Big-game fishing has a learning curve.

I like the fact that you’re not winging it: you’ll fish with a highly experienced local skipper and an on-board team that knows Madeira waters, and the boat is built for the job with GPS, a fighting chair, and a restroom. This is the kind of half-day that can turn serious fast, even if you’ve never held a rod offshore.

You’re out in the Atlantic to chase big species, using a mix of trolling and bottom fishing depending on conditions. Marlins are catch and release, but you can keep other fish and the first mate will fillet for you if you decide to keep your catch.

One key consideration: this trip isn’t for people prone to seasickness, since you’re heading out on open water.

Key things to know before you go

• Catch-and-release for marlins: you can target them, but you won’t be taking them home.
• 33’ Lochin 333 sportfisherman setup: GPS, fighting chair, restroom, and fishing-ready gear are on board.
• Techniques change during the day: expect trolling and bottom fishing as you hunt where the fish are.
• You usually keep most non-marlins: tuna and other species are yours to keep, with filleting help.
• Food is included, but plan for snacks: the experience is built around drinks plus simple onboard food.
• Private or small groups are possible: less waiting around, more time actually fishing.

Inside the boat: the Lochin 333 and why it matters

Your day starts on a 33’ Lochin 333 flybridge sportfisherman, the sort of boat that’s basically a fishing tool with windows. The setup is the part you feel right away. This isn’t a casual cruise where you sit back and watch the coast.

You’ll have access to the basics that change the quality of a fishing trip: GPS, a fighting chair for when a fish starts pulling hard, and a restroom onboard. Even if you’re not the type to get excited over gear lists, those items matter. A fighting chair helps you stay planted when you’re using heavier tackle. A restroom means you don’t waste your energy thinking about logistics. And GPS helps the captain put the boat in the right places instead of guessing.

There’s also a practical vibe to the way the trip is described: this is about productive fishing spots, not sightseeing stops. In plain terms, you’re buying time on the water and time with fishing-focused equipment.

Target species and the real fishing plan (marlins, tuna, wahoo, mahi)

Madeira sits in the Atlantic where big fish move through, and this trip is designed to match that reality. The species list is the headline, but the method is what makes the list mean something.

Here’s what you can target: Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi, plus other big-game species that may be available depending on the day. The captain uses local knowledge to pick productive deep-sea spots, and you’ll use more than one technique while you’re out there.

You should expect two main styles:

• Trolling to cover ground and tempt pelagic fish.
• Bottom fishing when the captain wants to work areas near the seafloor.

If you’re imagining one simple loop—cast, reel, repeat—this is not that. It’s more like a moving puzzle. When conditions change, the crew adapts, and you adapt too. That’s also why an experienced angler makes a difference. The captain isn’t just taking you out; the whole point is getting you into the right rhythm for what the water is offering that day.

One more important detail: marlins are strictly catch and release. That’s not just policy—it affects how the day feels when you hook one. You’re still trying hard, but you’re also working under rules about handling fish. It’s a conservation approach, and if you understand it upfront, it keeps expectations realistic.

For everything else, the day can be more satisfying in a very practical way: you can keep your catch, and the crew can handle cleaning and filleting for you if you choose to keep fish. Even better, tuna can be shared with the crew if you like—an old-school fishing courtesy that keeps the mood friendly.

The 4–7 hour flow: meeting at Av. do Mar and heading offshore

The trip duration ranges from 4 to 7 hours, and your exact start time depends on what’s available. That flexibility is helpful, but it also means you should plan your schedule like a pro: block off real time, not just “maybe.”

Meeting happens at Av. do Mar 9000. Your drop-off ends back at the meeting point. In other words, there’s no multi-stop city circuit, and no long land travel element built into the experience.

Since hotel pickup and return aren’t included, you’ll want to factor in how you’ll get yourself to the meeting point. If you’re staying in Funchal and you can manage a taxi or local transport, you’re fine. If not, it’s worth arranging it early so you don’t arrive rushed.

Once you’re aboard, the sequence is usually:

1. Gear gets sorted and you get bait and tackle instructions.
2. You head toward deeper water and start using the planned technique (trolling or bottom fishing).
3. You fish in sessions as the captain moves to where the fish are.
4. If you catch non-marlins and choose to keep them, cleaning and filleting are handled by the crew.

The biggest takeaway: this is a hands-on day, but it can only be hands-on if you ask questions. If you want to know what bait to use and where to aim, ask quickly. Good captains teach, and good customers help the teaching happen by speaking up.

What makes the deep-sea part work

Deep-sea fishing depends on timing and placement. The value here isn’t the idea of offshore fishing—it’s the promise that the captain takes you to productive spots. When that goes right, you can spend your time actually fishing instead of watching the ocean and wondering what you’re doing wrong.

Gear, bait, drinks, and the onboard “comfort level”

Included in the trip:

• All fishing gear and bait
• Food and drinks
• First mate services
• Fishing license
• Catch cleaning & filleting
• A crew that covers what you need for a top day on the water

This is one of the main value points. You’re not paying extra for tackle, license, or the onboard help that makes a catch turn into dinner. And you don’t have to show up knowing how to rig up. The trip info is clear: you do not need experience, and the skipper will teach what you need to know.

That said, how smoothly the day feels still depends on execution. On some departures, the boat situation can start messy. One account described early boat problems and being placed on a different boat than advertised, with limited guidance at the start. That’s not something you can predict, but it is something you can protect against by being direct early: confirm the plan, ask where you’re fishing first, and ask how to use your gear.

On the onboard comfort side, you’ll have drinks, and you’ll have some food. The standard is described as food and drinks included, but one account singled out snacks rather than a fuller meal—so if you need a hearty lunch to last for hours, you might want to eat before you go. That’s not a complaint about “quality,” it’s just basic energy math for a long day on the water.

What you should bring

Bring:

• Hat
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Water (yes, even if drinks are offered)
• Comfortable clothes

You’ll also want to wear shoes that won’t be a hassle on a moving deck. The trip rules ban high-heeled shoes, and they ban large bags and glass objects. Alcohol and drugs are also not allowed onboard, which lines up with safety and good sense.

If you want photos, bring a camera you can hold steady. Big-game days come fast, and you don’t always get a slow moment to frame the shot.

Catch handling: what you can keep and how filleting works

Here’s the deal: marlins are catch and release. But for other species, you can keep what you catch. If you decide to keep fish, the first mate will fillet it for convenience.

This matters more than it sounds. If you catch something and then have to figure out how to clean it later, that turns the day into a chore. Filleting onboard makes the catch usable for dinner or for taking home—exactly what you want after a sportfishing outing.

There’s also the social side. One of the nice details in the trip description is that clients can share tuna with the crew. That’s not required, but it’s a normal gesture in fishing culture, and it can make the crew feel like part of your day instead of just staff.

When the day goes smoothly vs when it feels off

I’ll be straight with you: this is a sports activity where expectations swing wildly depending on how the boat and crew run the first hour.

On a well-run day, you get:

• A captain who teaches and helps you find the right approach for the water.
• Clear direction about where to fish and how to handle your line.
• A motivated team that keeps things moving.
• The boat doing its job with proper gear and setup.

On a rougher day, you may run into:

• An early boat issue that needs fixing.
• A mismatch between what was expected and what you end up on.
• Too little early instruction, leaving you unsure about bait choice or what you’re supposed to be doing.

None of that changes the fact that the fishing can still be fantastic on the right day. But it does change how I’d recommend booking. If you’re the type who hates not knowing what’s happening, arrive ready to ask questions and set your expectations early.

How to make your trip more likely to succeed

A few practical moves:

• Ask immediately about the first technique (trolling or bottom fishing) and how your gear is set up.
• If you’re unclear, say so early. You’re paying for instruction, not guessing.
• Take the “no experience” promise as permission to ask, not as an excuse to stay silent.
• If you want a longer lesson, request it. Some crews have more time or patience depending on the flow of the day.

If you can do those things, you’ll usually turn a slow start into a productive one.

Seasickness and who should skip this outing

The trip is not suitable for people prone to seasickness. That’s in the key information for a reason.

If you know you get queasy on boats, don’t treat this like a gamble. Big-game fishing means you’re out on open water and moving around while the captain chases spots. Even with a stable boat, the motion can still hit you.

Also consider this if you’re booking for someone close to you who gets motion sickness easily. Ask them directly about how they handle ferries or speedboats. If the answer is shaky, find a different Madeira activity on a calmer schedule.

Kids under 2 years are also not suitable. That’s about safety and the nature of time spent offshore, not about anything specific to your child’s behavior.

Value check: is about $199 per person a good deal?

At around $199 per person, the value comes from what’s included, not from the species list. Here’s what you’re getting for that price:

• Gear and bait
• Fishing license
• First mate services
• Food and drinks
• Catch cleaning and filleting
• A proper fishing boat with GPS and fishing gear on board

That’s a lot of operational cost that a typical DIY fishing day would force you to cover yourself. You’re also not shopping for tackle on the day—you show up, and the crew handles the setup.

But there’s one caution that affects value: the experience quality depends on how the day starts. When early instruction is missing, you lose time learning and fishing. When the boat and crew are sorted quickly, the trip feels like what you paid for: a guided shot at big fish.

So I’d frame value like this: you’re buying a guided big-game day with real equipment and real help. If everything runs on schedule and the crew can teach effectively, it’s strong value. If you need zero uncertainty in your schedule, you might not love this style of adventure.

Who this fishing trip fits best

This is a good fit if:

• You want to catch big species and you’re okay with the idea that marlins are released.
• You like learning. The trip info says the skipper teaches even if you have no experience.
• You want a full service day: gear, bait, license, help, and cleaning are included.
• You enjoy being out on the water, not watching a screen of ocean views while doing nothing.

It’s less ideal if:

• You’re sensitive to motion or already know you get seasick.
• You hate uncertain starts and want a highly scripted, classroom-like experience from minute one.
• You need a bigger onboard meal than snacks.

Should you book the big game fishing boat trip from Funchal?

Here’s my practical take. If you want a real chance at marlins, tuna, wahoo, and mahi from Madeira, and you’re comfortable being taught on the fly, this can be a memorable day at sea.

Book it if you:

• Can get to Av. do Mar 9000 on your own.
• Are ready to ask questions early and take direction.
• Understand marlins are catch and release.
• Don’t have seasickness issues.

Skip it or rethink your plan if you:

• Know you get motion sick fast.
• Need a highly predictable start with lots of instruction every minute.

If you do book, set yourself up for success: eat before you go, bring sunscreen and a hat, and be the active student for the first hour. On days when the team is on its game, you’ll feel it quickly—then it’s just you, the line, and the Atlantic trying to prove you right.

FAQ

What big game fish can I target on this Madeira trip?

You can target Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi, and other big game species depending on what’s available.

Are marlins catch and release?

Yes. Marlins are strictly catch and release on this trip.

Do I need fishing experience?

No. The professional skipper is an expert and will teach you what you need to know.

What’s included in the price?

The trip includes all fishing gear and bait, food and drinks, first mate services, the fishing license, and catch cleaning and filleting.

Is there a restroom onboard?

Yes. The boat includes a restroom.

How long is the trip?

It runs 4 to 7 hours, depending on starting times and availability.

Can I cancel for free?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

You Might Also Enjoy

Madeira Airport (FNC) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Funchal Hotels or Address)Private Tour: Guided Tuk Tuk Tour of Garajau and Cristo ReiNortheast Santana Traditional Houses 4×4 Safari Full-Day TourRabaçal: 25 Fontes & Risco Levada Transfer Self-guided Hike