Fishing in Madagascar – a dream destination for beginners and experienced anglers alike!
A fishing vacation in Madagascar is one of the most impressive experiences in the Indian Ocean. The island not only offers fascinating scenery, but also one of the most diverse fisheries in the world. Whether popper fishing and jigging for giant trevally or spin fishing for bonito, a fishing trip to Madagascar combines adventure, sport, and nature in a unique way.
The Mitsio Tropical Lodge - Mitsio Island
Accommodation plays an important role in this. The Mitsio Tropical Lodge is located directly on the fine sandy beach and is spacious. Fresh meals are prepared daily in the main house with its open kitchen, which guests enjoy together at the long table.
The kitchen offers a varied mix of international cuisine and regional influences. Fresh fish and seafood are on the menu almost every day. The selection ranges from grilled tuna and shrimp to crab and squid, often combined with aromatic spices and fresh vegetables. There are also meat dishes tailored to European tastes and desserts to round off the day on a sweet note.
Breakfast is also tailored to the needs of anglers. Coffee, tea, fresh fruit, and hot egg dishes ensure an energetic start to the day before the boats set sail. In between, the crew prepares small snacks or light meals for the trips so that you are well catered for while fishing. In the evening, guests can enjoy a multi-course menu that rounds off the day’s fishing in style.
The lodge also has an open bar where drinks are available at any time. Whether soft drinks, fresh juice, or a cold beer at sunset—everything is included in the all-inclusive system. This makes for relaxed evenings where you can end the day together.
The Cottages & Boats
The Mitsio Tropical Lodge has a total of seven cottages. Guests stay in small, comfortable cottages with a shower, toilet, and single beds. The proximity to the ocean means that you can start the day with a swim in the sea before heading out fishing. The atmosphere at the lodge is relaxed and gives you the feeling of living in the middle of nature while being well looked after.
Three boats with 250 hp engines are available for daily trips, each with a crew of two. The fishing grounds off the coast are huge, ranging from shallow reefs to plateaus 30 to 80 meters deep to the drop-off about 35 kilometers away. The guides know the best spots and draw on years of collected data. This means that successful fishing in Madagascar is almost guaranteed.
Fishing in Madagascar – Methods and Fish Species
Fishing for GT, the Giant Trevally, is undoubtedly the highlight of any fishing trip to Madagascar. This fish is considered one of the toughest opponents in saltwater. Various fishing methods are used on Mitsio Island. In addition to jigging, the most commonly used fishing method on Mitsio Island, popping can also be done in a few places. However, this always depends on the conditions.
Bait Fishing in Madagascar
Fishing with bait fish is also very effective. Sharks, marlin, and sailfish are particularly common catches with this type of fishing. The chances of catching really big GTs are also high when fishing with natural bait. That’s why we always fish with one or two “joker rods” when jigging or changing locations. In the past, we have caught quite a few big GTs, sharks, and huge marlins using this fishing method!
Bonito Fishing in Mitsio Island
The area around Mitsio Island has an extremely high bonito population. Bonitos are therefore one of the main bait fish for all large predators such as GT, grouper, marlin, sharks, sailfish, and barracuda. It is therefore essential to catch a few of the strong bonito as bait. The fishing method for bonito fishing is quite simple. Relatively light rods are used. These have a casting weight of between 80-150g and should ideally be between 2.4-2.7m long. This allows for a better casting distance.
Flocks of birds often reveal the position of bonito shoals. These are then approached at full speed. The anglers fish with 40g sea trout spoons from the bow of the boat. Once the school is within casting range, you have to be quick. A long cast is essential for success. As soon as the bait touches the surface, it must be reeled in as quickly as possible. This is the only way the bonito will react to the bait and be successfully hooked.
Jigging & Slow Jigging in Madagascar
When jigging, heavy metal jigs are lowered vertically into the depths and retrieved with powerful upward movements. The fast and irregular movement of the bait creates a dynamic action that immediately attracts predatory fish. This method is particularly effective in the waters off Madagascar, where depths between 30 and 80 meters dominate.
The variety of species caught when jigging is enormous. In addition to amberjacks and dogtooth tunas, various species of snapper, barracuda, and grouper are also regular catches. These fish are found at medium depths on edges, reefs, or above plateaus and often attack the jigs without warning. A bite is usually brutal, and the subsequent fight is exhausting.
Slow jigging is also particularly appealing. It is a lighter variant in which the jigs are guided more gently and rhythmically. This technique is suitable for targeting various reef dwellers. Many anglers appreciate not only the variety of target fish, but also the high frequency of bites achieved with this method.
Fishing tackle for jigging in Madagascar
Jigging requires robust equipment: short, powerful rods, high-performance multi-reels or fixed spool reels, and braided lines with high breaking strength. It is also important to use the right leader material, as many fish have sharp teeth or rough jaws. The lodge in Madagascar has all the necessary equipment – jigs in various weights, hooks, and spare parts can be purchased from the in-house tackle shop.
A typical jigging session involves the boats heading for distinctive structures that the guides have stored in their chartplotters over the years. There, the bait is lowered to the bottom and animated with different guiding styles. Sometimes explosive and fast, sometimes calmer in a slow jigging style. This allows the entire water column to be searched for active predators.
Especially for anglers looking for an intense and physically demanding fishing method, jigging in Madagascar is a highlight of the trip. Hardly any other technique conveys the power of tropical sea fish so directly. Those who give it a try will experience unforgettable fights – whether it’s the dogtooth tuna fleeing deep into the reel or the amberjack pulling back into the reef with brutal force.
Schedule for a day of fishing
A day of fishing in Madagascar begins early in the morning at the lodge. After breakfast with coffee, tea, egg dishes, and fresh fruit, it’s straight to the boats. Each team is accompanied by an experienced crew who flexibly plan the day’s schedule depending on conditions.
Usually, the first thing to do is to search for schools of bonito on the way to the first fishing spots. As already described, bonito are an important part of the fishing methods on Mitsio Island. Bonito are mainly active in the morning, so no time is wasted and the bait fish are caught quickly. After that, it’s off to the first spots for jigging.
Various fishing methods are used throughout the day. Jigging is the primary method. The “joker rods” are always in use. During lunch, trolling is often done and guests have time to relax a bit. Marlin and large sharks are often caught while fishing and trolling during the lunch break. After lunch, jigging continues or snapper and grouper are fished with natural bait. The fishing method is then adjusted according to the anglers’ wishes.
Fishing until sunset!
Throughout the day, the crew provides small snacks and refreshments on board so that no one goes hungry during the long sessions. In the afternoon, other spots are usually tested again – whether it’s barracuda fishing on reef edges or targeting deeper spots on the drop-off.
Towards evening, the boats return to the lodge. The day often ends at dusk, sometimes even after dark, when the last drills have been completed. Back on land, dinner is waiting in the main house, where the day’s experiences are shared in a convivial atmosphere.
Thus, a typical day of fishing in Madagascar combines intensive fishing with varied methods, impressive fights, and the shared experience at sea – from the first casts in the morning to the last bite in the evening sun.
Fishing equipment and tackle service
The lodge is well equipped. Its own tackle shop allows you to buy any missing equipment on site – from jigs and leaders to rods. If you don’t want to bring your own equipment, you can hire it. This makes Madagascar an ideal destination for beginners on their first fishing trip to tropical saltwater.
Andree’s Expeditions offers a tackle service even before the trip. Guests can order all the fishing equipment they need for their fishing vacation in advance. The complete tackle package is then sent to the guests’ homes before departure. This means that guests don’t have to worry about a thing and always have the best fishing equipment and bait for Madagascar at their disposal. Ideal for beginners, but also for anglers who don’t have time to deal with tackle orders before their fishing trip.
Extension program on Nosy Be
After intensive days of fishing, Madagascar offers the opportunity to extend your stay with a varied follow-up program on Nosy Be. The island is not only the starting point for many fishing trips, but also an attractive destination in its own right, with impressive nature, varied activities, and a charm all of its own.
A highlight for many guests is a quad bike tour across the island. On dusty paths, through tropical vegetation and past small villages, Nosy Be shows its most pristine side. The route takes you over hills, through muddy passages, and along narrow paths. It is not uncommon for a quad bike to get stuck, which quickly turns into a little adventure that brings the group closer together. Despite the effort, the fun outweighs everything else, and in the end, you are left with memories of an experience that is hard to describe at home.
In addition to this action-packed option, Nosy Be also has a lot to offer in terms of scenery. The tours take you through diverse regions: from lush green forests to wide plains and coastal areas with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. The diversity of nature is impressive and makes it clear why Madagascar is considered one of the most beautiful island nations in the world.
Nosy Be also has a lot to offer culturally. The drive through small villages provides insights into the everyday life of the people who live here in simpler structures. Friendly encounters along the way demonstrate the openness and warmth of the inhabitants.
For many guests, Nosy Be is therefore the perfect complement to eventful days of fishing. While adrenaline, strength, and endurance are required on the water, the island offers the opportunity to get to know the surroundings from a different perspective—adventurously on a quad bike, scenically while exploring nature, or relaxed with a cool drink on the beach.
The follow-up program on Nosy Be thus provides a fitting conclusion to the fishing trip: first the intense drills on GTs, tuna, and dogtooth tuna, then immersion in the landscape, culture, and adventure on one of Madagascar’s most beautiful islands.
Conclusion on the fishing trip
A fishing trip to Madagascar combines comfortable lodges, spectacular fishing, and impressive nature. Fishing for GT with poppers and jigs, the biodiversity and fishing methods, as well as varied days on the water make the region one of the best fishing grounds in the Indian Ocean. Those who want to combine their fishing vacation with adventure, sporting challenges, and unique experiences will find ideal conditions here.
Would you like to visit Mitsio Island too?
Here you can find our fishing offer in Madagascar – Mitsio Island: https://andrees-expeditions.de/en/fishing-madagascar-mitsio-island/
