» Bluefin Trevally

Providence Blog: 8-15 November 2022

The fourth week of the season saw us welcome back a few old friends. The group’s excitement was contagious and felt by our guide team providing a little extra motivation to deliver another busy week on the flats.

The first day saw our guests enjoy several shots at the atoll’s GT population, with a total of 8 landed for the day. Dave, Joern, and Keith all managed 1 GT each, while Rob got his trip off to a cracking start adding 5 GTs to his name, 1 of which measured 101cm. Great job, Rob!

The second day delivered similar action to that experienced by our guests the day before, with a total of 7 GTs landed. A special moment was enjoyed by Andre who managed to finally land his first ever GT on the fly. Mike, Joern, Dave, and Peter all landed a GT each while Tony went one better landing 2 GTs himself for the day. The bluewater provided our guests with several great opportunities for the acrobatic speedsters that frequent the perimeter of the atoll but after a couple of near misses we were unfortunately unable to convert any of these opportunities.

The third day started off with a bang with Dave landing the first bumpie for the trip, a solid 103cm fish and his personal best. The bommie bashing was superb with most of the group landing loads of large bohar snapper, grouper, and bluefin trevally. Our group experienced good fishing on the GT front and landed a total of 11 fish between them. Peter, David, Tony, Andre, and Keith all landed one a piece. Joern went 1 better and managed to land 2 for the day while Rob topped the totals with 3 himself. The fish of the day however, went to Mike who landed a trophy fish of 100cm on the dot. Great job, Mike!

Day 4 saw our guests experience challenging conditions which made for a relatively tough day of fishing. A total of 4 GTs were landed for the day with Rob and Joern both landing 1 each. Peter landed two for the day with one of his fish stretching the tape to 100cm, a special fish and well deserved, Peter! We had seen some sailfish around and it was only a matter of time before one was hooked and that’s just what happened – Dave and Joern both managed to stay connected and eventually land 1 of these bluewater speedsters each.

Day 5 saw a continuation of the tricky weather conditions with strong wind and dark overcast skies. Despite the less than desirable weather, Tony got stuck into the bones and was rewarded with a double-digit bonefish which ran him deep into backing. The sailfish were out in good numbers again and both Rob and Mike made their shots count by landing a sailfish each. The tough light and rough conditions made spotting fish over turtle grass very difficult, but we were still able to land 2 GTs for the day, 1 each for Andre and Rob respectively. Rob’s fish deserving of a special mention pulled the measured tape all the way to 109cm. Great job, Rob!

The last day of the week saw our guests enjoy a mixed bag of catches. Tony picked up where he left off on the bones landing another 2 double-digit fish, a truly remarkable feat and something that doesn’t happen every day. He also landed a triggerfish to end off his week on a high. There were 3 more GTs landed on the last day by Keith, Dave, and Joern to round off a tricky yet enjoyable week on the flats of Providence.

Our catch tally for week 3 was:

GTs: 35 (4 over 100cm)
Bonefish: 27 (3 of 10lbs)
Sailfish: 4
Bumpie: 1 (103cm)
Triggerfish: 1

Until next time,

The Flycastaway Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 1-8 November 2022

Our third group during the Providence October- December 2022 season arrived with high hopes for a great week of flats fishing in the Indian Ocean. Spirits were high and that showed in the fish numbers for the first day as the guests landed some impressive fish.

Our guests didn’t have to wait very long to get stuck into the action as Ivar tasted success first thing on day 1 by landing an exceptionally powerful milkfish. As we made our way onto the flats the guests got to experience the variety of species that Providence has to offer. Brian landed the first bumpie for the week that was picked out from a large school of fish found happily tailing away on the flats. Doug, Justin, Christian, and Matt P all landed GTs on the first day of the week. Matt P’s GT was a special one as it was part of a Providence slam as he also landed a triggerfish and bonefish. Great job, Matt! Trent added a splash of colour to the catch report with a beautiful triggerfish on day one. The bone fishing we experienced was nothing short of spectacular as all our guests landed solid numbers of big bonefish late in the day. Carson got stuck into a few bigger fish and managed a double-digit bonefish to end off a very productive first day on the flats.

Day 2 saw our guests pick up from where they left off landing 4 triggers for the day. Lars, Christian, and Ivar all getting a yellow margin each, while Doug managed a moustache trigger. The GTs were also out on the flats in good numbers providing everyone in the group with numerous shots. Justin, Brian, Matt, and Rob all landed a GT each. The bone fishing was once again something to write home about with several large specimens brought to hand.

By the third day of the week our guests were well and truly in the swing of things and this showed as Doug, who was busy with his second week on Providence, landed 3 GTs for the day – one of which stretched the measuring tape past the magical 100 cm mark, measuring 103cm! Dave and Justin also got stuck into the GTs landing 2 each while Matt G joined the party with another GT to complete a great day on the GT front. Justin added to his 2 GTs for the day with a solid yellow margin triggerfish.

The fourth day of the week saw our guests enjoy several phenomenal catches. Ivar kept his impressive streak going on the triggerfish front by adding another 2 to his tally for the week. We also saw 2 more bumpies caught with Rob and Matt G each landing one of these bizarre and exciting creatures. The diversity of Providence shone bright yet again treating our guests to exceptional fishing for the plethora of resident groupers, snappers, and wrasse. The standout catch on this front was a large napoleon wrasse landed by Carson. The GT fishing continued to impress with our guests converting 7 fish for the day. Brian, Dave, Doug, Carson, Justin, and Ivar all landed these iconic flats fish with the catch of the day going to Matt P who landed his first GT over a meter with a respectable fish of 101cm. Well done, Matt!

Day 5 saw more impressive catches of the various groupers, snappers and trevally that frequent providence’s wild waters. We experienced good fishing on the flats as Brian landed his first ever bumphead parrotfish on the fly. Our group also encountered good numbers of giant trevally on the flats during the day although the shots proved tricky due to less than desirable weather conditions. Rob and Ivar landed one apiece while Christian ended the day with 2 GT’s to his name rounding off another successful and exciting day.

The last day of the week had our group chomping at the bit to get out and make the most of their final day’s fishing on Providence. The focus was on GTs and a total of 7 were caught for the day. Matt G and Brian both landed 1 GT each while Carson went 1 better with 2 GTs to his name. Christian continued his good form and went onto land a total of 3 for the day closing off a challenging yet exciting week of fishing on Providence.

Our catch tally for week 3 was as follows:

GTs: 35 (2 of 100cm plus)
Triggerfish: 9
Bumpies: 3
Milkfish: 1
Bonefish: 42 (1 of 10lbs.)
Total number of other species landed: 268

Until next week,

The Providence Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 25 Oct – 1 Nov 2022

The second week of our season saw us welcome a mixed group of anglers from all over the globe, most regulars to our Providence fly fishing program. Following a thorough tackle inspection and set-up, we set sail with excited anticipation towards the wild waters surrounding Providence.

Day 1 started with a bang delivering a total of 9 GTs for the day. Andre, Doug, and Rob all landed 1 each – Rob’s fish measured an impressive 101cm. The team of Chris C, Chris W, and Peter went one better and landed 2 GTs each. Not to be outdone, Chris W also managed to break the magical 1-meter mark by taming a powerful 101cm GT adding another to the trophy tally for the day. Over and above the great GT fishing was the exciting fishing enjoyed around the coral gardens found throughout the atoll. The highlights on this front were numerous large bluefin trevally and 2 napoleon wrasse which capped off another diverse day of fishing on Providence.

Day 2 was filled with action from the get-go and despite adverse weather conditions, our guests still enjoyed impressive catches for the day. We experienced wild action around the coral gardens again and our guests landed a multitude of species during the high-water periods of the day. Prov’s flats fired too, providing fantastic opportunities to target GT’s and Bones. Andre, Rob, and Chris W made the most of their chances and all landed a couple solid GTs.

Day 3 saw our guests encounter massive bait balls throughout the day which delivered amazing bluefin and giant trevally action. Rob and Chris C both capitalized on their opportunities by landing a GT each, while Peter and Chris W went one better by taming 2 GTs a piece. Some of our favourite tailing species were also found on the flats, resulting in Andre landing a lively moustache triggerfish. Fergus’s persistence paid off as he managed to land the first bumphead parrotfish of the week. Well done, Fergus!

Day 4 began with a break in the weather which complimented the fishing favorably. Gerald got stuck into the bluefin trevally and landed an absolute brute of a fish that stretched the measuring tape to an impressive 83cm! The flats fishing for GTs was phenomenal, treating our guests to some of the most incredible action we’ve ever witnessed. Doug, Scott, and Phillip all landed a GT each. A special mention for Phillip whose fish was just 5cm short of the magical 100cm mark. Rob enjoyed some exciting GT fishing as well, bringing 2 fish to hand while Andre went one better with 3 GTs. The standout catch of day 4 went to Miles who managed to land a trophy bumpie that pulled the measuring tape all the way to 106cm. Well done, Miles!

The 5th day of the week could only be described in one word, mayhem. Our guests all experienced amazing fishing early in the morning. Lines were stretched by various species including bohar snapper, serval different grouper, bluefin trevally, bonito, and even rainbow runner. A total of 26 GTs landed for the day with Rob, Scott, Doug, and Sam all landing a fish each, with Sam’s catch a special one as it was his first ever successful GT catch. There were also fish for Phillip, Miles, Chris C, and Peter who all landed 2 GTs each. Peter added another trophy GT to the tally with a fish of 102cm. The largest fish of the day, however, went to Chris W who apart from landing 3 GTs managed to stick a solid 104cm GT. Great job, Chris! Gerald had a fantastic day landing 5 GTs as well as number of other reef species while Fergus went one better landing 6 GTs himself for the day. The mood was jovial after such an incredible day out on the flats, with excited stories of the day’s exploits shared over a round of drinks on the back deck of the Dugong that evening.

The sixth and final day of the week brought with it clear skies and higher winds making casting in some scenarios challenging. Nevertheless, our guests still enjoyed some incredible fishing to round off another special week on Providence. Fergus, Gerald and Rob landed a GT a piece although Fergus’ fish was bittersweet as he had unfortunately lost a massive fish earlier in the day. Doug and Andre also got stuck into the GTs with 2 fish each. There was a multitude of species landed on the last day as we again saw large numbers of bluefin trevally, bohar snapper, and grouper. Gerald finished his trip with a special catch landing a napoleon wrasse to cap off another very successful week on Providence.

Our total catch tally for week 2 was:

GTs – 60 (4 over 100cm)
Bumpy- 2 (1 of 106cm)
Bonefish- 4
Napoleon Wrasse- 6
Triggerfish- 1
Rainbow Runner- 3
Bluefin trevally, Bohar Snapper, Grouper etc. – 726

Until next week,

The Flycastaway Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 5-12 April 2022

Another mixed group of anglers from around the world joined us aboard our mothership for the fifth week of the Providence March – April 2022 fly fishing season. Some of the group were first time visitors to Seychelles, while others were about to begin their second week of fishing with us. We had set our expectations for a diverse 6 days of fishing and this is how it went…

The first day of the fishing week saw our guests experience a picture-perfect day on the flats with little wind and bluebird skies. These conditions allowed for several sight fishing opportunities for GTs on the flats which resulted in our group amassing a total of 12 GTs for the day. The highlights included first time GT success for both Jim and David. David however, hit the ground running in a big way landing a total of 4 GTs and a Triggerfish on his first ever day on the flats in Seychelles. Well done, David, a wonderful way to start your Providence adventure!

The second day provided plenty of action on the GT front with a total of 12 landed for the day. A special mention for both Joe and Paul who managed to complete their first ever GT catches on the fly, while Jim enjoyed success, hooking and landing his first ever and mighty powerful Bumpie.

The third day brought with it wide variety on the flats with a total of 10 GTs, 2 Triggerfish, 1 Bumphead Parrotifsh, and a Milkfish landed. The GT catch of the day went to Dom who expertly fished a large bow waking fish that pulled the measuring tape to 101cm… excellent job Dom! Watts enjoyed first time success for the atoll’s beautiful Yellow Margin Triggerfish, landing not 1 but 2 for the day. Well done Watts. Nico found himself in the thick of the action first thing on the third morning when his second presentation to a school of Milkfish saw him go tight and eventually land his first ever Milkfish catch. Nico then went onto to tame a monster of a Bumpie measuring 110cm. Well done gents, a momentous day on the flats with several first-time successes!

The fourth day produced a full house of catches on the flats with several of the atoll’s iconic species brought to hand for the day. Our group made their most of their opportunities in front of the GTs and landed a total of 18. Nico and John both enjoyed stella days landing 3 and 4 GTs respectively. David and Peter also found themselves in the right place at the right time with each of them landing 2 Bumpies, well done guys! The atoll’s large Bonefish made an appearance late on in the afternoon providing great skinny water flats fishing for Watts, Paul and David. Paul’s Bonefish was a special fish as it completed his flats slam consisting of a Bonefish, GT, and Triggerfish… great work Paul!

The fifth day saw a total of 5 GTs landed. The fish of the day was caught by David after it was spotted crossing a shallow flat with its back out of the water. Once David’s presentation was acknowledged by the fish it blasted towards his fly, inhaling it with a violent splash which was followed by a powerful fight. David eventually managed to reel in a beauty which measured an impressive 101cm. David’s run of good form continued and he went on land his first Triggerfish and first Bumpie to complete a flats slam… great work David! The Bumpies were encountered in substantial numbers with large schools frequently seen on the flats. Ian, Paul, and Watts all tasted success on this front with each of them landing their first Bumpies on the fly. Well done gentleman!

The sixth day dawned with dark clouds and rolling banks of rain. The tricky weather conditions deteriorated with the addition of lightning resulting in our group losing half of the fishing day. Despite this, our group still managed to land a total of 3 GTs and 6 bonefish.

This wraps up a wonderful week of fishing the flats of Providence. As always, we thoroughly enjoyed exploring this outlandish atoll with those that joined us and we look forward to welcoming you all back soon.

Our catch tally for the week was:

GTs – 60 (2 of 100cm plus)
Bumphead Parrotfish – 11
Triggerfish – 13
Bonefish – 16
Milkfish – 2

Until next week,

The Providence Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 29 March-5 April 2022

The fourth week of the Providence March – April 2022 fly fishing season saw us welcome another mixed group of anglers from all over the world including South Africa, England, and the USA. The mix of personalities aboard the Maya’s Dugong made for a festive first evening as we chatted with eager anticipation about the exciting fishing we were all in for over the course of the 6 days to come…

The first fishing day delivered a total of 13 GTs with both John and Derrick landing their first ever GTs on the fly, well done gents! The atoll’s resident Milkfish population were encountered in good numbers in the late afternoon, providing Matt with the perfect opportunity to try his hand for these turbocharged speedsters of the deep blue. In just a few casts Matt found himself in the thick of the action when hooked up and eventually landed his first ever Milkfish! A great way to start the week, well done Matt!

The second day saw similar returns on the GT front with a total of 13 landed for the day. The standout catch, however, came after Watts saw the fabled sickled tail of a Permit working its way down a sandy beach. He then presented his fly ahead of his golden quarry and waited for the fish to get within a few inches of it before enticing the eat with a quick strip causing a reaction bite. After a short fight the fish came to hand and the first Indo Pacific Permit of the season was landed…. well done Watts, a truly special moment!

The third day brought with it an incredible day of GT fishing with a total of 20 fish landed, 5 of which breaking the fabled metre mark!!!! Matt enjoyed a cracker of a day and landed a fish of 104cm, followed by a beautiful 105cm giant. Gerhard also enjoyed a couple epic catches being a 101cm and amazing 112cm GT. The fishing gods however had something up their sleeve for him! While he waited patiently in a spot during the incoming tide he saw a large blue shape slide across a white hole in the turtle grass flat. After he presented his fly on the line of the fish, the fish charged, and Gerhard was connected to a fish of a lifetime. Following an intense fight through a coral garden he managed to land a truly special fish that pulled the measuring tape to a jaw dropping 130cm. To hook and land a fish of these proportions on foot is moment of flats fishing magic we are sure Gerhard will remember forever, well done G! Gerhard also managed to land the first Triggerfish for the week while Russ, Peter and Kevin enjoyed a great session fishing for Bonefish in the late afternoon.

The fourth day saw a total of 15 GTs landed. After seeing a massive nurse shark come into the surf zone, Peter worked hard to get into position and presented his fly in front of the school that were following the shark. As his fly hit the water the school raced towards his baitfish presentation and after a huge commotion of energic splashes he was tight with an incredibly powerful GT that measured an impressive 106cm, great job Peter! Matt enjoyed yet more GT success and landed another 2 GTs that broke that magical metre mark. The milkfish were present again and Gerhard, Matt, and Russ all enjoyed success while fishing for this exciting species, well done gents!

The fifth day produced more variety of catches on the flats with a total of 8 GTs landed. Gerhard managed to add to his Triggerfish tally while Matt continued his good form on the flats by landing the first Bumphead Parrotfish of the week, fantastic work Matt! Jari who had been eager to land a Milkfish on the fly finally managed to get it done early on the fifth morning… great job and well deserved Jari!

The sixth and final day saw a total of 12 GT landed. Jari managed to break the fabled metre mark and land a beautiful 103cm GT, well done Jari. The day however, belonged to Dale who after multiple trips to Providence lined up the perfect shot on a really big fish holding in the current. After presenting his fly he watched as the fish charged in and inhaled it. After a strong fight he landed the magnificent 126cm GT…. well done Dale, a fish of a lifetime. Gerhard managed to land another Triggerfish and today G’s Triggerfish success was shared by Russ who managed to land his first ever on the fly, well done Russ!

And so brings a close to the fourth week of the season. With perfect weather conditions and excellent comradery to match our group enjoyed a very special week exploring the azure waters of Providence.

Our catch tally for the week was as follows:

GTs – 81 (10 GTs over 100cm..2 over 120cm)
Triggerfish – 4
Milkfish – 8
Bumphead Parrotfish – 1
Bonefish – 7
Permit – 1
Total tally of other species caught – 358

Until next week,

The Providence Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 22 – 29 March 2022

Welcome to the third week of the Providence March – April 2022 fly fishing season. This week saw us welcome a mixed group of anglers from the UK and the US. Some of the guys were regulars to the Providence experience while others first time visitors to the wonders of this unique Seychelles atoll. The previous 2 weeks of fishing action had our expectations set sky high, as we completed the final bits of preparation before the first day of week 3 on Prov’s exciting flats.

The first day dawned with a slight breeze and bluebird skies resulting in perfect sight fishing conditions. It turned out to be a day of firsts for our guests who got into swing of things from the moment their feet hit the flats, with Mark, Margaret, Vaughn, Duncan and Will all landing their first GTs on the fly. By the time all our tender boats had returned to the mothership on the first evening, we had amassed a total of 19 GTs for the day…a great start!

The second day saw a total of 12 GTs landed, with a special mention for Will who experienced the thrill of shallow water GT fishing when he connected to a large fish that had been seen tailing on the edge of a lagoon. His beauty stretched the measuring tape to 100cm on the dot… well done Will! Gerry experienced something similar when he managed to entice a massive fish from a school to eat his fly, and following an intense battle the landed fish measured an impressive 109cm… well done Gerry! The tailing fish species were also encountered in good numbers resulting in Kris and Chris each landing their first Triggerfish on the fly. Well done gentlemen!

The third day delivered a truly diverse experience for our guests, with loads exciting opportunities in front of the different iconic flats species available on Providence. By day end our group had landed a total of 17 GTs, 5 Bonefish and a Triggerfish. The Triggerfish landed was a special one as it completed a flats slam of a GT, Bonefish, and Triggerfish for Alexander… excellent job Alexander!

The fourth day saw a total of 16 GTs and another 3 Triggerfish landed. The only Bonefish of the day was landed by Duncan, when he completed his first and the group’s second flats slam of the week… well done Duncan!

The fifth day produced more exciting variety on the flats and in the bluewater, with 7 GTs, 6 Triggerfish, and 3 Milkfish landed. The highlights of the day included Mark and Margaret’s first ever Triggerfish catches. A special mention goes out to Margaret who went on to complete her first flats slam consisting of a GT, Bonefish, and Triggerfish… fantastic Margaret! The conditions proved perfect for fishing for the atoll’s resident Milkfish population, which resulted in Will, Vaughn, and Chris all landing their first Milks on the fly, Great job guys! Chris’s Milkfish success late in the day completed yet another slam… superbly done Chris!

The sixth and final day of the fishing week saw our guests enjoy bluebird skies and very little wind. The conditions, perfect for sight fishing, delivered a total of 19 GTs landed. Margaret enjoyed the standout catch with an incredibly powerful 103cm GT, picked from a school that was found staging up on the edge of the atoll, nicely done Margaret! The Bumphead Parrotfish were encountered in good numbers resulting in both Mark and Vaughn completing there first ever Bumphead catches… Well done gents! The Milkfish were again found feeding heavily on the outer rim of the atoll, Alex and Duncan going on to land one each… their first ever on the fly. Excellent job guys.

Another busy of week of fly fishing for the full assortment of species available at Providence Atoll has come to an end. As always, it was a pleasure to share the ultimate saltwater playground with our guests during week 3 of this season, and we look forward to what the next trip has in store for us.

Our catch tally for the week was:

GTs – 90 (3 over a 100cm and biggest 109cm)
Bumphead Parrotfish – 2
Triggerfish – 12
Milkfish – 5
Bonefish – 8
Napoleons Wrasse- 1
Total tally of other species landed – 483

Yours in fishing,

The Providence Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 15 – 22 March 2022

Trip 2 of the Providence March – May 2022 fly fishing season saw us welcome a full group from the UK, with most of the group regulars to the Prov experience. After a quick orientation of our mothership, we set to work readying everyone’s gear for another week of worldclass flats fishing action.

The first day of the week dealt us calm seas, despite challenging light conditions with periods of overcast skies. Our group hit the ground running and went on to land a total of 11 GTs for the day. Andrew, a newcomer to the Providence experience wasted little time and landed his first ever GT on the fly, great job Andrew! Another first-time experience was enjoyed during the course of the first day. This time for Piers, who after spotting the distinctive green tails of a school of feeding Bumphead Parrotfish sent out a perfect presentation and immediately went tight. Everything went Piers’s way and following an intense fight he had his first ever Bumpie firmly in his grasp. Great job Piers!

The second day saw a total of 12 GTs landed. Brummie found himself in the right place at the right time and managed to land 3 himself, excellent job Brummie! Other catches to write home about included a Triggerfish a piece for Fred and Andrew, and a beautiful Napoleon Wrasse for Peter M. Well done guys!

The third day of fishing delivered impressive action on the GT front with a total of 16 landed. A special mention goes out to to Peter, who after presenting his fly to a large blue fish holding stationary on a coral head, came tight and following an epic battle, eventually landed a trophy GT of 104cm. Great job and well-deserved Pete! The tailing species were encountered sporadically, however our group still managed to land 2 Bumphead Parrotfish for the day, Fred with his first ever on the fly and Piers repeated his first day heroics with his second Bumpie for the week. Great job guys!

The fourth day dawned with flat calm seas and windless conditions. Our group managed to land 9 GTs for the day with a special mention going out to Andrew, who once again found himself in the thick of the action while waiting in ambush near a surf side cut. His patience paid off when several blue shapes came drifting past his position. All it took was a quick cast ahead of the school and a few strips before the lead fish engulfed his fly and tore off into the horizon. Following an epic battle and loads of reeling in, he eventually landed a real trophy GT of 103cm. Impressive catch Andrew!

We experienced similar conditions and catches on the fifth day of the week with a total of 9 GTs landed. Piers and Peter Opperman shared the spoils by landing 2 GTs each….well done gents!

The sixth and final day of the fishing week saw a total of 15 GTs landed. The standout catch of the day and week went to Steve who happened upon a school of GTs leading a large shark. The two lead fish were both absolute giants and once the fly hit the water both fish wasted no time at all and rushed towards, with the slightly lazier fish smashing his baitfish pattern. A mammoth battle ensued and eventually his trophy was landed. A whopping 119cm and superb fish Steve. Well done!

With that, we finished off another fantastic week of fishing the untamed waters of Providence Atoll. The weather was sublime, the company and resulting humour even better. We look forward to welcoming the Aardvark McLeod group back in the near future.

Our catch tally for the week was as follows:

GTs – 72 (3 of 100cm plus and biggest 119cm)
Bumphead Parrotfish – 3
Triggerfish – 2
Napoleon Wrasse – 2
Total tally of other species – 426

Until next week,

The Providence Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 5 – 15 March 2022

Greetings and welcome to the opening trip of the Providence March/April 2022 fly fishing season. This week saw us welcome a full group of guests from the US and South Africa for an extended 10 night/9-day expedition. Some of the anglers on board our trusty mothership had visited Providence on several occasions prior and immediately got to work setting the vibe with wild tales of past experiences on the atoll. The feelings and emotions on the boat were mutual amongst our guide team as we settled in for the evening, everyone itching to get out there and explore the saltwater playground that lay before us.

The first day of the trip saw our party experience tricky conditions with intense winds and gloomy skies. Despite this we managed to land a total of 8 GTs with a special mention for Michelle who managed to realize her saltwater fly fishing dream by landing her first ever GT on the fly, well done Michelle!

The second day saw an improvement from the weather gods and the exciting fly fishing action burned red hot with total of 20 GTs landed for the day. John enjoyed the standout catch of the day after spotting a jet-black GT that was in close pursuit of a stingray. He presented a perfect cast and following a few quick strips he was connected to a trophy GT that pulled the measuring tape all the way to 103cm. Congrats John! The tailing fish species were also encountered in good numbers with a total of 2 Triggerfish landed with Michelle ticking off her first Yellow Margin Triggerfish on the fly, well done Michelle. Both Michelle and John went on to land the first few Bonefish of the season with John’s fish rounding off a flats slam…well done! Other firsts on the second day included Mark and Craig’s first ever GT on the fly.

On the third day our group continued to enjoy great fishing on the flats with another 20 GTs landed for the day. The catch of the day went to Chris who managed to hook and land his personal best GT from a school of bow waking of fish. His trophy fish measured an impressive 103cm. Pat had one of those special Providence days and landed a total of 6 GTs himself. Great fishing and well done Pat. The iconic green tails of the Bumphead Parrotfish were encountered in good numbers and our group managed to land a total of 4 Bumpies for the day – Carl, Ron, Jon and Chris all landing their first ever Bumpies… Excellent job gentlemen!

Day four and more fantastic GT action to report with a total of 16 GTs landed. Carl enjoyed a stella day on the flats landing a total of 4 GTs and topped it off with his first Yellow Margin Triggerfish. Congrats Carl! A total of 3 Bumpies were brought to hand for the day with Craig and Scott each landing their firsts on the fly. Only one Bonefish was landed for the day, but it was a special one because it completed a flats slam for Scott!

The fifth day saw a total of 11 GTs landed. Pat landed the top catch, an incredibly powerful fish of 106cm… Excellent job Pat! The resident Triggerfish population came to the party in a big way providing loads of shots and a total of 8 Triggers were landed for the day – Anglers Mark, Jon, Ron, and Tom all landed their first ever Triggers on the fly. Fantastic job guys.

The sixth day provided our guests with loads of shots to the full flats fishing variety available on the flats. Our group managed to land a total of 10 GTs, 3 Triggers, and a single Bumpie for the day. As is typical of most weeks, on day 6 our guests were well and truly in the flow of things and the opportunities converted were accompanied by that special feeling of self-accomplishment.

The seventh day saw a total of 12 GTs landed with Pat again in the thick of the action on the big fish front. He landed another GT of a meter, this one measuring 100cm on the dot. His trophy came with the last cast of the day after seeing the fish leading a school while they pushed up a lagoon edge… well done Pat. Michelle tasted sweet success while fishig for the bizarre Bumphead Parrotfish and finally managed to land her first on the fly after several close calls during the 6 days prior. Ron, Mark, and Jon had the right kind of Bumpie mojo on their boat, each of them bringing one to hand, great job guys.

The eighth day delivered more fantastic action for GTs with a total of 18 landed. After spotting a school of fish hovering over some mudding stingrays Chris and Carl quickly managed to secure a double up. Well done gentleman, a special moment shared between friends and one we’re sure they will remember fondly for years to come.

The ninth and final day of fishing delivered incredibly tricky fishing conditions with continuous heavy rain and dark skies. Our guests however soldiered on and went onto land an impressive number of 13 GTs for the day. The catch of the day, however, went to Carl who after seeing a pod of tailing Bonefish managed to convince the largest fish of the school. Following several lightning-fast runs Carl went on to land a beautiful 10-pound fish, well done Carl! Pat also ended his trip in style with an incredibly large Bluefin Trevally that measured 83cm, great catch Pat!

This ends the opening week of fishing in the wild and exciting waters of Providence Atoll. Despite the variable weather conditions, a very productive week of fly fishing was enjoyed by everyone on the trip. We loved sharing this experience with everyone and can’t wait to welcome this group back soon.

Our catch tally for the week was:

GTs – 128 (4 of 100cm plus)
Triggerfish – 20
Bumphead Parrotfish – 12
Bonefish – 4 (1 of 10lbs.)
Total tally of other species caught – 623

Until next week,

The Providence Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 16 – 23 November 2021

In what felt like a blink of an eye, we had already reached the start of the 6th week of the season. This week we welcomed a group mostly comprising of Providence regulars onboard our trusty mothership. The routine of tackle setup and safety orientation was at this point running like a well-oiled machine and we made quick work of both before we set sail towards the exciting saltwater wilderness of Providence Atoll.

Day 1 began with clear skies and a light south-easterly breeze. The conditions allowed our guests to enjoy the full range of diversity available on the atoll landing a total of 3 GTs, 3 Triggerfish, 5 Bones, and 2 Bumphead Parrotfish for the day. A special mention for Guetye who enjoyed a great day that began with a GT, his first Triggerfish, and eventually a large Bonefish that he managed to entice with a shrimp fly imitation which secured his first-ever Indian Ocean flats slam. What a way to get the fishing week started! Great job Guetye.

Weather conditions on day 2 were good, although somewhat windy with a stiff south-easterly blowing. Fly fishing for the Giant Trevally proved to be difficult on this day with a single fish coming to hand. Other catches of note included Guetye’s first-ever Bumphead Parrotfish caught on the fly as well as an absolute monster of Bonefish landed by Miachel. Miachel’s dream catch was encountered while he was wading the interior of a white sand flat when he saw a tailing Bonefish and after perfectly presenting his fly to the fish, he came tight. After surviving several runs into the backing he managed to land his biggest ever Bonefish which measured a staggering 31 inches. Great Job Miachel!

Day 3 dawned with clear skies and a continuation of the strong easterly wind. A total of 4 GTs, 1 Triggerfish, and several Bonefish were landed for the day. Stephane enjoyed some cracking moments of fly fishing hooking and landing a colourful Triggerfish and later landing a monster Bonefish that pulled the measuring tape all the way to 29 inches. Awesome fishing, well done Stephane.

Day 4 saw a marked improvement in the GT fishing, with a total of 11 landed for the day. Miachel had a great day managing to land a couple of Bonefish in the skinny water surrounding one of the larger white-sand islands of the atoll. Fly fishing for the different Groupers and Snappers available on Providence also turned up a couple of gears and some truly entertaining fishing was had by our guests while drifting over the various carol gardens scattered throughout the atoll.

Day 5 and we welcomed a break in the strong south-easterly wind that had been blowing for most of the week thus far. Enjoying the somewhat improved conditions our guests went on to capitalize on their opportunities and landed a total of 7 GTs and 1 Bumpie for the day. John landed 2 energetic GTs and Guetye continued his good form with Bumpies landing yet another one for the week. A special mention for Igor who encountered one of his bucket list catches after wading through some deep water and onto a shallow coral head exposed by the spring low tide. Once perched on top of the coral head he saw a magical blue shape appear on the edge of another large coral head just inside casting range. Following the presentation of his brush fly and an energetic retrieve, he came tight to the almost mythical Napoleon Wrasse. After an intense fight trying to keep the fish away from the numerous coral snags in the area, he managed to land his dream saltwater fish. A well-deserved catch, well done Igor!

The last day of the fishing week dawned with gloomy skies and heavy rain. Fortunately, these conditions were short-lived and we enjoyed clear skies by midmorning. A great day was had by our guests with 11 GTs brought to hand! A special mention goes out to Hugo who managed to land and tame 3 of 11 himself. After landing a beautiful Bumpie, Rodolphe then went on to hook and land his first ever GT on the fly, a great achievement, well done Rodolphe!

That brings us to the end of a fairly challenging but enjoyable week of fishing on Providence Atoll. The diversity of fly fishing scenarios available to our guests was on full display this week and we made the most of the opportunities presented to us with several epic catches coming to hand.

Our catch tally for the week was:

GTs – 37
Bumphead Parrotfish – 5
Triggerfish – 4
Bonefish – 9 (2 over 10lbs.)
Napoleon Wrasse – 2
Total tally of other species landed – 486

Until next week,

The Providence Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 9 – 16 November 2021

Welcome to the fifth week of the Providence 2021/2022 season. This week we welcomed a group of familiar faces aboard the M.V Maya’s Dugong for the first time since the beginning of the CV-19 pandemic. Following a quick orientation of the mothership, we set to work readying our guest’s gear for all the exciting fly fishing scenarios likely to be encountered out on Providence.

Our guests this week were mostly interested in the tailing species that call Providence home, specifically the Bumphead Parrotfish and Triggerfish. Conditions were favorable for this and several opportunities were enjoyed during the first day of fishing delivering a total of 3 successful Bumphead Parrotfish catches. Grigory caught the standout catch for the day, landing an incredibly powerful 109cm Bumpie. Well done Grigory! Oleksandra experienced the thrill of walk and stalk fly fishing and managed to land her first ever Yellowmargin Triggerfish on the fly while exploring a lagoon edge. The GTs however proved difficult to come by on day 1 of the week with a total of 2 landed for the day, one of which was a trophy caught under unique circumstances. While fishing to a school of Bumphead Parrotfish Vadim presented a cast with his crab fly towards the school, going tight, shortly followed by the traditionally long first run into the backing. After a long battle, the fish was eventually landed and to his surprise, he had hooked and landed a 100cm Giant Trevally on his 9wt. Well done on this special catch Vadim!

Day 2 dawned with clear skies and a slight south easterly breeze. The tailing species were again on the menu. Grigory managed to land his first Triggerfish of the trip, while Andrei and Gennadiy enjoyed a productive Bonefishing session. A total of 6 Bumphead Parrotfish were landed for the day with John enjoying a truly memorable day on the flats landing 4 Bumpies, one of which a monster measuring a whopping 115cm. Well done John! Justin, an experienced visitor of the outer islands of Seychelles also got into the action and managed to hook and land his first Bumpie, and then followed that with another fish.

Day 3 dawned with clear skies on the horizon. A total of 2 bumpies were landed for the day with Vadim and Grigory enjoying the spoils by landing one each. The GTs finally began to make a reappearance on the atoll providing several opportunities on the flats for our guests. Gennadiy made the most of his chances after encountering a school of GTs tailing near 3 Nurse sharks. He presented his fly into the school and following just a few strips his fly was engulfed, shortly followed by yards and yards of backing as the fish steamed off. After an intense tussle, the fish was eventually landed pulling the measuring tape to 113cm. A fish of a lifetime… well done Gennadiy! Andrei also managed to land his first GT for the trip along with Vladimir also landing his first GT for the trip after spotting it pushing a bow wave in very shallow water. Vadim had another great day landing 2 Triggerfish.

Day 4 dawned with clear skies and a stiffer south easterly breeze. A great day was had on the tailing species, with no less than 8 triggerfish landed. A special mention goes out to Vladimir who managed to land 3 for the day….well done Vladimir. Vadim managed to land a GT early on in the morning and then followed that up with 2 Triggerfish and then a Bonefish to complete an Indian Ocean grand slam. Great job Vadim! Gennadiy had a great day too, landing both a Bumpie and a GT before the day came to an end.

Day 5 dawned with clear skies and a stiff south easterly breeze. Another great day was had while fishing for the tailing species, with John managing to open his Triggerfish account, following it up with another in quick succession. Justin also enjoyed a great day landing 2 Bumpies, while Vladimir again managed to land himself 3 Triggerfish. He followed that up with his first Bumpie of the trip… well done Vladimir.

Day 6 dawned with a change in weather, the eastern horizon littered with dark storm clouds and rolling banks of rain. A total of 2 GTs were landed for the day with a matching number of Bumpies being landed. John managed to better his first massive Bumpie. After landing his crab in a school of tailing fish, he hooked and tussled with a monster that measured 116cm…awesome fish well John! And finally, late on the final day with the sun nearing the horizon, Nikolai managed to hook and land the first and only sailfish of the week….well done Nikolai.

That brings us to the end of a very enjoyable week of fly fishing for Providence’s full assortment of tailing species. Our catch tally for the week was as follows: