Portugal Fishing Part 3 – Non-Stop Saddled Bream at Gaivota

After the unforgettable reef fishing trip in Part 2, we decided to keep things simple with a relaxed evening session back on the beach.

Our destination was Praia da Gaivota in Quarteira, one of the most beautiful beaches we'd visited during the holiday.

This wasn't going to be a marathon session though.

We had a very early start planned the following morning for another adventure that neither of us had ever experienced before. Let's just say I was feeling slightly nervous... but you'll have to wait until Part 4 to find out why!

Rather than rushing straight into the fishing, we decided to spend the afternoon enjoying the beach.

The weather was perfect.

The sea was crystal clear, the sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in sight.

Connor grabbed his snorkel and headed into the water while I relaxed on the beach, trying to recover from the previous few days of adventures.

Watching Connor snorkel is always entertaining, but this time it proved useful as well.

Out around the rocks he spotted plenty of bream cruising through the clear water.

Seeing fish before we'd even picked up a rod immediately gave us confidence that we might finally enjoy a productive beach session.

As the beach slowly emptied and it became safe to cast, we wasted no time setting up.

This time we were armed with fresh worms from our now favourite tackle shop, Algarve Pesca.

The difference in bait quality compared with our first experience was unbelievable and gave us much more confidence before we even made the first cast.

Using light rigs and small hooks, we simply hoped to catch whatever happened to be feeding close in.

Thankfully, we didn't have to wait long.

The first bite soon rattled the rod tip.

Moments later, the first Saddled Bream of the evening slid onto the beach.

Not long afterwards came another.

Then another.

And another.

Before long we'd completely lost count.

The fishing wasn't about size; it was about steady action and finally getting into some fish from the shore.

The best moment of the evening came when Connor finally landed his first fish of the Portugal holiday.

After several frustrating sessions, it was brilliant to see the smile return to his face.

Sometimes one fish is all it takes to completely change your mood.

Portugal's Version Of The Dogfish?

As the evening continued, one thing became increasingly obvious.

We'd travelled all the way from the UK hoping to escape endless Dogfish...

...only to discover Portugal had its own species that seemed determined to dominate every session.

The humble Saddled Bream!

Fish after fish came ashore until we couldn't help laughing about it.

Thankfully, unlike Dogfish, Saddled Bream are stunning little fish with beautiful silver bodies and distinctive markings that make every catch a pleasure.

If we'd spent the rest of the holiday catching nothing but these, I honestly don't think we'd have minded too much.

The surroundings alone made every cast worthwhile.

Unfortunately, the session had to end much sooner than we'd have liked.

With an early alarm set for the next morning, we couldn't risk staying out too late.

Who knows what else might have moved in after dark?

Sometimes that's just fishing.

There's always that feeling of wondering what might have happened if you'd stayed for one more cast.

Back at the apartment, we settled for a humble pot noodle instead of a fresh fish dinner before getting everything ready for the following day.

One thing I definitely hadn't prepared for was my badly sunburnt back.

After spending so much time in the Portuguese sunshine, it was absolutely on fire and stinging every time I moved.

A painful reminder that even anglers need to remember the sun cream!

Although this was only a short session, it reminded us why we came to Portugal in the first place.

Beautiful scenery.

Crystal-clear water.

Consistent fishing.

And quality time spent together doing what we both love.

It might not have produced trophy fish, but it produced memories that will stay with us forever.

Next up is Part 4, where we swap fishing rods for harnesses as we head to Ocean Quest at Vilamoura Marina for our very first parasailing experience.

Safe to say... I was more nervous than Connor!