Permit - FlyCastaway

St Brandon Blog: 1 – 11 Oct 2024

We’ve moved into week five of our St Brandon season, still surrounded by the same great group of guests as the previous week. Unfortunately, Mike had to leave early due to work commitments, but the rest of the crew was still going strong.

This week, our guests experienced some fantastic bonefishing, with plenty of opportunities to fish to tailing bones in super shallow water. Tench and Ben each landed the largest bonefish of the week, both pulling the scales to 8 pounds—well done, guys!

This unique atoll, which we’re lucky enough to call home for a few months each year, kept producing. All of our guests had plenty of chances to cast at happy permit. While we didn’t convert as many opportunities as we had hoped, we still managed to land three beautiful permit. We found pods of two to five fish regularly, as well as singles along the flats and coral storm ridges. JT saved the best for last, landing a stunning 16-pound permit on his final day. This fish, caught with a ray, was truly a memorable moment. Well done, JT!

The trevally fishing was a bit slower this week compared to last. However, we still had some exciting shots at bluefin and giant trevally (GTs), and we spotted some true giants around the islands and coral ridges. We landed two beautiful bluefin trevally, both measuring 78 cm, and one GT at 63 cm. The GTs proved elusive, and although we had a few opportunities, we couldn’t convert every shot.

Sadly, due to rough sea conditions, our group of anglers had to leave the atoll three days earlier than planned. We did however thoroughly enjoy spending the week on the flats with such a great group of guys and hope to see them all again soon!

Until next week

The St Brandon’s Guide team

Our catch tally for the week was:

Bonefish – 59
Permit – 3
GTs – 1
Bluefin Trevally – 2

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Providence Blog: 5 – 12 Nov 2024

Week four of the season kicked off with a mix of familiar faces and new anglers, as three returning clients joined three newcomers for their first taste of Providence Atoll. The tides shifted from spring to neap, focusing more on tailing species as the water movement slowed, offering more opportunities to walk the flats and fish the ridges.

Day 1: Stormy Start, Strong Fishing The first day started with storms and wind gusts, but the weather cleared by the time the guides reached the flats. With the tide high, we focused on higher spots around the flats, staking out near islands and following sharks and stingrays. Our anglers made some excellent casts early on, landing a few nice fish to kickstart the trip. As the tide dropped, GTs became more visible, and some good fish were caught. Vladimir had a memorable morning, landing a Bumphead parrotfish after a solid fight on a turtle grass flat. By the end of the day, our anglers had landed 13 GTs and a Bumphead, setting a positive tone for the week.

Day 2: Wind and Swell, but Plenty of Action Day two brought strong winds from the southeast and big swells, reducing visibility but not stopping the action. With high water in the morning, fish were scarce, but as the tide dropped, the catch rate picked up. Justin landed a 114cm GT after a nurse shark passed, drawing the fish in for an aggressive take. Igor also landed a solid 102cm GT while casting to a wave-surfing fish. On the tailing species front, Vladimir caught two beautiful triggerfish, while Justin and Matt each landed Bumphead parrotfish. Bonefish were spotted in the north, and James and Igor landed a few in the 6lb range.

Day 3: Sailfish and Bumphead Success On day three, the wind decreased and the clouds lifted slightly, improving visibility. The morning focused on deep water, where Matt and Justin trolled for sailfish. They teased up a couple of fish and Justin successfully landed a big one after an intense fight. Later in the day, Vladimir had a fantastic time on the flats, landing two Bumpheads. A few GTs were seen, and some great shots were made, landing a couple of fish.

Day 4: Bumphead Bonanza Day four started with high clouds and strong southwest winds, but fishing remained productive. Yuri had a standout day, landing three Bumphead parrotfish. Justin and Matt also each landed a nice Bumphead, while Igor fought a big one to the net. Vladimir completed a rare slam, landing a GT, a bonefish, and a Yellow-margin triggerfish. It was an excellent day for tailing species, and our anglers made the most of the opportunities.

Day 5: Triggerfish and Bumphead Action The weather on day five was slightly calmer, allowing for better fly presentations. With a high tide just before noon, our anglers focused on tailing species like triggerfish and Bumpheads. Vladimir hooked two beautiful Yellow-margin triggerfish, while James landed a fantastic Bumphead. Yuri had great success with GTs, landing two fish in the north while chasing triggers and Bumpheads. Matt also got into the action, landing a nice GT.

Day 6: Tough Weather, but Resilient Fishing The final day brought tough weather—high winds, clouds, and rain—which made spotting fish and presenting flies a challenge. Despite the conditions, our anglers persevered. Vladimir added another Bumphead to his tally, and Matt and Justin both landed GTs. It was a tough but rewarding end to a great week.

As week four concluded, our guests left with smiles, having landed some impressive fish despite challenging conditions. The week ended with us moving from neap to spring tides, hoping for calmer weather in the days ahead.

Catch Tally for the Week:

GTs: 34 (114cm Justin, 102cm Igor)
Triggerfish: 5
Grouper & Snapper: 78
Sailfish: 1
Bumphead Parrotfish: 13
Bluefin: 21
Bonefish: 3

Until next time,
The FlyCastaway Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 29 Oct – 5 Nov 2024

Our third week of the season begins with a new group of guests from the US, alongside father and son duo Judah and Rob, who are returning from New Zealand. As the tides shift from Neaps to Springs, we anticipate more water flushing over the flats, bringing with it an exciting opportunity to target predator fish like GTs cruising the Atoll.

Day 1: A Stormy Start We kick off with eager anglers ready to explore the flats. However, heavy rain and strong winds rolled in, making the morning wet and challenging for sight fishing. Despite the tough conditions, we spotted several big GTs cruising the shallow flats, and Judah landed a nice 87cm fish. Bommy bashing proved successful, with multiple species caught, including Bohar snapper, camouflage grouper, and bluefin. Offshore, our sole Joal angler landed the first Sailfish of the week.

Day 2: Tough Weather, Good Results Day two saw wind gusts of up to 35 knots, combined with heavy rain and clouds, making spotting fish difficult. Still, our anglers caught 11 GTs, the biggest around 85cm. Judah had a standout day, landing two Napoleon wrasse. In the afternoon, we shifted to deeper waters for bommy bashing and sailfish fishing. Though no sailfish appeared, we raised a few big wahoo, but couldn’t convert them.

Day 3: GT Success By day three, the wind had eased, and conditions improved. Our anglers enjoyed more activity on the flats. Mike hooked an impressive 107cm GT while waiting for fish to funnel through a drainage. Throughout the day, we caught a total of 11 GTs, with Richard landing a nice 90cm fish. Although bumphead parrotfish were spotted, no hook-ups occurred. Groupers and Napoleon wrasse continued to provide great action, with Joel landing a massive saddleback grouper and Greta landing a beautiful Napoleon wrasse.

Day 4: Big GTs and Spring Tides On day four, we had a full spring tide, with plenty of water movement on the flats. The weather was pleasant, and fish spotting was easier. Rob landed a massive 113cm GT after a hard-fought battle, marking a highlight of the day. The group landed 11 GTs in total, with Chris catching his first GT at 88cm and another later. As the flats filled with water, we shifted to deeper lagoons and ended the day with some nice groupers and snappers.

Day 5: Monster Fish Day five brought blue skies and little wind, making for perfect conditions. The drop in the morning saw several anglers hook up early, with Jonathan landing a monster GT measuring 112cm. Joel also hooked a big fish, but it broke him off in the coral. Throughout the day, we saw good action with 9 GTs landed. Joel also made history with the first bumphead parrotfish of the season.

Day 6: A Perfect Finale The final day of the week greeted us with glassy conditions, and we focused on drainages and channels. GTs were spotted, and a few were landed, including one by Lana, who caught her first Providence GT. As the day progressed, milkfish appeared, and Joel hooked one, landing it after a challenging 45-minute fight. The week ended on a high note, with great catches and lasting memories.

Catch Tally for the Week:

GTs: 67 (113cm Rob, 112cm Jonathan, 107cm Mike)
Sailfish: 1
Napoleon Wrasse: 4
Grouper & Snapper: 267
Milkfish: 1
Bumphead Parrotfish: 1
Bluefin: 26

As the week wraps up, we bid farewell to our guests. We now enter Neap tides, where we’ll focus more on tailing species and fishing the flats. Stay tuned for the adventures that lie ahead!

Until next time,
The FlyCastaway Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 22 – 29 October 2024

Our second week of the season was filled with excitement as we welcomed guests from around the world to Providence. With neap tides approaching, we aimed to focus on tailing species like Bonefish and Triggerfish, along with the ever-popular GT’s.

The first day saw a strong start despite gusty 25-knot winds. Good visibility allowed our anglers to spot fish, leading to a variety of catches, including Triggerfish, Bonefish, groupers, and some impressive GT’s. Barbara caught her first-ever GT early on, a moment that was clearly special for her. Her boat mates also landed a couple of nice GT’s. Other highlights included Yellow Margin Triggerfish for Rudolf and Mike, and a fantastic 95cm GT for Judah, while Rob landed 11 Bonefish, the largest weighing 8lbs.

Day two brought even higher winds and rain, making conditions challenging. Nevertheless, several anglers celebrated milestones, including Charlie, Michael, Jeffrey, and Paul, who all landed their first GT’s. Judah and Rob also had a fantastic day, landing five GT’s, the largest being 97cm for Judah. The Bluefin Trevally were active, with 11 landed, and a few Bonefish were caught in the 5-6lb range.

On day three, the wind continued, but the cloud cover lightened. Fishing was focused on coral species like groupers and snappers in the morning, with great success. As the tide dropped, we shifted to the flats in search of GT’s and Triggerfish. Nick had an exciting day, landing both his first-ever GT and Yellow Margin Triggerfish. A total of 14 GT’s were caught, with Herold’s 87cm fish being the largest. The Bluefin Trevally were abundant, with nine landed, and while Bonefish were elusive, three were caught, averaging around 7lbs.

Day four brought slightly less wind, but cloud cover remained. Visibility was still challenging, yet the flats offered plenty of action. Our guests landed 15 GT’s, including Paul’s first-ever GT. The afternoon became trickier with more cloud cover, but Judah managed to catch yet another Yellow Margin Triggerfish, continuing his successful run.

By day five, we were greeted with perfect weather—clear skies and little wind. The morning started strong with a few fish seen on the flats. Despite a drop in GT conversions, our anglers managed to land 7 GT’s, with Judah catching a 90cm specimen. Later in the day, we spotted a school of Milkfish, and Jonathan successfully landed the first Milkfish of the season after a 15-minute fight—another memorable moment.

On the final day, the wind picked up again, and cloud cover limited visibility, making the fishing tougher. However, Michael caught a beautiful 8lb Bonefish, and the group landed 5 more GT’s. The offshore fishing was excellent, with 3 Sailfish brought to the boat, including Rudolf’s first-ever Sailfish.

By the end of the week, our anglers had experienced a range of challenges and triumphs. As the neap tides conclude and spring tides begin, we look forward to even more exciting fishing opportunities in the coming weeks.

Catch Tally for the Week:

GT’s: 54
Triggerfish: 7
Bonefish: 16
Bluefin Trevally: 31
Sailfish: 3
Napoleon Wrasse: 1
Grouper & Snapper: 187

Until next time,
The FlyCastaway Guide Team

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St Brandon Blog: 17 – 27 Sept 2024

Anticipation was high as we headed into our third week of the season, and our guests were already on the atoll eager and ready to start their second week. Tides wise we were moving into neaps which would allow us more time wading the submerged flats and in a more relaxed fashion.

Our guests enjoyed some exciting fishing during their week out on the atol, although the bonefishing sessions we experienced remained a little tougher than we are accustomed to. This was not due to a lack in numbers as everyone had plenty of targets to cast at, but the fish just seemed off for some reason…especially in skinny water. We found some big schools however and managed to get into them during the course of the week. Our largest fish netted was 7lbs, although we did see some really big bones during the 7 days. These big fish are for the most part really smart, most often requiring long and accurate casts along with a little luck.

The Permit numbers we witnessed once again impressed, all the guests having great shots at them. As is their way, Permit are however never easy to convince and despite many refusals and near misses, three fish did make it to the net before the week came to a close. There were some nail biting moments included in these sessions, with fish following the fly for long periods and just not committing….aaaagghhhh! Mark and guide Jarryd however landed a true trophy in the first ten minutes of his last day out on the flat, the fish weighing in at an impressive 16lbs. Congratulations on an exceptional fish Mark!!!!!

The Trevally fishing was somewhat interesting over the last few days. The Bluefin Trevally were few and far between compared with the week before, however the GTs had well and truly come out to play. We encountered a fair number of GT`s during the week, both around the islands as well as the flats, with most, if not all of our guests having opportunities at these ultimate predators. By the end of the week we had managed to hook 5 x GTs and land 4. Congratulations to Scott and Brian on the biggest of the bunch, both 98cm brutes….just falling short of the magical metre mark. All in all though, we had some great shots and saw some really big fish smashing bait which is always thrilling and a great experience to be a part of out on the water.

To summarise the week, we thoroughly enjoyed the time spent on the flats, as well as the camaraderie around the dinner table with our new friends. At times we had to push through some challenging weather conditions, but our anglers still managed to land some cracking fish. Thank you to all our guests for the great time on and off the water. We really hope we get to fish together again in the near future.

The St Brandon Guide team

Our catch tally for the week

Bonefish – 105
Permit – 3
GTs – 4

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St Brandon Blog: 3 – 13 September 2024

It’s that time of year again! Big bones, tailing Permit, monster Bluefin and hopefully so humongous GT’s. Welcome to St Brandon and our opening week of the Sept – Nov 2024 season where we welcomed a group of very eager anglers.

The week started off with some really strong wind which made things challenging despite some perfect ice cold blue water, however later in the week the weather settled and the fishing conditions became a bit easier. Tidal wise we were moving away from springs and into the neaps.

On the Bonefish front, we found good numbers on the flats during the first couple of days, with fish swimming in singles and doubles in some skinny water which is always really nice. Some of the fish were however a bit spooky (potentially the numbers of other predatory fish around), not letting us and the anglers get close to them. As such, the casts had to be long and accurate to convince them to eat the fly. Later in the week the Bones started schooling up in smaller pods of 5 -10 fish, our anglers managing to get a couple of nice fish throughout the week. Average size ranged around 5/6sbs, with the largest fish for the week being a solid 8 pounder.

The Permit fishing was really good this week, with plenty of fish around. We saw a lot of them in pods of 3-6 fish, whether they were tailing along an island or a submerged flat. Rob had a great time this week, landing three during his week on the atoll, the largest a beautiful 11.5 lbs prize. Brian also managed to get one and so too did Dave, his Yellow Permit coming through on the final day. Well done guys!!!

The Trevally fishing was tough this week. We saw a lot of big Bluefins cruising along the flats and the coral ridges, but for some reason most wanted nothing to do with our flies. We managed to convince a few though, the average size ranging between 60cm and 70cm. We did also see some big GT’s but unfortunately none were converted.No doubt the trevally fishing will get better as the season moves on and the water warms up.

To sum up the week, we had a ton load of fun with a great group of guests, and although conditions didn’t make it easy, we’re very optimistic for what lies ahead. We have spring tides up next and the weather forecast looks promising…until next week!

The St B Guide Team

Catch Tally:

Bonefish: 91
Permit: 5
Bluefin’s: 6
GT’s: 0

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St Brandon Blog: 28 May – 7 June 2024

Here we are in the last week of our April-June ‘24 St Brandon’s season as we welcome excited guests from Scotland. The weather for the week brought heavy winds blowing out of the south and south east as well as multiple squalls blowing over the atoll which made the fishing a bit trickier to start with. The tides for the week saw the neaps heading into springs which will mean slightly spending less time on the shallower flats and shifting our focus more to the islands and other high lying areas of the Atoll.

The Bonefishing for the week started off with a bang as multiple good size fish were seen. There were some skinny water bonefishing opportunities at the start of the week during the afternoon dropping tides which made for some exciting fishing. As the week progressed, we shifted our focus more to the islands and coral ridges due to the higher tides we would be fishing this week. The guests managed to land good numbers of bones in those areas. Some good fish were caught during the week with our average size being between 5 lb and 8lb, with our biggest of the week being 3 beautiful fish ticking the scale to just over the 8.5lb mark.

The Permit fishing this week got off to a slower start with fewer fish seen cruising the flats at the beginning of the week. We did however manage to find more fish around the islands and ridges as the guests enjoyed some good opportunities at happy, tailing fish. As the week progressed we were finding good numbers of Permit and Chaz managed to hook up to a beautiful Permit weighing in at just over 8.5lb, he was over the moon as this was his first ever Permit and he has pursued them for a long time. On the final day of the week, Johnny got in on the permit action landing a fin-perfect Permit weighing in at an impressive 12lb while fishing a flat just behind our home island.

With the cooler water around this time of year the Bluefin Trevally and Gt fishing was once again on the slower side this week. we found ourselves exploring further south looking for them around islands and coral ridges although we were not finding them in the numbers we usually do. We do however expect to see them in much greater numbers in the coming September- November season especially as that season progresses.

And so our April-June ‘24 draws to a close. Our final week on the atoll sees us end the season off on a high with happy anglers setting sail back to the mainland. We are very excited to see what the next season has instore for us out on this beautiful piece of heaven we call St Brandon’s Atoll. from the Flycastaway guide team we would like to thank all our guests who joined us this past season and we look forward to hosting you out there with us again in the near future.

Our catch tally for the week:

Bonefish- 74
Indo-Pacific Permit- 2 (1x 12lb)
Golden Trevally- 1

Yours in fishing,

Flycastaway Guide Team

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St Brandon Blog: 21 – 31 May 2024

We start the penultimate week of our season, welcoming three new guests and our good friend Terry doing his third week with us on the atoll. As we move from springs into neap tides the water temperature has remained nice and cool, an encouraging sign as we can expect to see more fish up on the flats tailing and feeding. There were some big squalls which came through during the first couple of days with high southerly winds blowing between 25 and 35 knots. This made casting a bit more of a challenge initially. However as the week progressed the skies cleared and the wind calmed, leading to some great fishing.

The cooler temperatures meant that there was a vast improvement in the Bonefishing compared to the previous week. There were many fish seen cruising happily over the flats and feeding in ankle deep water making for some exciting eats as the anglers managed to get into some good numbers of fish. This week we definitely saw more fish on the flats swimming in small pods of 2-4 fish with some large singles also spotted. The average size fish this week was between 5lb-7lb with a couple of 8.5lb and 9lb Bones caught by our anglers. On the last day of the week, Dale hooked into to a beautiful skinny water bone weighing in just over the 9.5lb mark making it the biggest for the week

The guests experienced some great shots at the Atolls Permit this week with everyone getting numerous shots everyday. There were very good numbers of Permit seen around the flats, ridges and islands. Earlier in the week we saw multiple happy fish as they tailed and fed in calf to knee deep water, making for some exciting moments for our anglers. Terry landed yet another beautiful permit of 9lb on the first day of the week. As the week progressed there were many more good opportunities presented to our anglers, and on the last afternoon of the trip Terry managed to end off his stay with a fin perfect 3 lb fish caught on the shallow sand flat.

The Trevally fishing continued to be slow this week although there were some big Bluefin seen around the islands and coral ridges. The guests put in some great shots but unfortunately there were no fish landed. There were also very few GT’s seen around the atoll this week.

We end our 8th week of the season on a high with an action packed last day and happy anglers. The cool wind continues to blow steadily from the east and the water temperatures are down. We move from neap tides into springs for the final week of the season and we expect to spend more time around the islands and higher ridges. Lets see what our last week of the season holds…

Our catch tally for the week:

Bonefish- 103
Indo-Pacific Permit-2

Yours in fishing,

The St Brandon’s guide team.

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St Brandon Blog: 14 – 24 May 2024

Our 7th week of the season is here and we greet our new guests arriving from Zimbabwe and Germany with Terry entering his second of three weeks with us. The week started off with very high winds blowing out of the south east accompanied with heavy rain. The tidal cycle moves from neaps into springs as we expect to spend more time around the islands, ridges and higher lying areas.

The Bonefishing proved to be slightly tougher than the previous week, with not as many fish seen on the flats and more fish schooled up in the deeper sections. The rough, choppy weather due to the high winds resulted in the Bones being a bit more spooky and reluctant to move up into shallower water making it challenging for the anglers to get close to them to make a good presentation. This did not deter the guests however as they made the best of the conditions still landing some good fish throughout the week. The average Bonefish landed for the week was between 5lb and 7lb with some fish reaching the 8lb mark.

The wild conditions also had an impact on our Permit fishing. There were fish seen around the islands and ridges as we moved into the spring tides but they were on high alert and were acting similar to the bonefish often staying just out of reach. As the week proceeded and the weather improved there were more opportunities to cast at happy, tailing fish. Some guests did have a couple of great shots at fish resulting in follows and even the odd eat from a Permit but unfortunately there were no conversions.

The GT and Bluefin fishing was again tough this week with only a couple of trevallies seen around the Atoll. The fish that were seen during the week were big but unfortunately the opportunities to make a good presentation to them were very few and far between. Even though the fishing was tough for the GT’s and Bluefin it is still exciting to watch as they crash into baitfish and terrorise the bonefish schools on the flats.

The conditions this week proved to be very challenging due to the unsettled weather. On a positive note this has kept the flats cool and once the weather settles down a bit we expect the fish to be hungry and moving back up onto the flats,ridges and around the islands. The prevailing south easter is in full swing as is standard for this time of year increasing the chances of finding some larger bonefish. Let’s see what’s to come…

Our catch tally for the week:

Bonefish- 31
Bluefin Trevally- 2

Yours in fishing,

The St Brandon’s guide team.

: KODAK Digital Still Camera

: KODAK Digital Still Camera

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St Brandon Blog: 7 – 17 May 2024

The 6th week of the season kicked off with guests arriving from the United States and Australia. This week we move away from new moon springs and go back into neap tides, these tides generally bring more fish onto the flats while also allowing us more time on the flats due to the less water movement around the Atoll. The wind for the week started off very strong, blowing out of the south east resulting in cool water flushing onto the flats, although it did make casting and presenting a fly a little bit difficult.

The bone fishing was off to a cracking start with many big fish seen tailing in skinny water and feeding happily on whatever was presented to them. Vince had a great start to his trip and with his first cast he landed the week’s first 10lb Bonefish! As the week went on, the bone fishing continued to be outstanding with many fish spotted and caught by our group of anglers. On the third day of the week, anglers Jeff and Terry both managed to land true monsters, with their fish pushing the scale over the 13lb mark ! On the 5th day of the week, Steve also got in on the big bonefish action, landing a beautiful double digit bone which was also just over the 13lb mark. The bone fishing this week was truly a sight to behold with the anglers getting into good numbers every day and the average fish weighing in between 6lb and 9lb.

The guests also enjoyed some phenomenal Permit fishing this week as we saw good numbers of fish around the flats during the pushing tides as well as the high tides around the islands and ridges. On the third day of the week, Alec landed a beautiful 14lb Indo-Pacific Permit during a slow pushing tide in the morning. The fish was sitting stationary on a turtle grass edge, Alec put in the perfect cast and with one strip his line went tight. He wasn’t quite done however as on the fourth day he landed another two Permit of 7lb and 12lb respectively, and yet another on the 5th day of just over the 7lb mark. As we moved into the neap tides there were multiple Permit spotted on turtle grass flats and cruising the edges of sand flats along depressions and cuts. On the last day of the week, Terry managed to open his Permit account landing a solid 8lb fish.

The Trevally fishing this week was once again a little bit slower which is normal for this time of year. A couple of big GT’s were seen around the Atoll with fewer Bluefin hunting around the higher lying areas compared to previous weeks. On the third day of the week however, Jeff had some amazing GT action hooking 4 fish in quick succession but unfortunately not getting a good hook set resulting in the fish having the final say.

The fishing this week was nothing short of spectacular with our guests experiencing what St Brandon’s truly has to offer. The conditions are prime with cool water and the prevailing wind constantly pushing cold, oxygenated water across the atoll. This has the guide team extremely excited to see what the next few weeks will bring us. We await our new clients arriving as the neap tides end and we move back into springs again.

Our catch tally for the week: