The Perfect Ending to an Unforgettable Trip, Portugal Part 5

Every great adventure has to come to an end :(

After an incredible few days exploring Portugal, catching new species, enjoying amazing experiences and creating memories together, it was finally time for one last fishing session before heading home.

Our plan was simple. Fish from sunset right through until sunrise on Quarteira Beach and see what the Algarve had waiting for us one final time. Looking back now... We couldn't have asked for a better ending.

There's something incredibly peaceful about Quarteira Beach once the crowds disappear.

As the sun slowly dropped below the horizon, the beach transformed into one of the most relaxing places we've ever fished.

A long stretch of clean golden sand.

Gentle waves rolling ashore.

Warm evening air.

Knowing that this beautiful place had been right on the doorstep of our apartment all week made us appreciate it even more.

It really is a special place.

The fishing began exactly as we'd expected. Rod tips rattled away with the now familiar Saddled Bream.

One after another they kept coming.

By now we'd started joking that we'd travelled all the way from England to escape endless Dogfish, only to discover Portugal had replaced them with endless Saddled Bream!

Thankfully, these little fish are beautiful to look at, with their silver bodies and distinctive markings making every catch enjoyable despite their modest size.

Then something changed.

Connor hooked into a fish that immediately looked different from everything we'd caught so far.

Moments later we were looking at our very first Atlantic Horse Mackerel.

It wasn't a huge fish.

It wasn't the fight of a lifetime.

But it was another new species we'd never caught before.

That's one of the things we love most about travelling to fish in new places.

You never know what might appear on the end of the line next.

Then came the moment that defined the entire trip. Connor's rod bent over once again.

As the fish reached the shore, we both stood staring at something we'd never seen before.

An incredible Torpedo Ray.

Its unusual shape and beautiful spotted pattern instantly caught our attention.

At first glance it looked harmless enough.

In fact, I was only seconds away from picking it up.

Thankfully, Connor quickly searched the species online.

That's when we discovered exactly what we were dealing with.

An Electric Torpedo Ray.

Capable of producing electric shocks of around **220 volts**.

Needless to say, I suddenly became a lot less interested in picking it up!

The hook had unfortunately caught near the tail, making removal awkward and potentially dangerous.

Taking our time, we carefully used sticks to work the hook free without putting ourselves—or the ray—at unnecessary risk.

Eventually the hook came loose.

Watching the ray glide safely back into the sea was every bit as rewarding as catching it in the first place.

Encounters like that remind you how incredible the underwater world really is.

The excitement didn't stop there.

Not long afterwards I landed another species we'd never caught before.

A beautiful Spotted Sea Bass.

Its markings were absolutely stunning.

For a moment I was already imagining cooking it for dinner.

Fortunately, we quickly checked the Portuguese fishing regulations.

The fish measured around an inch below the legal minimum size.

The decision was easy.

Back into the sea it went.

Healthy and ready to grow a little bigger before hopefully making someone else's day in the future.

Responsible fishing has always been important to us, and moments like this are a reminder that protecting fish stocks ensures future generations get to enjoy these incredible experiences too.

Just when we thought the session couldn't improve any further, my rod bent over once again.

This time the prize was a lovely **32cm Gilthead Bream**.

Unlike the Sea Bass, this fish was legal to keep.

It became the centrepiece of our final fresh fish dinner in Portugal.

There really is something special about preparing and eating fish you've caught yourself only hours earlier.

Fresh, simple and incredibly satisfying.

The Gilthead certainly didn't disappoint.

We stayed on the beach until the first light of dawn appeared over the horizon.

The final few hours brought more Saddled Bream, allowing us to use every last piece of bait before finally packing everything away.

There was something quite emotional about those last casts.

Knowing the holiday was coming to an end made us appreciate every moment just a little bit more.

Back at the apartment we enjoyed our final fish feast before getting everything packed and ready for the journey home.

The following morning we took one last walk through Quarteira.

One last look at the beach.

One last look at the sea.

One last chance to soak in the atmosphere.

It wasn't goodbye forever.

It was simply... See you again soon.

Because one thing became very clear during this holiday.

Portugal has completely stolen our hearts.

I might have been born in the UK.

But honestly...

It feels like my heart and soul belong in Portugal.

This brings our five-part Portugal adventure to a close.

What started as a fishing holiday became so much more.

We caught new species.

Faced our fears.

Met incredible people.

Shared unforgettable experiences.

And, most importantly, spent priceless time together creating memories that will last a lifetime.

To everyone who has watched the series from beginning to end...

Thank you.

Your support, comments and encouragement genuinely mean the world to us.

We hope you've enjoyed following our adventure as much as we've enjoyed sharing it.

Until the next trip...

Tight lines, safe travels, and we'll see you on the next adventure.