Farquhar Atoll Nov 2016 Season: Head Guide Report Back
The guide team had been frothing at the mouth to step back onto Farquhar Atoll after an extended break! The devastation left by Cyclone Fantala in April 2016 meant we had to halt operations on the atoll with immediate effect. Given the remoteness of the location rebuilding the infrastructure on the atoll is a mammoth task, so much so the guesthouse will only be operational as of October 2017. This means that for a period of almost 18 months there would have been very little fishing presume on the atoll…and we are happy to say that the “little” pressure that it did receive came from some very fortunate FlyCastaway guests!
So with the refurbishment to the guesthouse and other key infrastructure well underway, we were thrilled to still have opportunity to fish our favorite atoll, albeit off M/V Maya’s Dugong. We had scheduled a short 3 week season late in 2016 to reassess the state of the fishery and we are happy to report that it lived up to all expectations!
Weather: Weather wise it was business as usual for this time of the year, at least for the first two weeks with a fairly light South-Easterly wind blowing across the atoll and lagoon for much of our stay. Conditions were subsequently very pleasant, the odd short rain burst helping to cool us and keep the lagoon water temperature down and allow for productive pushing tide sessions. Our third week was unusually calm with almost no wind or current for 3 days. This made the GT fishing pretty tricky on the final week, however the atoll’s diversity once again shone through and provided some exceptional angling for the other notorious species.
Bonefish: Cyclone Fantala has pushed large amounts of sand into certain areas inside the lagoon as well as on some of the outer reef’s flats. This extended habitat produced some great Bonefishing for our guests, most notably on the outside reef flats. The same conditions are also evident on the South Island’s inner flats. So much so that for the first time since I started guiding on Farquhar, we guided guests into a large number of Bonefish schools on the North to South East reefs. Most of the fish averaged between 2-3lbs which indicates there will be some very good Bonefishing on the atoll in the next few seasons as these fish grow larger on their newly productive grounds.
GT’s: We were certainly pleased to find our beloved GT fishery alive and well back to normal after Fantala. All the usual areas were producing the goods with a few new ambush points adding to our excitement. We also witnessed a tremendous amount of baitfish on the flats this season, the juvenile Big Eye Trevally in particular being present in massive numbers. These shoals of bait attracted large numbers of GT’s during certain periods and watching these GT’s and large Bluefin Trevally tearing into the hapless bait was a sight we will never forget. To give you an idea of some of the special GT fishing we encountered, the first fish landed during the short season was a 1.19 meter GT that swam gently at me and my guest! An incredible fish and another reminder that Farquhar’s GT fishery is alive and well.
Triggerfish: The reefs, pancakes and some sneaky special spots produced great Triggerfishing during the 3 weeks stint. Some guests hooked into three fish in one session, as such good numbers of our guests landed these toothy creatures provided. There were however some hugely frustrating moments as we experienced large numbers of Blue Spangled or Yellow Lip Emperors on the flats this season. After a careful stalk and approach towards the tailing Trigger an accurate cast was sent out only for the fly to be snapped up by the snappers!
Bumpies: After some amazing Bumpy fishing sessions on Providence, I was anxious to see how the fish on Farquhar were behaving! Knowing their habits well, our guide team put our guests in the right areas during the right tides and showed them why these enormous tailing fish are now well and truly one of the most prized species in the fly fishing fraternity. The fish were around in good numbers and willing to eat the fly when properly presented and as such we hooked our fair share during our short stint.
Permit: Although no trophy specimens were landed on Farquhar this season, guests and guides saw some nice 12lb+ fish cruising the usual areas which is a great sign. In addition, large schools of juveniles were seen in areas where previously we have not encountered them before, a good sign for the seasons ahead.
Milkfish: Ideal Milkfishing conditions on Farquhar require flat calm weather for the fish to play their part in a big way. During the final trip we experienced 3 days of these conditions and as such the fish were there and feeding in big numbers. Quite frankly the fishing was mental in the southern part of the lagoon, so much so we were given the opportunity to fish for them for up to 4 hours at time. We hooked more than 10 fish during the three days…special fishing that’s for sure!
Bluewater: With the option of looking for Billfish at no extra cost to our guests, we headed offshore during the high water periods and experienced some amazing Sailfishing. We even lost a Striped Marlin and landed two juvenile Black Marlin. Farquhar’s billfish fishery is certainly an untapped resource and provides our guests with one of the most complete saltwater fishing experiences on the planet. One minute they were targeting Bonefish and Triggerfish in ankle deep water, the next a lit up Sailfish grey-hounded across the deep blue.
Undoubtedly many people have been waiting to hear how the actual atoll is recovering after Cyclone Fantala. The truth is the vegetation will take some time to regain it’s lushness. Impressively though, the work done by the IDC and its staff to rebuild and tidy things up has been impressive to witness. Also, the bird life seems to be as healthy as ever, the Red Footed Booby as well as the Masked Booby were in full nesting mode, their numbers (judging by the eye) seemingly the same as previous seasons. The Terns also appear to be in the same numbers as per previous seasons. All this indicates the ecosystem in which the GTs, Bumpies, Triggers and other species that we all love, is in good shape and we can look forward to some very exciting fishing on the atoll for years to come.
If ever you have had some desire to fish Farquhar then we highly recommend you doing so during the 2017-2018 season. The extended rest to the fishery is unparalleled in modern day fisheries and is sure to have positive impact on the resource. We have high expectations for when we resume our land-based operation in October 2017 and why wouldn’t we if you look below at some the special fish landed during this past 3 week stint.
Hope to see you out there.
Matthieu Cosson – Head Guide
Large powder white sand flats, marl and turtle grass edges, sand spits, surf zones, islands…St Brandon’s atoll has it all. This, coupled with its enormous size and the number of the above scenarios we have the opportunity to show our guests, it’s little wonder why anyone who has been privileged enough to fish or guide on St Brandon’s ranks it so highly. It therefore comes as no surprise that St Brandon’s once again reaffirmed its ranking as the most consistent saltwater flats fishery in the Indian Ocean. Day in and day out anglers were treated to spectacular wade fishing sessions, which at times are hard to put into words. On top of this we experienced very few bad weather days, the early morning cloud cover providing text book Bonefishing conditions before burning off, providing ideal sight fishing conditions for Permit and the numerous Trevally species along with more Bonefish. Even when we did have some rain, it never hung never around for too long.
As such we encountered incredibly consistent Bonefishing throughout the season. Now that might sound like we experienced average fishing, however the Bonefishing on St Brandon’s is the furthest thing from average you can imagine. On most mornings guests enjoyed sight casting to singles, doubles and small pods in ankle to shin deep water, the average size of the fish being a very healthy 6lbs. Mixed in with these average size specimens however were good numbers of 7-8lb fish and on most mornings fish of 9-10lbs were certainly seen and cast to. As such, during the 4 expeditions this season we landed six double digit Bones; the fortunate anglers to hold these incredible fish being Mike Dawes, Zach Barrett, Dan “Rooster” Leavens, Julian Robertson & Julian Fantarella. A terrific Bonefish season as per usual!
The GT fishing this past season was quite tough from a landing ratio point of view, but hellish rewarding and exciting as always to be a part of. Plenty of big fish were seen throughout our 4 expeditions but getting the fly in front of them, getting them to eat and then landing them was a much harder feat. Our fish are unlike the majority of the Seychelles GT’s that are aggressive and constantly on the lookout for an easy meal. Most are old resident fish, many of which specialize on eating 5-8lb Bonefish. As you can imagine getting them to eat a 5-7inch streamer takes some doing. This, coupled with the fact that they are seriously large and hang around coral means many of the ones we do connect with end up winning. Nonetheless it remains a massively enjoyable species to guide for and when all comes right is a real privilege to be a part of. Mike Dawes, Frikkie Maartens and Dan ‘Rooster’ Leavens knowing exactly what I’m talking about.
The standout fishing for me this season was the Permit fishing our guests enjoyed. It was nothing short of outstanding! I cannot remember seeing more fish around during the two previous years I have been on the atoll, as a result we landed 16 of these prize fish during the 4 trips. We had opportunities at small fish, medium size fish and trophy fish throughout the period, the number of small and medium size fish in particular hugely encouraging for the next few seasons angling! A few of the special fish landed this season included Mike Dawes’s fish which weighed 15lb, Tony Hayes’ 15lb fish and last but not least Julian Robertson’s 16lb tank. So whilst St Brandon’s is certainly regarded as having the finest Bonefishing on the planet, it also offers some pretty special Permit fishing for those who have the skills and nerve to chase these finicky fish.
The often overlooked other Trevally species played a massive role this season. The Bluefin were particularly rampant with multiple fish over 70cm landed, the standout specimens caught by Tony Hayes and Matt McHugh, their fish measuring 84cm and 83cm respectively. Our largest Golden Trevally weighed 16lb and was caught by Chris Littuer.
Despite last year being my 11th year of guiding in the Indian Ocean, I still kick myself knowing I get to spend extended periods of time in these remote saltwater wildernesses…none more so than Providence Atoll – arguably the wildest of them all! Reflecting back on the Oct/Nov season I am bombarded with images of teeth, tails and bills. Trying to put into words what a day or week is like out on this enormous atoll is damn near impossible, but what I can tell you is that it’s a place of extremes; a place that doesn’t care who you are or where you are from. It’s wild, unpredictable, but best of all it delivers fishing moments and sessions which, as far as i’m aware, are not found anywhere else on this planet!
Well known for its incredible diversity, specifically the number of species which can be encountered in a single day by an angler, this season delivered record numbers of Bones, Triggers, Milkfish, Bluefin Trevally and Bumphead Parrotfish. There wasn’t a day where these species did not feature, which is a true testament to what a special fishery Providence really is. On top of these more highly documented species our guests also tangled with countless other reef species including Marble and Saddle Back Grouper, Bohar Snapper, Napoleon Wrasse and many more….all of which added colour, depth and new experiences to our guests’ angling. On top of this it provided some exceptional bluewater fly fishing for Milkfish, Yellowfin and Dogtooth Tuna, Wahoo, Sailfish and others. Only very unique and special places allow anglers to cast a #2 crab pattern at tailing Triggerfish and five minutes later throw a cast at busting tuna or a slashing billfish in the deep water. To give you an idea we landed 28 different species of fish on fly during one of the weeks this past season. Incredible…yes…but that’s just the tip of the iceberg as far as what Providence can deliver.
For most people however, there is one species which draws them to travel to these wild places in the Indian Ocean more so than any other…GTs. They are a big attraction for most who fish Providence with us due to the numbers the atoll plays home to and the large average size we encounter there. There were times this past season however which were tricky for us when it came to our famous friends; some weeks we encountered large numbers of GTs and other weeks less so. This was due to an unusually extended off-shore swimming crab migration which pulled large numbers of fish into deeper water where they could gorge themselves on the abundant and easy food source. In saying that, we still encountered some incredible GT fishing and managed to land over 30 GT’s on every single week (a feat most other fisheries would be proud of). The best week, numbers wise, was an impressive 90. Size wise we landed a high number of un-teased metre plus fish on the flats, on one particular week we landed no less than 7 of these magnificent creatures. Congratulations must go out to Bill Harris and guide Warren Deysel who together landed our largest fish of the season which measured 127cm!
Other thoughts regarding the season lie with the operations which revolve around the Maya’s Dugong, her captain and crew and last but not least my fellow guides. The Dugong and her crew as always provided us with a reliable, safe and efficient platform for us to work from and no large amount of effort or small request was ever too much trouble. This allowed us to head out every morning for over two months on time, well fed and rested, on tender boats which ran smoothly and uninterrupted, thus allowing our guests and the guides to focus solely on the reason we were all there…to experience the wildest saltwater fishing on the planet. The same goes to my fellow guides who put in 110% day in and day out throughout a long season, something I am extremely proud of and which I look forward to doing again in March this year.
Welcome back to another action packed week of fly fishing on Farquhar Atoll! As per normal we were joined by 12 very excited anglers, including a group of six from AOS Fly Fishing hosted by Stephan and Alex Haider of Austria, regular guests and friends Gerhard and Angelika, as well as Mikko, Ville, George and Tim. Their excitement was clearly evident as they disembarked the plane and knowing the atoll is really fishing well we could not wait to get them out onto the water.
Day 1 – We had a promising start when Ville landed a solid Golden Trevally just as the tide had started to push. Never an easy fish to get due to the speed they move across the flats, Ville had done well by getting ahead of them and making a good presentation with his crab pattern before the fish tailed hard onto the fly. The GTs are still around in solid numbers and we managed to capitalise on a few of the shots we had early on. Congratulations to George for landing his first one ever on fly of 84 cm, Stephan for his fish of 96 cm and to Alex on landing our first meter plus fish. The fish which measured 109 cm had come through the surf onto a white sand flat and had no hesitation in charging in and eating a well cast and fished fly. After a few heart stopping moments the prize fish came to hand. So with some good Bluefin Trevally thrown in to the mix, a really great start to the week!
Day 2 – The surf has really been producing some incredible Bonefishing and it was no exception on Day 2. Good numbers, including some tailing fish were enjoyed by the guests who fished these areas. Although we saw good numbers of GTs on the day as well, we didn’t manage to convert the opportunities which did come our way. The Sailfish are still around in solid numbers due to the clear blue water still present on the atoll. We managed to raise a few as well, with Waltraud capitalising and getting her second one on fly. The bommie bashing continued to produce exciting fishing for a range of species, all of whom make Farquhar a species addicts paradise.
Day 3 – We started off with some tough sighting conditions with some early morning rain and cloudy conditions. Despite the weather we still managed to get some good fish to hand. Amongst a host of other species landed during the day we managed to get a couple of good sized GTs after they had been seen smashing baitfish in the surf. The Triggers too continue to provide exciting fishing!
Day 4 – The tricky light conditions continued on our fourth day, but we managed to pull out some good GTs. There were a few more Bumpies around which was nice to see, but despite us hooking a couple their powerful runs and vice like beaks won these battles. The Triggers were also around happily tailing on the flats in the low light and we managed to hook four of these cunning little critters. Some super skinny water Bonefishing rounded off another very productive day on the atoll.
Day 5 – The weather had improved on Day 5 as we woke to clear skies. We were therefore keen to head out to some areas that fish really well on the incoming spring tides. The result was some good GT action! Special mention must go to Michael for landing the second meter plus fish of the week. A special fish in some many ways, his 110 cm is now his personal best and will not be forgotten in a hurry. We also managed to land a cracking Sailfish, Tim’s 190cm specimen thrilling all who witnessed the take and fight before being tagged and safely released. All in all a really enjoyable day out!
Day 6 – Our last day had arrived and with some great tides on offer, we were all excited to end off on a good note. One boat opted to fish offshore for the morning and were nearly rewarded when Gerorge hooked into and witnessed a +/-60kg Striped Marlin tail walking across the ocean. A spectacular event to be a part of no doubt, however hopes were crushed right in the death as the fish slowly neared the boat only for the fly to pop out meters away from it being landed. Robert did however manage to get a good sized Wahoo on the fly which is always cool. Congratulations must however go to to Mikko for landing three GT’s during the day, including our third meter plus fish for the week. Our good news did not stop there though as Tim and Angelika landed their first ever GT’s, with fish of 86 cm and 85 cm respectively. So in the end we enjoyed another week of great fishing on Farquhar. It is really good to be back on this very special place and we look forward to more great fishing during the weeks to follow.
After almost unbearable anticipation, we are finally back out on Farquhar Atoll after Cyclone Fantalla’s arrival in April earlier this year. Although one is left with no doubt as to the strength of mother nature when you first land on the atoll, equally impressive is the strides which have already been made in rebuilding certain key infrastructure and general clearing, as well as signs of new life as the islands vegetation is visibly rebounding. Most importantly the lagoon and ocean water both look alive, with little if any signs of stagnant green water….things were looking good! Joining us on our return were six highly excited guests who were equally anxious to get out on the flats to see who was around! After the clients settled into their rooms on the Maya’s Dugong we were straight into business as we headed out onto the flats for a quick afternoon session.
Considering we only had a few hours out on the water, we saw a considerable amount of fish around with some good sized Bonefish and Triggerfish tailing on certain turtle grass flats. We also saw some good sized GT’s around and boy did we make it count. Louis Kruger hit the ground and our season running in a big way by landing a 119cm fish. A special catch for all of us, but especially for Louis as this enormous animal is now his biggest GT on fly. The massive fish was spotted cruising with a smaller partner in crime on a white sand section near “ the Gaps” and after a well presented cast and a couple strips the fish charged in and engulfed the fly. A solid fight ensued (including Louis’s backing being tested on multiple occasions) before the fish was landed and celebrations began. All in all a very productive start and considering the amount of baitfish around it looked as if we were in for a treat.
We headed out early for our first full day out on the water. As we had hoped there were good numbers of GT’s around and although we probably lost too many for our liking we did make some opportunities count. Stephan and Gustav are now well and truly GT addicts as they each landed their first. There were also huge numbers of Bluefin Trevally around and we managed to get some good numbers to hand. A very enjoyable day!
Our third day started off really well with Chantal getting it done on a solid GT, after a tricky cast into the wind. Next up was Abri who also landed his first ever GT on the fly. Congrats Abri! The fishing was just getting better and better, no doubt the abundance of cold clean water attracting loads of fish onto the flats. Species bashing in particular has been incredible with snappers, groupers and a host of other exciting critters darting out from bommies to eat our flies and in so doing providing some truly thrilling times for our anglers. Only the Bumpies have been a bit shy and that is no doubt due to the fact that they have been hanging around the drop offs due to the strong tides. Some epic surf side Bonefishing was also had on the eastern side of the atoll, with huge schools tailing happily on the expansive turtle grass sections that extend out onto the coral bottoms.
Day 4 looked promising with clear skies and a good south easterly wind helping the cold water flush over the flats. The Bumpies were tailing in big schools over certain turtle grass flats and as such it was no surprise when Chantal landed a big Bumpy measuring 109cm. Congrats Chantal! After a well executed cast ahead of the tailing fish, which allowed the current to move the fly into the perfect position, the big fish tailed on her crab imitation and the rest is history! Shortly after that she also landed a giant Triggerfish, a species which she had been chasing hard over the past few weeks! Overall the fish are still in full feeding mode throughout the atoll. As such more good sized GT’s and Bluefin also came to hand.
We managed to land our second GT over a meter on Day 5. The big fish which had idled across a sandbar on the back of a Blacktip shark had no hesitation in demolishing the ever reliable tan Brush Fly which was perfectly placed. Congratulation’s to Dale on getting his personal best GT, the fish measuring 103 cm! In addition to this special fish, we also managed to land a massive Bluefin which measured 86cm. This particular flat had been on fire throughout the week, with huge shoals of GT’s and Bluefin moving along the sand bank and smashing the bait balls congregating on the side of the main channel. In addition the Bumpies are still feeding happily, sadly though we hooked a few but they became unbuttoned! The Bonefishing on the eastern side of the atoll is still very much on fire.
We headed out in search of a Sailfish during the high water period on Day 6 and managed to raise some good fish! Added to which we got one to stick after it turned away eating the fly on the way out. After a spectacular fight which included some serious airtime, we managed to bill, tag and and safely release the fish. Congratulations to Abri for landing his first Sailfish, a beautiful specimen which measured 186cm. We then headed out onto the flats and landed our 3rd GT over a meter. This was Dale’s second GT over 100cm for the trip and was extremely well deserved as he kept his cool when presenting the fly to the fish. We saw and caught a few more GTs’ during the rest of the day, these hugely adaptable predators sitting on the back of some large sharks or stingrays. Lastly, massive congratulations to Chantal for landing our first Indo-Pacific Permit for the season!
Our 7th and final day saw us heading into the neap tides, with a late afternoon low tide. We headed out in search of more Sailfish during the morning session where we again raised more fish. Although quite a few were pricked and lost, Louis got it done when he landed his first Sailfish that measured 183cm. Once we got onto the flats, the group enjoyed more great Bonefish, GT and Bumpie fishing. All in all it was a great day to end off our first week of the season. Furthermore the atoll looks in great shape, with the high numbers of GT’s and Bluefin being a really good sign Cyclone Fantalla is now well and truly behind us!
This week we greeted long time clients Marcel, Patrick, Bill, Tom and Donald, each of whom has fished with us on a fair number of occasions. This would however be their first visit to Providence. Joining them would be new friends and also first time visitors to the atoll Shaker, Joe, Ottavio, Giacomo. Dennis and Rob rounded off the team; they would be exploring the bluewater fishing for the second week in a row.
The tides on the second day allowed us to explore certain areas on the eastern side. This change in scenery didn’t disappoint with guide Tim and clients Donald, Bill and Shaker hooking into 15 GTs during the day, 9 of which came to hand! Donald landed the biggest fish for the day with his beautiful 109cm trophy. Equally special was the fact that it was part of a double up with good friend Bill landing his 95cm fish at the same time. These very special fish along with numerous other species ensured it was a day never to be forgotten by the group. On another boat Rob continued his Milkfish streak, hooking and landing another one of these immensely powerful algae feeders after it put up one of the most spectacular aerial displays one can imagine! The other group who fished the eastern side had an incredibly exciting session as well. Stingrays pored through onto the flats through a white sand channel, most of the rays having GT’s accompanying them. Unfortunately a couple of opportunities went astray, however Joe managed to capitalize on a perfect GT/ray situation. The fly was presented 15 feet in front of the fish and the fish immediately charged in, engulfed the fly and the fight was on. Shortly after a solid fish came to hand!
The third day presented Tom with some great fishing in particular. He firstly subdued our first Bumpie for the week, before landing a good sized GT. An awesome eat, the fish surfed in on a wave before annihilating the fly. Sadly not everything went according to plan after that as Tom went in search of “Slam”. A Trigger and a big single Bonefish felt the sting of his hook but never made it to the net. Bad luck Tom! Donald, Joe and Shaker capitalized on the extraordinary amount of Bluefin Trevally that are still on the flats and managed to bring a large number of these fish to hand.
The fourth day would see a very exciting day out in the surf chasing GTs. Fish after fish surfed in on a wave as they broke across a white sand bar, the memory of which is surely burned into each guest privileged enough to encounter it. Good numbers of GTs were subsequently landed and the biggest fish of the day and for the season so far now belongs to Bill’s 123cm monster…..a fish of a lifetime!!!! The fish had been spotted by guide Warren during lunch and was making its way in and out of a cut. Warren placed Bill in the cut to see if the fish would continue visiting the area. Warren had made no less than ten steps back toward the other guests when he looked back and saw a large fish lift up in the waves. He was about to shout to Bill when he noticed Bill was already attached and the big fish was heading out to deeper water. Maximum drag was applied and the fish was turned just short of the outer reef. The importance of having good gear in these moments cannot be overstated, as the fish would certainly have made it to the reef with inferior gear. This was however not Bill’s first taste of GT fishing and with great skill and loads of pressure he got the fish back onto the sand bar where his guide could land it. An awesome moment!
The fifth day saw much of the same with the clients lined on fish rich banks. This time it was Shaker who got the job done! Despite bad light and rain making spotting tough, a large shark appeared. A quick call from his guide stating there was a GT on the back of the shark was all Shaker needed to get a quick back cast out. Three long strips were made and the grey fish charged the fly, ate and the hook driven home. Textbook!
The last day saw us approaching the neap tide. With the extended amount of time, lower water and less current we enjoyed prime Bumphead Parrotfish fishing. As a result, six Bumpies were hooked, two of which came to hand. Patrick managed to land the brute of the pack that measured a whopping 106 cm. Congrats Patrick! Joe who had made it evident from the start of the week that a Bumpie was high on his list managed to land a quality specimen in injury time. The French team also took full advantage of some quality Bonefishing that the weaker tides dished up. They managed to land a couple of good quality fish that were found tailing in super skinny water. Donald opted to join Rob and Dennis offshore for the day and added a number of quality species to his list, the best of which was a good size Dogtooth Tuna. This fish screamed off with intent and after a good battle he had a magnificent fish at the boat.
Our final trip for the late 2016 period on St Brandon’s had arrived and with it a very excited group of people. Dan “Rooster” Leavens from the Stonefly Inn & Outfitters based out of Twin Rivers, Montana had brought a group of friends out to our tiny piece of paradise in the middle of the Indian Ocean, with new friends Julian and Joris joining them. We were pumped to sign off on a massive high and deliver some world class angling they would never forget!
Day 1 brought with it some wonderful Bonefishing as the clients all got stuck into good numbers of fish as the fed happily in skinny water. Many Bluefin Trevally were also landed and Joris De Scheeper caught a beautiful 69cm fish that was harassing some baitfish on a coral ridge. The Permit too were around and although we had shots at them the fish ultimately had the final say. A solid start to what would be another outstanding week on St. Brandon’s!
Day 2 proved to be just as action packed as the first. The great Bonefishing continued in the morning whilst we experienced cooler water temperatures on the flats, with everyone revelling in the ideal conditions. There were numerous shots at Permit throughout the day but just as before the fish eluded us. The highlight of the day was however a 96cm GT caught by “ Rooster.” He spotted the two GT’s cruising the back edge of a flat and made the cast. As his fly hit the water the pitch black charged in and smashed the fly. Despite the fish tearing off into a coral garden, “ Rooster” fought the fish like an absolute champion and after a very intense fight his guide tailed the fish and the celebrations began. A couple of great photos were taken of “Rooster” and his prize GT and the fish was released. A great moment and one which he will surely not forget in a hurry!
The third day of the trip started off with more excellent Bonefishing in the morning, the bigger fish seemingly around in greater numbers with their average being in and around 6lbs -8lbs. In addition to the world class Bonefishing on offer, some of the atoll’s more colourful and unique species came out to play. Julian Robertson landed two good sized Golden Trevally along with a very big Green Spot Trevally which measured 69cm.
The larger bones were around again on Day 4, with multiple fish between 7lb-9lbs coming to hand. “Rooster” was on a roll and landed a spectacular double-digit Bonefish, another St. Brandon’s trophy to add to our growing list for the season. With all the Bonefish around there were a few shots at the GT’s have specialised in hunting them. These fish are most often then not massive specimens, with their fork lengths often in the region of 120cm. Having been around the block a few times due to their age and primarily on the look out for 6-8lb Bonefish, getting them to eat five inch Brush or Semper is not as easy as it sounds. Nonetheless they are an impressive sight and fish we are going to get the upper hand on someday soon. The fish of the day was without a doubt Julian Robertson’s massive 16lb Indo Pacific Permit. He fished the fish for over 30mins making multiple fly changes without any response until eventually the Massive Permit tailed on his tan Merkin style fly and he set the hook. After a gruelling 17min fight the fish slid into the net and the biggest Permit caught on St. Brandon’s this season was landed. What a catch and certainly a fish of a lifetime! Cograts Julian!
The Bonefishing proved to be much tougher on day 5 with a lot of warmer water holding on the flats. This warm water did however bring with it a few more shots at the atoll’s elusive GT’s….sadly we could not get them converted. Julian Robertson continued his impressive Permit streak with another two smaller fish! Permit can be tough to fish for on the best of days and to follow his big fish with two more the following day shows some serious angling skill as well as why the atoll is so highly regarded as a Permit destination! After a challenging day out on the flats “Rooster” suggested a joke telling competition over dinner. What ensued was one of the funniest evenings we have enjoyed at the guesthouse to date. Rooster ended up winning the contest with an absolute screamer but I can unfortunately not repeat it in the blog!!!!
Day 6 brought with it better Bonefishing, the atoll once again alive with fish. There were very good numbers of Permit out on the flats again which provided some heart stopping moments. Julian had another cracker and landed his fourth Permit of the week as well as a double digit Bonefish! Well-done Jay! Joris De Scheeper also landed a beautiful Permit that was slowly snaking and tailing in the shallows of a coral ridge thus bringing the Permit tally for the week to five. With the mood amongst the guests and guides really high we returned to Raphael Island for another fun filled evening which can you belive it involved an arm wrestling competition….enough said!
Our final day of the season was filled with some more great Bonefishing, with Julian landing his second double digit Bonefish of the trip. His casting was extremely accurate and he fished the fly to perfection.The fish fought hard and had him into the backing on several occasions. Julian did well to keep the fish out of coral and eventually tired the fish out and got it to hand. Some photos were taken and soon the fish was swimming away from us while Julian’s smile grew bigger and bigger. The Permit were out in good numbers again but they weren’t as accommodating as earlier in the week. Five for the trip is not bad anyway!
his brings an end to another incredible season on St. Brandon’s. A record number of Permit were landed for the season as the fishery continues to deliver incredibly consistent fishing as well as the opportunity of landing that fish of a lifetime! We would like to thank all the guests who joined us over the past season, including our guests this past trip for joining us on the the atoll. We look forward to hosting you all again during the year ahead.
Coming off the neap tides we were excited to get up to the northern part of the atoll in search of some exciting Bonefish and Triggerfish fishing. The first day saw this come to light as good numbers of big Bones and multiple opportunities at tailing Triggers were enjoyed by all. The GTs were still playing slightly hard to get. One memorable fish which did come to hand, was a very nice 87cm fish, which after eating Kerry’s fly managed to remove a section of his rod. Thankfully after some tense moments we managed to reunite the two sections and Kerry’s first ever GT was landed. Congrats Kerry! The Bluefin Trevally are still around in big numbers and provided some exciting chases and eats throughout the day.
Everyone seemed more in tune with the Triggerfish on Day 2 and some really good Yellow Margins and Moustache Triggers made their way in front of the lens. After their absence the week before, our friends the Bumpies were also back on the flats, Craig managing to subdue a large specimen. Awesome fish Craig! On the GT front a few more opportunities presented themselves. Shamal managed to come agonizingly close to our first 1mt GT of the week. Not that the size worried Shamal who gratefully accepted his first ever GT that measured 99cm.
Day 3 provided a change in anchorages and fishing areas which resulted in more good Triggerfish and Bumphead Parrotfish action, Beat and Kerry each landing a Bumpy! Shamal was again in the mix as far as the GT’s went and this time landed our first 1m fish with a beautiful 104cm specimen. In addition he landed a large Moustache Trigger, which capped off another great day for him. The change in mother ship anchorage saw us back in front of feeding shoals of Milkfish every afternoon. Colby got the job done hooking into an awesome Milk no less then a fly lines length away from the mother ship. After screams of encouragement from anglers already back onboard the main vessel his prize came to hand and we had our first Milk for the week. What an awesome moment!
Day 4 saw us experience tough light conditions. As a result most of the guides worked sand or lighter bottomed flats to maximize visibility. This seemed to work as Oliver landed our second 1m GT for the trip despite a barrage of mishaps. The fish was spotted whilst he and his team were enjoying some lunch on the tender. Chaos ensued as often happens with GTs as everything which could go wrong did. The rod fell out of his hand, he fell out of the boat….the list goes on. In the end though he landed a memorable fish and has with it the story to match. Other chaos was happening offshore at the same time, with Mike and Bernard enjoying some frenetic GT and Snapper action. We will leave it at that!
The weather on Day 5 saw us enjoying vastly improved conditions. Clear skies and a limited amount of wind allowed Mike and Bernd to capitalize on their opportunities, the pair landing a 90cm and 87cm GT respectively. Shamal continued his good form and again raised his personal best with a fish of 107cm. The flat seas and clear skies screamed Milkfish and so a big effort was made by all to hook into one of the most powerful fish that swim our seas. Kerry continued his pursuit of new species and managed to subdue a solid Milky after a 45min fight, the last 15 mins of which were with a broken rod. Rob and Dennis took a break from GT fishing and experienced a thrilling session of Milky fishing. They hooked into 8 fish as the schools and pods were daisy-chained on the slick surface. Despite a series of mishaps they finally managed to tame three, the series of grey hounding jumps and the relentless fight in these fish leaving them captivated. Our group’s scorecard for the day did not end there though, a free swimming Sailfish was spotted by Head Guide Tim Babich and after a swift bait and switch technique Colby stared at the electric blue fish which went tail walking across the ocean’s surface. A perfect way to end a rather productive day!
With spirits high, our anglers set out with intent to make their final day count, the southern part surely the area which would deliver the goods. The team of Beat and Shamal continued their good form early on in the day, both managing 90cm GT’s. Unfortunately their good form stopped there as they had shots at exceptionally big fish shortly thereafter. On all three occasions hooks were not set at the crucial moment, sadly the fish swimming off into the abyss without a fly line trailing behind them. Incredibly, one big fish ate both Beat and Shamal’s flies without getting hooked…”LUCKY FISH”! Craig and Oliver also managed a GT a piece on the final day, their fish found hiding out in some pots near the southern storm ridges. This area holds an incredible array of other species as well, including Bohar Snapper, Saddle Back, Napoleon Wrasse, Bluefin Trevally and many more which ensured a busy day for all.
Unfortunately another tough GT week from a numbers point of view, the large presence of swimming crabs offshore clearly attracting the fish away from the flats and offshore for an easy meal. Nonetheless, some cracking fish were landed by the group, including meter plus GT’s, Triggers, Bones, Milkies, Bumpies, a Sailfish and many other flats and offshore species.
We welcomed to Providence a group of seven friends from the UK, along with three from South Africa, all of whom have fished with us multiple times in the past. This would be their first taste of Providence however and we were pumped to show them that all the stories about a wild fishery home to an incredible array of species, were in fact true.
The trip however saw our guests enjoying some of the finest Triggerfish fishing you are likely to encounter anywhere in the world. Both Yellow Margins and Moustache Triggers were frequently seen tailing the edges of the finger flats, surf or reef edges. Hugely challenging due to the accuracy required, they provided hours of challenging but rewarding fishing. Hooks were bent, tippets bitten off but in the end 12 gorgeously marked fish came to hand. Day 5 in particular proved to be a red-letter day for guide Matt Cosson and his guests Gerry, Yves and Alex. Each of the anglers landed a Triggerfish, Bonefish and GT in the session to seal their “Providence Slam”….an outstanding achievement .
Providence’s Bonefish were up on the flats and feeding, the overcast conditions and cooler water, providing ideal cover and water temperatures. Bigger on average then any other Bonefish in the Seychelles we have encountered our guests landed multiple fish in the 6-8lb range. These along with countless grouper, snapper and Bluefin Trevally showcasing the impressive variety of species Providence has to offer
The GT fishing over the first few days on the flats proved quite challenging, groups scratching a couple of the notorious predators here and there. That changed however towards the end of the trip as more and more fish presented themselves and provided some exciting action to close our week off. Andrew and Neil enjoyed a great Double hook up on the final day, Andrew’s fish measuring 101cm. The biggest GT offshore was an impressive fish of 115cm caught by Paul Bullen. Congrats Paul…a great fish! In total we landed 71 GT’s on and off the flats. By no means fireworks by Providence standards, but a number not to be sneezed at that’s for sure.
One of the highlights of this week was a rather special and unique catch, which all of us will be enjoying for the next week or two. Looking for some dinner towards the end of the day we got attached to an enormous Yellowfin Tuna. The fish’s incredible strength and speed delivered up a 2-hour battle on spinning gear before finally it came aboard. Nose to tail it measured 163cm, with the girth of the fish 114.5cm. These measurements suggest the impressive fish would weigh in the region of 110kg….almost unheard of in the Seychelles. Another offshore highlight included Duncan’s first Sailfish on fly, a fish he has dreamed of catching during his past two Seychelles trips with us whilst on Farquhar. Congrats Duncan!
The third group of clients arrived on Raphael Island after a relatively smooth crossing. It was a pleasure to host Tony Hayes and Shaun McCain from Tongariro River Lodge on the North Island of New Zealand, and Matt McHugh and Toby Clarke from Fly Odyssey Travel. They had all been traveling for the better part of 2 days to get to the atoll so they were relieved to finally be on St. Brandon’s and to have a good rest ahead of the action packed week of fishing to come.
The first day started off in textbook St Brandon’s fashion and the reason why this atoll is rightly regarded as the finest Bonefish destination on the planet. We enjoyed some great skinny water Bonefishing to start off the day, many fish landed during the early morning low tide period. Our first Indo-Pacific Permit was also hooked by Tony Hayes who fought it perfectly only for the hook to pull a few agonizing feet from the net. As the tide pushed we went off in search of some ‘big nasty’s”, our plans working out perfectly with Tony getting a shot at a massive GT hugging a sand spit. His cast was spot on and after 3 long strips the fish ate his tan Semper and tore off into the lagoon. The fish pulled with incredible speed and power to the point where his fly line snapped. A sickening result but a reminder as to why fishing for trophy GT’s is not for the faint hearted. The rest of the day went to plan as the Bluefin Trevally were out in huge number smashing baitfish at will. Matt McHugh landed a solid 73cm fish and Shaun McCain also landed two very big Bluefin, one of 81cm and one of 82cm. Tony then got his own back by landing a stunning 83cm Bluefin that was wreaking havoc on a school of small mullet.
The Bonefish proved to be slightly tougher on Day 2 with the bigger fish slightly cautious out on the flats. The great Bluefin fishing however continued and a number of big fish came to hand. Matt McHugh caught the biggest fish of the day with a huge Bluefin weighing in at 17lbs. The fish did not hesitate when it saw his articulated popper and took the fly with a gentle sip. Matt had to fight the fish very carefully due to the lighter leader used to trick the fish into eating, not to mention the mine field of coral around where it was hooked. The fish of the day however undoubtedly belonged to Tony Hayes, who after the disappointment of losing an Indo-Pacific Permit the previous day, landed a stunning 15lb Indo-Pacific Permit that was tailing on a coral ridge. After a grueling 37minute fight Tony kept his nerve and the fish slid into Brendan’s net. The huge sense of relief was quickly eclipsed by ecstatic celebration and congratulations from all involved. It is truly a fish of a lifetime and a fitting way to get your own back on the tricky St. Brandon’s Permit!
Some superb Bonefishing resumed on Day 3, with all the clients all enjoying picking silver targets in ankle-deep water during our morning session. A number of good fish came to hand, the average around 6lbs. Along with the many Bonefish landed there were a few big Bluefin around, the guys managing to get a few to eat a well presented fly. Some big GT’s were also sighted but unfortunately the stars didn’t align and we never connected.
The awesome Bonefishing continued into Day 5 with Tony Hayes and Matt McHugh both landing very respectable 8lb fish. Many fish could be seen tailing across the flats and all the guys enjoyed picking individual fish to cast at. The Bluefin Trevally were out once again and although they seemed to be much more picky when it came to eating a fly, Shaun did manage to land a 70cm Bluefin that was once again smashing schools of mullet.
Good numbers of Bones were landed on Day 6, however the day belonged to the monster GT’s St Brandon’s has to offer. Sighting and opportunities presented themselves throughout and the day and although on the scorecard we did not make much of an impact it was a thoroughly thrilling day hunting down the alpha predators of the atoll. The Permit too were around in solid numbers and despite Matt McHugh hooking into one of the yellow tailed devils, the hook lost purchase and the fish swam away %$#^$%^%#$^! The Golden Trevally were also out, our guests landing 5 in the day and together with Shaun huge10lb Yellow Dot Trevally we wrapped up another thrilling day out on the flats.
Day 7 and Day 8 provided great Bonefishing as per usual, Shaun McCain land his personal best Bonefish with gorgeous a 9,5lbs specimen coming to the net and being weighed. In addition we had numerous opportunities at Permit throughout the two days but ultimately the fish had the final say.