Nosey Be - Madagascar
The northern tip of Madagascar has a unique mix of marine habitats resulting from opposing physical and oceanographic features on the east and the west sides of the island. The area covers the continental shelf from the coastline to the border of the shelf, encompassing many different types of shelves, bays and islands. The northern tip of Madagascar is at the upstream end of the peak biodiversity of the region of the Indian Ocean, second only to the Coral Triangle in diversity of shallow marine species. Not only is it an important part of this region, its geology and oceanography may be key triggers for ocean-climate interactions, and upstream source reefs for marine species, for this high diversity region.
What this means to spearfishing is that there are an unfathomed quantity of potential spearfishing sites around the Nosy Be and adjacent archipelagoes.
There are still more undiscovered spots in the area than there are know ones and the diversity and quantity of fish present all round is mind boggling.
The area is a hot spot for Sailfish and Marlin, smaller Dogtooth Tuna, Wahoo, smaller Yellowfin Tuna, Giant Trevally, Spanish Mackerel, and an incredible variety of reef game fish. Couple that with hundreds of miles of offshore banks, islands, islets, bays, and vertical drop-off’s and a trip to northern Madagascar, with Nosy Be as your point of departure, should be on your spearfishing destination bucket list.
We operate both day trips out of our base in Nosy Be as well as our world famous live aboard trips to Castor Bank, Leven Bank, Intermediary Bank, the Mitzio Archipelago and Cap San Sebastien.
Enquiry for Spearfishing in Madagascar: Online Form
or email: info@extremebluewaterspearfishing.com
Places of Interest
Serpent Bank
Serpent Bank is a series of offshore reef structures located some 10 nm from land. The name comes from the way the reefs are laid out on the ocean floor, in the shape of a swaying snake. It sits on the north-western continental shelf and the shallow reefs are lined, on one side, by deep oceanic water. Visibility is great on most days throughout the year and the area is a hotspot of Marlin and Sailfish.
There are also Dogtooth Tuna, plenty of Spanish Mackerel and some great reef fish including Speckled Snappers, Green Jobfish, Long and Spangled Emperors and Blood and Mangrove Snappers for those who like to do ‘aspetto’s’ in deeper water. The bank lies some 15 nm from Nosy Be and is the gateway to the Mitzio Archipelago. Serpent Bank is usually spearfished during day trips from Nosy Be.
Please Contact Us for more information on fishing trips to legendary Serpent Bank.
Enquiry for Spearfishing Trip to Serpent Bank: Online Form
Castor and Leven Banks
Castor Banks is part of an extended offshore bank system, stretching some 100 nm miles in length, lying some 45 nm north west of Nosy Be. Although Castor is well explored due to its proximity to Nosy Be, on the other hand Leven Bank, lying east of Castor along the bank, has hardly been explored at all. Navigating further east from Leven will take you into pretty uncharted territory making this area a prime location for adventurers looking to go where few people have been before while hunting large pelagic and reef game fish.
While currents are strong here, they are not dangerous and no down currents present in other parts of the world have been reported here. Such strong current offshore locations are excellent for large pelagic fish like Dogtooth Tuna, Wahoo, Marlin, Sailfish, Giant Trevally, and the likes. Sure enough, while the flat top of the bank is excellent for hunting reef game fish and teems with large Green Jobfish, Snappers, and Emperors, both the southern and northern sides of this extended reef system consists of steep drop-off’s and is excellent for hunting large prize pelagic fish. To this day, fishers and spearfishers who have fished Castor Bank for many years, continue to discover new places that teem with spearfishing potential and are slowly but surely venturing further and further eastward on journeys of discovery.
Castor Bank can be spearfished on day trips departing from Nosy Be. However, due to the distance to be traveled, this, and the more distant Leven Bank, are better suited for one of our amazing live aboard trips. Needless to say we recommend visiting this extensive reef system on one of our 4 – 10 tailor made live aboard trips departing from Nosy Be.
Please Contact Us for more information on spearfishing Castor, Leven, Intermediary and other offshore banks departing from Nosy Be.
Enquiry for Spearfishing Trip to Castor & Leven Banks:
Our Day Trips in Madagascar
Our day trips depart from Nosy Be – on which our base is located – and head to nearby fish hotspots ranging in distance between 5 nm and 25 nm from our point of departure. The spots lie on the edge of the continental shelf and offer some great spearfishing for Spanish Mackerel, Mangrove, Blood, and Speckled Snappers, Green Jobfish, some Dogtooth Tuna and Wahoo. There is an excellent chance of encountering more than one Marlin and Sailfish on these trips. Day trips to offshore Castor Bank are also possible. Our guide and crew are experienced and ascertain you get the best possible chances of encountering a fish of a lifetime.
Please Contact Us for more information on our day trips around Nosy Be.
Enquiry for Day Trip around Nosey Be: Online Form
Our Famous Live-aboard trips in Madagascar
Our live aboard trips to the very best offshore spearfishing locations off north-western Madagascar are very much based on our very successful formula we’ve been running since 2009 when we started our company; small groups, nice live board yacht, and quality dedicated spearfishing boat. Our top live aboard destinations in the area are Castor Bank, Leven Bank, the Mitzio Archipelago, Cap San Sebastien and Intermediary Bank. Trips vary from 4 – 10 days and our very flexible to be turned into tailor made trips. Without a shadow of a doubt, a live aboard trip is the best way to explore this pristine and little known part of the spearfishing world. Please Contact Us for more information on planning an epic tailor made live aboard spearfishing trip.
Enquiry for Live-Aboard Trips Madagascar: Online Form
How to Get There
Nosy Be, your starting point for trips with us in Madagascar, can be reached directly or through the country’s capital city, Antananarivo. Direct flights to Nosy Be are limited to a few airline charters from Italy, flights from France having a stop over on the island of Reunion, from Johannesburg in South Africa and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
Flights to the capital come via Nairobi in Kenya, Istanbul in Turkey, Doha in Qatar, Johannesburg, and a few other origins. Contact Us for more information on how to get there.
Where to Stay
Nosy Be is a relatively small island but well visited and developed for tourism.
Therefore, there are many hotel, resort, and private villa choices ranging from budget to 4 star quality.
Contact Us for more information on where to stay to suit your budget.
Enquiry for How to get there or where to stay in Madagascar: Online Form here | or email us: info@extremebluewaterspearfishing.com