First things first: Macaronesia is not a misspelling of Micronesia. Micronesia is the northwestern part of Oceania, with some 200 Pacific islands including the Marshall Islands and Guam. Macaronesia, by contrast, refers to several archipelagos lying in the Eastern Atlantic: the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Madeira, and the Azores. The term “Macaronesia” was originally coined in Ancient Greece, and literally means “Islands of the Fortunate”. As long as recreational angling is concerned, the ancient Greeks had it spot on.
Macaronesian Islands
All Macaronesian islands have a lot in common. They are all of volcanic origin, and lie well off the shore, with deep seas within rowing distance. They have varied, but overall nice climate, moderated by the ocean, and it’s never too hot or too cold. Although already in Ancient Greece geographers had a general idea that somewhere west of Gibraltar there are several islands, most Macaronesian islands have not been populated by humans until the Age of Discovery.
Macaronesia is located in some of the deepest parts of the Atlantic Ocean, and is washed by several important currents. Two of them, the North Atlantic Current, and the Azores Current, are actually the two branches of the Gulf Stream. They pass the Azores to the north and to the south respectively. Around Madeira the Azores Current rejoins the southern branch of the North Atlantic Current, known as the Madeira Current.
Pushed westwards by saltier waters flowing out of the Mediterranean Sea, the cold Canaries Current makes a wide arch, and, bypassing the Canary Islands, continues westward. Parallel to it and slightly to the south flows the North Equatorial Current, that starts around Gibraltar and is pushed by northern trade winds. Cape Verde lies between the North Equatorial Current to the north and the Northern Equatorial Countercurrent, which flows from west to east, to the south, and is also washed by the Mauritania Current that goes from south to north along the African coast.
Macaronesian Islands played a crucial role in the early years of the Age of Discovery, serving as stopovers for transatlantic voyages and sailing around Africa, and were important production areas for crops like sugarcane and tobacco. These days, with their pleasant climate and clean seas, they are popular tourist destinations, with millions of Europeans having their vacations on their beaches. And the Macaronesian Islands provide excellent opportunities for fishing trips, each in its own unique way.
Canary Islands
Canary Islands are the only part of Macaronesia that was populated by humans before the Age of Discovery. The Guanche, the original inhabitants of Canary Islands, are thought to be closely related to the Berbers of Northern Africa, and their culture can still be perceived in many places, such as cave dwellings on the eastern coast of Tenerife. The Canary Islands were colonized by Spain, and today are a part of Spain in all respects, including travel and visa requirements.
Canary Islands include seven large, inhabited islands: Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro, and countless small islets. They lie only about 100 kilometers off the coast of Africa, between 27° and 29° North latitude and 13° and 18° West longitude. Mount Teide, rising to 3,715 meters above sea level and 7,500 meters as measured from the ocean floor, has not erupted for over a century, but the volcanic activities on the Canary Islands continue underwater, especially around El Hierro.
With its warm but not too hot climate, and seas temperatures that lie between 18°C (64°F) and 24°C (75°F), the Canary Islands are a hotspot for tourists, and are well known for their big game fishing, especially around the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
Cape Verde
The only independent nation among the Macaronesian Islands, the Cape Verde archipelago was uninhibited until discovered by the Portuguese in 1440. It remained a Portuguese colony from then on and until 1975, when the islands, without any of the drama and bloodshed that plagued Portugal’s colonial affairs elsewhere, peacefully gained their independence. The islands got their name from Cape Verde, the westernmost point of Africa and the nearest mainland to them.
During the Age of Discovery, Cape Verde were not only an important stopover point for transatlantic trips, but sadly have played an important part in the slave trade, with many Caboverdians tracing their ancestry to West Africans brought there against their will. Located at the south of Macaronesia, Cape Verde islands present a double interest for a recreational angler, as they are not only privy to migration of the pelagic species, with Sal and Boa Vista islands being hotspots for marlin and tuna, but provide an exciting opportunity to catch some species whose range lie in southern Atlantic, such as African pompano.
Madeira
Madeira was discovered in the early XV century by sailors in service of Henry the Navigator, the Portuguese nobleman who never set foot on the deck of a ship, but more than deserves his moniker owing to numerous naval explorations that he organized and financed, launching what would become the Age of Discovery. Apart from the main island of the same name, Madeira also encompasses the island of Porto Santo, as well as the Desertas and the Savage Islands. The latter are natural reserves and have no human population except for the wardens and some researchers.
Madeira is an autonomous region within Portugal, and the entry requirements are the same as for this country. Connected with the mainland by regular air traffic, Madeira is a very popular tourist destination. The tourists are attracted by warm, tropical savanna climate, the beaches, ancient laurel forests, the world-famous wineries – and there’s some excellent fishing, too!
Azores
The Azores are perhaps the most diverse part of Macaronesia. Unconfirmed evidence suggests the island might have been populated by the Vikings in the IX century, and there might have been human settlements as early as 2,000 years ago, but when the Portuguese (who else?) landed on them in the middle of the XV century, the islands were uninhabited. After sporadic and diverse settlement, troubled by wars, pirate raids, and succession crises, the Azores served as an important stopover for marine travel, and in the course of the XX century as refueling hop for transatlantic flights.
Now the islands are a tranquil place, with the economy relying on agriculture and tourism. Volcanic in origin, the Azores lie on the junction of the African, Eurasian, and North American tectonic plates in the Atlantic Ocean, thousands of miles off the Iberian coast. The climate of the Azores is mild, with daily temperatures about 16-25°C (61-77°F), but wet and cloudy. This explains why tourists don’t visit them as often as the sunnier Canary Islands. However, many fishing enthusiasts find the Azore, shine or rain, a destination second to none: the ocean floor, out of which the islands rise, lies several thousand meters deep, and the migration routes of the pelagic species pass right nearby.
Fish of the Macaronesia
The deep seas of the Eastern Atlantic are home to some of the most desirable game fish on this planet. From the majestic marlin to the so-ugly-it’s-almost-beautiful grouper, these waters have everything to lure the angler. Here are some of the fish you can catch on a fishing trip in Macaronesia.
His Majesty the King: Blue Marlin
The Atlantic blue marlin is arguably the most sought-after game fish. Of giant proportions, with the registered angling record at 636 kg (1,402 lb), this denizen of the deep seas rarely approaches coastlines, and so the islands are the best base from where to sail after this prized catch. And the islands of Macaronesia offer some of the best opportunities for that.
In the Atlantic, the blue marlin migrate in response to seasonal changes, following warm currents and the movement of their prey, which includes tuna, mackerel, and squid. They typically move to the north in the warmer times of the year, and to the south when it’s cold. Blue marlin spawn in the warmer waters of the Atlantic, often near the equator. Post-spawning, they move northwards to feed, making their way through the Macaronesian islands.
Off the Azores, the blue marlin are usually present from late June to September, with peak season being July and August. Near Madeira, the best time to find blue marlin is from July to October, with August and September particularly productive. Canary Islands see marlin May to October, with June through September providing the best opportunities. And Capo Verde, one of the most renowned destinations for blue marlin, has the longest season stretching from March to November. The prime months are April to July, and then again in October.
Other Nomads of the Ocean
Macaronesia’s rich marine biodiversity and strategic location in the Atlantic Ocean make it a hotspot for many pelagic species. If you only look at the ocean currents maps of the region, you’ll see that, just as no galleon or caravelle that intended to cross the Atlantic or sail up and down Africa’s cost could miss one of Macaronesia’s archipelagos, so no fish that is up to the same idea can miss them.
In addition to the blue marlin, the islands of Macaronesia are some of the world’s best places to catch wahoo. Their peak times mostly coincide with those for blue marlin. In the summer months the islands see the mass migration of white marlin, swordfish, dolphinfish (mahi-mahi), and several species of tuna: big-eye, bluefin, yellowfin, skipjack, as well as albacore and bonito, to say nothing of the large schools of prey fish like mackerel that these big predators follow.
Actually, there’s some big game fishing in Macaronesia in any given month of the year, especially in the southern parts of the area. Yellowfin tuna is found off Cape Verde throughout the year, and the bigeye tuna is present around the Canary Islands and Cape Verde in all seasons as well. However, even for the fish that hangs around more or less all the time, the best season to fish in Macaronesia is, roughly speaking, from April to October.
Non-Migratory Fish
Apart from the tourists, there are also the locals: many fish species don’t just pass by Macaronesian islands, but spend their whole life cycle in those waters. These species provide excellent fishing opportunities year round. From Cape Verde to the Azores you can cast your line after such exotic and exciting species as red and Cubera snapper, triggerfish, scorpionfish, Guinean parrotfish and African pompano.
Some of the most demanded fish here is amberjack. These powerful fighters, that can grow up to 6 feet in length and 150 lb. in weight, are usually found near reefs, wrecks, and rocky outcrops. The same habitats are shared by several species of groupers. Local fishermen like to fish for hake, which is prized more for its culinary properties than for exciting fight; other local favorites include dentex (known as pargo in some places), sea bass and gilt-head bream.
How to Catch Fish In Macaronesia
Whether you’re fishing off the Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands or Cape Verde, you have a wide variety of fishing techniques at your disposal. Trolling with heavy tackle is effective for targeting marlin, as well as other pelagic species like wahoo, dorado, and tuna. Bottom fishing is perfect for groupers and amberjacks, especially near rocky outcrops and underwater structures. Fly fishing in these parts is less common but possible in the shallow coastal areas, particularly for smaller game fish. Local knowledge is all important, so your best bet as a recreational angler is to hire a reputable fishing charter.
All archipelagos in Macaronesia make outstanding fishing destinations, all are easily accessible through direct flights, both from Europe and from the Atlantic coast of North America, and all have a well developed tourism industry. So it’s hard to say which one is the best for a fishing trip. Arguably, the Canary Islands make the best destination for a combination family and fishing adventure, followed closely by Madeira. The Azores and especially Cape Verde could work out better for a dedicated fishing enthusiast, as they are less touristy, and there’s less fishing pressure.
But no matter which part of Macaronesia you choose, you’re guaranteed to have a good time. Book a fishing trip directly from trusted chapters and captains today!
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