Cape Verde Report

[JFT]

I fished April 24-28th with Zak Conde on Amelia. Raised 33 blue marlin, 25 bites , released 16. When we were leaving the bite went off with Smoker releasing 10 for 17 one day and Gladiator went 20 for 27 plus 2 spearfish in 2 days. Gladiator released 30 blue marlin and 2 spears in 5 days !
Best blue marlin fishing on the planet. Zak has days open in June.

[JFT]

The good fishing continues in Cape verde. Zak Conde released 14 blue marlin in past 4 days.Cheap flights on Cape Verde TACV air on Tuesday and Fridays from Boston.

[Patudo]

Thanks for the report John. How were the other local charters doing while you were over there? Did you get more of your fish on artificials or on pitchbaits? Any lure/teaser sizes/colours seeming to do particularly well? Zak's reports indicate he's been spending a lot of time at Nicolau, did you guys do much fishing off Sao Vicente?

Thanks again
patudo

[JFT]

Thanks for the report John. How were the other local charters doing while you were over there? Did you get more of your fish on artificials or on pitchbaits? Any lure/teaser sizes/colours seeming to do particularly well? Zak's reports indicate he's been spending a lot of time at Nicolau, did you guys do much fishing off Sao Vicente?

Thanks again
patudo

No fish at Sao Vicente. The boats were fishing Sao Nicolau.We pulled 2 bridge teasers and 2 lures in riggers. Majority of fish came to teasers and pitch baiting horse ballyhoos.All lures worked and perhaps darker colors best. Matthias on Smoker was also doing well and raised 11 1 day and went 10 for 17 1 day.

[Deep C]

Sounds like off the wall good John... Glad to hear you had a great time!

[Squidnation]

Would love to hear more about this location. Accomodations, food, atmosphere, transportation and locals as well as type of boats and condition of tackle etc. I have heard some good stuff about this place and almost made the trip last year. Would appreciate any help.

thanks
bill

[JFT]

Would love to hear more about this location. Accomodations, food, atmosphere, transportation and locals as well as type of boats and condition of tackle etc. I have heard some good stuff about this place and almost made the trip last year. Would appreciate any help.

thanks
bill

Bill,
Fly either Cabo Verde Tacv from Boston to Praia then connect flight to Mindelo on Sao Vicente island or fly to Lisbon then flights to CV but that way is MUCH more expensive.
Marina is in Mindelo. Amelia with Zak Conde is a very custom 36 Bertram and Smoker with Matthias is a 37 Bertram, Happy Hooker a 33 Bertram and Bebiche a 31 (OLD) Bertram.Top quality tackle,i.e. Shimano Tiagra reels and top quality lures etc.
In Mindelo the Hotel Porto Grande and Mindelo Hotel are nice, clean and very affordable...less than $100 a night.Not the best selection of resturants but a few good spots.
At times the boats travel to Sao Nicolas about 50 miles as fishing is off the charts good there at times. Stay in a bed and breakfast spot that I loved with family home cooking and sweet folks and CHEAP ! No crime there at small fishing town.
Consider...Madam and Hooker released 19 or 20 blue marlin in a day there with Trevor, Ronnie Fields and Randy Baker years ago.
Dreaming on released 119 blue marlin in 34 days in 2008 with a couple of granders.
Amelia and Bebiche have each released over 240 blue ones in a year.
July 4th world cup has been won there 3 times including last year with a grander.
Zak Conde, Marty Bates, Bonze and others have been top blue marlin Capt. by Billfish foundation several times.
Double digit days are not uncommon and a boat went something like 28 for 46 in 2 days a few years ago. Thats not to say the fishing does not slow down at times but DAMN..As much as I love St Thomas for blue marlin fishing I'm comfortable saying CV is best blue marlin fishing on the planet !

[Patudo]

Thanks again sir. There's a good chance I'll be able to put up some shots of our friend Conde in piling backward mode in a month or so!

[amadougrand]

There is a French restaurant down one the frontage road about a 1k up from the marina near a big staircase that has great food. Biggest tiger praun/gamba I have ever seen ~12". Sau Nicalau has been steeling the glory, but last years 4th July winner (1096lb) came from near Santo Antao not Nicalau. That same week before Ferdi took two other granders. In my 5 days we went 16 for 26 with Smoker and Matthias. So what I am seeing is that earlier seems to have a few more fish (march, april, may) with the possibility of a big fish in, June & July seems better. The last grander for CV was caught in Sept last year, so that shows they are out there even late.

FYSA, Nicalau is Ferdi's home ground

I'm booking xx days for early June next year to try and catch the best of both worlds (numbers and size).

Cheers,
MW

[JFT]

Zak Conde on Amelia has days open this June ! Last 7 days he was 19 for 25 blue marlin !
The french resturant is very good .