ENQUIRE NOW
Featured Image - St Brandon Blog: 29 April – 9 May 2025

St Brandon Blog: 29 April – 9 May 2025

Hi there and welcome! Week 5 on the Atoll was full of excitement, with countless opportunities to target fish across the pristine waters of St. Brandon. As the weather began to cool slightly, we moved into neap tides—providing optimal conditions for extended time on the flats rather than around the islands.

Bonefishing Highlights

The bonefishing this week held true to St. Brandon’s world-class reputation. Anglers enjoyed consistent action, with plenty of singles and pairs cruising the skinny water across our flats. Quality fish were landed throughout the week, many falling in the impressive 7–8 lb range.

A standout catch came from Doug, who is on his first trip to St. Brandon. He landed a monstrous 10 lb bonefish, continuing the excellent momentum from his previous week. Dave also got in on the action, landing a solid 8 lb bone on the final day of his trip. Well done to both anglers on their fantastic fish—what a way to wrap up your time on the Atoll! A 10 lb bonefish is a rare and special catch, and Doug’s fish was truly one to remember.

Permit Fishing Success

Permit fishing remained strong throughout the week, with numerous tailing fish spotted across the flats, coral ridges, and island edges. The guests enjoyed several good shots, and a few remarkable fish were brought to hand.

Doug again rose to the occasion, landing both a 9 lb and a stunning 11.5 lb Indo-Pacific Permit. A double-digit permit is an extraordinary achievement in any fishery, and Doug’s success is a testament to the quality of opportunities available here at St. Brandon. Congratulations on such a memorable week!

Trevally Encounters

Giant trevally made their presence known, frequently seen shadowing nurse sharks and ambushing bait along the flats and around the islands. Despite multiple sightings, none were landed this week, but anticipation remains high for the rest of the season.

Golden Trevally added excitement to the mix, with several seen tailing in turtle grass on various flats. A few lucky anglers managed to land these stunning, hard-fighting fish. Bluefin Trevally were abundant again, often seen harassing bait schools throughout the Atoll. Although the hookup-to-landing ratio was low this week, the chase continues to thrill both guides and guests alike.

Looking Ahead

Week 5 was packed with action, and the variety of species encountered kept everyone engaged. As the water continues to cool, we’re optimistic about the coming weeks and what they’ll bring for our guests. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us—we thoroughly enjoyed sharing this special place with you and look forward to your return.

Catch Summary:

  • Bonefish: 84 (1 x 10 lb, 1 x 8.5 lb)

  • Indo-Pacific Permit: 5 (1 x 11.5 lb, 1 x 9 lb)

  • Golden Trevally: 5

Yours in fishing,
 The St. Brandon’s Guide Team

Older posts
Newer posts
Featured Image - St Brandon Blog: 22 April – 2 May 2025

St Brandon Blog: 22 April – 2 May 2025

Hi there and welcome to the fourth week of the St. Brandon season! We kicked things off with slightly warmer weather than usual and were hoping for a cooling breeze to bring some relief to both the water and the flats. This week saw us fishing spring tides, which meant limited time on the flats but more opportunities to explore the islands and their surrounding waters.

Bonefishing Update

Bonefishing proved a bit more challenging this week. The fish were holding deeper and moving in larger schools, rather than the classic St. Brandon singles and doubles cruising the flats. That said, we still saw excellent results, with over 50 bonefish landed throughout the week. The average size remained solid, with many fish in the 7–8 lb range.

A major highlight came from seasonal guest Jim, who has spent several weeks with us over the years. He kicked off his first week with a superb 10 lb bonefish—an exceptional catch and a rare sight! Doug also enjoyed success, landing a strong 8 lb fish on the flats. Huge congratulations to both anglers. A double-digit bone is a trophy anywhere, and it’s always a thrill to see such quality fish landed here on St. Brandon. It continues to reinforce our reputation as a world-class bonefish destination.

Permit Fishing

Permit sightings and encounters were once again plentiful, with good numbers of feeding and tailing fish spotted across the flats, islands, and coral ridges. These famously finicky fish gave our guests multiple opportunities, and the rewards were well-earned.

Jim opened his St. Brandon permit account in style with a beautiful 7 lb fish on day one, followed shortly by Doug landing a cracking 8 lb permit. It’s always special to see guests connect with this challenging species, and both anglers made the most of their chances.

Trevally Action

Giant trevally activity was a bit slower this week. We did spot a few giants moving through the area, but no solid hookups materialized. On the brighter side, Bluefin Trevally were more active, especially around the islands where we witnessed several fish terrorizing bait balls.

A total of three Bluefin were landed during the week, each measuring between 60 and 65 cm. While the numbers were modest, the pursuit of all trevally species remains a major draw for our anglers, and it’s only a matter of time before someone connects with one of the true brutes patrolling the Atoll.

Looking Ahead

As we wrap up Week 4, spirits remain high. The southeast winds are starting to pick up, which should help cool the water and create ideal conditions for the fishery in the coming weeks. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with both returning and new guests—thank you all for joining us!

We’re looking forward to the rest of the season and many more memorable moments on the flats.

Catch Summary:

  • Bonefish: 58 (1 x 10 lb, 1 x 8 lb)

  • Indo-Pacific Permit: 7 (1 x 8 lb)

  • Bluefin Trevally: 3

Yours in fishing,
The St. Brandon’s Guide Team

Older posts
Newer posts
Featured Image - St Brandon: 15 – 25 April 2025

St Brandon: 15 – 25 April 2025

Our third week of the St. Brandon April–June 2025 season began with a gentle southeasterly breeze and a neap tide cycle, providing extended time on the flats—ideal conditions for stalking fish in skinny water. It was an unusual week, however, with only two guests making out to the atoll, as one guest was unable to make the journey.

Bonefishing Highlights

Despite the low guest count, the Atoll once again proved why it’s considered one of the finest bonefishing destinations on the planet. The flats delivered consistent action, with bonefish averaging a solid 5–6 pounds. Both Patric and Eli took full advantage of the calm conditions and crystal-clear waters, landing multiple quality bones. The standout fish of the week came in at 8 pounds—a trophy by any standard. Mike and Brandon also got in on the action, each landing impressive 8-pounders during their time on the flats.

Permit Fishing

Permit fishing, as always, tested our patience and precision. We encountered a fair number of these elusive fish and had multiple opportunities throughout the week. The highlight came early, with both Patric and Eli landing their first St. Brandon permit on day one. Eli’s fish, a stunning 11.5-pounder, was the standout, while Patric brought in a beautiful specimen at 7.5 pounds. Despite numerous shots, the permit weren’t in a particularly cooperative mood, and while we managed to hook five fish in total, two were unfortunately lost before they could be landed.

Trevally Encounters

The Atoll’s resident trevally species made a few appearances as well. We saw a fair number of GTs and Bluefin Trevally throughout the week. Opportunities came and went, but conversions proved challenging. By the end of the week, we managed to land just one Bluefin—a reminder of just how humbling and rewarding this fishery can be.

Final Thoughts

Though guest numbers were limited this week, the quality of fishing and the solitude of the flats made for a memorable experience. The remarkable bonefish action and frequent permit sightings left a lasting impression on our guests, and we were thrilled to be part of their journey.

As we wrap up another week in this remote corner of the Indian Ocean, we remain eager for what lies ahead. With prime tides and exciting guests on the way, the rest of the season promises to be just as rewarding.

Catch Summary:

  • Bonefish: 39

  • Permit: 3

  • Bluefin Trevally: 1

Until next week,
 The St. Brandon FlyCastaway Guide Team

Older posts
Newer posts
Featured Image - St Brandon Blog: 8-18 April 2025

St Brandon Blog: 8-18 April 2025

Welcome to Week 2 of the 2025 St Brandon season. Our week began with fishing over spring tides, and the group was treated to calm conditions and excellent light—ideal for sight fishing on the flats. The atoll once again lived up to its reputation, with several special catches coming to hand throughout the week.

We experienced excellent bonefishing, especially in terms of average size, with many fish landed in the 5 to 6 lb range. A few larger fish were also brought to hand, though some true giants managed to get the better of us! Notable catches came from Tim, Rex, and Steve, with the largest bonefish of the week landed by Tim—a trophy 11 lb specimen—and Rex with a beautiful 10 lb fish. Congratulations to both anglers for taming these speedsters! It’s an exciting sign of what the weeks ahead may hold.

Once again, good numbers of Indo-Pacific Permit were encountered across various locations while wading these magnificent flats. All our anglers enjoyed multiple shots at these notoriously tricky fish and landed five Permit in total for the week. Steve fooled his 8 lb Permit with a spot-on cast late one afternoon, while Brian managed to trick a beautiful 7.5 lb specimen. Well done, guys—great fishing!

The warmer conditions this week brought several Trevally species into play. Some guests had shots at GTs (Giant Trevally), though these fish proved just as elusive as ever—reminding us why they’re among the atoll’s most challenging targets. Big bluefin trevally were seen in good numbers, especially along the eastern coral edge and around the islands. We successfully brought eight of these stunning fish to hand.

This wrapped up another fantastic week on St Brandon, with all of our guests experiencing what makes this atoll so special. We thoroughly enjoyed hosting this group and look forward to welcoming them all back in the future.

Catch Tally for the Week:

  • Bonefish – 83

  • Indo-Pacific Permit – 5

  • Bluefin Trevally – 8

  • Golden Trevally – 1

Tight lines,
The St Brandon Guide Team

Older posts
Newer posts
Featured Image - St Brandon Blog: 1 – 11 April 2025

St Brandon Blog: 1 – 11 April 2025

Hi there, and welcome to the start of our 2025 season on what is arguably one of the most remote and incredible fisheries in the world—St Brandon’s Atoll.

We welcomed our first group on Raphael Island, and it was great to see a crew of excited, ready-to-go guests. This group was with us for two weeks as part of our back-to-back fishing package, and everyone was eager to see what 14 days on this world-class fishery would bring.

The week fell over neap tides, which allowed us to fish certain areas of the atoll for longer periods compared to spring tides. All our anglers enjoyed multiple opportunities, targeting the happy, skinny-water bonefish of St Brandon’s—tailing and feeding along the sand and turtle grass sections of one of our main flats. The neap tides allowed for extended time in these areas, and we saw some great results. Multiple bonefish were caught throughout the week, ranging from an impressive 7 to 9.5 pounds. Rex came heartbreakingly close to the double-digit mark with a beautiful 9.5 lb bonefish that fell for a well-placed spawning shrimp.

The first week also brought numerous opportunities to target the atoll’s famous Indo-Pacific Permit. Many fish were seen around the islands and on the flats. Brian and Tim both managed to connect with solid 10 lb Indo-Pacific beauties. This also marked Tim’s first-ever Permit—a dream come true. Your first Permit is always a special one—well done, Tim!

The trevally fishing started to pick up later in the week as we transitioned into spring tides. The increase in current and water movement brought in good numbers of bluefin trevally, and guests had shots at some cracking fish in the surf zones on the atoll’s eastern edge, as well as around the islands. We managed to land a few of these electric blue speedsters, all ranging between 65 and 70 cm.

During the week, we also encountered a couple of monster GTs that call St Brandon’s home. Unfortunately, we weren’t lucky enough to connect with any of these true giants. However, we did bring two to hand—the biggest being a respectable 89 cm GT landed by Steve. Congratulations, Steve!

The first week of the season has definitely given us a positive outlook on what lies ahead. The atoll is clearly in a healthy state, with plenty of fish seen throughout the week. We’re looking forward to what the coming weeks will bring on this epic fishery.

Catch Tally for the Week:

  • Bonefish – 141

  • Indo-Pacific Permit – 6

  • Bluefin Trevally – 15

  • GT (Giant Trevally) – 2 (1 x 89 cm)

Tight lines,
 The St Brandon Guide Team

Older posts
Newer posts
Featured Image - Providence Blog: 25 March – 1 April 2025

Providence Blog: 25 March – 1 April 2025

Week 6 on Providence brought a mix of seasoned anglers and newcomers, making for a dynamic week of fishing. Despite some challenging weather conditions, the fishermen were enthusiastic and managed to reel in some impressive catches.

Day 1: The first day greeted anglers with overcast skies and rain, but the weather didn’t dampen spirits. Paul landed his first GT of the trip, while James also hooked a GT and a triggerfish. Carlos caught a triggerfish and a bumpy, with Hernan adding a bumpy to the tally. Dale, Ian, and Mike collectively landed seven GTs, including a stunning 100cm fish by Dale, marking an excellent start to the week.

Day 2: On the second day, large clouds alternated with patches of sunlight, which the anglers made the most of. Dale, Ian, and Mike each landed a GT, with Dale also catching a Napoleon. Hernan added two GTs to his catch, while Carlos landed a GT and triggerfish. Other highlights included Dave landing a GT, Rich landing three GTs, and Paul catching two. A fantastic day of fishing in Providence’s vast flats.

Day 3: A windy day presented some casting challenges, but the anglers adapted. Dave and Paul each landed a GT, while James, Sean, and Stu added one each to the board. Hernan continued his strong week with two GTs, and Carlos landed a beautiful 98cm GT.

Day 4: Rain and wind made conditions tough on Day 4, but the anglers still managed some solid catches. Dale and Rich each landed a GT, while Hernan and Paul each caught two. Several bluefin and other species were also caught, showcasing the diversity of Providence’s waters.

Day 5: Another windy, cloudy day made fish spotting tricky, but the anglers were rewarded for their perseverance. Ian, Stu, and Paul each landed a GT, and Hernan kept his momentum with another GT. Carlos had a standout moment, landing a 102cm GT, followed by Kevin’s impressive 107cm catch, rounding off the day on a high note.

Day 6: Clear skies and lighter winds made for ideal fishing conditions on the final day. Paul, Rich, and Dave landed eight GTs between them, with Paul also catching a bonefish. Dale added three GTs to his tally, while Ian landed one. Carlos, Hernan, and Kevin each added a GT to their catches. Stu, Sean, and James also finished strong with one GT each, including James’ 96cm fish. A perfect way to conclude an excellent week of fishing.

Looking ahead, the coming weeks hold great promise with high spring tides at the start and smaller neeps at the end, offering anglers the chance to target all the species Providence has to offer.

Total Catch:
 GTs – 59 (3+ meters)
 Bonefish – 1
 Triggerfish – 3
 Bumpy – 2
 Napoleon – 1
 Bluefin – 35
 Other Species – 92

Older posts
Newer posts
Featured Image - Providence Blog: 19 – 26 November 2024

Providence Blog: 19 – 26 November 2024

Week six of our 2024 season at Providence Atoll kicked off with eager anglers and perfect conditions. As we shifted from spring tides to neaps, we hoped for calmer waters and more opportunities to target tailing species like Bonefish, Triggerfish, and Bumphead Parrotfish.

Day 1 started strong, with good numbers of fish cruising along the flats. Zane had an outstanding start, landing his first-ever GT at 102cm. Throughout the day, several other GTs were caught, averaging around 80-85cm. Ryan and Brent also added some beautiful Yellow Margin Triggerfish to the tally, with Ryan catching one in the morning and Brent landing another during a low tide session.

Day 2 brought nearly perfect conditions, with clear skies and light winds. Rick landed his first-ever Milkfish after a strong fight. Pat then connected with a stunning Yellow Margin Triggerfish while walking a turtle grass flat. The GTs were out in force, and several big fish were seen cruising. Judah landed an impressive 114cm GT, his first-ever meter fish! Ryan also caught a trophy GT at 100cm, followed by Tom, who landed a 101cm GT — great work all around!

Day 3 was a tougher day, with cloudy skies and wind making conditions more challenging. Despite this, Pat managed two solid GTs, the largest at 95cm. Brent added three decent-sized GTs to the tally, and Zane fought a big fish, eventually landing a beautiful GT that was swimming with a stingray.

Day 4 brought near-perfect conditions with no wind or clouds. Father and son duo Rob and Judah had an incredible morning, landing seven GTs, the largest around 90cm. The Triggerfish were also active, with Tony landing a stunning Yellow Margin Triggerfish. Pat followed suit on the other boat, also catching a Yellow Margin. Later in the day, Tom landed a Napoleon Wrasse while dredging in deeper waters.

Day 5 featured near-ideal conditions again, with minimal wind and clear skies. The GTs were plentiful, with 12 fish caught throughout the day, the largest just under 90cm. Tony had a remarkable day, landing three Yellow Margin Triggerfish, plus a Bonefish and a GT, completing a slam. Zane also caught his first-ever Triggerfish, while Pat and Brent each landed a Yellow Margin Triggerfish. Judah capped the day with another beautiful Yellow Margin.

Day 6 was a bit of a challenge, with low wind but high cloud cover. The fish were skittish, but Pat and Tom adjusted by using thinner leaders and smaller flies, successfully landing a couple of GTs. Rick had a memorable moment, catching a massive Barracuda after a well-placed cast.

As the week came to a close, the weather started to shift back to spring tides, which we hope will bring more water movement across the flats. We’re excited to see what’s in store for the next week at Providence Atoll!

Catch Summary for the Week:

  • GTs: 53 (Largest: 114cm, Judah)
  • Triggerfish: 13
  • Grouper & Snapper: 85
  • Bluefin Trevally: 34
  • Bonefish: 1
  • Milkfish: 1

Till next time,
The FlyCastaway Guide Team

Older posts
Newer posts
Featured Image - St Brandon Blog: 29 October – 8 November 2024

St Brandon Blog: 29 October – 8 November 2024

As we wrapped up our 2024 season at the stunning St Brandon Atoll, we welcomed three eager anglers ready for adventure. Despite facing challenging conditions — strong south-easterly winds, overcast skies, and occasional rain — our guests persisted, and by the end of the week, the weather and fishing improved.

Bonefish were the first to greet us, with healthy numbers found on the flats, coral ridges, and around the islands. The fishing started slower than usual, but our anglers still managed to land a few quality fish. The average size was around 5–6 pounds, with the highlight being a 10.5-pound beauty caught by Mark. Congratulations on a great catch!

Permit were a bit more elusive this week, but the atoll provided some opportunities to cast at tailing fish. We had success twice, with Mike and Tony each landing one.

The Trevally fishing was promising, especially with the Bluefin Trevally, which were seen chasing bait around the islands and sand spits. Our anglers managed to hook a few, landing one Bluefin. We also encountered a number of impressive GTs (Giant Trevally), some of which were particularly large. While we had great opportunities, the timing was often off, and we couldn’t capitalize on some of the bigger fish. However, Mike did land his first-ever GT on the fly, a solid 80cm fish — well done, Mike!

A Golden Trevally also made an appearance, adding to the excitement of the week.

As we conclude our season, we’d like to thank all our guests for joining us in this remarkable corner of the world. It’s hard to believe that another season has ended, but we’re already looking forward to 2025. With an ecosystem as wild and untouched as St Brandon Atoll, we can’t wait for the next chapter of fishing adventures.

Catch Summary for the Week:

  • Bonefish: 52
  • Permit: 2
  • GT: 1
  • Bluefin Trevally: 1
  • Golden Trevally: 1

Looking ahead to 2025!

Older posts
Newer posts
Featured Image - St Brandon Blog: 22 Oct – 1 Nov2024

St Brandon Blog: 22 Oct – 1 Nov2024

We started Week 8 of our season by welcoming six new guests to Rafael Island, where they shared this very special atoll with us. As we transitioned from spring tides to neap tides, the water temperature remained nice and cool, which led us to expect more fish feeding on the flats.

This week, we definitely saw more bonefish cruising the flats, both in small pods and as big singles. Many fish were spotted cruising over the flats and feeding in ankle-deep water, making for exciting visuals as the anglers managed to get into some good numbers of fish. The average size of the bonefish this week was between 5 and 7 lbs, with a couple of 8-lb bones making their way into the net.

The permit fishing turned on in a positive way, and the fish were very receptive to the flies thrown their way. Solid numbers were found on the flats, ridges, and around islands, giving all our anglers great shots at the atoll’s permit. Everyone had opportunities to present little morsels to these elusive fish throughout the week. Much to the excitement of both guide Jarryd and guest angler Joerg, the permit obliged more than usual, and Joerg went on to land five permits in one day! A huge congratulations to Joerg for an outstanding day of permit fishing!

On the trevally front, it was a bit slow this week. We did, however, encounter a good number of bluefin around the islands and coral ridges, as well as a couple of GTs hanging around nurse sharks. The guests made some great shots, but unfortunately, only one bluefin made it to hand.

Sadly, we’ve now ticked off Week 7 of the St Brandon 2024 season and are looking forward to our last week of fishing this pristine atoll with our new guests.

The St Brandon Guide Team

Catch tally for the week:

  • Bonefish: 122
  • Permit: 11
  • Bluefin Trevally: 1
  • Golden Trevally: 5
Older posts
Newer posts
Featured Image - St Brandon Blog: 1 – 11 Oct 2024

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
Older posts
Newer posts