THE ULTIMATE ANGLING BUCKET LIST

Granted, no other day produced quite so many fish, nor as
many species. But any of them could well have been standout
days. That's a measure of the fishing there back in 2000.
Whether it's still the same, or even approaching that quality
now is difficult for me to say, though probably not. Where
is these days. And therein lies a problem for venues all
around the world.
Some obviously are better than others, and a few do still fit
the definition of world class. Having said that, it doesn't
take long, particularly with big fish venues for that mantle
to slide, as I know only too well from the number of once
prime locations I have re-visited only to be astonished by
how far down the ladder they had slipped.
It may well be that Kenya is not in that position yet. Even
so, and this goes for all venues, including those in home
waters, you really need to get to them as quickly as possible.
Dave Lewis, huge GT
Not only for the quality of fish, but the availability of the
fishing too, as things are changing rapidly with boats
struggling for business due to falling angler interest levels,
as other distractions see to it that younger replacement
anglers are not coming through any more in the numbers
they once did.
MADEIRA
In some ways, Madeira is the Portuguese equivalent of Spain's Canary Islands. Small, and mountainous,
with very deep water close by, placed in an open Atlantic location off the North African coast. But in
others ways, it is also very different.
For example, as a visitor, you quickly become aware that it is far
quieter and more 'normal' than the hustle and bustle of many of
the Canary Island holiday destinations.
A location more in tune with honeymoon couples and older
people looking for a bit of peace and quiet, hence it's description
as being the land of the newly wed and nearly dead.
It's fishing too is similar to that of the Canaries, but again, at the
same time different. Generally it sees much the same species as
the Gran Canaria and the others, but in different proportions and
mixes.
The summer blue marlin fishing for example is of a far higher
standard, with 'granders' taken most years by boats working the
south side of the island out of the capital Funchal.
Phill Williams, Butterfly Ray
I've only visited the island once, and that was in the run up to
Christmas, which is a very pleasant time in terms of winter
weather and atmosphere, but not the main angling season. That
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