

The 8:00 am start and five-hour duration give you a clear outline for the day. You return around early afternoon, depending on conditions and the exact timing of the fishing run. Do not plan a tight connection to another activity immediately afterward, since sea trips can take longer than expected.

Service animals are allowed. The tour is private, and only your group participates, which is helpful if you prefer a quieter boat or want to ask questions without an audience. Still, the boat is designed for fishing, not for a fully accessible sightseeing experience, so confirm any special needs in advance.

Who will enjoy this Boa Vista fishing trip

I would choose this outing if you already enjoy fishing or want a genuine introduction to offshore fishing with a captain’s help. It suits three people who are happy to share a private boat, wait patiently, and accept that the fish decide the result.

It is also a good choice for a parent and older children or teenagers who can manage the physical side of the trip. One successful outing included a teenage son and daughter, with pickup and the boat transfer handled smoothly. That suggests the experience can work well for a family group, provided everyone understands that this is fishing rather than a guaranteed wildlife encounter.

You may want a different activity if your main goal is a relaxing cruise, a short ride, or a guaranteed catch. Five hours on the Atlantic can feel long when the fish are quiet. The boat has a sun deck, but the heart of the trip is waiting, watching, and working when the opportunity comes.

I also would not choose it for a group larger than three. The advertised price covers up to three people, and the boat size is best suited to a small party. A larger group would need to confirm capacity or arrange another boat.

Booking advice for a better morning

Book early if you have only a few days in Boa Vista, since this trip is commonly reserved more than a month ahead. Check the pickup details, especially if you are staying at Hotel Riu Touareg, where the €50 taxi fee applies.

Wear practical clothing for sun, wind, and spray. Bring protection for the open water, and expect to spend much of the morning exposed to the elements. The provided information does not specify meals, drinks, or a particular tackle list, so do not assume those extras are included.

Keep your expectations realistic. A blue marlin would be a memorable result, but tuna, wahoo, or amberjack may be the fish you actually encounter. The better measure of the trip is the quality of the captain’s decisions, the time spent actively fishing, and how well the crew helps you when a fish strikes.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the 8:00 am start. If you cancel later, you do not receive a refund, and late changes are not accepted. Since the activity depends on good weather, a provider cancellation gives you the choice of another date or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if you want a private, focused fishing morning and you are willing to accept the uncertainty that comes with the open sea. The strongest reasons are the small group size, the modern boat equipment, and the captain’s hands-on help. The report of about nine amberjack during a speed-jigging outing also gives the experience credibility beyond its promise of blue marlin.

Skip it if you want a guaranteed catch, a low-cost group excursion, or a mostly relaxing boat ride. At $571.34, it is best value when three committed anglers split the price. For that group, this is a practical way to fish Boa Vista with local help, rather than simply taking a boat trip and hoping something happens.

FAQ

Where does the fishing trip start?

The boat leaves from the fisherman’s pier at Te Manché, on Avenida dos Pescadores in Sal Rei, Cape Verde.

What time does the activity begin?

The scheduled start time is 8:00 am.

How long does the fishing trip last?

The experience lasts about five hours and ends back at the meeting point.

How many people can join the private trip?

The price covers a private group of up to three people.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is offered. If you are staying at Hotel Riu Touareg, a €50 taxi fee to the pier is not included and can be paid upon arrival.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The activity requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.