St Brandon Blog: 22 Sept – 4 Oct 2018
St Brandon’s Blog: 22 Sept – 4 Oct 2018
The second week of the September – November 2018 season on St Brandon was an extended trip with guests spending 9 days out on the flats with us. The Bonefishing was slightly more patchy than normal although there were still plenty of world class sessions. We enjoyed another solid 6lb average for the week but many fish in the 7 – 8,5lb range were still landed. One of the more notable fish was Eugene’s 9.5lb specimen which caught as it snuck onto the flat from the lagoon. Mike however landed our two biggest fish of the week, his first fish of 11lbs caught on a huge sand flat and his second, a very fat 10.5lb fish after initially being spotted snaking up a turtle grass edge. The fish tried to eat the fly twice before crushing it and tearing off towards the horizon. A double-digit Bone is a very special achievement and to catch 2 in a trip is just amazing, well done Mike!
The Permit fishing we experienced during the nine days was nothing short of spectacular. With fourteen Permit landed during the trip this group of guests have now broken our previous record of twelve fish during a trip. Tim and Patito both caught solid 10lb fish each, Eugene landed three for the week including his first ever Indo Pacific Permit when he landed a fin perfect 6lb fish. His second and third fish were both weighed at 9.5lbs. Zack landed two Permit for the week, his first Indo Pacific ever came in at 7.5lbs and his second was a trophy 11.5lb fish. Zack’s first fish was not only special because it was his first Indo Pacific but it was also part of a Permit double up with his good friend Sandflea. This is only the second time ever on St. Brandon’s where a Permit double has happened, and it is truly an occasion that neither of them or their guide ever forget. As for Sandflea, the fish he caught in the double up was his second for the day and one of seven Permit he landed in during the trip. His fish weighed in at 9.5lb, 10lb, 4lb, 12lb, 11.5lb, 5lb and a massive 17lber. Just catching one Permit can be tricky at best but catching 7 in a trip and to be part of a double up is testament to skill level Mr Sandflea has at his disposal!
A few of the atoll’s infamous GTs were also seen during the trip and although never easy, the clients did have some shots. Zack had the best chance at landing a bus when one ate the fly only for it come out shortly after. So close! Jed however landed a solid 65cm Bluefin Trevally that absolutely crushed the fly as soon as it moved and with the odd Yellow dot and Golden Trevally being picked up our guests enjoyed some nice variety as well.
This has been an incredible week with large Bonefish and a record number of Permit landed! With St Brandon’s fishing this well we can only look forward to what the rest of the season has in store for us.
Until next time
The St Brandon Guide Team
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The first trip for the September – November 2018 season on St Brandon’s got off to a cracking start with some phenomenal Bonefishing. Both numbers and average sizes were impressive, the large numbers of fish found in shallow water reconfirming to our guests why St Brandon is so highly thought of in the Bonefishing world. On top of this we landed ten fish over 8lbs, three of over 9.5lbs and one trophy fish of 10.5lbs, Randy’s monster hooked whilst it’s back was out of the water. Randy presented his shrimp, the fish rushed over and crushed the fly before speeding off to the horizon. What a special fish!
The amount of Indo Pacific Permit seen out on the atoll during the trip was nothing short of staggering. The guests enjoyed multiple shots each day at these highly sought-after fish, but as can be expected with Permit, it didn’t always go to plan as there were a few eats that didn’t stick and fish coming unbuttoned during the fight. Fortunately, we did put six Permit into the net before the trip came to end. Randy fished really well and in the end was rewarded with fish of 4lb, 5lb and one of 10lb. Ferdie also got stuck into the Permit action with a perfect 5,5lb fish, however the biggest Permit for the week went to Andre who landed a 10,5lb fish that was feeding into some heaving current despite the shallow water. ‘Dre’ sent out a pin-point cast and the fish followed for 10 feet before inhaling the crab. After a tense and dogged fight, the fish was slid into the net and the celebrations began. Andre also added to his Permit tally on the last day of the trip with a stunning 4lb fish. Great job!
Calm conditions greeted the first group of guests for the 2018 April – June St Brandon’s season. With some warm water around at the start of the week the Bone fishing proved to be quite tough yet the guests still managed to land some great fish during their trip. The conditions improved as the week went on and thanks to some windier days and mid morning lows there was some phenomenal skinny water Bone fishing enjoyed later in the week with a solid 6.5lb average coming to hand. Rich had a great trip catching his largest ever Bonefish with 2 8.5lb fish. John and Eugenie got stuck into some really big fish, landing a 9lb and 9.5lb fish respectively. The Bonefish of the week has to go to Shaun who after landing 23 fish in a single session managed to get an absolute beast Bonefish and the first 10lb-er of the season.
During the week the guests enjoyed many shots at the Atoll’s famed Indo Pacific Permit and by day four 7 had been hooked but the fish had the final say. It was not all doom and gloom as 3 Permit were landed during the week. Rich continued his hot streak with his first ever Indo Pacific Permit of 3lbs. Brian got in on the Permit action too, landing a respectable 5lb fish that was tailing on a marl ridge around an island in the north. There are good numbers of Permit seen on Raphael island every season and Dave managed to land an 8lb fish right next to where the fisherman moor their boats behind the island.
The warmer conditions meant that there were many of the Atoll’s Trevally around and the guests enjoyed some amazing fishing. Many large GTs were around, harassing baitfish and bonefish alike. Brian Noyes managed to hook one of these brutes on the very first day only for the hook to pull mid fight, tough luck Brian! We have been seeing large numbers of Golden Trevally tailing aggressively amongst schools of Bonefish and John took full advantage when he hooked and landed a beast 14lb Golden while fishing to a very large Bone fish. Shaun had a cracking week and added a 12lb and 15lb Golden to his double digit Bone from earlier in the week. The Bluefin Trevally on St Brandons were ever present and although there weren’t many landed during the first week there were some notable catches from Rich who landed a 69cm fish that was hunting in a pack behind a Nurse Shark in a coral garden at the edge of a flat. Dave landed the largest Trevally of the week when he hooked an aggressive 78cm Bluefin that was terrorizing baitfish in a lagoon. The fish smashed the fly and proceeded to tear off into the distance taking many metres of backing with it.
The high winds and rain which we had experienced on the atoll leading up to our final trip of the season had hung around the atoll for the first day with our new guests. This made spotting fish more difficult than normal which was disappointing as there were some good Bonefish present. We did however still manage to land in excess of 35 fish with an average size of 6.5lb, which got the guys eyes in and their reels screaming. The numbers of Bluefin Trevally around was however the highlight, the pushing tide being particularly productive. Austin Harris capitalized on some of the bigger fish hunting and landed a huge Bluefin measuring 80cm. It was a sign of things to come!
Day 2 thankfully brought sunny skies and much calmer conditions. We enjoyed some good Bonefishing during our morning session, the group landing 40 fish averaging 6lb. The big Bones for the day went to Guy Gardiner who landed two 8lb fish and an 8.5lb specimen, whilst the biggest was landed by Iain Abercrombie who caught a tank 9lb fish. The Bluefin were around in large numbers and many of the guests got well and truly stuck in. There were many Permit shots had cross various areas of the atoll. Austin Harris hooked and unfortunately lost his first Indo Pacific Permit, showing again how tough these fish can be to catch. Charles Brooks however made the most of his chance and landed a beautiful 11.5lb Permit that was snaking down a sand depression on the most famous flat on St. Brandon’s. Well done on your first Indo- Pacific Permit Charles, it’s a special moment!
The Bones were out in good numbers on Day 3 and the clients all got stuck into some good numbers of fish, over 35 fish were landed during the day at an average of just over 6.5lb. The largest Bone for the day went to Graham Watt and James De Penning who both landed 8.5lb specimens. The Atoll’s Permit were out in good numbers once again with 2 being hooked during the day. Richard Smithers unfortunately lost his fish but Iain Abercrombie managed to land his first Indo with a solid 8lb fish caught on a coral ridge on the Eastern edge of the Atoll. The Trevally action was just getting better and better as the week continued and this was evident in the number of Bluefin seen smashing bait around the high water areas. The Bluefin of the day undoubtedly went to James De Penning who landed a monstrous 83cm fish that pushed aside all the smaller fish in the school it was cruising with to crush the fly. That was not the only impressive trevally to be landed on the day though as Charles Brooks, who continued his great run and landed an 80cm GT that was sitting just off a coral garden in ambush. A GT is always a special fish and to catch a GT on St Brandon’s is even more impressive.
this was evident by the number of fish landed during the day. The Bonefish were landed in good numbers as in excess of 35 fish at an average of 6lb came to hand. There were some great Permit shots had as well with Graham Watt making the most of his shots by landing his first Indo Pacific Permit, a respectable 6lb fish that beat a hungry Bonefish to the fly. The trevally fishing was in full swing with some of the guests enjoying shots at some very large GTs but the fish had the final say. The Bluefin Trevally seemed to be everywhere on the atoll with large numbers of these apex predators being hooked and landed throughout the day. Austin Harris came out on top with the largest Bluefin of the day, a solid 73cm bruiser.
The great Bonefishing continued into day 5 as the clients collectively caught around 35 fish in the 6.5lb bracket. The Bluefin Trevally fishing went from great to phenomenal. It seemed as though any area that would hold bait on the high water also held large numbers of big, hungry Bluefin. This was evident when in one session during the afternoon – on only one of the islands 22 of these lighting fast fish were hooked. Many of them got the better of the anglers but there were still some great numbers of fish brought to hand. Graham Watt landed the largest for the day with his 73cm goat fish eating machine.
Day 6 would prove to be a very special day indeed. There was some incredible skinny water Bone fishing to be had during the morning low and pushing tide. The insane Bluefin Trevally were around again as all the clients got stuck into great numbers. One angler in particular, Charles Brooks landed around 15 of these brutes by himself during the day, all in the 65cm-80cm range. The day was however capped off with a truly amazing effort from Graham Watt who managed to get the first Grand Slam on St Brandon’s in 4 years. Graham landed a few Bones during the morning, the biggest being 7lb. During the push he was fishing around a coral ridge when his guide spotted a GT cruising the edge towards him. Graham cast out his popper fly ahead of the fish and with 2 pops the GT ate. A few minutes and some muscle aching runs later the fish was landed, a beast 94cm GT. Some great photos were taken before the fish was sent back on its way. About 20 minutes passed before Graham’s guide jokingly said all he needed now was a permit and low and behold the fish appeared ahead of a small pod of Bonefish. Graham stuck a cast out to the right of the fish and with Bluefin-like aggression the fish engulfed the fly. A nervous fight ensued and eventually the fish was landed and the Grand Slam confirmed. Graham also caught a few large Bluefin during the day so you could almost say he got a super slam. Very well done Graham, a Grand Slam is a rare thing and something you are sure to treasure for a very long time!
The last day of the season brought with it some tough conditions as low light, rain and wind was the order of the day. There were shots at some very large GTs that unfortunately were not converted. There was still some good Bone fishing to be had by the guests. Although the last day was tough, the fishing that was had during the week was incredible. This will definitely be one week to remember, not just for the guides but also for all the guests who joined us out on this wild place.
This brought an end to another cracking season out on St. Brandon’s. There were some incredible moments during the season that will not soon be forgotten. We all look forward to March when we will be heading out for another season on this very special place. Till then tight lines and screaming reels to everyone.
We normally like to get our new groups into some great Bonefishing on the first couple of days, however Day 1 strangely produced some tricky fishing for them. Despite seeing decent numbers something obviously had made them spooky, which made getting close to them tougher than usual. We did however manage to get the guys into some good Permit and Bluefin Trevally action, most guests getting shots at both species. Jim capitalised on one of the shots and landed a small but fin perfect Permit. The fish of the day however went to one of the David’s when he landed our first trophy Permit for the week, a gorgeous 11,5lb fish. Congratulations David!!!
Strong winds greeted us as we headed out on Day 3, which certainly cooled the water down a bit. As such the Bonefishing improved, the slight chop on the water and extra oxygen providing more favorable conditions. Around forty Bones were landed between the guys, the fish averaging 5-6lb. Things were looking up!
The excellent Bluefin and Bonefish fishing continued into Day 5, along with some great opportunities at the atoll’s infamous Indio Pacifc Permit. Charles capitalized on one of these chances when he landed his first ever Permit. Well done Charles!
Day 6 saw good numbers of GTs around which is always exciting to experience first hand. The Bonefishing too continued to improve, over average in size and the numbers going up which kept our anglers enthused. The Bluefin Trevally fishing this season has been nothing short of spectacular, David’s 77cm brute the puck of the fish coming to hand. Jim who was busy with his third week on the atoll opted to take a rest day, but during a brief walk around the lodge island he managed to land two Indo’s, the first a reputable 7 lb fish and the second a gorgeous 12 lb gem. Outstanding Jim!
The Bones were well and truly out on the last day, with over 45 fish in the 6lb range landed by the guys. Tyson landed his largest Bonefish to date, a chunky and solid 7,5lb fish whilst David landed our largest Bonefish for the trip when his 8lb slab of silver eventually slid into the net. The Bluefin fishing was on fire, these electric blue bolts of speed smashing into balls of bait in all the likely hotspots. It was frenetic! Don hooked a very large Bluefin, however as it began to tire a massive shark appeared and swallowed it whole. Hard luck there Don.
The second trip of our season saw some truly exceptional Bonefishing take place on St Brandon’s! With over 30 Bonefish in the 6lb range landed during the first morning session everyone got a chance to shake off the cobwebs and get the crossing well and truly out of their system. We also managed to get the guys into position for some great shots at Permit but none of them stuck unfortunately. They also enjoyed some memorable Bluefin Trevally action with Ian landing the largest fish of the day, an ‘ice blue’ 72 cm fish hooked only a rod length from the shore after it tore in and devoured his fly. After a tough fight the fish was brought to hand, capping off a great first day on the atoll!
With some icy cold water spread out across most of the atoll the superb Bonefishing continued into Day 2, with well over 25 fish landed at an average size of 6lbs. Various Trevally species were encountered throughout the day as well, the Bluefin fishing in particular really heating up; many Bluefin were landed throughout the day. Don Armstrong landed the largest fish of the day, his highly aggressive fish measuring 71 cm nose to fork.
The third day proved to be a very special one, full of action. We landed forty Bonefish at an average weight of 6,5 lb. The crazy Bluefin Trevally action continued and by the end of the day we had landed 10 fish measuring over 60cm. Our arch rival the Giant Trevally provided us with an opportunity when Ian Bailey hooked a very large fish! The fish charged and ate the streamer in an extremely ferocious manner before turning straight towards some coral. Sadly there was no stopping this monster and with his fly line and a substantial amount of backing off his reel, the line went limp as the fish cut him off. Heartbreaking for Ian and his guide! The day however did end with one very special fish being landed, Jim hooked and landed his first ever Permit. After fishing at three separate pods of tailing fish for well over an hour, Jim sent out a perfect cast and on his third strip the fish tailed hard on his fly, before he came right and the fish tore off into the distance. A long and anxious fight ensued, but finally a trophy 15 lb fish was landed much to Jim and his guide’s relief. Congrats Jim!
There were multiple shots at the atoll’s very large GTs on Day 4, sadly however these top predators coming out on top on this occasion. The Bonefishing however provided phenomenal fishing for our guests once again, with over 35 fish landed during the day. The Bluefin were all riled up and making pigs of themselves due to large numbers of baitfish around the raised areas on the high tide and the clients got stuck into good numbers of these aggressive predators. A few of the anglers had some great shots at Permit, but by the end of the day the fish had had the final say.
With the great conditions continuing into Day 5, the fishing proved nothing short of spectacular. There were over 40 Bones landed during the day with the average weight stretching the scales to 6.5lbs. Many of the anglers also enjoyed great shots at the Permit, possibly due to some lower tidal movement, but Permit being Permit, shots aren’t always enough to get it done! The Bluefin Trevally fishing kicked up a gear with many coming to hand, five fish in particular of special mention as they weighed between 12 – 14 lb. With the Bluefin being around in such abundance it was only a matter of time before someone would get into a tussle with a very large GT. Sean proved to be the fortunate angler, the monster 111cm fish hooked and landed very close to the eastern reef edge. After an intense battle and some serious running from his guide, the beast was tailed and some great photos were taken before the fish was sent back to harass the high numbers of baitfish and Bonefish which were congregating in the surf zone. What a great fish Sean, well done!
Day 6 started off with some more phenomenal Bonefishing, with 40 fish between 6-7lbs landed by the clients. It must sound monotonous saying this almost everyday, but that really is special fishing anywhere in the world and if one considers all of it is done on foot in ankle to knee depth water you know you are in a special place. The Trevally were out in force once again, with many good sized Bluefin coming to hand. Unfortunately Don lost our second large GT for the week while fishing a section on the eastern edge of the atoll. His day did improve though! Firstly he landed two trophy size Bluefin Trevally, 71cm and 74cm respectively, however his major consolation came in the form of his first Indo-Pacific Permit, the fin perfect fish weighing 10lb! Well done Don!!!!
The final day of the trip brought a fitting end to a great week on St. Brandons. Over 60 Bonefish were landed throughout the day, on average the fish weighing an impressive 7lb. Jim pinned a super strong 8,5 lb fish, before Doug stole the show with a 10lb beast. The fish was spotted and cast to as it slowly snaked it’s way up a turtle grass finger, a few short strips and he had a solid connection. It ran him deep into backing before steady pressure eventually brought about it’s entry into the net. A few quick snaps were taken and the fish was swimming off in no time. A truly special fish Doug, congratulations!
The Permit were out in good numbers again and with his last cast of trip, long time Seychelles client Rob, hooked and landed his first Indo-Pacific Permit. After having a few good shots at tailing fish, Rob put in a spot-on effort and within three strips he went tight. The fish fought hard but Rob would not give an inch and soon the 5lb fish was safely in the net. Awesome job Rob! There was plenty of Trevally action as well, most of the clients enjoying some excellent shots at GTs and ferocious Bluefin Trevally. Ian landed our largest Bluefin for the day, the electric blue specimen measuring 76cm. With this great moment the second week of the season came to an end. We had a great time hosting some old friends and making a few new ones and look forward to having them out with us on the atoll in seasons to come!
Calm sea and weather conditions ensured the first crossing of the 2017/2018 season was a really comfortable one for our guests. On the trip were Mike Dawes and Tim Brune from World Cast Anglers and a bunch of their friends, some of whom had joined them the year before on their annual extended stay on the atoll. To say we were excited would be lying. We were itching to get underway, this group containing some seriously skillful anglers who had on the previous year’s trip landed ten Permit and two double digit Bones between them. On top of it, they are just a great bunch of guys to fish and hang out with!!!!
Day one lived up to everyone’s expectations with many memorable fish landed. The day kicked off with some phenomenal skinny water Bonefish fishing, with just over 45 fish averaging 6-7lb landed during the day between the 7 anglers. Zack Barrett and Mike Dawes got the biggest specimens for the day, both fish tipping the scale at 9lb. The day got even better when Mike Ward landed our first Permit for the trip, with a 7lb fish coming off a coral ridge. The fish was hooked in very skinny water and after a nervy fight it slid into the net. Congratulations Mike! But this was not the only Permit of the day, Mike Dawes who is one serious Permit junkie and in fact the 2017 Del Brown Permit Tournament grand champion landed an absolute ‘stonker’ of an Indo-Pacific Permit, the fish weighing just over 15lb. Congrats Mike! Our day was not done though…not by a long shot! Tim Brune showed his experience by capping off the day with a 105cm GT. The GT was spotted harassing a school of Bonefish, following which Tim placed the fly between the GT and the Bonefish and made two long strips. The fish charged in and ate the fly, Tim setting the hook as it turned. Tim fought the GT very strongly, to the point where his rod separated at the first ferrule, but this did not stop him from landing his largest fly caught GT to date. Well done Tim! It was a great way to start an amazing trip.
After a cracking first day out on the atoll our guests were all very keen to get stuck in on the action as you can imagine. The great Bonefish fishing continued with many fish in the 6-7lb range landed during the morning session. There were numerous Permit shots as well during the day, with Alejandro “Sandflea” Cruz pinning a respectable 6lb fish to bring our tally to three in two days. Some of the atoll’s large GTs were also out and about on the flats, but despite some near misses none were tempted into biting.
The third day out started with a cracking Bonefish session with approximately 50 fish in the 6-7lb range coming to hand. There were many Permit shots during the day as well, Mike Ward improved on his fish from Day 1 when he hooked and landed a beautiful 10lb Indo-Pacific Permit. Mike Dawes followed suit soon after and by the end of his third day he landed our third double digit Permit for the trip with his fin perfect 13lb specimen. It was another incredible day of fishing out on St Brandon’s.
The Bonefishing improved on Day six as the weather conditions was infinitely improved from the previous day. The average size of the fish landed was a very credible 6-7lb and in total +/- 35 of these silver bullets came to the net. Mike Ward later got his third Permit of the trip when he spotted a fish slowly snaking through some slack water. He sent out a pinpoint cast and the fish followed for a good 9 feet before eating the fly. Intense to say the least but a memory surely never to be forgotten. The fish fought hard but Mike held firm and after a brief battle we weighed another 10lb Indo-Pacific Permit. The day got even better for Mike Dawes who continued his hot streak when he hooked and landed a 13lb Permit that was spotted swimming with some Bonefish. Mike weathered a really tough fight after the fish headed for the coral before he eventually got it to the net. There was also some great Golden Trevally action across a few of the flats which added some great spice to an already very enjoyable day out.
The Trevally action really picked up on Day seven. The Goldens were thick across many of the flats and thus the anglers landing a number of respectable fish between them. On top of these gorgeous fish, two large Bluefin Trevally were caught during the day. Alejandro “Sandflea” Cruz caught a super strong 72cm fish on his 9wt after the fish took him deep into his backing and almost into coral on more than one occasion. Tim Brune then landed the fish of the day with his 75cm Bluefin Beast. The fish was spotted slowly cruising the shore of an island. As the fish approached Tim sent out a cast, leading the fish by a solid five meters. As the fish came closer to the fly Tim gave one long strip and the fish raced across to eat the fly. The fish fought very hard but Tim was on him from the start and made light work of the big fish. Some incredible Bonefish were once again landed throughout the day, the average size still very high around the 6lb or 7lb mark. Mike Dawes continued on his merry may with his sixth Permit of the trip breaking the record for the most Permit caught by a single angler on a trip to St. Brandon’s. He had to work very hard for his 6lb fish, having to make numerous casts at the slow moving fish before it ate. So granted not the biggest he has landed by any stretch, but a special one nonetheless!
Day eight and nine saw some challenging tidal scenarios, nevertheless we worked hard and were rewarded with many shots at Permit and big GTs. Sadly our hookup and landing ratio was not very high, but still some incredible moments were enjoyed by all. The Bonefishing however was out of this world, the average size fish moving up to 7lb-8lb. Over the two days we landed just over 50 fish between the group, Kelsey Ward and Mike Dawes both landing fish a mere pound off the hallowed 10lb mark. It was a reminder that despite some incredible Permit fishing, one can never forget the unbelievable Bonefishing this atoll produces week in and week out!
The action kicked off on day one with some excellent Bonefish fishing on the low tide. There were many Bones out on the flats and the guests landed good numbers, Justin and Danie each landing beautiful 8lb specimens. There were also large amounts of big Bluefin Trevally around the atoll and the guests enjoyed many shots at these impressive predators. Riaan and Mike landed big fish, beautiful specimens measuring 74cm and 70cm respectively. The fish of the day was however Danie’s 78cm (16lb) Bluefin Trevally, caught while a pack of these fish were harassing and eating a school of Goatfish. Congrats Danie! There were also shots at the atolls’ larger and more elusive Giant Trevally but sadly no takers this time round.
The second day brought with it a new sense of anticipation among the guests after the stories of the previous day had been shared around the dinner table. The Bonefishing continued where it had left off, with aproximately 70 Bonefish coming to hand, the average size a very impressive 6lb. Denton and Pieter managed some larger fish when they landed a 7lb and 8lb fish respectively. Great fish anywhere in the world! The Bluefin were on the bite again, Riaan landed a decent 70cm fish and Mike continuing where he left off when he stuck a 72cm Bluefin. The Permit were around in good numbers as well and there were many shots to be had. Justin (who is a serious Permit angler) hooked two but unfortunately one came unstuck. He did however keep his cool after the disappointment and shortly after landed a beautfiful 5lb fish. Justin was racking up an impressive Permit tally during his stay with us!
The weather sadly turned sour on us during Day 3, with low light and high winds being the order of the day. These low light conditions can however lead to some amazing fishing for large Bonefish and the big guys were certainly out and about, despite conditions making it a challenge to get the casts where they needed to be. The rough weather did little to deter this eager group, everyone enjoying some tricky yet rewarding Bonefishing. Danie and Ben both landing 7lb fish, whilst Riaan brought in a beautifully conditioned 8lb. There were shots at Permit as well but no red caps were dished out that evening.
The weather settled on the fourth day, our guests enjoying some exceptional skinny water Bonefishing. The weather from the previous day had brought with it some icy cold water and this got the Bones feeding aggressively. In excess of 50 Bonefish in skinny water were landed by the guys, the average size a very credible 6lb. Peter, Ben and Danie all landing fish of 7lb. No monsters but the image of chunky fish slinking their way onto the flat in ankle deep water certainly left an impression. Justin who was fishing almost exclusively for Permit got stuck into some more opportunities and converted his 4th fish for the week. Superb angling!
The incredible Bonefishing continued on Day 5 with some larger bones coming to hand. The fishing was fairly technical but very rewarding in the super skinny water and considering we landed over 70 fish at an average of 6.5lb it was a day not to be sneezed at that’s for sure! Justin continued to show his angling skill and experience landing Bonefish of 8.5lb & 9lb as well as his 5th Permit for the week, the 8lb fish coming right in the death and close to the lodge!
Day 6 was full of action, our guests enjoying multiple shots at Permit and the large Giant Trevally. This was also the best Bonefishing day of the week with the guests enjoying some of the finest skinny water fishing this planet has to offer. Everyone got well and truly stuck in and in the end we had wracked up 83 Bonefish before the sun had sunk below the horizon. It’s hard not to get numb when dealing with the numbers and impressive sizes of our fish, but when you think about it, where else in the world can you experience Bonefishing of this calibre on a regular basis? It is just insane!
Sadly our last day did not match up with the previous, tough light and some warmer flats water making things trickier than usual. That said, there was some extremely exciting and technical Bonefish fishing on offer. We landed 20 fish during the day, some of which were particular memorable as they required some spot on presentation and careful wading. Judging by our guests reactions, it was clear they had enjoyed the day nonetheless but were sad to be leaving.
And so ends our early 2017 season on the atoll. It’s always a sad occasion, but looking back we had enjoyed a great season, with exceptional Bonefish and Permit angling. We had also danced with our friends the Trevally, including some monster Bluefin and barn door size GT’s, including the 127cm & the 128cm fish. It was just another incredible season, the level of fishing providing further evidence why St Brandon ranks as one of the finest fisheries on the planet. Thank you to all our guests this past season for their adventurous spirit and the time we spent on the water together. We are counting the days until the 18th of Sept later this year!
The action kicked off hard and fast on day one with some excellent Bonefishing in the morning to settle everyone down. With the cooler water temperatures we were experiencing, the average fish caught during the day weighed between 6 -7lb and in total we landed +/– 45 fish. There were many Permit around as well with most of the guys having good shots at fish. Terry and Andrew both capitalised on an opportunity, landing fish of 5lb and 3lb respectively. The day also saw many of the atoll’s GTs and Bluefin Trevally hunting on the flats. Andrew had a tussle with a GT but sadly the hook pulled during the fight…heartbreak!!!! He did however get his own back landing a thumping 75cm Bluefin later in the day. All in all we enjoyed a cracking first day and it really set the scene for what would come later in the week.
Day 2 brought with it more cold water and more exceptional Bonefishing, all of our guests getting well and truly stuck into good numbers of fish in the 6-7lb range. There were some large Bluefin Trevally around as well, but sadly we were unable to convert some of the opportunities which presented themselves. Rich and Andrew both hooked into good sized GTs but for both of them it ended in heartbreak with their flies coming unstuck….we were not enjoying much luck on the Trevally front!!!! The Permit were around in good numbers again and Justin who was now into his second day of what by the end of it will be a three week trip, landed a beautiful 7lb fish. Congrats Justin! The fish was spotted cruising a few feet from the shore around a sandy island and the rest is history. Awesome! Continuing where he left off on the first day, Terry hooked and landed his second Permit. He spotted his fish tailing on some marl around an island, presented the fly exactly where it needed to be and the fish ate. After an intense battle trying to keep the fish out of the coral, the fish was landed and stretched the scale to a very impressive 12lb. Well done Terry!
Day 3 provided some really tough weather conditions with high winds, rain and cloud cover hanging around for most of the day. This however had little impact on the fishing with Andy landing a tank Bonefish of 9lbs after some seriously strong runs. Justin, who had come to St Brandon’s primarily to target Permit landed his second fish of the week. The fish was spotted tailing at the edge of a flat close to a coral garden before Justin put in a great cast given the windy conditions. The fish saw the fly, raced over and 3 strips later his line went tight. After a nervy fight to keep the fish from swimming into the coral it was netted and Justin was holding a fin perfect 7lb Indo Pacific Permit. Congrats!
Clearer skies and a somewhat calmer wind greeted us on Day 4, the brighter conditions a sign of things to come. We enjoyed some sublime skinny water Bonefishing around the low tide with +/- 40 fish in the 7lb range being landed. The Bonefish of the day went to Kobus Fourie who caught his largest Bonefish to date, a very strong 9lb slab of silver. Great job Kobus. The Permit were out in large numbers once again and Rich got in on the action landing his first. Well done! Justin was on a hot streak and landed his third Permit in as many days with a beautiful pearly white 12lb fish on one of our more famous Permit flats. Fish of this size really are special! We also managed to get our own back on the GT front as Gene hooked and landed a beast 95cm GT. A pod of fish were spotted just off a sand spit after which Gene made the cast. The fly hit the water and immediately got the attention of the fish. A few strips later and a fish broke from the pack and ate his fly, tearing off into the coral garden and wrapping his fly line up. After his guide had gone for a few swims to free the line from the coral Gene broke the fish’s spirit and his guide tailed his first ever GT on the flats. Well done Eugene…it’s no mean feat landing a St Brandon’s GT! All in all a stellar day out on the water.
Day 5 would prove to be one to remember for a few people on St Brandon’s. The morning session saw good numbers of Bonefish in skinny water come to hand with a solid 6lb average. Andrew J later landed a fin perfect 5lb Permit to take his tally to two for the trip, but the highlight of the day and a moment that will not soon be forgotten by all involved occurred when, for the first time in St. Brandons history, a Permit double up was landed by best friends Justin and Andrew. These fish can be truly fickle even if just one person is fishing at them, so to get two fish at the same time on the same flat is just out of this world! Justin’s fish was cruising along the left hand side of a turtlegrass edge; he put in a pinpoint cast and was soon tight into a 7lb fish. As soon as Justin had his fish on the reel Andrew spotted a pod of fish moving up the right hand edge of the same flat. He sent out a deadly accurate cast and he too went tight on a 7lb Permit. After one of the most nervous moments in a guide’s life both fish were netted and the celebrations began. With a total of 14lb of Permit in the net and smiles all around some great photos were taken and both fish swam off oblivious to what they had just been a part of. A Permit double is something that we all dream of but few get to experience. It’s a once in a lifetime experience enjoyed by two best mates in an amazing and special place. Well done and enjoy guys!
The solid Bonefishing enjoyed during the week continued into day six with +/- 50 fish of 5-6lb fish landed, despite some really big fish being spotted. The guests were however on a hot Permit streak and it was becoming infectious. Gene got in on the action when he caught his first Indo Pacific Permit on foot. The fish was spotted in a pod moving up a turtle grass finger, following which Gene put in a cast just ahead of them. He stripped the fly away from the lead fish and the largest fish in the pod broke off and inhaled his fly. As Gene went tight not a sound was made by angler or guide. To his credit he fought the fish like a pro and only when the fish slid into the net did he celebrate. He had come to the atoll in the hopes of landing a Bonefish, Permit and GT and he had been rewarded!
There were many very large Bones around on the final day of the trip, most of them seen in super skinny water. Unfortunately the fish did not give the anglers the easiest shots, nevertheless +/- 30 Bonefish averaging 6lb came to hand. We also had shots at some of the atolls very big GTs but no biters today! Andrew however made up for this brief disappointment when he capped off a superb week on St Brandon’s by landing a 15lb Permit, a true trophy and the biggest of the week! Justin spotted a single fish moving up a turtle grass finger. It would have been his shot had he not lost his fly on a Bonefish a few moments earlier, so the shot went to his buddy Andrew. Andy stepped up and calmly sealed the deal with a pinpoint accurate cast, three long strips and he came tight. After a long dogged fight including some very anxious moments trying to land the fish, it was netted and the guys went crazy. What a fish!
This brought a very fitting end to and incredible week on the atoll. We had broken our Permit record, landing 12 fish in 7 days including a very rare double up on Day 5. St Brandon’s surely had met all our guests expectations and more, once again showing what a world class Bonefish and Permit fishery it is. With lots of cool water around and the SE wind blowing, there is surely more to come.
Day 1 – As is usually the case on the first day, everyone was eager to get into some good Bonefishing and the atoll as it more than often does, did not disappoint. We landed around 50 Bones during the morning session, everyone appreciating the solid average size as well as the fish’s incredible power. Bonefish on the Atoll with +/- 50 Bones landed on the first morning! Some big fish too came out during the session, Van got a fat 8lb fish, whilst Rowan saw backing more than couple of times before landing a 9lb bus. The biggest fish of the day however went to Jonathan with a beast Bone of 9.5lb. Sadly it was not quite a double-digit fish, but a real trophy nonetheless. The rest of the day saw the clients experiencing some of the other species found on the atoll. Cansin landed his largest Bluefin Trevally to date, his fish having a fork length of 65cm and weighing 13lb fish. A great looking fish! There were five Golden Trevally landed as well during the day, with Steven getting his hands on his first ever Golden, this specimen weighing 9lb. There were also some shots at some seriously big GTs and the odd Permit so all in all, it was a great start to the week.
Day 2 – We had some warmer water pulling pushing onto atoll, so finding areas and flats that had cooler water was key. Where we did find the right conditions, we enjoyed some fine skinny water Bonefishing, the average size fish weighing a credible 5lbs. As is often the case, the number of Trevally encounters increased with the warmer conditions, with Cansin having a large GT eat his fly only for the hook not to connect. Bummer…. but he would get his own back later in the week. There were also good numbers of Bluefin landed with some notable catches going to Rowan, Stephen and Van getting big ones, Van’s measuring an impressive 74cm. Congrats!
Day 3 – We enjoyed cooler water for most of the day and with it some more consistent Bonefishing, many of the fish landed in 65cm range. Scott caught his biggest Bonefish of the trip so far when he landed a solid 7lb specimen and Van Rollo saw backing multiple times on his 8.5lb fish. The various Trevally species again provided opportunities, with some large GTs in particular moving across the flats. We had one almost eat the fly but at the last minute it turned away. Close again!
Day 4 – Day four provided some great Bonefishing which took up most of the day. In total we landed around 60 fish, the average a solid 6lb. There was some great Bone fishing to be had on day 4 with +/- 60 fish landed throughout the day. Jonathan however managed another cracking fish when he landed our third 9lb fish for the trip so far. The Permit also made more of an appearance on Day Four despite no connections, many fish seen tailing in pretty skinny water which is always great to see.
turned towards him he sent out a spot on 15m cast and with one slow strip got the GT’s attention. He made one more slow strip and the fish gently sipped the fly …incredible to
Day 6 – We started off with some more incredible Bonefishing, with around 70 fish coming to hand. One of these another fish a pound shy of the double digit mark. Stephen continued his blue streak and landed our first Permit for the trip. This was his first and another fish undoubtedly never to be forgotten a 7.5lb Permit. The day however belonged to another monstrous GT and fortunate angler. Cansin, who had lost a big fish earlier in the week landed our second 120cm plus fish, his fish coming in with a fork length of 127cm. His guide set up a drift towards a coral ridge and spotted two big fish swimming onto the sand. He made a close range cast and one of the fish broke off. With a solid kick of its tail it came up and ate the fly. As it turned Cansin set the hook and the fish tore off into the coral garden. It was an epic tussle as the fish ran him into coral on three separate occasions, his guide swimming on each occasion to clear the line out of the razor sharp coral. Cansin applied maximum pressure on the fish and after a quick fight the fish was beached and landed! Congrats Cansin…. an amazing fish! So yes, St Brandon’s is certainly not a GT numbers fishery, but when it comes to the big ones …well….here’s more proof!
Day 7 – Our final day had arrived and with it our guests enjoyed some more solid Bonefishing. There were also shots at Bluefin Trevally as well as some Permit (frankly the only species which really did not much feature heavily during the trip). Nevertheless our guests all had a pretty fishy time and a nice way to cap off a very special week on the atoll.