Atlantic Islands

Atlantic Islands fishing charters are the stuff of big-game legend, built on steep volcanic seamounts that plunge to blue-water depths within a mile or two of the harbor. This is where anglers come with one word in mind: grander. Madeira, the Azores and the Canaries have all produced blue marlin over 1,000 pounds, and the region's short summer season delivers some of the highest big-fish averages in the world. The scenery, mountainous islands rising straight from the sea, is worth the trip on its own.

Top fishing destinations in the Atlantic Islands

Three archipelagos anchor the region, each with its own signature.

• Madeira — Fishing out of Funchal, Madeira is arguably the best place on earth to target a grander blue marlin, thanks to abundant bait and dramatic bathymetry close to shore.
• Azores — The seamounts around Faial, Pico and São Miguel hold huge blue marlin plus bigeye and yellowfin tuna, with July through October the prime window.
• Canary Islands (La Gomera) — La Gomera's Valle Gran Rey and Playa Santiago offer a long season and consistent blue marlin, spearfish and tuna in deep water just off the cliffs.

Best time to fish the Atlantic Islands

The Atlantic Islands are a summer game. Madeira's blue marlin peak June through September, with August the classic grander month. The Azores fish best July through October, when tuna and marlin stack over the banks. The Canaries enjoy the longest season, roughly April through October, making La Gomera a good choice for shoulder-season trips when the other islands have wound down.

What you'll catch

The headline is blue marlin, often at trophy size, but the region is far from a one-species show. Expect bigeye and yellowfin tuna, white marlin and spearfish, plus wahoo and mahi-mahi on the run home. Bluefin tuna also pass through on migration. This is trolling-focused, big-tackle fishing, best suited to anglers happy to invest a full day for a shot at the fish of a lifetime.