Big game fishing trips Boa Vista

Blue marlin, tuna, and wahoo are the headline catches on this private 5-hour fishing trip from Sal Rei. You leave the fisherman’s pier at Te Manché, cross the harbor, and work the open water from a 7-meter motorboat fitted with GPS, marine radio, fishing radar, and a front sun deck.

I like two things right away: you fish with a local captain who knows Boa Vista’s waters, and the boat is reserved for your own group of up to three people. A strong recent outing produced about nine amberjack by speed jigging, so the trip is not limited to the headline species. The main drawback is simple: fishing is never guaranteed, and the €50 taxi from Hotel Riu Touareg is extra.

Key points to know before booking

• The trip begins at 8:00 am from Te Manché pier in Sal Rei, with the boat returning to the same meeting point.
• You fish from a 7-meter boat, roughly 22 feet long, equipped with GPS, marine radio, fishing radar, and a front sun deck.
• The price is $571.34 per group of up to three, making the cost easier to justify if you fill all three places.
• Trolling is used for big game fishing, while a reported outing also included speed jigging and around nine amberjack.
• The captain gives practical help with fishing methods and strategy, rather than simply taking you offshore and leaving you to work it out.
• Fish are released back into the sea or sold at the fish market, depending on the catch and what is decided on the day.

Leaving Sal Rei from Te Manché pier

Your morning begins at Avenida dos Pescadores, at the fisherman’s pier in Te Manché, Sal Rei. The scheduled start is 8:00 am, and the activity ends back at this same meeting point.

That location gives the trip a useful sense of place. You are not being collected at a large resort marina and placed straight onto a polished sightseeing boat. You begin among the working boats and fishing activity of Sal Rei, then pass through the bay and harbor before reaching the open sea.

Pickup is offered, which can make the morning easier if you are staying elsewhere in Boa Vista. Check the transfer cost carefully, though. If you are at Hotel Riu Touareg, the taxi costs €50 and is not included in the fishing price. That fee is paid at the pier, so budget for it before you set off.

The boat ride from the pier to open water is part of the experience, but it also means this is not a shore-based fishing lesson with a quick trip offshore. You need to be comfortable spending several hours on a small motorboat.

A 7-meter boat built for the open sea

The fishing boat is 7 meters long, or about 22 feet, with a motor and equipment suited to offshore fishing. It has GPS, a marine radio, fishing radar, and a front sun deck.

These details matter. GPS helps the captain navigate and return to productive areas. The marine radio is an important piece of standard boat equipment when you are away from shore. Fishing radar helps the captain search for promising water rather than relying only on guesswork.

The front sun deck gives you another place to sit during the ride or while the boat is moving between fishing areas. It does not turn the boat into a spacious luxury cruiser, however. With a maximum of three people in your group, you should have more room than on a shared excursion, but this is still a compact fishing boat.

I would choose this trip for the fishing rather than for comfort. The boat’s equipment is practical, and the small private setup lets the captain focus on your group. If you want shade, a large cabin, or plenty of room to walk around, you should ask about those points before booking because they are not specified.

How the fishing works once you reach open water

After the boat leaves the harbor, fishing begins in the open sea. For big game fishing, the captain trolls the boat at low speed while lines are worked through the water.

Trolling suits species such as blue marlin, tuna, and wahoo because the boat keeps the bait or lure moving over a broad area. The captain can adjust the route and watch the water for signs of fish. Your job is not simply to sit and wait. You can receive advice on technique, timing, and how to handle a strike when a fish takes the line.

The captain is described as an experienced fisherman who helps you pursue the larger species. That local input is one of the strongest reasons to book this trip instead of trying to arrange a boat without guidance. Fish move, conditions change, and a captain who spends time in these waters can make better decisions than someone working from a general chart.

Still, keep your expectations sensible. A blue marlin is a possibility, not a promise. The trip’s appeal is the chance to hunt for several powerful species, not a guaranteed catch.

Blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, and amberjack

The main target list includes blue marlin, tuna, and wahoo. These are the fish that make this a big game outing rather than a simple nearshore fishing session.

The available fishing account also gives the trip a useful second angle. A group using speed jigging caught about nine amberjack during the day. The crew brought them to different spots, watched carefully for fish, and set up productive drifts.

That result should not be treated as a normal catch guarantee. It does show that the trip can involve methods beyond trolling, depending on the conditions, the captain’s judgment, and what kind of fishing your group wants to try. If you are particularly interested in speed jigging or amberjack, mention it when arranging the trip.

I would also ask how the crew plans to divide the time between trolling and jigging. The published description emphasizes big game trolling, while the fishing account highlights speed jigging. Both can be useful, but knowing the plan helps you choose the right trip for your interests.

The captain’s role makes the difference

A private boat is only as useful as the person running it. Here, the captain handles navigation, chooses the fishing areas, operates the boat, and helps you with fishing methods.

The crew has been praised for organizing the outing well and moving the boat to spots where fish were being watched for closely. That is important because an offshore trip can feel long if the boat simply drifts without a clear plan.

You should expect advice rather than a formal classroom lesson. The captain can explain techniques and offer help as you fish. That arrangement works best if you are willing to ask questions and take instruction. A beginner can get useful support, while a more experienced angler can discuss tactics and target species.

The available information does not provide the captain’s name, so I cannot tell you who specifically will be at the helm. The provider is Boat trips & Fishing Boa Vista. The strongest practical point is the captain’s local experience, not a named personality or scripted tour talk.

A private trip for up to three people

The boat is for your group alone, with a maximum of three people. That is a major advantage for anglers who want control over the morning.

You can spend more time on the fishing style you prefer, ask for help without competing with a large group, and keep the outing focused. A private boat also makes the price easier to understand. At $571.34 per group, the cost works out to about $190 per person if three people share it. For one person, the same fixed price is much harder to justify.

The group limit also suits a family with older children or a small group of friends. The activity requires a moderate level of physical fitness, so you should be ready for several hours on a moving boat and the physical work involved in fishing. The description does not give a minimum age or specify how much standing, lifting, or line handling is required.

If one person in your group is much less interested in fishing, the private format still gives them the option to enjoy the boat and front sun deck. But this is not primarily a sightseeing cruise. The open sea and the fishing are the point.

What happens to the fish

Fish caught during the trip are released back into the sea or sold at the fish market. That gives you two possible outcomes after the fishing action.

If a fish is released, you get the satisfaction of the catch without taking it away. If fish are sold at the market, the catch enters the local fishing economy. The exact choice may depend on the species, condition of the fish, and arrangements on the day.

This is worth confirming before departure if catch-and-release is important to you. The published details allow for both options and do not state that every fish follows one policy.

Price, timing, and the real value

The listed price is $571.34 per group of up to three, for approximately five hours. That is a high total for a short excursion, but it includes the private boat rather than three separate seats on a shared trip.

The value improves sharply when three people divide the cost. You are paying for the boat, captain, equipment, and a focused outing, not just transport to a fishing area. GPS, radar, radio, and a capable boat also matter more offshore than they would on a short coastal trip.

The extra taxi charge from Hotel Riu Touareg reduces the value slightly for that resort. Other pickup arrangements may differ, but the information only confirms that pickup is offered and that this particular €50 taxi is separate.

Five hours is long enough to reach open water, fish properly, and return without giving up an entire day. It is also long enough for a slow day to feel slow. You should book this because you enjoy the process of fishing, not only because you want a photograph with a marlin.

The trip is commonly reserved well ahead of time, with booking taking place around 44 days before departure on average. That suggests you should not leave it until the final morning if the activity is important to your holiday.

Weather and cancellation details

The boat needs good weather to operate. If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 8:00 am start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded, and changes inside that same period are not accepted.

Because fishing conditions depend on the sea, this policy is reasonable, but it makes timing important. Keep your schedule flexible enough to move the trip if the weather turns bad. The activity ends at the meeting point, so plan your return transport from Te Manché rather than assuming a separate drop-off.

Who will enjoy this Boa Vista fishing trip

I would recommend this experience to an angler who wants a serious attempt at offshore species without joining a large group. It also fits a small group that values a private boat and direct help from a local captain.

It is a good match for:

• People hoping to catch blue marlin, tuna, or wahoo
• Anglers interested in trolling or speed jigging
• Small groups of up to three who can share the fixed price
• Visitors with moderate physical fitness
• People who prefer a working fishing harbor to a polished tourist marina

I would be more cautious if you dislike uncertain outcomes, get uncomfortable on small boats, or want a relaxed coastal cruise. The equipment is useful, but no boat or radar can guarantee fish.

Is Big Game Fishing Boa Vista worth booking?

Book it if you want a private offshore fishing attempt and can share the cost with two other people. The local captain, compact group size, modern fish-finding equipment, and possibility of targeting several strong species give the trip real value.

The reported catch of around nine amberjack also suggests that a good day can offer more than a long wait for blue marlin. But keep the right expectation: this is a fishing expedition, not a guaranteed catch package. If you accept the uncertainty and are ready for five hours on a small boat, this is one of the more focused ways to fish from Boa Vista.

FAQ

Where does the fishing trip start?

It starts at Avenida dos Pescadores, at the fisherman’s pier in Te Manché, 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 approximately five hours and returns to the original meeting point.

How many people can join the private boat?

The private activity is for a group of up to three people.

Is transport from Hotel Riu Touareg included?

No. A €50 taxi fee from Hotel Riu Touareg to the pier is not included and can be paid upon arrival at the pier.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

You can choose another date or receive a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather.