FISHING

[madaboutangling]

I am looking forward to fishing off the shore around Carvoeiro when I stay next week. Does anyone know where there is a fishing tackle shop in the area for gear and advice.
Also if you have fished, please share your places and tips and say how you've done.
Thanks

[EMM]

There is a fishing shop at the top end of the Rua da pescadores ( in road ) very helpfull .
Officially you will need a licence.
The best spot for casual holday fishing is Algar seco.
Bait buy some cheap prawns and worms and fish as the locals do.
Another good spot is the breakwater near ferragudo your OH and chidren can relax on the nearby beach .

I am back for a few days would like to join you but I will be too busy decorating etc and it will be more than my lifes worth.

[Raithstar]

I fished a few times when I was out in August , I went to algar seco couldn't catch anything . The boy in the tackle shop was really helpful gave me a booklet with the tide times and advised on bait . He recommended worms which are €2.50?

[EMM]

Watch the locals they do not use worms as they cannot afford them.
They will use a prawn or shell fish until a fish is caught then cut that up for bait.
They also fish early and late avoiding the full glare of the sun because that is when the fish move offshore into deep water.
Our neighbour was coming back with up to 20 fish from his sessions at Rocha Brava but you do need a Portuguese head for heights to fish from the higher cliffs.

[madaboutangling]

I went out in October. Got tackle from good Carvoeiro fishing shop and bought sardine as bait.
Fished at dawn off Centaines beach - lovely place and just a local for company. First time I cast out on left hand side as you look out to sea. Kept snagging on rocks. Also the sardine kept disintegrating and coming off the hook. Went back to shop and he advised they use elasticated thread to keep the bait on so bought some. I thought my weight was too heavy as it seemed to go to the bottom too quickly which was no good as after bass etc.
Tried again this time with squid and prawns and moved up and down the beach for 2 hours at dawn. No luck but the local had none either and he was spinning like me as well as having two long beach rods going. I looked at what he was using and instead of a weight, he had what looked like a clear plastic ball with water in which would have kept the hook higher in the water. Also using worns but the fishing shop had none. When I asked if I should use on of theior many lures, he said don't bother execpt in the winter which was refreshing honesty.

Let me know how you get on!

[EMM]

There is obviously no substitute for local knowledge and experience.
We were walking on the cilffs above centianne beach on monday afternoon and there was an old gentleman fishing.
His rod was held together with tape and bits of string but he had bucket full of fish and an octopus which he had caught in a few hours.
He was going to make a fish stew out of the various sizes and species caught.

[Bruce Wallis]

Last year, my son and I were attempting to fish off Centiannes beach, when the owner of O Stop came down and started hauling in mackerel on virtually every cast.

His bait?? A shredded white Intermarche plastic carrier bag!!

We tried it....and it worked, but nothing like as well as him!!

The clincher was when he was hauling one in, and his rod suddenly bent over, as a big sea bass took his mackerel, and he landed both!!

In general, we have very little luck fishing.....too many rocks off the beach, and lobbing my line over from 160 feet up on the clifftop by our house seems a little daunting.....but that is the spot that the locals seem to favour......even if one did go over the year before last....and his body never recovered!!

[madaboutangling]

Thanks for good update. I had heard that the mackeral do not go for feathers as in the UK. They must have got used to the effects of the Portugese economic crisis on local bait and are so hungry they will chase anything! Very encouraging to hear big bass are off this beach so will try again when next out and also ask O Stop owner for tips. It is such a great pleasure fishing there that I wss not that downhearted but would like to catch something as the fish are obviously there. I am also not going to risk my life fishing from the cliffs!

[EMM]

The day I tried to go fishing it was far too rough and dangerous to fish from my local rocks.
On our next trip I will be trying the weighted "egg " with either bait or a lure attached on a long leader.
I have seen a lot of fish caught of the ferragudo breakwater, it seems to be the most popular spot in the area

[EMM]

Had a great few hours fishing yesterday afternoon. Kept 3 for the BBQ , dinner tonight and 1 small one too badly hooked to return for the cat.
It was a glorious day, warm and sunny, the sea was pretty lively, gave up when the waves starting washing over where I was fishing.
One good thing about the lack of visitors is that I was not constantly being asked " caught anything yet "??

[sunman]

Had a great few hours fishing yesterday afternoon. Kept 3 for the BBQ , dinner tonight and 1 small one too badly hooked to return for the cat.
It was a glorious day, warm and sunny, the sea was pretty lively, gave up when the waves starting washing over where I was fishing.
One good thing about the lack of visitors is that I was not constantly being asked " caught anything yet "??

EMM, do you spend any time in your life in the company of others?

[EMM]

" and listen to the wrong and badlly informed opinions of others " What do you think

The fish were delicious, we and the cat really enjoyed them.

[Gary/Gaynor]

I must come fishing with you some day EMM. My dad taught us girls to fish fresh water from about the age of 9yrs old but would love to do some beach casting.
Gaynor

[madaboutangling]

Hi EMM
Good to see you were successful fishing wise. As I freeze in the UK, I was wondering what you caught with what bait in what location?

[EMM]

I float fish from a ledge about 5/6ft above the sea so when it is stormy is a no go.
I christened a new 5mtr sea float rod bought in the Carvoeiro fishing shop, a christmas present, it will cast up to 100g.
The bait is de frosted prawn, , the cheapest from the deep freeze section in any of the supermarkets, or a a small piece of fish, sardine, carapau again from the deep freeze. If I can get away with it I use the big raw prawns cut up into 3 or 4 pcs.
I caught dourade and selima ( excuse spelling ) 3 of these each of which was enough for the two of us ,Its not a premium fish but I have caught mullet and seen bass caught from the same place.
I was told in the fishing shop that Centiannes beach is a good place to lure fish for bass early in the morning using plugs when the tide is right, again not too stormy.
Another method is to use a plastic floating egg, or heavy bubble float to beach cast a plastic sand eel or red gill type lure out to where the bass cruise. I will be trying this on my next trip.