Fishing as a recreational activity gets much love and appreciation from most people. However, only a few courageous veterans dare to sail in the high tides. Various tours and charters are operating in Africa to make big game fishing accessible and safe.

Each tour offers a list of activities and follows customized schedules to make the most of your available time. As a result, the travel packages change prices with destinations. So, it is crucial to gather some information about the charters beforehand.

This article provides information about the best fishing tours and charter destinations in Africa.

1. Mauritius

The tropical island of Mauritius is an ideal fishing location, enriched with natural attractions and water sports. The destination hosts exotic marine life and provides good catches at any time of the year.

The climate plays a vital role in fishing. The winter feels warm and dry, starting the first half of the year till November. The remaining days are summer, and the island gets hot and humid.

In winter, schools of skipjack tuna, dogtooth, Dorado, sailfish, hammerheads, etc., get quite active. If the expedition starts in early March and April, there is a high likelihood of landing on the yellow fin tuna.

Each year, Mauritius big game fishing attracts a range of expert anglers to catch for the next world record. The recent one was a blue marlin- weighing 1375 lbs. The blue and black marlin are among the primary attractions of Mauritius. These are available in the summer, after November till March.

2. Kenya and Tanzania

Kenyan and Tanzania are neighbouring areas in the eastern part of Africa with a natural affinity for in-shore fishing. The water body houses King Mackerel, Yellow spot, Amberjack, baitfish, Bonito, Trevally, Rainbow runner, and Barracuda-like fishes.

Furthermore, it is another destination for Yellow fin tuna and billfish. On a good day, you’ll be looking at sailfish, swordfish, spearfish, striped marlin, blue marlin, and striped marlin, along with some sharks.

3. Western Cape

The western part of the cape is famous for its freshwater fishing. The major varieties include carp, rainbow trout, Mozambique tilapia, and bass. The nearby freshwater streams merge with the Western Cape waters, revealing a variety of fish you can catch from the yacht.

There are a few specialized locations along the shores. False Bay has a wide range of tuna fish. Kommetjie has white Steenbras, stumpnose and albacore, and Hout bay adds snoek and crayfish. Rooikrans is famous for its Hottentot and Kob fish. Black marlin, sand sharks, and broadbill are popular in the Langebaan region.

4. Mazeppa Bay

Mazeppa bay is another fishing destination in Eastern Cape. Similar to the previous ones, this destination has a high yield of big catches, most of which will range over 200kg.

It is a prime destination for Grey sharks (350kg), Ragged Tooth sharks (also 350kg), hammerheads, and Mako sharks. In addition, Mazeppa has an iconic range of rays, including the Stingray, Thorntail, Eagle, Blackray, and Spearnose ray.

However, not all of these are edible. Other fishes may not weigh so much but will surely make your day. These include the great Garrick, Kob fish, shad, Galjoen Blacktail, etc.

Pay close attention to the onboard guidance or the list of protected fish. If you make a good catch of protected species, you can take the picture, but it’ll go straight back into the waters shortly.

5. Guinea Bissau fishing

Guinea Bissau is a small fishing village forming an archipelago of 88 different islands. Although slightly underdeveloped, the prospects for fishing are quite high.

The fish in the area contains various small species. The primary one used in sustenance fishing is Crevalle Jack. It reaches up to 20 kg and travels in groups. So, a large-scale bait is commonly used. Otolite, Rays, Blue-spotted sea bream, and pompano are all similar to the crevalle jack in size. Some are suitable as bait, while others are big and attractive for a display capture.

Big games are also lurking in the seas, including tiger sharks with a recorded catch of 700kgs. King tarpons are among the main attractions, with the top catch record of 130kgs to date.

Conclusion

When it comes to bid game fishing charters and exciting travel trips, nothing beats the comforts of a good fishing tour or a charter. In these, you no longer have to worry about travel routes, fishing gear, and all the preparation that goes along with it. But first, you have to decide on the travel destination as it’s the most important step. Good preparation for a fishing trip will prevent any probable mis happenings along the way. With the information provided here, you are ready to prepare for your next fishing adventure.

We all know the story- you saved the dates, booked your flight, and are almost ready to head out on the fishing adventure of a lifetime. No matter where you are travelling to, it’s always essential to pack extra layers of clothing, especially if you are planning on fishing in open water.

Even the warmest places can experience significant temperature drops when you head offshore.

Below is a list of items you need to carry during a deep sea fishing trip:

1) Windbreaker to protect you from getting splashed

2) Shorts if you are going somewhere tropical

3) if not, long pants

4) A lightweight shirt, preferably a lighter color, to help reflect the sun away from your body

5) Gloves to protect your hands from sunburn, lousy weather and line cuts

But last but not least, you will want to pack non-skid rubber-soled shoes. Sneakers, for example, are perfect, flip flops not so much.

There are three more items that are of utmost importance:

Before you go fishing, make sure you always bring sunscreen, a hat and polarized sunglasses. It’s also a good idea to have a waterproof jacket & rain pants in case of bad weather.

Remember your medication

When travelling on a fishing charter, it’s always best to bring your medication. Something we recommend, especially if it’s your first time on the boat, is motion sickness medicine.

Dramamine when you take it by the directions, you get super sleepy, you get super hungry, and you almost get into a coma. It isn’t perfect. But the right way to take this drug is the night before you go to sleep & in the morning, take half a pill when you wake up with your breakfast.

Consequently, the Dramamine would be in your system and working. We don’t want to take it when it is too late, i.e. when we are already seasick. You can have half the remaining pill if you think you need it 4 hours later.

When the seasickness has gone too bad, the only solution is to get to the dry land as soon as possible. As a result, the switch turns off.

Make sure you have a no sugar or low sugar breakfast because the sugar will probably make you sick. Ginger certainly helps, and you can take tablets of ginger or extracts containing ginger.

It is also advised to not go into the cabin. A cabin is a sure way to get seasick, especially if there is no good air conditioning.

Activity is anti-seasickness

The best way not to get sick on board a fishing charter is to do something all the time. The trouble arises when you are idle & let the boat rock you back and forth. So, we need to stay active.

It’s also not a bad idea to bring some bug spray, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and any other prescription or allergy medicine you may also need.

First and foremost, ensure you have an excellent outdoor backpack, such as a hiking or fishing specialist backpack.

A collapsible cooler will help keep your food and drinks fresh and relaxed throughout the ride.

A drinking bottle will help keep you hydrated, and you will not have to worry about annoying leaks or spills.

And always make sure you pack waterproof zip lock bags for your electronics and important documents such as your passport and fishing license.

Some other items you might have to think about bringing along are a hand towel and swimsuit.

If you are a serious angler, you might consider bringing your equipment.

Finally, remember to bring your camera or smartphone so that you can record your trophy catch and make your memory last.

Fishing is complicated is a high-risk, high reward water sports activity. The worst-case scenario should be that you don’t get any fish and return safely on land. Let’s look at the aspects that would optimize your chances of catching any fish. If you track all fish that you land, then you are in a better position of catching big fish whenever you go on a fishing trip anywhere in the world. Don’t let these hold you back, but if you use tracking information correctly, you can catch more fish and become more efficient.

The Rod Reel

The most important among these is to set up your rod reels properly. Picking a reel depends on what type of fish you want to target. A short rod is meant for accuracy & a long rod is made for a distant casting. A short rod of 6.6 ft is excellent using light lures, but a 7.2 ft to 7.6 ft is a great all-around rod size. 8 ft plus is for top waters & large baits.

The Line

There are so many options with line. If the rod is 3-5 kg, then make sure that the line you upload on the rod is of lower capacity, i.e. below 5 kg, because you want the line to break before the rod breaks. You choose the length of your line that, might be a few hundred metres.

When is the best time to go fishing?

The best time is when you can, but you can increase your odds of catching fish by utilizing a great tool free for all anglers worldwide. First, we will look at the main parameters that may guarantee to catch fish safely.

Weather

The most crucial one is the weather. It’s essential to see what the meteorological services predicted for that day. If you want to fish safely, you need to respect mother nature.

Tides

Rising pressure is the best time to fish. The reason is that fish senses air pressure through their air bladder. So the rise in pressure increases your odds of catching fish.

UV Protection.

You want to make sure that you are wearing the right gear that keeps you protected during your fishing activities. Else you can get sunburnt very quickly.

Water Temperature

Water temperature is an essential factor to consider when fishing. The optimum is 70 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit.

Waves.

High waves can make things difficult, So you must always turn away from this condition and find a dishing ground that does not have many waves, especially when fishing in large water bodies. The amplitude of the tides is vital because they tell you the strength of the current.

If you give consideration to everything discussed above, you can have a charming fishing tour for your vacation and a pretty good catch to enjoy with your friends and family.