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Deep sea fishing boat off Vilanculos in the Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique

Bazaruto Archipelago · Mozambique

Deep Sea Fishing
in Vilanculos.

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Overview

One of the Indian Ocean’s last well-stocked grounds.

Deep sea fishing in Vilanculos works the edges of the Bazaruto Archipelago — marlin, sailfish and tuna in the deep water beyond the islands, with inshore game fishing on the sandbanks closer to shore. Fifty years of marine-park protection shows in the stocks: the billfish here run healthier than most of the coast, one of the Indian Ocean’s last well-stocked grounds. The continental shelf runs close in here, so the blue water is often less than 30 minutes off the beach — these are rated among the best deep sea fishing grounds on the East coast of Africa.

Headline species: billfish (black marlin, blue marlin, sailfish), game fish (kingfish, queenfish, dorado, GTs), tuna (yellowfin, skipjack), and bottom-fish (rock cod, snapper, parrotfish). The deeper water beyond the archipelago is where the offshore action is; the inshore sandbanks fish well for flats species.

We’re not a charter operator ourselves — we connect you with the local skippers and boats that run deep sea fishing charters in these waters. Tell us your dates, your target fish, and your group, and we’ll set it up. Boats range from local skiffs for inshore work to bigger sport-fishing rigs for offshore.

Duration
Half-day or full-day
Group
Up to 4–6 anglers per boat
Runs
Year-round · marlin Oct–Mar · sailfish Jun–Sep
Departure
Vilanculos town
Difficulty
Easy
Best for
Saltwater anglers · Billfish chasers · Small groups and families · Mixed fishing + island travelers

Highlights

The good bits.

  • Deep sea fishing the deep water beyond the Bazaruto Archipelago for marlin, sailfish and tuna
  • Black and blue marlin offshore in the warm season (October–March)
  • Sailfish and wahoo run in the cooler winter months (June–September)
  • Yellowfin tuna and dorado in the warm season
  • Year-round inshore game fishing on the sandbanks
  • Fly fishing and light tackle on the flats and channels — bonefish, kingfish and GTs
  • Bottom fishing for rock cod, snapper, parrotfish
  • Full days run dawn to early afternoon — out around 4–5 AM, back by 12–1 PM
  • Catch-and-release inside the marine park
  • Boats matched to your group size and target species

Seasons

What's biting, and when

Vilanculos fishes well all year, but each species runs to its own calendar off the Bazaruto Archipelago. Here's when the odds are best for what you're chasing.

Species Best months
Black & blue marlin October–December Building from April; quietest Jan–Mar
Sailfish June–September Peaks August–September
Tuna & bonito November–March Strong April–June; reliable most of the year
King mackerel May–September Good chance year-round
Queen mackerel April–July Great most months
Kingfish & GTs Year-round The inshore mainstay
Bonefish April–August On the flats and channels

Seasonality guide for the Bazaruto Archipelago — actual catches vary with conditions and luck.

What you get

What’s included.

Included

  • Boat charter with skipper and deckhand
  • Tackle, rods, and bait
  • Lunch, drinking water and soft drinks on full-day charters
  • Marine park fees (where applicable)

Not included

  • Travel insurance
  • Accommodation
  • Hard tackle / lures (BYO if you have favourites)
  • Fishing licence (required by law — we'll arrange it for you)

What to bring

Pack light.

Essentials

  • Sun protection — hat, long sleeves, polarised sunglasses
  • Reef-safe sunscreen
  • Drinking water
  • A windbreaker for early morning departures

Nice to have

  • Your own rod and reel if you’re particular
  • Camera with a strap
  • Seasickness tablet if you’re prone (taken before the boat leaves)

Questions we get

Before you book.

What fish can you catch in Vilanculos?
Vilanculos and the Bazaruto Archipelago offshore are known for billfish (black marlin, blue marlin, sailfish), game fish (kingfish, queenfish, dorado, GTs), tuna (yellowfin, skipjack), and bottom-fish (rock cod, snapper, parrotfish). The deeper water beyond the archipelago is where the offshore action is; the inshore sandbanks fish well for flats species.
Where is the best deep sea fishing in Mozambique?
The Bazaruto Archipelago — off Vilanculos and Inhassoro — is widely rated Mozambique’s best deep sea fishing, alongside the billfish grounds off Benguerra Island. The deep water beyond the islands holds black and blue marlin, sailfish and yellowfin tuna, and fifty years of marine-park protection keep the stocks healthier than most of the coast. We fish these waters out of Vilanculos.
When is the best deep sea fishing season in Mozambique?
Billfish split by season here. Black and blue marlin: the warm season, October through March. Sailfish and wahoo: the cooler winter months, roughly June through September. Tuna and dorado: best November to April, though tuna run much of the year. Inshore game fish (kingfish, queenfish, GTs): year-round. Seas are calmest and most reliable in the dry season (May–October).
What time does a full-day fishing charter run?
A full-day charter runs from before dawn to early afternoon. Boats head out around 4–5 AM to reach the offshore grounds at first light, when the fish are most active, and you’re back in Vilanculos by around 12–1 PM. Lunch, water and soft drinks come aboard for the full day. Half-day inshore trips are shorter and easier to schedule around — tell us what suits and we’ll set it up.
Are there fishing charters in Mozambique?
Yes — a small set of operators run fishing charters out of Vilanculos to the Bazaruto Archipelago and beyond. Boats range from local skiffs for inshore work to bigger sport-fishing rigs for deep sea fishing offshore. We can connect you with the right operator for what you’re after — message us with your dates, group size, and target fish.
Is fishing in Bazaruto National Park allowed?
Catch-and-release only inside the park boundary, and only with a permitted operator. Spearfishing is prohibited in the park; line fishing for game species is regulated, with daily bag and size limits. Billfish are caught on a trophy permit and released, and some species — white shark, marine turtles, dugong, brindle bass and potato bass — are fully protected and may never be taken. The healthier-than-average billfish stocks here are a result of that protection — reputable charters keep to the rules.
Do I need a fishing licence in Mozambique?
Yes — by law every angler needs a fishing licence, issued in your name and valid for 30 days, so bring your passport. Foreign-angler rates start around 1,680 MZN a day (roughly $25–30), with weekly and monthly permits available and a separate trophy permit for billfish. You don't need to queue at an office — your charter, or our team, arranges the licence for you and folds it into the trip.
Is there a more traditional way to go fishing in Vilanculos?
Yes — if you'd like to see how it's really done here, come out at dawn with the local fishermen. Fishing with the Fishermen of Vilanculos is a working-dhow morning, setting and hauling a seine net by hand — no rods, no show, the oldest way of fishing this coast, alongside the men and women who do it for a living. It's the soul-of-the-sea counterpart to a sport-fishing charter.
How much does a fishing charter cost?
It varies a lot — from ~$300–500 USD for a half-day inshore trip on a smaller boat to $1,500–2,500+ USD for a full-day sport-fishing charter on a bigger rig with crew, tackle, lunch, and bait. We’ll get you a current quote based on what you want when you message.
Is this trip accessible? Can you accommodate limited mobility?
Honestly, it has real limits — it's a day on the water. There's no jetty: we launch off the beach, so you wade through shallow water to climb in and out of the boat, and any time ashore is on soft sand. Once you're aboard, the day is spent on the boat. Our crew is glad to help you on and off. If you or someone in your group has limited mobility or uses a mobility aid, message us before you book — we'll tell you honestly whether the day will work and what we can do.
How far in advance should I book?
In high season — June to September, plus the Christmas holidays — we'd book days ahead to be safe, since the best dates fill up. But don't let a late plan stop you: message us anytime, even same-day, and if we've got space we'll do our best to fit you in.
What language is the tour in? Do I need to speak English or Portuguese?
You don't need to share a language with us to enjoy this. Our crew speaks English and Portuguese, but this is a see-and-do trip, not a guided lecture — the ocean and the catch do the talking. We host guests from all over the world, plenty of whom speak neither, and everyone has a great day. We'll always make sure you know what's happening and when.

Last reviewed by EKAYA on . Pricing and inclusions verified on this date. Anything off? Tell us.

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Tell us your target.

Marlin? Tuna? An inshore day with the kids? Send us your dates, group size, and what you'd like to chase, and we'll match you to the right boat and skipper.

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We usually reply in a few hours · Catch-and-release inside Bazaruto National Park

$300  per group · half-day inshore Half-day or full-day · Up to 4–6 anglers per boat
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