St Brandon’s Blog: 10 – 20 April 2017
St Brandon’s Blog: 10 – 20 April 2017
Welcome to our first report back from St Brandon’s for the April – June 2017 season, where we enjoyed some great fishing. St Brandon’s once again showed why it is considered to be the finest Bonefish destinations on the planet. Joining us for the week were artist and general legend Jeff Currier https://www.jeffcurrier.com and friends Scott and Ben Smith, St Brandon’s regular Andrew Veglio, world renowned sculptor Chris Bladen http://www.chrisbladen.com, new friends Andrew and Matthew Topman and Gerhard Laubscher aka The Boss.
After arriving at the guesthouse and settling in the group tackled up. Gerhard took Ben for a walk around the island and immediately found a small shoal of tailing Permit just 100 yards from the lodge! Ben made a couple of great casts but didn’t hookup. This was Ben’s first trip to the Indian Ocean, he had heard all about the fabled yellow Permit but never imagined that the first fish he would see and cast at would be one of them! This set the stage for the rest of the week and the group was really excited when news about the Permit on our doorstep came out over dinner!
We enjoyed some superb weather on Day One with the guests capitalising on some solid Bonefish despite the warm water. It was a special day for Ben Smith and Andrew Topman each of whom caught their first ever Bonefish. Welcome to the club guys! Their excitement was contagious and got the rest of the team in high sprits. Scott Smith also had a day of firsts, although his with mixed feelings when he lost his first Indo-Pacific Permit but thankfully made up for it by landing his second. After losing the first a second was spotted soon after, slowly snaking across some marl onto a sandflat. Scott presented his fly one metre in front of the fish and with one strip the fish tailed hard on the fly and the hook was set. After a fight the fish was landed and Scott held a fin perfect 7.5 lb Permit in his hands. A few quick photos were taken and the fish was released. Each and every Permit is special but this one will no doubt not be forgotten in a hurry by Scott.
The warm water was still hanging around on Day Two, which made our choice of flats and the eventual presentation more important than usual. Nevertheless there was some excellent skinny water Bonefishing to be had during the day. Ben Smith caught a slab 9 lb fish that was spotted rooting around the shallows with its whole back out of the water. After a blur of white water and searing initial run which tore into the backing, Ben held his trophy with a smile that would last a few days. Jeff Currier who is a self proclaimed species junkie caught his first Yellow Dot Trevally and Green Spot Trevally. The guys also had a good number of shots at some big Bluefin Trevally on the coral ridges.
The fishing improved on Day Three with a good number of species landed. The guests enjoyed some exciting skinny water Bonefishing in the morning with good numbers of fish landed, finding the cooler water was certainly the critical factor over the first three days. Andrew Topman and Ben Smith later both landed their first Yellow Dot Trevally while Jeff Currier landed a large Green Spot Trevally. Scott Smith got in on the action as well landing a solid 76cm Bluefin Trevally. However the highlights of the day were undoubtedly the two Permit landed, Ben Smith’s 7 lb fish being his first and Gerhard’s 12 lb fish – our largest for the trip so far. Ben spotted a “shadow” just off the edge of a turtle grass flat, sent out a perfect cast and as soon as he picked up the slack the fish was on. Gerhard landed his beautiful double digit fish despite a Noddy Tern getting in the way of his first casting. Staying calm he picked up the line and got the fly where it needed to be before getting picked up. A truly memorable fish!
Shortly after landing the Permit Gerhard spotted two big Bluefin Trevally; he hooked one fish on his 9wt and as he was about to land it the second fish joined the first one and was very aggressive. Using his free hand Gerhard unclipped his 12# and slapped the GT fly in-front of the second fish…the huge Bluefin surged forward and immediately ate the fly. He now had two fish hooked on two rods, a 12 lb fish on the 9# ready to be landed and a 17 lb+ fish heading for a coral garden on the 12#. Needless to say there was very little he could do – not having a free hand meant he couldn’t set the hook or tighten the drag or really do anything, how he thought he was going to land both fish no-one knows but it did make for a very funny action packed scene! Sadly about 20 yards into the backing the hook fell out and the big Bluefin was free. Gerhard focussed on the fish on the 9# landed a beautiful 12 lb Bluefin. If only that hook had stuck!
Day Four was a tough one, the warm water building up and limiting the fish to deep water. But St Brandon’s is no ordinary Bonefish venue and although the average sizes were not up around the usual 6 lb-8 lb mark, there were still decent numbers of 4 lb – 6 lb fish on some of the flats. We did encounter some big GT’s and Bluefin during the day but sadly none of the fish committed to the fly. Chris had a monster size fish track his fly with an open mouth and he swears from where he was standing he could see that the fly was actually inside the huge fish’ mouth! The giant fish never closed its mouth and as quickly as it happened it was over…if only it closed its mouth. Those are the moments that makes us do it again and again and no doubt Chris will be back one day to get that fish!
The Trevally action continued on Day Five with a good number of opportunities at some very large Giant Trevally. Although none of the chances were converted, we certainly had some heart stopping moments! Andrew Veglio did land a good-sized Golden Trevally of 65 cm. There was a good number of Bonefish landed throughout the day and most guys had shots at the elusive Permit.
With the extremely warm conditions continuing into Day Six, finding cooler flats water was the order of the day. We moved our attention onto the eastern side and the rewards were quickly realised. Good numbers of 6lbs-7lb Bones were caught through the day, Ben Smith’s solid 8 lb fish the largest. The Permit were around in decent numbers but the right shots eluded us. We did enjoy some exciting Bluefin Trevally fishing, Jeff Currier’s large Bluefin on his 9wt being a real highlight.
Day Seven and the wind just would not blow. The result being the warmest conditions of the week and subsequently the toughest fishing, most notably on the Bonefish front. Shots at Permit and GTs did present themselves but the flat conditions making getting close and getting the fly to them that much harder. Matt Topman did however get a great Bluefin Trevally which measured 66cm.
Thus closed our first trip of the season. The fishing was tricky and not quite up to the high standard St Brandon’s generally delivers, but it still provided some great sessions and memorable fish including three Permit! It also shows that even on a week like this which is “below par” the fishing is still exceptional by anyone’s standards and the reason we are so in love with this destination. Hopefully the wind picks up over the break, the flats getting that constant inflow of cool fresh water our fish just thrive on.
Until Next Time
The St Brandon’s Guide Team
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.
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.
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.
After a highly productive and energetic open trip of the season, we were eager to give our new guests an equally enjoyable experience on the atoll which consistently produces some of the finest wade fishing for Bonefish and Permit the world has to offer. Day 1 produced some outstanding Bonefishing with many good sized fish in shallow water coming to hand, whilst on the species front Matthew Clarke landed a solid 55cm Bluefin Trevally while fishing to some much larger specimens on a coral ridge in the east of the atoll. A few good-sized Golden Trevally were also landed and although no double digit Bones or Permit were landed our guest were in the swing of things and our week was off to a positive start.
The excellent fishing continued on Day 2 with everyone getting stuck into a good number of fish averaging between 5-7lbs. Our fish are currently spread out across the atoll which provides guests and guides and multitude of flats and wading scenarios to target fish after fish which regularly see your backing knot exposed. Some of the other species came out to play as well, the Bluefin Trevally in particular found in high numbers with very impressive sizes. The GT’s are also starting to make more of an appearance and although none were landed their massive size ensured everyone secretly hoped to do battle with one of the St B monsters. Another great day in a very special place!
The Bonefishing on Day 3 continued in much the same manner, with everyone getting stuck into some solid fish throughout. On top of the Bonefish we also landed a few good-sized Bluefin Trevally and as luck would have it a rather large Yellow Lipped Emperor, a species that is never easy to land out here. Frikkie Botha landed a big Bluefin of 57cm that put up a very determined fight after it was found smashing into baitfish trapped against a coral ridge. The day however went from strength to strength with Frikkie Maartens landing his first ever GT, a beautiful fish of 90cm. He spotted one very large black fish from a long way off and sprinted ahead of it to get the shot. He sent out a pinpoint cast but there were 2 other GTs behind the lead fish and after one long strip a fish broke off from the pack and smashed the fly. The fish proceeded to tear off into the distance with Frik in hot pursuit behind it. After a solid fight and a quick boat chase the fish was landed. Landing a GT on St. Brandon’s is never an easy thing to get right, so to do so on your first flats fishing trip is an unbelievable achievement. Well-done Frikkie!
Day 4 brought with it some more variety. The superb Bonefishing continued with cold water pulling onto the flats keeping the fish happy and relaxed. A few Permit were spotted but the fish on this particular would day would not be fooled. Frikkie Maartens continued his good form from the day before and landed a 65cm Greenspot Trevally, a solid solid fish for the species. Some of other guests found a few tailing Golden Trevally scattered across the atoll, best of all these beautifully marked and charismatic fish were more than happy to eat a well presented fly. St Brandon’s once again reminded us that although the Bonefish are certainly the major target species, there is certainly enough diversity to keep you on the look out for something unique.
Day 5 was an action packed day. There were many bones landed, the fish averaging between 6-8lbs. Frikkie Maartens landed the largest fish of the day, a beast of a Bonefish tipping the scales at 9.5lbs. Matthew Clarke landed another solid 55cm Greenspot Trevally amongst some other very good sized Bluefin. GTs wise we are starting to see more and more fish, so despite no hook ups we are confident the next brute is just around the corner. More Permit were seen on Day 5 compared with any other day this week, however they continued to allude us.
The cooler water was a bit harder to find on day 6 but there were still areas holding good concentrations of Bonefish, the patchy overcast conditions enticing some really big fish out onto the flats. With some warmer water around some big Bluefin were out a smashing the client’s flies. Jules Fantarella started his morning with a big 57cm Golden Trevally. He then upped the stakes with a 9.5lb Bonefish before landing the Biggest Bonefish of the week, a huge and powerful double-digit fish that did its best to run him into the coral on more than one occasion. A few quick photos were taken before Jules enjoyed a memory special moment not many anglers get to experience during a lifetime. What a fish Jules!
The 7th and final day was once again dominated by some outstanding Bonefishing. Many fish between 6-8lbs were caught whilst tailing in some super skinny water. It never gets old watching a seriously big Bonefish see the fly and crush it before tearing off into the distance as it feels the prick of the hook. The Golden Trevally once again made a their way onto the flats and along with the Bluefin Trevally they kept reels screaming. One of the groups also encountered one of the great sights St Brandon’s is known to produce. A shoal of some very large GTs were witnessed feeding on a school of terrified Bonefish and although we nearly had our second fish for the week, the fish decided to refuse the fly just feet away from the rod tip.
With the trip drawing to a close, guests and guides had a chance to reflect on the past week over a great final dinner. This was a group of people from all of over the globe who had never met before the trip, in the end though St Brandon’s left it’s mark not only with the incredible fishing it produced but also with it’s ability to draw some adventurous and incredibly nice human beings together. Thank you to each of you for a superb week, we enjoyed spending time with you immensely and hope to do it again soon.
After a super smooth crossing onboard the two sport fishers, we welcomed our first group for the season, a jovial team from World Cast Anglers. There was plenty of excitement from both guests and guides as rods were rigged, leaders attached and flies strapped on….we were about to kick off the new season on St. Brandon’s with a bang!
The group couldn’t wait to get started and Day One began with legendary guide and angler Alejandro “Sandflea” Vega landing a stunning 8lb Indo-Pacific Permit, instantly making his mark on our beloved fishery! The good fishing continued with many 6lb – 8lb Bonefish showing our guests from the start why the Bonefishing is so highly regarded on St Brandon’s. Other notable species included Stephen Fitzsimon’s and Tim Shanley’s good sized Bluefin Trevally. Judging by the first day we were in for a really good trip!
Day Two proved tougher than expected, although “Sandflea” continued his good form by landing a really big Bluefin Trevally. Although still present, our Bonefish opted for a bit of an off day and proved more challenging than usual. Mike Dawes did however land his first Golden Trevally, which was a great moment to be part of. There were also 2 good shots at big GT’s but unfortunately we could not get them converted.
True to form the Bonefishing did not disappoint for long and on Day Three all our guests got stuck into many large Bones, most of them weighing between 7lb – 9lb. Mike Dawes landed the first double digit for the season, with the fish testing his backing on more than one occasion, congrats Mike! It was now clear to all the guests why St Brandon’s is most likely the finest Bonefish venue on the planet. The Permit too were around and although we had some close calls and near misses they won this particular round.
Incredible numbers of skinny water Bones was the recipe for Day Four. The bigger fish were up on the flats with the average size coming in around 7lb-8lb. The highlight of the day was without a doubt Zack Barrett’s first double digit Bonefish. Congrats Zach! Everyone had a great day – Steve Fitzsimon also managed to improve his previous PB Bonefish on not just one but THREE separate occasions during the day! The large numbers of Bonefish also attracted some big GT’s but they remained cautious by staying just out of reach.
Tim Brune added to the groups Permit tally with a fin perfect 5lb fish caught on a white sand spit on Day Five. The fish hit the fly with tons of aggression and after a nervy fight to keep the fish out of the coral Craig landed the fish. The day also brought with it some more amazing skinny water Bonefishing along with some really good-sized Bluefin Trevally. Often glossed over in favor of their larger cousins, St Brandon’s Bluefin are found in world record sizes are certainly one of the prettiest fish one can tussle with on a fly rod.
With the tidal cycle moving into neaps it allowed us to spend longer sessions wading the flats. Straight off the bat on Day Six Chris Littauer landed a huge 80cm Golden Trevally. The fish smashed his fly before it hit the bottom in ankle deep water. The fish sped off and 20minutes later the beast was landed. Chris was stoked! Tim Brune and “Sandflea” also landed their first Golden Trevallies later in the day. The insanely good Bonefishing continued and despite not landing any, good numbers of Permit were encountered. It was a great day with the Golden Trevally showcasing the atoll’s incredible diversity.
With this being an extended trip, the clients still had two more days of fishing left on St. Brandon’s. This was a great call on their part as the fishing exploded over the final two days! On Day Eight Mike Dawes landed a 70cm GT that was swimming on the back of a very large Thorny Back Stingray. His first cast got the attention of a Bluefin that shot off the back of the ray only for the fish to pull out at the last minute. His second cast was spot on and with a long fast strip of the fly line the GT shot off the ray and smashed into his mullet imitation. The fish headed for the reef but the reel was cranked down and the battle eventually won. The magnificent fish was revived, photographed and set free. As if the day couldn’t get any better, Mike later caught two solid Permit within a few minutes of each other. Both fish were in perfect condition weighing in at 8lbs and 10lbs respectively….a truly amazing achievement and something that will stay with all of us for a long time.
The final day brought with it some incredible fishing, with five Permit and many big Bonefish coming to our nets. First up “Sandflea” Vega landed a fin perfect baby Permit, bringing his tally for the week to three. Soon after Patrick Madden landed his first Indo-Pacific Permit, a great fish of 12lbs. This was a fantastic moment for “Patito” (as he is affectionately known) because during previous days he had hooked three but the fish had the final say. A great way to come back Pat! And finally, Day Nine delivered a hat trick of Permit for Mike Dawes with fish of 8lbs, 12lbs and 15lbs. Not only did he land these amazing fish all within an hour of each other but he did it on a flat that until then had been unnamed. At dinner that evening head guide Craig informed him that he had the naming rights for the new flat and without hesitation he named it “Patito” in honor of Pat and his intense battles with St Brandon’s own Indo-Pacific permit during the trip.
Quite frankly we could not have asked for a better opening week. Our previous record of 7 Permit landed during a trip, was smashed by the 10 caught by our friends from World Cast. These fish, together with many many large Bonefish (including 2 x 10lb fish), a GT, some large Bluefin Trevally and Golden Trevally will surely leave a lasting impression on everyone on the trip. It’s one we will never forget!
Day 1 started off very well, with the calmer than usual conditions enabling our guests to ease into their casting. Right off the bat, Rich Paini (owner of the Trouthunter situated on the famed Henry’s Fork in Idaho, USA www.trouthunt.com) showed his skill as an angler by making a great cast to a small beautiful Indo-Pacific Permit. The fish reacted to fly immediately and soon he had a prized 4lb Indo-Pacific Permit in his hands. What a way to start a trip! Kevin Despain came close too as he hooked a solid Permit before the fly popped out before the hook had been stuck firm. The rest of the group all cashed in as well, casting to and landing many solid Bones as they fed in super skinny water, some of the fish feeding with their backs out of the water as the flies were delivered. All round there were good shots at more Permit as well as the odd GT and Bluefin but unfortunately they could not be convinced to eat.
With the action of the previous day fresh in their minds and the calm conditions continuing the guests were eager to get onto the water and kick off the second day. Good numbers of Bonefish caught in super skinny water on the low tide provided a great start. It really was a sight to behold as fins and tails broke the oily slick water. Rich Paini continued on his merry way and improved on his Permit from the previous day when he landed a very special 10lb Indo Pacific Permit as it tailed along a coral edge. A St Brandon’s trophy that later that evening earned him the coveted Red Cap. Terry Graham landed a solid 12lb Golden Trevally and there were good numbers of smaller Bluefin Trevally caught throughout the day. Many more opportunities at Permit were seen on the day with three more being hooked but unfortunately the fish had the final say.
The calm conditions persisted on Day 3 and so did the good fishing. The Bonefish were out and about feeding in large numbers, our guests getting stuck into some great action. Kevin Despain landed his largest Bonefish to date with a solid 7lb fish. There were also shots at Permit and Bluefin Trevally but they could not be converted. The GT’s were out in good numbers but sadly no shots within range presented themselves. Amy Roberts had a great day with the highlight undoubtedly being her first Indo-Pacific Permit.
The wind increased slightly on Day 5 but the great Bone fishing during our low water periods continued. So much so there is no doubt in our minds that St Brandon’s currently offers the finest Bonefishing on the planet! The high tide however also brought with it some of the larger predators on the atoll. Millie Paini got a large GT to take her NYAP fly while fishing to some very large Bluefin Trevally, sadly though the hook never got the right amount of purchase and the just popped out. Our condolences Millie…..next time for sure!
The wind experienced during the previous 2 days picked up heavily during the night and by the morning of Day 6 it was blowing at 35knots and gusting at 40knots. A safety call had to be made and due to the lagoon being so rough, none of the boats could go out. Thankfully our newly revamped guesthouse sits on top of three productive Boneus and Permit flats. These flats may not always offer huge numbers but they are well known for offering 8-10lb Bonefish and some very good Permit fishing. The wind persisted on Day 7 and as such we remained in the north, fishing to large single and double Bones as well as some solid Permit and Bluefin.
As it turned out this would be the theme for the next couple of days as a high-pressure system had developed south of Mauritius making a crossing back to Mauritius impossible. So with the help of some flight changes and a very easy going group, everyone made the most of it by enjoying our peak fishing sessions as well as the island’s local brew for an additional three days whilst we waited for the sea to calm. Some great fish were caught during these ‘bonus days’, Millie Paini landing a bus Bonefish, so too did Kevin who topped his previous personal best. Finally with the light fading fast, Ryan tussled and landed a solid 10lb Permit just above the guesthouse which capped off a truly unforgettable week with our new bunch of great friends!
We were hugely excited to welcome our first group of guests for 2016 onto St Brandon’s. Whilst it goes without saying we were eager to show the group the world class fishing on offer, we were equally excited to show them home base for the week and the future of the project, a recently refurbished guesthouse situated on Raphael Island. An added bonus was the fact that the sport fisher transport vessel had made good time and as such we were able to take the group out for a very enjoyable bonus afternoon session of fishing, with some really nice Bones amongst the group and a good sized Golden Trevally courtesy of William Bland kicking us off!
After a good nights sleep and a great breakfast, the guests rigged up in the new ‘mudroom’ following which the first day on the flats was soon underway. There were some good opportunities to get GT’s as well as solid shots at Permit but unfortunately the fish came out on top, the stiff St Brandon’s breeze still being adjusted to. Everyone did however have a good day chasing Bones and despite shaking off some “rust” there was a serious element of excitement in the group as the sunk below the horizon and a few cold drinks were enjoyed back at the guesthouse.
Day two was spent mainly targeting Bonefish and all the anglers enjoyed a great day out on the flats. Stories were shared around the dinner table of fish caught and lost, the common topic being how privileged we are to watch large Bonefish tail on a fly in a few inches of water. Everyone agreed that St Brandon’s is certainly a special place!
Day three brought with it some excellent Bonefishing, the majority of the fish coming weighing between 6-8lbs. The fish of the day was however a beautiful Bluefin Trevally of 73cm caught by William Bland while fishing to a pack of hungry fish cruising on the back of a large Nurse Shark. The fish demolished the Brush fly a few feet from him, instantly charging away as it made a burst for freedom. The immensely talented Bryan Gregson on assignment for FlyCastaway and Yellow Dog Fly Fishing 
Day four started off with an early morning tailing Bonefish session, many of the fish sight cast to in ankle deep water. It was the classic story, singles and doubles snaking their way slowly across the shallow flat in search of any crustacean brave or stupid enough to remain unhidden. Some spectacularly marked Bluefin Trevally were also landed, so too some large Spangled Emperors and the diminutive but aptly named Picasso Triggerfish. The guests were astonished at the remarkable colors and shapes of these fish, as for many of them it was their first encounter with these species. William Bland once again stepped up and landed a 76cm Bluefin Trevally, outdoing his fish from the previous day. This brought a fitting day to an outstanding day on the atoll.
were landed in the morning session alone, with Murray Low landing a beautiful 28-inch fish. There was also a quadruple hook up with John and Selena Mitchell, Shamal Malik and Jeremy Stewart all landing good sized Bonefish within minutes of each other, the four of them sharing a great moment together before releasing their fish. During the same session some Golden Trevally, Needlescale Queenfish and Bluefin Trevally were landed, showcasing the variety of species and quality of fishing St Brandon’s has to offer. Good numbers of GT’s were also seen, but despite a few chasing down the flies no solid connection was made. Nonetheless the fish had grabbed hold of our guests attention for sure, the mere sight of a 100cm plus GT chasing down a fly is more than enough to leave a last impression.
Day six was a cracker for large Bonefish. All the anglers caught a number of fish ranging between 6lbs and 8lbs, the best fish of the day going to Jeremy who got 2 fish just over 9lbs, John too featuring with a 9lb slab of muscle of his own. There were a number of good shots at Permit and Bluefin Trevally but these were unfortunately not converted. Shamal landed a good-sized Golden Trevally amongst others and there were many Blue Spangled Emperors eager to eat a fly.
The final day brought some of the best fishing of the week. Many large Golden Trevally were seen tailing on the flats and although two of these brutes were hooked, the end result was not in our anglers favor. The Permit were out in good numbers but were skittish and sadly we were unable to connect. Large Bonefish were however the order of the day and Murray Low landed the biggest Bonefish of the week with a very fat 9,5lb. brute. The highlight of the day and perhaps the week was however the 108cm GT landed by John. The fish ate the fly almost next to the boat and proceeded to head straight into coral. Craig his guide jumped into the water to free the fly line from the coral and by some miracle the line held and John was rewarded with a prize he will soon not forget. After a measurement to confirm the size and a few photos of this magnificent creature, the fish was released capping off an amazing opening week of the 2016 St. Brandon’s season.
