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Featured Image - Providence Blog: 28 March – 4 April 2023

Providence Blog: 28 March – 4 April 2023

Week 4 of the Providence March – May 2023 fly fishing season saw us welcome 8 return guests and 4 new additions, all under the care of Justin from The Fly Shop. After a quick orientation of our mothership, we began readying everyone’s gear for another week of flats fishing action.

The predicted weather for the week looked like it would be flat and calm. As it turned out the report was correct… flat and calm is what we got all week. The first day saw our group capitalize on the favourable conditions with 6 GTs, 5 Bumpies, 3 Triggers, and 6 Bonefish landed for the day. A special mention goes out to Steve who managed to complete a slam on his very first day on the flats, landing a Trigger, Bumpie, and GT. A special way to start a Seychelles fly fishing adventure, well done Steve! Brian also enjoyed a red letter day landing not 1… but 2 Bonefish that tipped the scales at 10lbs!

Day 2, and yet more fantastic weather and fishing action! Our group landed a total of 9 GTs between them with 3 slams recorded for the day. Peter, Justin and Otis all slammed with catches of GTs, Triggers, Bumpies, and Bonefish. A very special day was shared between 3 friends and the perfect incentive for a couple of extra celebratory beers that evening. Well done guys!

By day 3 we had begun to feel the effects of the incredibly hot & still conditions. It caused the water temperatures throughout the atoll to rise to a point that made things challenging on the trevally front. Despite this, Providence provided us with numerous opportunities at the tailing species that frequent the atoll. Our shift in focus still produced several catches of GTs, Bumpies, Triggerfish, Bonefish, and a lonesome Permit. Bill was the lucky angler who managed to get the sought-after Indo to hand. Well done Bill!

The sun rose on day 4 producing the same hot and calm conditions! Our group however hit the flats with the same enthusiasm as they did on day 1. It paid off for Ken, who found himself in a rich vein form and went on to land 2 GTs, 1 of which his personal best for the week, sighted and hooked by himself. In addition, Brian landed his third 10lbs bonefish for the week, while Justin and John shared a Bumpie double.

Day 5 saw our group encounter several large schools of Milkfish which resulted in mulitple hookups. Unfortunately however, only 1 was successfully brought to hand, the lucky angler in this case being Steven who did a great job fighting his fish! Brian went on to land a massive Bumpie, his first, while Austin managed to come right on the Trevally front when he landed a spritely GT caught off of a stingray late in the day.

Unfortunately, there was only so much flat and calm weather the atoll could handle, and the fishing action slowed right down during the last day of the week. Despite this, Steve, Ottis, and Ken added to the GT tally which brought our week to a close.

Warm water certainly made fishing tricky by Providence standards, however, it was still an exceptional week from a tailing species point of view. We thoroughly enjoy our time with those who joined us during the 4th week and look forward to welcoming you all back to Providence in the near future.

Our catch tally for the 4th week of our season was:

  • GTs – 34
  • Bumphead Parrotfish – 16
  • Triggerfish – 10
  • Bonefish – 24 (3 of 10lbs)
  • Indo-Pacific Permit – 1
  • Barracuda – 1
  • Milkfish – 2
  • Total tally of other species – 96

Until next week,
The Providence Guide Team

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Featured Image - Providence Blog: 22-29 November 2022

Providence Blog: 22-29 November 2022

The 6th week of our season saw us welcome a group hosted by our friends from Mavungana in South Africa. After a short crossing over from Farquhar our guests were ready to get their week in this outlandish place off to a running start and that is exactly what they did…

Day 1 delivered opportunities for the atoll’s giant trevally and although not all of the shots ended in success 3 of our guests – Nick, Rob, and Chris all managed to land a giant trevally for the day. Action was had on the offshore front too, Johan caught the standout catch here landing an immensely powerful 119cm dogtooth tuna. The day was rounded off with some exceptional fishing over the deeper coral bommies providing our group with exciting entertainment to end the day.

Day 2 brought with it an improvement on the GT front with our guests tasting success on 7 occasions for the day. Nick, Chris, Calum, Craig, and Jono all managed to land a fish each while Rob went one better with 2 for the day. The infamous bumphead parrotfish were also out in good numbers and Jono made his shots count landing a large bumpie. This was no mean feat as it was done using a dry fly imitation that our team had been working on for some time. The very first bumphead parrotfish ever caught on off the surface and a very special moment for both head guide Tim Babich and Jonathan. The fishing off the coral heads was on fire and apart from all the weird and wonderful grouper and snapper species landed there were also 2 napoleon wrasse landed by Jono and Craig, respectively. We had seen some sailfish activity offshore in the days prior and this led to Henk and Johan both landing their first sailfish on fly. Well done, guys!

Day 3 saw yet another improvement in the GT fishing with a total of 11 landed for the day. Craig and Calum continued from where they left off on the previous day landing a GT each. Nick also got in on the action but went one better with 2 GTs. The day, however, belonged to Rob who enjoyed a very busy session of fishing converting 6 GTs to cap off a productive day on the flats.

Day 4 brought with it several opportunities for the atoll’s resident bumphead parrotfish. Henk and Johan’s efforts paid dividend with both managing to land their first ever bumpies. Well done, guys! The sailfish were around again in good numbers – Rob, Roland, and Calum all came right with these acrobats of the open ocean. Back to the flats and the GT action provided our guests with multiple shots to these impressive predators with our group tallying a total of 6 for the day. Craig, Calum, Chris, Nick, Henk, and Jono shared the spoils between them.

We experience tough conditions on day 5 with high winds and limited visibility due to thick cloud cover. Henk found a couple of bonefish on a sand flat and the second fish he caught stretched the tape past the 26.5 Inch mark making it a 10 lber, well done, Henk! The tricky conditions resulted in a single GT brought to hand for the day, a feisty fish caught by Roland.

The last day of the week saw the weather improve slightly and our guests were all itching to end the week on a high. Jono ended his time at Providence in style by landing a powerful trophy GT that measured 100cm. Rob enjoyed success too and landed a triggerfish and another Sailfish. Roland’s persistence paid off as he finally managed to land his first bumphead parrotfish after being fascinated by these fish all week. This brings us to the end of a challenging week’s fishing on the flats of Providence. Tough conditions certainly didn’t help our cause however we thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with the Mavungana group. We look forward to exploring these flats with you all again in the near future.

Our catch tally for week 5 was:

  • GT: 28 (1 of a 100cm)
  • Sailfish: 6
  • Bumphead Parrotfish: 4
  • Triggerfish: 1
  • Napoleon Wrasse: 2
  • Bonefish: 9 (1 of 10lbs.)

Till next week,

The FlyCastaway Guide Team

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Featured Image - Providence Blog: 18 – 25 October 2022

Providence Blog: 18 – 25 October 2022

The opening week of our Oct- Dec 2022 Providence fly fishing season saw us welcome a mix of new and familiar faces to kick things off for our end of year stint on the wildest atoll in Seychelles. 

The first day began with a bang as the group got stuck into the GTs from the outset. There were 8 GTs landed for the day with Helmut leading the pack with 6 of them. The triggerfish were also out in good numbers and the guests enjoyed great tailing trigger action. Nicolai and Grigory landed 1 each, Vladimir Jr 2, and Vladimir Snr tallying 4 triggers to his name. The day came to an end with some of the group experiencing fantastic bone fishing which capped off a diverse opening day on the flats.

Day 2 saw some weather move in, providing mostly overcast conditions. This did not affect the fishing too much as we saw another 10 GTs landed for the day, Helmut again in the thick of the action with 4 fish. There were great numbers of large bones around, and again our guests managed to land a good number during the morning tide.

The third day saw our guests really capitalize on the favorable tides and weather conditions. Vladimir Snr and Vladimir Jr both continued to enjoy their fishing this week and landed 2 triggerfish each. Justin went one better by landing 3 triggers, while Nicolai also got in on the trigger action with 1. There were good numbers of bones around yet again with several larger specimens brought to hand, the catch for the day going to Chris with his 9,5lb bone which ran him deep into backing on a few occasions. Along with the tailing species showing up in good numbers were the GTs. Our group managed to bring a total of 17 to hand on day 3 with Grigory and Helmut leading the pack landing 4 each, Nicolai and Chris both landed 3, while Sasha landed 2. The action didn’t stop on the flats and group continued the fun prospecting the Prov’s coral gardens for various grouper and snapper species. Helmet landed the most notable catch during this session with a large napoleon wrasse to cap off a productive day on Providence.

The fourth day saw our guests land 19 GTs between them as they all really got into their groove. Justin landed 6 during the day while Helmut and Chris both managed 5 each. Nicolai also got in on the GT action landing 2 of his own. There was some phenomenal trigger fishing on the flats with 7 fish landed and a whole bunch more hooked. Vladimir Snr enjoyed a special day with 4 triggers landed in quick succession.

The fifth day saw us experience slightly bigger tides. The larger tidal variance and water draining off the flats saw us encounter large schools of feeding milkfish in the deeper water just off the flats. Chris and Nicolai both capitalized by hooking and landing one a piece. Nicolai’s fish was a special one as it was one of the bigger specimens that we have seen in recent seasons, and it put up an immense fight at close quarters. The fishing around the larger coral heads was very productive on the high tide, which saw some of our guests land a multitude of interesting reef species. Some notable catches from this session of fishing were 2 napoleon wrasse landed by Maxim and Vladimir Jr, respectively. These impressive fish tested the anglers and their gear to the extreme but in the end there were smiles all round. We also saw large schools of bumphead parrotfish on the flats and Grigory opened the account for the season with the first bumpie landed. There were good numbers of GTs patrolling the flats too which resulted in Vladimir Jnr landing the first GT over the fabled 100cm mark for the season. An immensely powerful 105cm fish caught on a large turtle grass flat, well done Valdimir! 

We experienced dark overcast weather on the final day of the week making the fishing rather challenging. We changed our tactics and set about  searching for bow waking fish. Justin landed 2 GTs while the standout catch for the day went to Andrey who managed to tame a monster bumpie of 106cm. This fish put up an immense fight which eventually ended with his prized catch firmly in the net, surrounded by smiles and loud celebration. A wonderful way to end a very productive opening week.  

Our catch tally for the week was:

  • GTs – 61 (1 of 100cm plus)
  • Triggerfish – 23
  • Bumphead Parrotfish – 2
  • Bonefish – 27 
  • Milkfish – 2
  • Total tally of other species caught – 362

Until next week,

The Providence Guide Team

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Featured Image - Fly fishing for Bumphead Parrotfish in the Seychelles

Fly fishing for Bumphead Parrotfish in the Seychelles

Fly Fishing for Bumphead Parrotfish is a thrilling experience unique to the Farquhar Group of Atoll’s in Seychelles, specifically Farquhar Atoll and Providence Atoll. Our history targeting the species goes back as far as 2007 when the very first Bumphead Parrotfish was successfully landed using fly fishing gear on Farquhar. Since then, our team has refined the necessary fly fishing techniques and has gained in-depth knowledge of when and how to successfully target the powerful “Bumpie”.

The IGFA All-Tackle World Record Bumphead Parrotfish caught by angler Mark Weeks & FlyCastaway guide Brandan Becker.

Fast Facts:

  • The IGFA All-Tackle World Record Bumphead Parrotfish was landed by a FlyCastaway guest on Providence Atoll in November 2019 weighing a whopping 46.35kgs (102 lbs.) and was certainly a highlight of that saltwater fly fishing season. We regularly encounter the species between 80 – 110cm on the flats. 
  • Bumphead Parrotfish are a slow-growing species and are thought to live as long as 40 years.
  • Typically encounters occur while schools of 10 – 30 fish feed in shallow water on soft corals and crustaceans on the hard bottom flats of Farquhar and Providence.
  • Bumphead Parrotfish accept a range of crab patterns tied on good-quality hooks. The most important element for success while fishing to the species lies in the presentation based on the amount of current or lack thereof, and the kind of substrate you happen to be fishing over.

A Bumphead Parrotfish double caught on Providence Atoll.

 Rigging up for Bumphead Parrotfish

  • The best fly rods for Bumphead Parrotfish are 9-foot 10wt fast action saltwater fly rods. – We recommend 9ft 10wt G.Loomis NRX +.
  • The best fly lines for Bumphead Parrotfish are 10wt Tropical/Warm water fly lines to match the recommended rod – Our choice is the Airflo Superflo Ridge 2.0 flats Universal Taper 10wt fly line.
  • The best reels for Bumphead Parrotfish should have the following features: fast line retrieval, a drag system designed to handle wet wading in saltwater, and a minimum backing capacity of 250 yards of 60lb gel spun or casting braid. – Our top pick is the WADE Chanos which was designed to handle fish of this nature effectively.
  • Our leader configuration is unique, although simply put 25 – 30lb 9ft fluorocarbon tapered leaders are acceptable. The leader is joined to the fly line with a loop-to-loop connection, with the Perfection Loop the knot of choice on the leader end. Our knot of choice to the fly is the Improved Homer Rhode Knot which is a non-slip loop knot.
  • The best flies for Bumphead Parrotfish include Merkin and Flexo crab patterns tied on size #2 Gamakatsu SL12S hooks. Fly colours should be orange, white, or tan and should be tied with weed guards and in varying weights. We recommend packing 4 of each of these patterns as they’ll be used to catch just about all of the iconic tailing fish species available while on your fly fishing trip to Farquhar Atoll or Providence Atoll.

The right fly fishing outfit is essential while fly fishing for Bumphead Parrotfish.

How to catch more Bumphead Parrotfish on the flats

The positioning

Image supplied by Dave McCoy – FCA guide and guest move to get in the right position on Farquhar Atoll.

To dramatically improve your catch rate while fly fishing for Bumphead Parrotfish you should take your time to move into the right position before making your first presentation. A head on shot is ideal, this means getting directly in line with the school, so that the Bumphead Parrotfish are feeding directly towards your position on the flats. Take care to do this so that you do not alert the school of your presence.

The presentation

A school of Bumphead Parrotfish feed and move slowly towards a FlyCastaway guest on Providence Atoll.

The school should now be moving slowly toward your position allowing for a head-on shot. Now select a single fish in the school, preferably the closest fish, and aim to present the fly at least 4ft short of it, allowing the fly to settle on the bottom. Should the school’s feeding direction change and your target fish no longer on track to swim past your fly, you should retrieve your fly back quickly, move again, and repeat the presentation.

The retrieve

Image supplied by Dave McCoy – Matching the correct position, presentation, and retrieve will greatly improve your catch rate on the flats.

Bumphead Parrotfish will not actively hunt down a moving fly, therefore you need to present a static fly to the fish. The trick here is to retrieve only the slack out of the fly line so that you are in constant contact with your static fly sitting on the bottom. A feeding Bumpie will pick up your fly and slowly swim off with it in its beak, at this point you will feel a slight pulling sensation through the fly line meaning it’s time to set the hook with a short firm strip strike.

The fight

Image supplied by Dave McCoy – Bumphead Parrotfish are renowned for their explosive first run.

Bumphead Parrotfish are renowned for being one of the hardest fishing shallow water targets in the Indian Ocean. Following a successful hook-up, you will need to survive the initial run which is where your gear will play a critical role. Your drag should be set to roughly 60% of the maximum given the fact that we fish tippets of 25-30lbs. If all goes according to plan and you are still connected to the hooked Bumpie after its initial run, you can now begin applying more pressure on the fish with good rod angles and a slow lift and reel down line retrieval method.

Where is the best Bumphead Parrotfish destination for you?

There are just 2 destinations on the planet that provide consistent and reliable fly fishing opportunities for Bumphead Parrotfish. As the business that pioneered fly fishing in Seychelles, we’ve come to learn which venue is best for your needs and what tides are most likely to provide the experience you are after. If you are looking for the best venues on earth to catch Bumphead Parrotfish then we would strongly suggest the following:

Providence Atoll

Image supplied by Peter McLeod – A school of feeding Bumphead Parrotfish approaches FCA angler and guide.

The best saltwater fly fishing destination on earth – Providence Atoll and its mind-blowing diversity will provide you and your fishing partners multiple opportunities in front of powerful Bumphead Parrotfish. The atoll, which has received fewer than 1000 visitors in written history is possibly the last true saltwater fly fishing wilderness. For a detailed perspective of what to expect on the flats, read our week-by-week catch reports here, visit our website for more information about Providence Atoll, or get in touch with us via email – info@flycastaway.com

We would love to hear from you

Choosing the fly fishing destination that caters to your preferences isn’t easy. These venues are often in the far-flung corners of the world and require a great deal of time and energy to get to. FlyCastaway has run successful fly fishing trips with the best guide teams in the Seychelles & St Brandon since 2003. Our knowledgeable team works day and night to ensure you have the trip of your dreams. If you’re planning to visit Seychelles or have any other fly fishing travel-related questions, get in touch with us via email – info@flycastaway.com or stay up to date with the fishing action on Facebook & Instagram.

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