Farquhar Blog: 15 – 22 Nov 2017
Farquhar Blog: 15 – 22 Nov 2017
Our first day of a new week and we were greeted with tough conditions. Squalls throughout the day meant any break in the weather needed to be utilized. There were however a number of GTs around and a good few charged and ate the fly, with some epic eats and tussles. Sadly none ended in our guests favor with some leaders parting snapped and a fly line or two being corralled causing some heartbreak as a few trophy specimens were hooked and lost. We did however enjoy some great Bonefishing, with numerous double-ups as well a couple of 8lb fish coming to hand.
Despite more rain early on during the morning, the sky cleared as day two turned out to be a beautiful day with a moderate easterly wind providing hot and humid conditions. After a few lost battles with Geets the previous day our guests were determined to convert their opportunities and that they did. Mike got the job done with his first GT of the week, an 80cm fish. This fish was landed during a walk along the surf when two fish came screaming in on a wave. Congrats Mike! Congratulations to Leanne who also got into a GT of 79cm, her first on Farqhuar! This fish was spotted on the back of a stingray moving across some turtlegrass. Leanne made a cast just off the ray and after a few quick strips the GT peeled off the ray and engulfed the fly. The Bonefishing delivered some great action once again with good numbers of fish being landed by our guests.
A midday low on the third day meant that we got to fish the full dropping and pushing tides. The GTs were around in good numbers and today was Jed’s turn to get stuck into the action when he landed a 80cm fish after a large bait ball had been spotted just off the flat. Jed made the cast, stripped the fly and the fish finally committed to the fly. Peter then landed his first GT of the week, a 79cm fish. He was fishing to a Trigger when the GT appeared behind it, quickly switching to his 12wt he made a short cast and two strips later the predator accelerated and smashed the fly. Peter later landed his personal best Bonefish of 69cm, well done Peter! The Triggers were around today tailing hard but we received stubborn refusals. There were a few Bumpies over the turtle grass and in the surf but none were landed…yet!
Our 4th day out and the GTs were around in solid numbers and some good size fish coming to hand. Chris managed to land a solid 94cm fish after an unlucky week to date. The GT was a single fish cruising alone, Chris made a long cast and a few strips later the GT accelerated and smashed the fly! The fish headed for the lagoon and had to be chased by the boat, but after a lengthy fight his prize was landed. Another GT for Jed today and after loosing a fish in the morning it all came together for him in the afternoon. The Geets started popping up from the lagoon onto the turtle grass, smashing bait that had accumulated during the low. This fish was another lone rider and didn’t hesitate to eat the fly after a short cast and a few strips. Mike managed a spectacularly beautiful Napoleon Wrasse and after an epic battle he landed a solid 82cm specimen. There were really high numbers of Triggers seen on the atoll today and the Bones still being landed in high numbers with a few big ones in-between. There were a couple of nice size Bluefins also landed and the species account keeps growing!
With our 5th morning providing overcast conditions, the water temp remained cool and the pushing tide brought with it the desired results. After having numerous shots at Geets this week Paul was determined to get one to hand and today he made it happen with two solid specimens. Congrats Paul! His good friend Jed also landed a first today, a Napoleon Wrasse of 65cm. The fish was spotted and Jed made the cast but a Bohar Snapper ate the fly. The Napoleon chased the Bohar but we managed to drag it away and land the pesky thief. The Napoleon was thankfully still in the area and so Jed made the cast and BANG! Peter landed one of Farquhar’s most difficult species today with our first Permit for the week. The 40cm fish was spotted whilst tailing across a narrow flat. Peter made a cast a few meters in front of the fish, let the fly sink and when the fish came within range a few short strips got the permits attention and the fish crushed the fly. Textbook angling! The Bones continue to produce exceptional fishing, with some really good Bones coming to hand. Michael landed a solid 72cm fish. Great fish Mike! Mike made the cast on the line the fish was on and a few long slow strips and the Bone engulfed the fly. Other notables included a 75cm Camo Grouper landed by Jason.
The final day and our guests were eager to end the trip on a high. After a few tussles and missed opportunities Michael was determined to get his hands on a Geet before he left us. He got it done in fine form with a solid 80cm fish after the shape was spotted coming onto white sandy flat. He made the cast and a few big strips and the fish exploded on the fly. GT fishing at it’s best. There were solid amounts of Geets all over the atoll today; sadly the fish won more of the battles than us. Jason experienced the power of one that ended in a broken 12wt. Jed did however manage to land a Napoleon Wrasse of 76cm, whilst the Bonefish continued to bring about bent rods, screaming reels and loads of smiles! These fish on top of a range of species which included a handful of 15lb plus Grouper and Bohar’s topped off a fantastic week, with a great range of diversity and some special moments out on the water.
We would like to thank all our guests for joining us on the atoll and hope to see them back sooner rather than later!
Until next time
The Farquhar Guide Team
Day 1: Our first morning and we headed straight out onto the flats where we enjoyed the tail end of the dropping tide as well as the full pushing tide. The Triggerfish were around in good numbers and we managed to hook a few. Congrats to Nic who managed to win his battle with a feisty Giant Triggerfish. The GT’s were also around in healthy numbers, which provided some great opportunities. Congrats to Olli who managed who land three during his first day out, including a solid fish that was spotted hugging the back of a stingray. Other guys who enjoyed tussling with Providence GT’s included Gerry, Spencer, Vince, Kris and Randy. Well-done chaps!
Day 3: We were all eager to get back out on the flats for a better portion of the dropping tide as well as the best part of the push. Added to which the weather was holding nicely and everyone was extremely positive heading out. We fished in areas of the south as well as the mid section of the atoll, both producing some solid GT action as well as some other variety. Spencer landed one GT, Kris and Gerry each managed two, whilst Randy who fished really well on the day capitalized with four GT’s before we headed back to the Dugong. The Bumpies were still around in big pods but unfortunately none came to hand. Late in the afternoon we headed offshore to look for a Sailfish or two, subsequently being treated to multiple fish being raised. Kris managed to convert one of the opportunities and we had our first Sail for the trip! Congrats Kris!
Day 4: After seeing good numbers of GT’s in the midway and southern areas the day before we opted to stick to these zones and it sure paid off! Congrats to Spencer, Vince, Mike, Olly and Jeff for getting one each to hand for the day and to Gerry and Randy for landing two each for the day, Randy also breaking the meter mark with personal best fish of 104cm. Well done sir! Congrats must also certainly go out to Nic for landing three GT’s during his day out. And lets not forget about the species fishing on this atoll, the guys landing some great range of species including Bohar’s, grouper, emperors, Bluefin and many more. The bluewater fishing however was truly on fire. With free jumping Sailfish and Tuna all around we managed to tease up a load of fish, Jeff and Gerry each managing to land Sails before the day came to end. Another truly awesome day out on Providence!
Day 5: The tides are just getting better and better and we headed out to make the most of it. Good numbers of GT’s were seen by all, and with our guests now well into their stride and making more and more opportunities count we had a stellar day. Spencer, Randy, Gerry, Olly and Nic each landed a fish a piece, whilst Mike and Vince came home in style with a brace of fish each after some exciting moments in the surf line. The Sailfish were still around in big numbers which continued to add excitement at the end of the day, sadly we had quite a few hooks pull but Kris got it done once again when he landed his second billfish for the trip. Great Job Kris!
We welcomed back the familiar French ‘foreign legion’ headed. Having had a look at the tides for the week we had to think a little outside the box as most of the days resulted in high neap tides with very limited time on the flats. Subsequently, planning sessions revolved around a substantial amount of blue water fishing for Sailfish. What lay ahead was however markedly different to what we initially anticipated and the flats really came to life and produced some really special fishing days.
The first day started with our guests waking up to free jumping sailfish behind the mothership. With pink sailfish flies strewn across every twelve weight on the boat all the skiffs headed out with teasers flaring behind the wake of the skiffs. Between the four boats a total of 18 sails were raised for the morning with only one landed by Christoff. Many sob stories were told that evening about lost sails and missed opportunities. Back to the flats as the water receded, saw Stephan himself getting the ball rolling landing the first fish of the trip. Malik, Alberto, Christian and Louis all followed suit landing a GT a piece. Bertrand was the only flyfisherman to get two fish on this day with one narrowly missing the 1mt mark.
With the tide only shifting an hour later, the skiffs once again set out to catch the now elusive sailfish. Malik did not disappoint and swiftly landed the first and only one for the day. As soon as the tide dropped and allowed the fishermen back onto the atoll the guides were spread from the Northernmost point of the atoll to the Southernmost point of the atoll and neither disappointed. The ball got rolling with Alberto quickly landing the first GT for the day. The ball then lost control as the team in the North laid waste on a school of GTs that frequent the white sand banks on the surf. All together they landed 15 GTs of which Malik continued some fine form and landed 7 while team mates Stefano and Jean Louis landed 4 apiece. The team in the south did not quite find the same numbers, however they did find something very very special by any flyfishermans standard. Bertrand and Louis both managed superior quality GTs but the highlight for the day was Stephan with his remarkable Napoleon Wrasse. Having targeted these fish for several seasons, every single one that has been hooked, has been lost due to a myriad of reasons. This time however, the stars aligned, and Stephan managed to tame an absolute monster on the fly in a tricky coral ridden area. Some huge congratulations to him.
The offshore water still boasted some immaculate blue water and we were once again hopeful that the sails would be around. This time round only the one boat ventured out and made the best of what was put in front of them. Alberto who up till this point had lost six Sails finally managed to bring one to hand. Shortly afterwards Christian also went on and managed to land his first ever Sailfish. Two ecstatic clients. Having identified some of the GT hotspots on the previous day, the skiffs ventured out once again with everyone’s focus primarily on GTs. The team of Stephan, Bertrand and Louis had a stellar day on the surf line, landing 13 GTs of which Stephan really excelled once again and caught 8 while Louis and Bertrand both managed 2 GTs each. Joseph, who is completely new to salt water flyfishing, persisted throughout the day and eventually landed his first ever GT. A memory that will remain with him for a long time to come. Stefano added to his tally landing two GTs for the day. Jean-Louis had the stand out day and caught his first ever Trigger that was found tailing along a finger flat separating two large lagoon systems. As the finger dissipated into the lagoon edge, Jean-Louis found himself casting at a larger than average GT on the back of a Lemon. Upon stripping at a rapid pace, the fish broke off from the shark and broke the surface of the water, mouth fully extended to engulf the fly. 101cm of pure power steamed off into the deep lagoon (#hellobacking – 😊). Having the had the Trigger and the GT, a huge emphasis was put into finding a Bone to complete the slam for Jean Louis, however it was not meant to be.
With the tide approaching a mid-day high, a decision was made to send two boats to the north eastern side of the atoll to explore an area that has probably only been fished by a handful of people. The decision paid off and both boats returned landing 10 and 12 Gts each. Most of these fish were caught out of schools of GTs pilling into the lagoons in the middle of the atoll. Jean-Louis landed 3, Stefano 2, Christian 6, Joseph 5, Alberto 1 and Malik landed 5 of which one of his fish narrowly broke the 1mt mark measuring 101cm. This was GT fishing at its best. The team of Stephan, Bertrand and Louis decided to take a different approach following their 12 GT day the previous day. Their focus shifted primarily onto Triggers. They were rewarded with some epic Trigger fishing seeing more than 50 Triggers for the day. In true Trigger fish fashion, it was easier said than done with some being super spooky, some following all the way to the rod tip and not committing to eating the fly while the others that did eat the fly were lost to coral, smashed up hooks, you name it they experienced it. The team did however manage to land a total of four for the day which was a great feat. In amongst the Trigger pandemonium, Louis got slightly distracted and could not help himself from catching one of the many GTs that swam by them. Louis also found himself in a situation with a group of feeding Milkfish over a white sand flat. A quick change in flies and three casts later he was in the battle of his life. In a fight that lasted almost 45 mins and a good couple of hundred meters later without the aid of a boat, the fish was leadered three times before the hooks pulled, right at the end of the fight.
With the tides reaching prime for Bonefish up in the northern part of the atoll, two boats moved onto flats renowned to hold good numbers of these green slabs. Although their numbers were not as we had hoped, Jean-Louis and Christian both managed to get three and four respectively. After the tide had risen substantially, both Jean-Louis and Christian both switched focus onto GTs and rightfully so as they both managed to get two GTs each. With both on the brink of slams, they switched to targeting Triggers, however as luck would have it, they were both denied slams as the Triggers they did find would not play game. Bertrand also followed suit by catching a Bone and a Trigger, but this time was denied the slam by not being able to land the GT that he did hook. Louis picked up where he left off the previous day on the feeding Milkfish on the flats. He managed to jump a further two only to be denied at the last minute of the fight as the hooks pulled in both instances. Alberto and Stefano kept the GT flag flying high and managed to land 1 and 3 respectively.
Having had a taste for the Bones on the previous day Stephan, Bertrand and Louis picked up where they left off and headed to a similar area. This time however, they found the Bones evenly spread out in singles and doubles over an extensive white sand flat. With the fish measuring between 24 and 27 inches, these solid average 7-8lb slabs rearranged the backing on all the fly reels used to target them, they managed 15 bones in very short succession. Bertrand also made a quick switch of rods and tamed a really solid GT that raced in between the Bones and almost caught him off guard. On a completely different flat, Joseph also got in on the action and managed to land a couple of Bones as well as a GT. The team of Christian, Malik and Jean-Louis ended the trip off on a high and managed to land 5 GTs all of which were plucked from a daisy chain of sting rays pilling up onto the flats on the latter part of a pushing tide.
Our third week of the opening season on Farquhar after the cyclone Fantala hit the island in 2016; the newly built guest house has seen two groups of guests enjoy its facilities. This week we welcomed some new comers to the atoll as well as some familiar faces and party of two guests doing an extended trip. After touching down mid-morning on the atoll the guests enjoyed a few welcome drinks and snacks and then a safety briefing on the week’s activities, settled into their rooms and enjoyed lunch. We got right into tackle setup, ensuring everyone was ready for the week. Our guests were then able to have a short afternoon session where a few impressive Geets and Bones were landed around the lodge on the home flat, setting the tone for the week ahead.
Everyone was up early and raring to go, in search of that fish of a lifetime. After a full breakfast our guests jumped on the boats and headed out. As we head into neap tides the sheer amount of water expands the options for the fish as they now have multiple entry and exit points from which to choose from to hunt and ambush prey making the window of opportunity for our guests longer but at the same time finding the right depth and fish holding water the challenge. With the western side of the lagoon holding more clear water some chose to explore this option while others chose to do a surf walk. With a morning high a few guests opted to try their hand at some blue water to try and see if they could raise a Sail fish, there were a few raised but non committed to the fly on the switch. The GTs were around in solid numbers and a few came to hand. Congratulations to Chantel for landing her first Geet of the week at 79cm and to Ferdi for yet another Geet, this one measuring 78cm. The wait was finally over for Eugene who had hooked 6 Bumpies the previous week but hadn’t managed to convert, this day saw him land a fine 78cm specimen. Well done to Christian for his first Farquhar Bumpie, stretching the tape at 103cm. There were really high numbers of Bumpies around on the Atoll with a few more Bumpies hooked but bitten off during the fight. The Triggers were tailing hard and a few hook ups were lost, thankfully a few did come to hand with a first Trigger for Stephanie. There were many Bones landed today and a few big ones. The species count opened with a bang with a whole variety of reef dwelling species coming to hand, including a big 80cm Boha for Andre.
After a solid start to the week some guests were keen to go and seek revenge on the previous day’s missed opportunities while others were in search of something specific. With the day’s fishing plans explained and briefings done we headed out. A midmorning high tide gave our guests the chance to go blue water fishing or frequent a land mass until the tide had receded enough to access the flats. With the eastern side of the atoll experiencing some warmer green water, finding the right conditions, water temperature and depth was going to be crucial. The Geets were around and a few came to hand, huge congratulations to Stephanie who on day one had hook ups with the predatory Geets that just didn’t work out. Today she turned it around and converted to land a fine 81cm Geet and her first ever, this fish was swimming with a shark and another GT over a white sandy bottom on the highway; after making the cast both Geets charged the fly and the smaller of the 2 got to the fly first and engulfed it. The day was an eventful one with the powerful GTs causing havoc – a rod snap during the fight and a rod pulled out of a guest’s hand as the Geet turned on the gas and with it went the rod lost to the ocean. It was an incredible day for Nadine who completed a Grand Slam with a Permit of 50cm, a Trigger of 45cm and a reputable 66cm GT, well done Nadine! The Triggers were around in good numbers with a few being landed but unfortunately more battles being won by the fish at this stage.
Hot and humid with little to no wind was in store for our guests on the third day, finding blue cool water was the way to go. Andre getting it done on a nice Bumpie of 86cm, this fish was the lead fish in a pod of 12 Bumpies tailing over the turtle grass flats. This fish put up a solid tussle and 35min later the fish was landed. The Geets were around in solid numbers and unfortunately for the fishermen won the day with a few hooked but none landed. There were good numbers of Bones landed and an impressive 25inch bone caught by Ferdi off a white sand flat, this fish was swimming alone just off the beach. The species account was especially high today as the high water gives our guests the opportunity to catch some of Farquhar’s incredible species with a nice 67cm Boha landed by Chantel off a coral head.
After a solid breakfast our guests were ready to head out to try and land that fish of a lifetime. As the week progresses some have lost a few battles with fish and some have been won, at this stage of the week specific species are usually targeted by some and one guest who made it happen today with the holy grail of fish was Andre, landing a sizable Permit, this fish fell prey to an accurate presentation and tailed on the fly, charging off after the hook set taking Andre well into his backing a few times, this beautiful fish was 69cm, a fantastic achievement! With there being good volumes of water around the GTs were smashing bait that was packed close to shore in and around the coral ridges making for some exciting eats. There were Geets caught today by Ferdi and son Eugene up to 85cm during a long surf walk. A GT was also hooked and a shark landed as the hooked GT was smashed by a Blacktip and then hooked, after some exciting visuals the shark was landed. The Triggers won the day with the hook ups ending in the fish’s favour while the Bones are keeping our clients’ rods bent and reels screaming.
Nearing the end of the week our guests have enjoyed themselves immensely, sampling the diverse range of species this incredible fishery has to offer. With a mid-morning high we still got to experience an increase in water depth through the morning bringing with it some cooler water and feeding fish. After having racked up all but one of her target species Chantal was determined to land a Bumpie today and she got the job done with an impressive fish of 105cm, this fish was landed off the turtle grass flat and was in a huge pod of around 25 fish. This fish was the lead fish, the pod tailing on the turtle grass, after stalking these fish for 3 hours Chantal got the fish to eat and then the battle began; after a 35min fight the fish was landed much to her delight. She also managed a solid 80cm Geet as well as a few other fish through the day. There was another special fish for our guest Hani today who was hunting his first GT of the week, after hooking and parting ways with a few it all came together with a fish of 81cm. This fish was hooked swimming with another 3 Geets. A well-presented cast and the GT peeled off from the group and smashed the fly. There was a Geet for Christian as well of 72.5cm, this fish on the back of a sting ray on the flats. The fish didn’t hesitate and shot off the ray, charged the fly and took off.
Into the final day and a few of our guests were still in search of that special fish. With an afternoon high, giving our guests a solid morning session getting to fish the entire push and most of the drop the day was looking good, stable weather around, low winds and high humidity made the last day picture perfect. There was still some warm water around on the eastern side of the inside of the lagoon so our guests opted for surf walk and some headed out to the western side of the atoll which had been dropping and pushing blue. In search of yet another special fish, the Bumpie, Christiaan headed out on the final day with high hopes and had a day to remember! He landed 2 Bumpie slams off the turtle grass flats – a solid 95cm and 80cm respectively as well as a few Bones to complete the slam. The Bumpies were landed 20 minutes apart, both from the same school of fish tailing hard on the flats, the first being the lead fish in the school, after epic battles both fish were landed. It didn’t end there for Christian though, he also landed an 80cm Geet that had been spotted cruising with a shark. There were some big Bones hooked and lost in the surf with a few decent specimens landed. The species account increased as most of our guests had caught their targeted species and wanted to catch a variety of the Farquhar species on offer. After a tricky week with high water a solid amount of fish were landed and our guests had a great time . We shared stories over a final dinner and made plans to keep in contact, many of our guests already looking to book for next year, having enjoyed their stay and the comfort of the new guest house as well as the food and hospitality.
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.
More carefully laid out and specific plans were put in place for day two. Vladimir started the day off in fine form and after a long chase got a GT to turn and rush the fly, the fish eating the fly a few inches off the rod tip. The team of Ben, Richard and Thomas had a day which really epitomises what Providence is all about. The start of the pushing tide saw Ben landing two GTs off the bat, Richard following shortly after when he hooked and landed a fish which was hugging the back of a shark. Later Thomas hooked and landed his first ever Bumpy and once the tide pushed them off the flats completely they headed offshore where their team located a school of feeding Milkfish. Richard was the first go tight and after a swift 15 minute battle he landed his first ever Milkfish. Ben then followed suit and in the dying minutes of the day hooked into his MilK. The initial acrobatic behaviour of the fish soon receded and the fish sounded into the depths. Finally after some intense moments circling the boat the fish was finally netted. Mark also took advantage of the feeding Milks and hooked and landed his first ever Milkfish. Tony Hayes became the second guest to narrowly be denied the one-metre mark when he unbelivevably also landed a 99cm GT. Good fishing friends Doug and Tony both caught GTs shortly after each other, whilst Shamal continued his fine form and landed a very nice looking Yellow Margin Trigger. The highlight of the day however had to be the monstrous GT he landed. This fish had his name written all over it! It all started whilst wading a sand drainage area. The free-swimming GT slowly meandered out of the deep right up to the shallow bank he was wading. The cast was set in the right area and the fish charged only to refuse the fly. Two more strips and the fish turned and came again. At this stage, the leader was already through the front eye when the fish ate the fly. After the hook set, the fish sped off taking Shamal’s 12wt rod tip with it. The running line then proceeded to wrap around the mid-section, and before he knew it the mid-section was gone leaving him with only a butt section and screaming reel. Thankfully things improved and despite some nerve wracking moments a 121cm behemoth was brought to hand. Just an incredible moment!
After an action-packed Day 2, the overcast conditions on the third day made fishing pretty tricky from a spotting point of view. The team consisting of Thomas, Richard and Ben however could not put a foot wrong. Ben and Richard quickly found themselves in the thick of it once again, each of them landing two GTs a piece. Thomas hugged an area which was holding some Triggers where he was rewarded with a beautiful Yellow Margin specimen after it pinned his crab hard against the sand. Ben subsequently swapped over to his 9wt and in typical Providence fashion what should apear…a GT swimming on the back of a stingray. Without any time to change back to his 12 weight he had no choice but to pitch the crab fly at the GT. The fish broke off from the stingray and snatched up the crab imitation and the rest is history. Vladimir started the day fishing for the Milkfish daisy chaining literally meters off the back of the mothership. Within a couple of mins he pinned one and off it went. The fish fought like a gladiator and eventually after being towed around for more than a kilometre he landed his prize. Shamal continued his good form when he landed his fourth GT for the trip, Mark also getting in on the action before the end of third day on the flats.
Determined to make up for the tricky fishing previous day, we set out with some seriously promising plans. Shamal stepped up yet again and landed three GTs, the largest being his second metre plus fish at 106cm. Tom, Tony, Tony, Richard and Thomas all made valuable contributions with a GT a piece, whilst Vladimir and Grigori concentrated their efforts on the currently elusive Bumpies for the first half of the day. Unfortunately luck was not on their side when the guys hooked three of the green giants and a Trigger, before becoming unbuttoned. A species focus change of heart ended and with a nice cold water push and they were rewarded with three fish. Besides the good GT fishing the group encountered numerous groupers, snappers as well as some solid Bluefin Trevally. Doug only just missed out on landing his first Sailfish when a really hot sail came tearing through the prop wash and tried multiple times to engulf the fly.
Moving to an area which is renowned for producing big fish during the bigger tides we headed out with plenty of optimism. Mark who thus far had had a reasonably quiet trip went hell for leather to rectify things. His first GT was hooked off a tailing nurse shark, the fish measuring a very respectable 93cm. Moments later he hooked and landed another fish that literally ripped backing off the reel before being subdued. Tony was very unfortunate to lose an absolute brute of a fish after his backing snapped during the fight, this also resulted in half the rod being torn off as the line snapped and disappeared. Shamal capiltised yet again with another three GT haul, including another trophy fish measuring 110cm. His boat partners Tony and Doug also found themselves in the thick of it, Tony landing two and Doug one. Ben and Rich also brought home good news as they both managed to entice two fish sitting in pots to race out and eat their flies. A really exciting day out!
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.
It’s with a great sense of excitement that we write this report from Farquhar Atoll. After nearly 18 months of clearing and rebuilding, the new lodge is now officially up and running and it looks terrific! The new layout offers more privacy for our guests when they want it and the large social dining and bar area is sure to impress all future guests, including those wanting to kick back whilst enjoying a cocktail and a chat about that great day out on the water. It really is so good to be home! Joining us on this momentous week were Rich, Millie and Jon from the Trouthunter along with a group of great friends. Despite some of them having fished St Brandon’s with us, this was to their first trip to Farquhar and they were clearly excited to get stuck into some world class flats fishing and enjoy their own private atoll for a week!
Day one had a strong south easterly wind blowing over the flats which kept the water cool and the fish hungry. Solid numbers of GTs were sighted across the atoll and despite it being the first GT fishing for many of our guests we managed to land a few, John and Ben both landing their firsts. One of the fish proved to be the fish we all dream about! A large fish was spotted cruising away over a white sand flat in the south, and after a few attempts the fish turned towards Robert. Robert made another cast and after two strips the fish tracked and inhaled the fly. It instantly bolted off for deeper water but after an incredibly powerful battle the glorious specimen came to hand. She was all of 120cm and a cracking way to start the week and our season! Congrats Robert! The Bones were around in good numbers on the eastern side of the atoll and provided good sport, whilst the Triggers too offered up some opportunities, it was just our friends the Bumpheads which were a bit scarce, the big tides no doubt keeping them off the shallower flats. All in all a great way to start our season!
Clear skies greeted us as we head out on day two, the last bit of the drop and the full push providing an extended GT session. This worked a treat and congratulations must go to Richard, Scott and Grant, all three of them landing their first ever GTs on a fly rod..awesome! The Bones were still around in good numbers which provided some great action, however despite multiple shots at our our friends the Triggers, they had the final say on day two. But Farquhar is never to be underestimated in terms of the species options it can deliver, firstly Gerhard landed a couple of Milks from the beach, following which Heidi managed to hook and land a beautiful Indo-Pacific Permit and finally Jeff enticed and most importantly landed a 92cm Napoleon wrasse. It was another really special day out on water!
Sadly day three dawned dark & menacing, the blustery conditions deteriorating as the day progressed. With intermittent cloud bursts and brief patches of sunlight, making the most of opportunities was going to be the key. Our guests took up the challenge and were rewarded with some good fish despite the trying conditions. More GTs were landed, special mention going to Grant and Scott for their double up on a GT and a Napoleon Wrasse. The Bones continued to feed aggressively in the icy cold water, and eventually our first Trigger of the season went to Ben. He didn’t stop there though and managed to land our first “SLAM” for the season by ticking off a GT, Bonefish and Trigger despite the very difficult conditions! Great job Ben!
Sadly the tough conditions did not improve. A dropping tide and extremely high south easterly winds made the lagoon and the outer reaches of the atoll inaccessible by boat, so with our guests still eager to head out we waited for the mid day low tide and took the tractor to the runway flat where we could fish on foot in safety. Conditions however had the final say and despite a few small fish coming to hand, the warm and obviating atmosphere of the lodge proved too great and we headed back!
Conditions improved slightly on day five which at least enabled to us head out across the atoll. The Bumphead Parrots made their first real appearance on the week, large pods being spotted tailing across the atoll. Rich stepped up to the plate and landed our first fish of the season, his 90cm specimen coming in after an epic battle. Good numbers of GTs presented themselves and despite too many departing prematurely, we did land some good ones. Grant in particular landed a great one, his 105cm specimen our second meter plus fish for the week. The fish was spotted hugging the back of a Lemon Shark, this time the bigger fish getting to the fly first thankfully! After a lengthy fight this incredible fish was landed. The Triggers continued to provide opportunities but proved skittish, the Bones however anything but with huge numbers of fish encountered!
Thankfully the break in the weather arrived on our final day on the water. With a midday low we had the chance to fish and it was phenomenal. Large schools of GTs had arrived in the lagoon from the open ocean, one particular group enjoying some mind blowing GT fishing. Wading the turtle grass flat Rich and Millie saw their flies chased and smashed continuously, some epic battles ending with broken fly lines but at the end of of it 10 fish between them. A special shout out to Millie for her perseverance! During the course of the week she had hooked plenty but things had not gone her way, this changed though with her tally for the day ending at 5, the biggest of which was a gorgeous 97cm fish! Truly a great session to be a part of and a great way to end our first week back.
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!