St Brandon’s: 5 – 14 Nov 2013

Our first day started off with a good number of Bones ranging between 5lbs-8lbs, with Dave getting a great fish of 9lbs. Shots at Permit and Bluefin too were in abundance although we sadly were unable to capitalise. Bob and Gordon did however get very good double-up of Yellow Dot’s, whilst Jamie and Dave managed to hook two bus GT’s…. sadly these both came off!

Day two and the Bonefishing continued to impress! The GTs and Bluefin were also around in numbers, many of them swimming side by side with sharks and stingrays. Dave again got into the action and landed the first GT of the trip, a gorgeous 101cm fish. Congrats Dave!

As the week developed we experienced less and less wind…a truly unique phenomenon on St B. This strange lack of wind brought with it some unusually warm water onto the flats, forcing us to think outside the box just a bit which in the end led to the discovery of a new flat situated high up in one of our surf zones. The water was cool, the fish were happy and the lines went tights. Tailing Bones and Permit in the shallower sections and GTs and Bluefin’s in the surf…. what could be better.

Gordon and Bob had an awesome Bonefish session day with many Bonefish, some hitting the 8lbs mark, including multiple shots at Permit and a very big GT. Brian and Jamie too got into some proper GT action, Jamie landing 101cm fish and Brian a 115cm brute. Well-done chaps, awesome fish!

After a good but tricky week we headed out for our last day on the flats with high hopes. Terry and Dave landed three incredibly powerful Bluefin, whilst Brian and Jamie made sure the GT count kept on increasing. They landed three more GTs, a fish of 80cm, a gorgeous black fish of 95cm and then our biggest fish of the season….a monster of 120cm! It is a fish of a lifetime and a great way to end the week.

From the St. Brandon’s guide team we would like to thank everyone of our guests for an awesome week…. we had an absolute blast!=

Cheers

Brad & The St Brandon’s Guide Team

Farquhar: 30 Sept – 7 Oct 2013

Being a FlyCastaway guide means that you are part of a team of dedicated professionals who share a common passion; fly fishing and guiding.

Being on location with the boys is one of the highlights of the job. But contrary to popular belief we never get a chance to fish together as a team. Logistical challenges and busy work schedules simply prevent us from doing it, so when the opportunity presented itself the day before our Farquhar season officially kicked off we grabbed it with both hands.  It wasn’t a full day, not even a full session, more like an hour and a half.  Diligent preparation in the months leading up to the season meant that we were ready for our first guests with enough time to squeeze in a late afternoon Sailfishing session with the rest of the guide team…and what a session did it turn out to be! We headed out on two boats, when the first boat arrived outside the atoll Brendan dropped a teaser overboard, Nick kicked the boat into gear and before Scotty even had a fly tied on the first Sail was slashing away at the teaser. The fish was teased in, Scotty didn’t even have time to trim the tag end before casting at the fish and in textbook fashion she ate the fly and headed for the horizon. By the time that James, Wesley and I arrived ready to start teasing I looked up and to my surprise saw a beautiful Sailfish jumping all over the place, literally not 5 minutes from leaving the guest house and the first fish was already hooked!  Scotty landed the fish and I snapped a few pictures, spirits were high and we continued fishing.  About 15 minutes later we had three very hot Sailfish behind our boat and James hooked up, a quick fight ensued and the fish was landed, photographed and released.  We were ecstatic, we hadn’t been fishing for 30 minutes and already we had landed two good Sailfish!

The teasers went back and we trolled around for another 15 minutes before one of the most amazing sights I had ever seen in the Seychelles unfolded in front of me. Out of nowhere we had a pack of between eight and ten Sailfish behind the boat, slashing at the teaser.  I hooked up to a fish that just stayed in the same place for about 45 seconds, thrashing around on the surface, it started running and the hook pulled, I was still on the fly line and could see other fish around the boat and just started retrieving, within seconds I had another hookup! The fish turned and started running away but the hook pulled.  I brought fly in and asked Wesley to cast the GT ice cream teaser again as I could still see Sailfish around the boat. The teaser went out and two very hot Sailfish came in slashing at it, I made a cast and hooked up again!  Fading light forced us to head back to the lodge, but the trend had been set for the week to follow.  Boy oh boy if this was how things were starting what does the season hold for us…if only we knew!

Day one dawned a bit breezy but the spirits were high and the teams went out. When we met back at the lodge at the end of the day I couldn’t believe what had happened!  The guests on the week were inexperienced saltwater fly anglers yet the catch reports that came were very impressive. James guided James onto a GT of 114cm, Andrew van Hasselt and Andrew Jilliings landed a bunch of Bones and a nice GT, but it was Nick who really had the best opening day of the season in the history of FlyCastaway.  Dave Murray had never saltwater fly fished before which made the feat even more incredible considering he landed a Grand Slam on day one! Their morning started with some nice Bonefish, then a 117cm GT and as if that wasn’t good enough he landed a Permit of about 8lbs on the way back to the lodge.

The rest of the week is a blur of fishing memories and moments shared amongst a very close group of friends that couldn’t have been scripted better. Tim Fleischer hooked three huge Parrotfish but unfortunately didn’t succeed in landing any, his new nemesis.  Hilton Petersen had his brand new 12# rod pulled in half by a massive GT, the tip section and half the fly line never to be seen again, he made up for it though, landing two beautiful Sailfish on consecutive days.  Andrew Jillings caught his lifelong dream, a trophy GT on the flats and Tim Andrews on his second day fly fishing ever caught a beautiful Sailfish. DAVA 2.

In between all of this they cast at some of the most exotic species on the planet, saw GT’s gorge themselves on birds, yes, the GT’s are eating the birds landing on the water! They caught a variety of Groupers and reef dwelling species and landed scores of Bonefish, lost a bunch of Sailfish due to broken tippet, hooks and fly lines yet still managed to land 6 in total. They experienced the full diversity of Farquhar and everything that makes this fishery so unique. It just proved once more that it is without a doubt the most diverse flat fishing destination in the Indian Ocean. We cannot wait to see what other amazing catches this coming season holds.

Farquhar Blog: 4 – 11 May 2013

The last week of our season had arrived, and along with it Claire and Tony Carter, as well as Gareth Adams (of Stealth Fly Fishing) and a bunch of his buddies. The water was cool, and the GT’s definitely present, especially around some of the larger land masses. Gareth soon caught his personal best GT with a great cast into a very stiff wind. As usual the fishing had begun with the standard Farquhar quality – phenomenal. There is however one story that I should tell you about, if only because it’s not something that you see every day, or every season, or even every year.

For the last half of the week, a large school of bait set up camp very close to the inside bay, and it didn’t take very long for the GT’s, and ultimately the guides to find them. So it was on the last day that I took Claire and Tony to see if we could find them one last time.

Sure enough, as the tide turned, we came upon what looked to be a large patch of turtle grass. Of course turtle grass doesn’t scatter when a school of 16 or so black GT’s moves through it. Claire immediately sprang to action. She cast just to the side of the bait, and the GT’s that were daisy chaining in the middle of the ball shot towards the fly, which couldn’t have been less than 6 yards away. One charged the fly as Claire stripped furiously. The hook didn’t set, but Claire did really well and kept stripping without lifting the rod a fraction. Almost immediately another fish seized the fly and this time the hook set, thanks to Claire driving it into its jaw with a series of violent strips. The fish raced off, but the school of GT’s stuck around, swimming between our legs. Tony, ever the gentleman, had let Claire have a shot first, and was still on the anchored boat. I called him over to have a crack at the remaining fish. He took his time, strolled over and made a long unhurried cast to the marauding fish. Hardly a single strip and he too was on. It all seemed too easy for Tony. The double up made for some fantastic photographs, and of course a great memory not only for father and daughter, but myself as well.

That last day was a fantastic way to end of a truly epic season. So much had to be done in order to leave the island, that it was only while sitting on the plane back to South Africa that I realised how lucky I was to be part of Farquhar, and of course, how lucky I was to be able to come back and do it all again next season.

Till then…tight lines and happy fishing!

James Topham

Farquhar Blog: 27 April – 4 May 2013

First off I must apologize for the delay in the final two reports.

Although I hate making excuses for myself, I feel I should fill you in as to why there has been a two week long wait for the last blogs of the season. You see, I usually write these things on the very last evening of the week, sometime after dinner. However, on the second last week there was a gentleman by a gentleman in the group (who shall remain nameless) who invited me over to join in on a conversation with the rest of the group. I can’t recall the particular nature of that topic, for reasons that I shall soon enlighten you with. You see, during this conversation, I was offered a beer. Although this may seem an innocent enough thing to partake in, I can assure you that after nearly three months of sobriety and hard work, a single beer acts not as a refreshing beverage, but more like a social lubricant. The guest, sensing my weakness and stoking what I’ll put down to as “youthful exuberance”, plied me with many more ice cold beers. Fast forward to three o’clock in the morning, and I return to my bed having made many friends for life and not typed a single letter towards the weekly post.

In any case it’s done now so here goes:

The second last week of the season was an Aardvark McLeod week, which was led by Peter McLeod and a stack of his loyal clients and friends, many of which we’d guided only a season before. The week produced many fine moments, one of which was on the very first day. Ty, Mat and I were walking around Dipose after what had been a quite morning. The tide was nice and high and I was sure we’d see some GT’s. We covered the lee of the island, and seeing nothing our pace began to pick up. Of course, the GT’s were on the windward side, but conveniently close to the beach.

Ty spotted them at the same time I did, and without me having to say anything rushed down the beach and slapped the fly in the water. I was amazed that the fish didn’t spook, barely his whole leader was out the rod tip. The creature in fact went crazy! The fish seemed to be in some sort of frenzy as the all tried to snatch the static fly away from one another. Ty missed one, and then managed to pin another, and off it went… That was not the largest fish of the week, but it was one that I will remember for some time to come, if only for the sheer aggression. The week went from strength to strength, and the only way I can convey how successful it was is by giving you the numbers:

We landed 10 GTs – biggest 109 cm. 5 Bumpies landed – 14 lost. 2 Golden Trevally, 2 Bluefin Trevally, 6 Triggerfish, countless Bonefish, 3 Dogtooth Tuna along with the usual mixed bag of large snapper and groupers.

Not bad for 6 days of fishing and sadly only one more week to go!

Farquhar Blog: 13 – 20 April 2013

Fishing is among other things about good memories. I thought compiling a list of a few from the last week that spring to mind would give you more of an idea of what happens during a week on Farquhar Atoll:

• The Walk. A session with Bill, Rich and myself where every cut in the reef held at least a pair of GT’s. Bill Landing a beautiful fish, Rich saying “God Damn it” every time he missed one.
• Rich and Rob giving me the day off after The Walk due to epic chafe. The subsequent snorkelling session and listening to Rich’s tunes while eating pizza.
• Jonathan’s freak Bumpie, hooked and landed over the biggest, whitest sand flat on the atoll.
• Roberto’s Italian swearwords usually associated with some sort of fishing related catastrophe.
• Roberto’s 107cm GT and Jako once again landing the fish 100 yards away, right at the end of its initial run.
• Rob Ramsey’s 108cm GT, and Rob’s bewilderment at finding that Keegan had somehow lifted him onto the boat during the fight. No one knows when, where or how that happened.
• Rich’s 108cm GT and the pot of money that was lost on the fish. Oh, and Jako having to change his underwear after the fish ate the fly right next to the boat.
• Jim’s one liners, and someone saying, “boy he don’t say much, but when he does he sure packs a punch”
• Jim’s Bumpie, and the fact that it was huge, and that he only let it take about twenty yards of backing, landing it in about three minutes- over coral.
• Craig laughing about “going commercial” on fish throughout an epic bommies bashing session.
• Seeing the guides gobsmacked when Paul returned from one of many early morning runs just after they’d made their first cup of coffee.
• Peter’s flybox. It was beautiful, now it’s empty.
• Peter’s Golden Trevelly, and then his 120cm GT!
• Bud, quietly catching seven GT’s – all in a gentlemanly fashion so as to suggest…this is easy.
• Rob getting the guides to sign his trip shirt, making us feel like rockstars.
• Craig and Jim getting a double up with some big snappers, and Craig saying “Jim I’m glad you’re here to see this with me” while posing for the photo’s.

So there you have it, these are just a few moments from a truly memorable trip. As always We had a really great time with the Fly Water Travel group. After two weeks you’d think we’d be ready to see them go, but nothing could further of the truth. I guess I’ll have to wait till next time. I hope they’re looking forward to it as much as I am.

Till next week

James Topham

Farquhar Blog: 6 – 13 April 2013

If you’ve been reading our weekly catch ups, long time client and friend Rob Ramsey has been on Farquhar. This week the rest of his mates from Fly Water Travel joined us on the island. To make sure that the island wasn’t taken over by a full scale American invasion, Headquarters sent us three South Africans- apparently to keep us in check. Considering Wayne Osborne and his mates Jeff and Dean have been on trips with us from the company’s conception, you’d think HQ would know better than to send these fishing fanatics and mischief makers to keep  us in line. Those of you who’ve had the opportunity to meet these practical jokers would hardly be surprised to know that we were soon corrupted by the Buffalo Rule from the get go.

It was however also clear from the get-go that the group was taking their fishing seriously. The night before at the guides planning session Jako said “Alright boys, two weeks to go- let’s give it the full treatment” and so we were on that slipway ready to roll before the morning sun had shrugged off the palm tree horizon.  So it was still early days when Bill opened the scoring, in an early week GT shootout that’s becoming a weekly tradition. True to form, that big ol’ fish came cruising along the beach without a care in the world. Bill derailed it’s flight plan with the black brushie, and what resulted was one of the best GT eats you could possibly ask for. Wayne, not to be outdone, showed everyone what GT fishing at Farquhar is all about. Later that week he landed a 120cm behemoth on the flats. The smaller fish might take the fly with spectacular abandon, but watching a massive fish of that calibre casually inhaling the fly is a spectacle that would make most anglers come apart at the seams. Wayne managed to keep it together though, and it was up to Jako to ensure the fish came to hand. The fish had managed to weave its way through several bommies, and must have been surprised to see Jako follow suit. In a spectacular display of underwater aerobics he was only just able to wrap both hands around its massive scoots. Coincidently Wayne also landed three triggers, a fish he had previously battled come to grips with. Just to cap it off, Jako netted a large free swimming Yellow Margin Trigger after the fish had refused to take any of the flies being offered. Hey, it counts, right? To prove it wasn’t entirely “Wayne’s Week” Jeff stole the limelight on the last day by boating a large Dogtooth Tuna on fly, earning strutting status for the flight home.

So while it was the end of the week for the South Africans, we had another week of the Fly Water Travel trans Atlantic contingent to keep us going for another week in fishing paradise. It should be a good one, these guys are just getting in the swing of things, and so to is the fishing.

James Topham

Farquhar Blog: 30 March – 6 April 2013

It’s Week 4 at Farquhar!

The day the plane lands is the set us aside for routine maintenance and other administrative we have to tinker with boats and prep for the week ahead. While we busied ourselves with menial tasks, three of our repeat guests Chesney, Paul and Rob took a walk around the island, rods in hand. Ches opened the scoring with a GT. Just like that. When they returned from the walk and we asked them how it had gone, we expected the usual. A couple of Bones, a Bluefin Trevally maybe… We were pleasantly surprised however when he told us about the nice GT he landed. Things like that tend to happen when you walk around with Rob Ramsey on Farquhar, the guy’s like a fish whisperer. The stage had thus been set and we were super excited to get out onto the flats with them and the rest of our new English friends who were fishing Farquhar for the first time.

Ches was on fire this week and on the first guided day, his first cast provided what would end up to be the largest Bonefish of the week, a fish which was close to 9lb. He then mentioned that last time he was here he didn’t manage to land a Trigger and that he really wanted one. A couple minutes later he casts to a large Yellow Margin Trigger, the fish eats the shrimp without any questions asked and Bob’s your uncle. The next day Paul said he’d loved to catch a Bumpie…..guess what… permission granted. Paul didn’t give fish a chance!

Sadly however the weather then deteriorated slightly over the next day or so, but we didn’t let that stop us. Guests and guides stuck to their task and Farquhar showed yet again that even in tough conditions there are enough areas which hold a huge variety of eager fish species. Added to this we knew that when the weather broke we’d have fresh water and the GT fishing in particular would pick up. What we didn’t know was the quality of fishing which was in store for us on the last day.

The weather broke and on the ride out to the flats in the morning the water was bluer and cleaner than I can ever remember it being…it was time to cash in and cash in we did. Jim lost a HUGE GT when his fly line popped on the initial run, which was hugely disappointing as Jim had done all the right things- textbook GT fishing. Scotty’s guys had a great day, landing 3 GT’s after seeing dozens of the fish on rays. Tony Good (83) landed a GT on a 9wt. Giles landed a Bumpie and a GT, Chez got another GT. The final tally was 7 fish on this one day along with another 8 fish missed or lost. Not a bad day in anyones book!

Here’s hoping the weather remains as is for the next few weeks…we have a feeling the atoll has plenty more in store for us this season.

Will keep you posted

James

Farquhar Blog: 23 – 30 March 2013

I’ve mentioned before that no matter how many months we do at Farquhar, every week is unique. This week was a shining example as we had 4 young lady anglers on the week and they were just as psyched about the fishing as their dad’s and other male compatriots. Anyway, besides this earth moving shift in dynamic, I should mention a little about the fishing before I run out of space, so here it goes:

All the anglers this week were highly experienced and skilled fisherman. Joe Turano has the most unbelievably efficient cast to fish ratio, by which I mean that a cast wasn’t made unless there was a damn good chance a fish was going to latch onto his fly. That man can catch Bonefish. After a dozen or so Bones he’d turn around and say “boy, they really like that fly”, it doesn’t matter that he’s caught twice as many as the others and they’re all using the same pattern. So he’s modest too.

Another angler that must be mentioned is Ernest Cockerel. On the first day I said “Hey Ernie, there are some Bumphead Parrotfish over there, would you like to catch one?” “Sure” says Ernie. So I explain how the whole thing works. He nods and strolls over to the shoal and BOOM! Inside. Fish landed. Later on in the week he would do a repeat performance, but on a much grander scale. Jako pointed out a large Permit, and sure enough Ernie makes the perfect cast and is rewarded with the trophy above all trophies.

Meredith McCord set her sights on breaking the IGFA women’s world record for Bluefin Trevally, and with persistence achieved her goal! So we have a pending IGFA World Record  for Farquhar! There were many hit and misses, and some HUGE bluefin were hooked, but fishing for records on a light class tippet is not for the faint hearted. Bluefin tend to live around sharp coral ridges, so getting a large fish on class took plenty of patience and determination from Merdith, and her reward is in the IGFA book of records.

These are just a few of the highlights and many more good fish were landed by the group. In truth it felt like a very successful week, and it was an absolute blast. The group itself were a bunch of laughs but at the same time serious fishermen/ladies which ensured we were on our toes each every second of the trip.

Till next week

James Topham