Providence Blog: 24 – 31 October 2023

The second week of the Providence season was upon us, and with it, a fresh group of anglers including some newcomers and some familiar faces. The variables looked good with exceptional weather, sunshine and little wind.

We headed out with urgency on the first morning to make the most of tides and the species that frequent the flats under these conditions. As such we focused on the tailing species and mother and son team of Wendy and Mike, joined by Matt capitalized early, landing 6 very good bonefish between the 3 of them. Matt also did very well in landing his first yellow-margin triggerfish. Well done, Matt! Dave and Steve also got stuck into the bonefish, as well as the triggers going on to land 15 bones, 2 triggers between the pair – An awesome way to start the week!

The second day saw a vast improvement on the GT front with most of the group off the mark with a few good fish. Gary landed 2 GTs, while his boat partners John, and Ed, landed 1 apiece. A special mention for Anthony who managed to land his first GT ever on the fly, a special feeling and moment shared between him and his guide. The rest of the group managed to chip in with 4, bringing the day’s tally to 9 GTs landed. To top off the improved GT fishing was the exceptional fishing we experienced in the coral gardens with loads of line-ripping grouper and snapper brought to hand.

The third day gifted us with more sun and little wind. The team of Gary, Ed, and John did very well for the day, landing 6 GTs between them, including a massive 114 cm fish caught while it patrolled the edge of a vast sandy flat. The man of the hour was Gary, who made a great cast into the wind to intercept this giant! Joe also joined the 1-meter club by landing himself a beautiful 102 cm GT while Matt over on the sandy stretch wasn’t to be left out and connected to and eventually landed a 102 cm GT as well. Well done, gentleman! This brought our day’s tally to 12 GTs landed, with 3 measuring over that fabled 100 cm mark.

The weather began to take a turn for the worse during the fourth day, but the GT fishing certainly didn’t. In the thick of the action yet again, the team of Ed, Gary and John, managed to land 7 Giant Trevally all measuring in the 80 to mid-90s range. Wendy and Mike shared the spoils during their day by landing 1 each with Wendy’s being her first of the trip and her personal best. Well done, Wendy! Ron had indicated that he really wanted a bumpy and on this day he got his chance. He fished at several large schools and catastrophically lost all 4 bumpies… That’s how it goes with those mean green machines.

We enjoyed favourable conditions for Giant Trevally during day 5 and therefore focused our efforts almost entirely on this species. Mike, Wendy, and Matt had a busy day with loads of shots but only managed to land 1. Mike, unfortunately, lost a monster that managed to get snagged around some coral, the 1 that got away kind of story. Joe, Anthony, and Ken kept their good streak going and landed 6 fish very respectable GTs in the surf. Ron, Steve, and Dave all landed 1 GT each with Ron’s fish the standout catch for the day, measuring a whopping 112 cm! Well done, Ron.

We endured cloud cover and rain with terrible light and multiple storms rolling over the atoll during the 6th and final day of the week. Despite the adverse conditions, Ed, Gary, and John managed to land 5 GTs between them for the day. John joined the 1-meter club with a fin-perfect 111cm GT caught while waking the edge surf flat. Over on the other side of the atoll, team Anthony, Ken, and Joe manage to land 12 GTs between the three of them, with four a piece which made for a perfect end to their 2 week adventure to the outer atolls of Seychelles.

All in all a busy week with loads of Giant Trevally action. With most of the group staying on for another go at the atoll we felt excited about how things would go during week 3 of our season. Keep an eye out for this report.

Our catch tally for the week was:

GT – 56 (5 over 100 cm & biggest 114 cm)
Bonefish – 21
Triggers – 4
Total number of other fish landed – 296

Till next week,

The FlyCastaway guide team

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Fly Fishing for Bonefish in Seychelles and St Brandon’s Atoll

Bonefish are well known as one of fly fishing’s most famous saltwater targets and are responsible for most anglers’ introduction to the world of fly fishing travel and the thrills of sight fishing. The species’ tendency to feed in shallow water, its fondness for well-presented flies, and its lightning-fast runs make it the perfect fly fishing target. Learn more about fly fishing for bonefish, the best gear, how to improve your chances of success, and where to find the ultimate bonefishing experiences below:

A common sight of schooling bonefish on St Brandon’s Atoll.

Fast Facts:

The All Tackle World Record for bonefish stands at a massive 8.61 kg (19 lb), caught off the South African coastline. Remarkably, a bonefish weighing 17.5 lb was landed on St Brandon’s Atoll during our April – June 2023 fly fishing season which was certainly a highlight of our return to the atoll’s abundant waters. While these catches are extraordinary, typical catches of bonefish in Seychelles and St Brandon’s range between 4 – 6lb.
A micro-migration is witnessed each day as bonefish move in large numbers from deeper reefs and channels onto shallow water flats to feed. This behavior occurs during the incoming and outgoing tide flushes which creates the thrilling shallow water bonefishing experiences synonymous with St Brandon’s Atoll and some of the outer atolls of Seychelles.
The bonefish’s diet primarily consists of crustaceans, small fish, worms, snails, and mollusks. Check out our list of the best bonefish flies in our gear recommendations below.
Renowned as one of the fastest fish in the ocean, bonefish can reach speeds of upwards of 64km/h. Given their lack of major spines, tough scales or scoots, their incredible speed serves as their primary defence against predators.

A 17,5lb bonefish caught on St Brandon’s Atoll, Mauritius.

Rigging up for Bonefish

The best fly rods for bonefish are 9-foot 9wt fast action saltwater fly rods, with the 9ft 9wt G.Loomis NRX+ standing out as our top recommendation.
The best fly line for bonefish is 9wt tropical/warm water fly lines that match the recommended rod. We recommend the Airflo Superflo Ridge 2.0 flats Universal Taper 9wt fly line.
The best reels for bonefish have fast line retrieval, a drag system designed for wet wading in saltwater, and a minimum backing capacity of 250 yards of 50lb gel spun or casting braid. The Wade Albula fly reel is our top pick, designed to handle formidable fish like bonefish with ease.
While the best bonefish leader configuration may vary based on the fishery and flats conditions, we find 9ft 16 lb fluorocarbon tapered leaders to be adequate for most situations. In Seychelles, where various fish species abound, using heavier leaders can better prepare you for any surprises during your flat’s fishing adventure.
The best flies for bonefish vary depending on the destination. Our favourites include patterns that imitate shrimps and crabs such as; merkin crabs, fleeing crabs, spawning shrimps and gotchas tied in various sizes, weights, and colours, on good quality hooks with weed guards. Fly colours should be drab, white, tan, or a mix of these colours. Small pillow talks tied in chartreuse can be effective when dealing with warmer water conditions.

Well stocked bonefish specific fly boxes.

How to Catch More Bonefish in Seychelles and St Brandon’s Atoll

At home

Practice your casting at home before your fly fishing trip to Seychelles or St Brandon’s

Elevate your saltwater fly fishing game by honing your casting skills before embarking on your adventure to Seychelles or St Brandon’s. Success on the flats depends on delivering your fly precisely to the desired target, overcoming challenges like wind, line drag, and moving targets. Remember, distance is not the sole focus; a cast of 40-60 feet (half the length of the average fly line) is usually sufficient. Practice landing your fly accurately in a hula-hoop at 30ft, 40ft, 50ft, and 60ft regularly leading up to your trip. While hiring a casting instructor can help, consistent practice is the key to improving your casting technique and increasing your chances of success.

On the flats

The Presentation

FlyCastaway guide Tim Babich presents his fly towards a St Brandon’s Atoll bonefish.

Achieving the perfect fly placement depends on several variables, including the destination, water quality, fishing pressure, depth, and tide stage. Your experienced guide will provide invaluable insights into the fishery and instruct you accordingly. In Seychelles and St Brandon’s, during skinny water fishing periods aim to present the fly much closer to the fish than in other fisheries. Ideally, lead the fish by about 2-4 feet, you’ll know you’ve executed this correctly if you observe the fish acknowledge and swim towards your sinking fly. This expert technique ensures an enticing presentation that triggers a bite.

The Retrieve and Hook-set

Setting the hook while fly fishing for bonefish on a typical St Brandon Atoll flat.

Given the nature of the prey items that form a bonefish’s diet, a slow to medium retrieve is most effective. Always allow the fly to sink to the bottom before starting the retrieve, as most of the bonefish’s prey scurry along the seafloor. Keep your rod tip close to the water, removing any slack in the fly line between you and the fly. Often, anglers mistake a fish nibbling the fly when, in reality, the fish has already eaten the fly, and they are feeling tension only during the last part of the retrieve. To increase your chances of a successful hookset, slow down the retrieve as the fish follows the fly. When you feel pressure through the fly line, keep the rod tip pointed downwards and execute a firm strip strike to set the hook securely.

The Fight

A FCA guest enjoys a long run from a large bonefish on St Brandon’s seemingly endless flats.

Once hooked, be prepared for an adrenaline-pumping battle with the powerful bonefish. As the fish takes off at incredible speed, allow the line to run smoothly through your fingers without any sudden stops to avoid straightening the hook or breaking off the fish. The initial run is exhilarating, watching the bonefish create a rooster tail while taking your fly line and yards of backing across the shallow water flats is a scene commonly witnessed during the average bonefishing session on St Brandon’s and Providence Atoll. Keep your drag set light to medium, maintaining a 45-degree rod angle to apply constant pressure, especially if the fish starts its return journey. Reel in quickly and even walk backward if needed to keep consistent pressure on the fish.

Landing a Bonefish, Handling, and Release

Typical scenes at the end of the fight with a flats caught bonefish.

Landing a bonefish can be a challenge, especially when you are alone on the flats. Ideally, your guide will be nearby with a landing net. To land the fish successfully, guide it towards the net with a slow lift of its head just before it’s ready to be netted. Once in the net, the fish may thrash a bit, but it will eventually calm down. When handling a Bonefish, remember to wet your hands, and have your camera ready to capture the moment. Take a few quick photographs, remove the hook, and allow the fish to recover briefly before releasing.

Where is the Best Bonefishing Destination for You?

Bonefishing experiences vary significantly, and your choice of destination depends on factors such as the diversity of targetable fly fishing species, travel ease, and budget. Among hundreds of lodges, we recommend the following as the ultimate bonefishing destinations:

St Brandon’s Atoll, Mauritius

A trophy 12lb bonefish caught on St Brandon’s Atoll, Mauritius.

St Brandon’s Atoll is renowned as the world’s very best bonefish destination. The sheer number and average size of the bonefish encountered in its waters is nothing short of astonishing. The atoll’s unique structure and prevailing winds provide the perfect mix of conditions for bonefish to grow large and in impressive numbers with the average size of the bonefish caught on the atoll ranging between 5 – 6 lb with 10lb trophies caught regularly. Additionally, the atoll’s bonefish are encountered in a multitude of scenarios depending on the tide and water level allowing anglers to test their sight fishing skills while fly fishing for singles and doubles in as little as 6 inches of water to large schools of fish found during the high period of the tide allowing action anglers of every skill level to enjoy the thrill of fly fishing for bonefish. For a detailed perspective of what to expect on the atoll’s flats read our week-by-week catch reports here, visit our website for more information about St Brandon or get in touch with us via email – info@flycastaway.com

Providence Atoll, Seychelles

An elated FCA guest poses proudly with a large bonefish caught on Providence Atoll, Seychelles.

The best saltwater fly fishing destination on earth – Providence Atoll and its mind-blowing diversity will provide you and your fishing buddies fantastic opportunities to catch trophy bonefish. Providence’s bonefishing is dependent on several factors. It is therefore very important to speak to our team before booking your trip to make sure you are in the right place, at the right time to enjoy the Seychelles’ very best bonefishing. For a detailed perspective of what to expect on the flats, read our week-by-week catch reports here, visit our website for more information about Providence Atoll, or get in touch with us via email – info@flycastaway.com

We would love to hear from you

Choosing the fly fishing destination that caters to your preferences isn’t easy. These venues are often in the far-flung corners of the world and require a great deal of time and energy to get to. FlyCastaway has run successful fly fishing trips with the best guide teams in the Seychelles & St Brandon since 2003. Our knowledgeable team works day and night to ensure you have the trip of your dreams. If you’re planning to visit Seychelles or St Brandon’s Atoll or have any other fly fishing travel-related questions, get in touch with us via email – info@flycastaway.com or stay up to date with the fishing action on Facebook & Instagram.

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Providence Blog: 25 April – 2 May 2023

In what felt like a blink of an eye, the final week of our March – May 2023 season was upon us. Change over day always seems to bring with it bluebird skies and moderate wind, however, the weather forecast for the week was ominous with fierce winds predicted from the south-east. Nevertheless, we were still excited to explore the atoll with our group which included first-time saltwater fly fishermen and a few return guests. After a quick orientation around the mothership and tackle setup, the group made good use of the change-over day to get to know each other on the mid-deck over a few cold beverages.

Day 1 had our guide team spread out to different corners of the atoll in pursuit of the tailing species, and of course, the atoll’s population of Giant Trevally. Jamie got off the mark early with his first-ever GT on the fly. Well done, Jamie! Mario also got stuck into the action immediately landing his first and best GT for the week on the first morning, a lovely fish measuring 96cm! Meanwhile, in another corner of the atoll, Chris and Steve did very well by landing 4 Triggerfish before lunch. The afternoon however turned out to be tricky, with low clouds causing very difficult sight fishing conditions. Despite this, our team persisted and added another 2 more GTs to the tally.

Everyone was up to speed with the daily program by day 2 and we set off for the flats with high expectations. Catches of note included an energic GT caught by Tom, who managed to convert his fish from a school that had corralled a school of baitfish into a channel. Derek, a wanderer, had made his way into some fishy-looking water when he spotted 3 GTs swimming down a lagoon edge. He presented his fly and watched as the 3 fish made a violent approach towards his baitfish imitation, what followed was a successful hook-up and a short but intense tussle between some coral heads. He eventually landed his first Providence GT. Well done Derek! Jim tasted sweet success on the Bumpie front when he landed the group’s first of the week. Great going Jim!

The 3rd day brought with it powerful winds blowing out of the southeast. The severe wind made for challenging fly fishing conditions, however, the atoll still delivered a diverse set of fly fishing scenarios for our guests, with a total catch tally of 6 GTs, 15 Bonefish, and 3 Triggerfish. A special mention goes to Mike who managed to land his first ever GT, which was a special moment for all involved as Mike had traveled the world on several occasions without any success. Congratulations, Mike, we can only imagine how good that must have felt!

We endured wild weather and exceptionally rough seas during the 4th day of the fishing week. The conditions saw us have a delayed start with our team heading for their chosen areas for the day when the weather lightened up a tad. The short delay had little bearing on our catch tally with our group tallying 42 Bones, 3 of which were over 10lb! John, Chris, and Derrek are the lucky anglers to land those hefty Bonefish….way to go guys! Meanwhile, Jim found himself connected to a personal best GT that was picked from a small shoal of GTs that were encountered while they dropped off the flats during the falling tide. His beauty measured an impressive 98cm. Great job Jim! Last, but not least, was Jamie’s Bumphead Parrotfish…CONGRATS!

Day five saw an improvement in the fishing conditions, with better weather and more good fish encountered across the board. Our total catch tally for the day was 10 GTs, 1 Bumpie, 11 Bones, 2 Triggers, and a single Milkfish. Chris found a rich vein of form and landed 3 GTs, while Steve and Kurt kept the Bonefish numbers ticking over by landing many more good-sized Bones. At the end of the day, Tom stepped into the house of pain when he hooked a monster Milkfish in the early evening, which we’re sure he still regrets. After a brutal one-hour battle, he finally brought the fish into the net. Well done, Tom!

The 6th and final day of the season saw us enjoy fantastic conditions, with a light south-easterly breeze and good light. Ken, had been unlucky on the GT front, not from any fault of his own, but rather some bad luck. He however managed to rectify this when he made a cast at a school of GTs working across a small finger flat and much to his and the guide’s joy, a bigger fish parted the youngsters and viciously accepted his fly. After a good fight, he landed his best for the week, a specimen measuring 94cm! Well done Ken! Tom, however, landed the top catch for the week, a strong GT that measured 102cm! Well done Tom! As the final whistle blew on the final evening, Jamie landed his first Milkfish, while at the same time Mario hooked but sadly lost a Sailfish.

Thanks for a great week guys, we really appreciate your support and hope to see you back out there in the coming seasons!

The week’s tally was as follows:

• GT – 32 ( 1 – 102cm )

• Triggerfish – 10

• Milkfish – 3

• Bumphead Parrotfish – 3

• Bonefish – 70 ( 3 of 10lb)

• Other species – 156

A special thank you to all our guests that were a part of this fantastic season, we made memories, shared laughs, and learned yet more about this outlandish fishery. We can’t wait for what October – December has in store for us!

Until then,

The Providence Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 18-25 April 2023

We welcomed a full group of guests for the penultimate week of our March – May 2023 fly fishing season. While some of the group were onboard the trusty Maya’s Dugong for their second time, others were first-time visitors of the Seychelles, some even enjoying their debuts in the saltwater.

Having first-timers aboard our mothership was a welcome reminder for our guide team how truly novel the Providence experience is to our guests. The excitement and disbelief that reverberated through the vessel during our routine of catching Yellowfish Tuna during our crossing to our chosen anchorage for the week will put smiles on even the most harden of the guide teams! Once safely anchored and the week’s sushi supplies in check, we bedded down for the evening ready for the upcoming week.

The 1^st day saw us focus on all the dos and don’ts pertaining to fly fishing for GTs on the flats. This preparation done right often spells a successful week of fly fishing and despite periods of exceptionally challenging weather our group managed to tally up 5 GTs catches for the day. Our returning guests Bill, Don, and Joe wasted no time and quickly landed decent GTs each. Two new comers, John and Tim also tasted GT success. Great work, gentlemen!

The 2^nd day brought with it moments of magic on the GT front, with 6 GTs landed, one of which a real monster that measured 109cm! Our team set to work in their quest to find the hot zones on the atoll, which resulted in each boat travelling to completely different areas of the atoll. Randy, Joe, and John experienced the chaos that is GT fishing when they encountered several brutes during an exciting surf session. The chaos unfortunately saw most of these larger fish lost due to a number of different reasons, however, Randy managed to stay connected to one of his which measured an impressive 90cm… well done, Randy. The catch of the day however went to Adam when he opened his GT account for the week in the most emphatic manor, landing an alarmingly strong 109 cm specimen. Way to go Adam!

Day 3 delivered a reality check for reasons we will never know, as we can only speculate. The atoll went on strike, but not from a lack of effort from our group. We limped our way back to our mothership with just 1 GT landed for the day. On a brighter note, we enjoyed phenomenal bommie bashing catching loads of colourful and interesting species between the numerous coral heads distributed throughout the atoll.

Day 4 was much better by Providence standards and provided Don and Hardy the kind of fly fishing entertainment that the atoll is renowned, the pair bagging a total 9 GTs between them! Hardy landed the fish of the day and his personal best measuring 103 cm. Great work, Hardy. The wild deep blue offered action too, as we added more Tuna to our rapidly-dwindling sushi stocks thanks to Mike, when he landed a good Yellowfin Tuna on the fly. Thanks, Mike!

Day 5 saw our group enjoy their best day on the flats yet, with a total of 14 GTs brought to hand. The standout catches included a beautiful 108 cm GT landed by Bill after it was hooked in a thin channel and subsequently required some nifty boat work by his guide to weave it out of the nearby coral garden. Jim also found himself in the right place at the right time converting 4 GTs consecutively during a very busy session in the surf. The largest of the 4 was a handsome 95 cm fish that fought well above its weight class, well done Jim!

We set out for the final day with hopes of building on the momentum of the previous day. By now, our guests were all familiar and comfortable with what they needed to do. Given the less than desirable conditions, our group did very well with a total of 6 GTs and 2 Bumpies landed for the day. Don enjoyed the perfect send off when he landed a fantastic fish that measured 108cm; this fish had to be chased down through a network of channels in the boat to get to a place where it could be safely landed…well done gents! The action didn’t stop there for Don! He and Sekhar hooked 6 Bumpies during a busy session on a large turtle grass flat. Unfortunately, most of these large flats dwellers managed to get the better of us, though when it was all said and done, each were proud anglers with a Bumpie to each of their names. Hardy was in the thik of the action again and ended his time with us on Providence in style when he landed a 102 cm GT!

And so ends another week on Providence. Despite the challenging conditions our group enjoyed a successful week of fishing and we can’t wait to welcome them back in the not so distant future!

The total tally for the week was as follows:

GTs – 42 (5 of 100cm plus)
Bumphead Parrotfish – 2
Napoleon Wrasse – 3
Tally of other species landed – 247

Until next week,

The Providence Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 11 – 18 April 2023

We welcomed eight new guests onboard our mothership for the 6th week of our season, as Paul, Dan, Bill, and Tom were lucky enough to have another week of fly fishing bliss ahead of them on Providence. We quickly set up our 8 new guest’s gear and set for the open ocean with a few large conas in tow hopeful of an encounter with the large schools of Yellowfish Tuna seen on the outskirts of the atoll.

The first day of the fishing week provided high-quality action with a total of 22 GTs and 7 Triggerfish landed for the day. The trio of Dan, Bill, and Paul enjoyed a particularly special day sharing 10 GTs between them, with old-time buddies Dan and Bill landing a 100cm and 102cm GT respectively. Well done, chaps! The Triggerfish were out and about in good numbers which provided our guests with numerous sight fishing opportunities to these charismatic flats dwellers. Tom, Rex, Rio, Bryan, Mike, and Chris all tasted success on this front. A strong opening day, great work, guys.

On day 2 we were dealt with tricky conditions with heavy cloud cover and diminished visibly. Despite this, our group persevered and managed to convert 1 Barracuda and 8 GT encounters into catches. Catches of note during this day included first-time GT success for the father-son combo of Rex and Rio, well done, gents! Meanwhile, Mike and Dave enjoyed excellent success while fly fishing in the teeming coral gardens, landing loads of new and interesting Grouper and Snapper species. This being the duo’s first-ever saltwater fly fishing experience, it made it that much more exciting!

The tricky conditions continued into day 3 and made for challenging fly fishing conditions on the flats. Nevertheless, 5 GTs, 6 Bonefish, and 2 Triggers were still brought to hand for the day. Highlights were a slam for Dan consisting of a Bonefish, Triggerfish and GT. Bryan got stuck into the action on the GT front and landed a very respectable 92 cm specimen while Mike managed to land a monster 9ft Lemon shark.

The fourth day had our guests enjoying some exceptional fishing for large skinny water Bonefish, with a total of 41 brought to hand during a very busy session on the flats that included personal bests for most of our group. A special mention for young Rio, only 12 years old, and already a proud member of the Providence 10lb Bonefish Club! As for the other iconic species available on Providence, there were 3 Triggers and 4 GTs landed for the day, with John landing a slam consisting of a Bonefish, Trigger, and GT. Great work, lads!

The fifth day of the week delivered slightly more challenging opportunities for Prov’s iconic fish species with just 6 GTs and several Grouper and Snapper landed for the day. Paul did however experience a moment of GT fly fishing magic when he hooked a powerful fish of 89cm in water no deeper than the shin. His fish rooster tailed its way down the flat towards deeper water taking loads of backing in the process. Eventually, the fish succumbed to the pressure of the drag and Paul had his beauty firmly in his hands… a moment and memory we’re sure Paul will remember for a long time to come.

The 6th and final day of the fishing week saw us wake up to glorious conditions. The catch of the day went to Chris, who encountered a pair of large GTs while they slowly patrolled down the edge of a lagoon. One cast and as many strips is all it took for him to connect to his beautiful 96cm GT! The boat team of John, Dave, and Mike enjoyed Prov’s diversity scenarios, with plenty of Grouper and Snapper species landed. They also got stuck into the action on the flats with Dave converting his first-ever Bumphead Parrotfish catch, as well as his first GT catch on the flats. Great job, Mike! Dan also concluded his 2 weeks of fly fishing in style with a feisty GT.

That brings us to the end of the 6th week of our season. Memories were made and smiles were shared during a wonderful week of exploring and fishing. We look forward to welcoming our new and old friends back to Prov soon!

Our catch tally for the week was as follows:

• GTs – 50
Bumphead Parrotfish – 1
• Triggerfish – 12
• Bonefish – 47 (1x 10lb)
• Barracuda – 3
• Other species – 202

Until next week,

The providence guide team

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Providence Blog: 4 – 11 April 2023

The 5th week of our season had us welcome a full group of guests from the US constituting of a mix of new and familiar faces hosted by Brian of Fly Water Travel.

Day 1 saw us enjoy perfect weather which complemented the fishing and resulted in 9 GT catches. A special mention goes to Paul and Brian, who both managed to land trophy GTs measuring 102cm, which they each skillfully fought out of a large coral garden. What a wonderful way to start the week, well done, gents!

The good weather continued for the second day and so did the action on the GT front, with a total of 14 GTs brought to hand for the day. The standout catch went to Tim who managed to land a brute of 108cm! Great job, Tim. The first Milkfish of the trip was also landed late in the day after an intense one-hour battle. Well done, Dan!

Day 3 was one to write home about for Paul, Andy, and Brian. They experienced both the euphoric excitement of taming trophy GTs as well as the gut-wrenching disappointment of losing them. This was brought about by the astonishing amount of tackle that was donated to the Indian Ocean in the battles that took place during the day. A note-worthy disaster that can only be described as “that’s GT fishing” happened between Andy and Brian when they both hooked up into monster GTs. While trying to clear their running line, each of their running lines managed to get sucked up into the other’s rods! Sending a cluster of lines and the majority of each other’s rods flying off the boats as the two fish dashed in opposite directions. They both looked to head guide, Tim for wisdom, to which he had nothing to offer. Although both the fish were eventually lost, the rods and now eternally fused fly lines were recovered. On a happier note, both Brian and Paul eventually landed GTs of 102 and 100cm respectively while Andy landed an absolute monster, measuring 126cm! Well done, Andy.

Day 4 produced numerous catches of all things toothy, with loads of Bohar Snapper, Grouper, and Bluefin Trevally brought to had during the day. Highlights on the iconic species front included GT returns for Andy, Tom, Brian, and Gene. Each angler brought a single fish to hand, adding 4 to the group’s tally for the week.

The 5th day provided our guests with more of the same action on the flats with a diverse fly fishing experience enjoyed by all. Loads of Snapper and Grouper of varying shapes and sizes were landed, as well as a couple of GTs for Andy and Tim before a very large weather system settled in for the afternoon.

The 6th and final day saw conditions deteriorate even further with hazy overcast skies and sporadic cloud bursts endured for most of the day. Undeterred, our group headed out with the same intensity as day 1, determined to make the most of their final few hours on the flats. Despite the conditions, the fishing gods looked favourably upon us and delivered some action. Catches of note went to Brian landed a 10lb bonefish, his personal best. Bill left things late and eventually landed his first GT of the trip, a powerful fish that measured 104cm! Great job, Bill, while Drew had his hands full as he fought and landed a 60lb Dogtooth Tuna offshore. The catch of the day, however, went to Brian while fishing for Sailfish he managed to hook and eventually land a Black Marlin that was estimated to be +- 200lb! An exceptionally special catch on fly fishing gear in Seychelles. Hats off to you, Brian…. well done!

Our catch tally for the week is as follows:

GTs – 54 (6 over 100cm)
Golden Trevally – 1 (20lbs plus)
Bonefish – 2 (1 of 10lb)
Milkfish – 1
Dogtooth tuna – 1
Black Marlin -1
Barracuda – 2
Other species – 186

Until next week,

The Providence Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 28 March – 4 April 2023

Week 4 of the Providence March – May 2023 fly fishing season saw us welcome 8 return guests and 4 new additions, all under the care of Justin from The Fly Shop. After a quick orientation of our mothership, we began readying everyone’s gear for another week of flats fishing action.

The predicted weather for the week looked like it would be flat and calm. As it turned out the report was correct… flat and calm is what we got all week. The first day saw our group capitalize on the favourable conditions with 6 GTs, 5 Bumpies, 3 Triggers, and 6 Bonefish landed for the day. A special mention goes out to Steve who managed to complete a slam on his very first day on the flats, landing a Trigger, Bumpie, and GT. A special way to start a Seychelles fly fishing adventure, well done Steve! Brian also enjoyed a red letter day landing not 1… but 2 Bonefish that tipped the scales at 10lbs!

Day 2, and yet more fantastic weather and fishing action! Our group landed a total of 9 GTs between them with 3 slams recorded for the day. Peter, Justin and Otis all slammed with catches of GTs, Triggers, Bumpies, and Bonefish. A very special day was shared between 3 friends and the perfect incentive for a couple of extra celebratory beers that evening. Well done guys!

By day 3 we had begun to feel the effects of the incredibly hot & still conditions. It caused the water temperatures throughout the atoll to rise to a point that made things challenging on the trevally front. Despite this, Providence provided us with numerous opportunities at the tailing species that frequent the atoll. Our shift in focus still produced several catches of GTs, Bumpies, Triggerfish, Bonefish, and a lonesome Permit. Bill was the lucky angler who managed to get the sought-after Indo to hand. Well done Bill!

The sun rose on day 4 producing the same hot and calm conditions! Our group however hit the flats with the same enthusiasm as they did on day 1. It paid off for Ken, who found himself in a rich vein form and went on to land 2 GTs, 1 of which his personal best for the week, sighted and hooked by himself. In addition, Brian landed his third 10lbs bonefish for the week, while Justin and John shared a Bumpie double.

Day 5 saw our group encounter several large schools of Milkfish which resulted in mulitple hookups. Unfortunately however, only 1 was successfully brought to hand, the lucky angler in this case being Steven who did a great job fighting his fish! Brian went on to land a massive Bumpie, his first, while Austin managed to come right on the Trevally front when he landed a spritely GT caught off of a stingray late in the day.

Unfortunately, there was only so much flat and calm weather the atoll could handle, and the fishing action slowed right down during the last day of the week. Despite this, Steve, Ottis, and Ken added to the GT tally which brought our week to a close.

Warm water certainly made fishing tricky by Providence standards, however, it was still an exceptional week from a tailing species point of view. We thoroughly enjoy our time with those who joined us during the 4th week and look forward to welcoming you all back to Providence in the near future.

Our catch tally for the 4th week of our season was:

GTs – 34
Bumphead Parrotfish – 16
Triggerfish – 10
Bonefish – 24 (3 of 10lbs)
Indo-Pacific Permit – 1
Barracuda – 1
Milkfish – 2
Total tally of other species – 96

Until next week,
The Providence Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 21-28 March 2023

The third week of our season saw us welcome a full group of completely new faces, both to the Indian Ocean and to Providence Atoll. The buzz of excitement reverberated through our mothership as we prepped everyone’s gear for the 6 days of flats fishing nirvana that lay before us.

The first day saw our group exposed to fly fishing for Giant Trevally for the first time and thankfully most were well-versed Tarpon fishermen. This made their learning experience quick and seamless with a return of 10 GTs landed for the day. In addition to the GTs landed during the first day of fishing was a powerful Napoleon Wrasse, which had Paul hanging onto his gear for dear life! A successful first day out for our new friends, well-done guys!

Day 2 and our group took to this new fly fishing environment like a duck to water, landing an impressive 23 GTs, 3 of which trophies measuring 100cm plus for the day. Will converted 4 while his boat partners, Miles and Heath landed 2 and 6 respectively. A special mention to Heath who managed to land 2 massive GTs measuring 111cm and 123cm which is an outstanding achievement. Great job, Heath! Lane also found himself in big fish territory and managed to land a powerful 101cm GT! Paul, the only angler to come right on the tailing species front managed to land an enormous Moustache Triggerfish.

The 3rd day had us all in hot pursuit of Providence’s larger Giant Trevally. Our intentions were clear and although only 8 GTs were landed for the day most of them were of real quality. Paul found himself in the right place at the right time and connected to an absolute brute of a GT that measured 127cm. A very special catch, well done Paul! Heath kept his 100cm breaking streak going with a beautiful 104cm specimen while his boat partner, Tom managed to match this catch with another of 104cm… great job guys! George closed the tally for the day with a powerful GT that fell just shy of the meter mark in the early evening of the 3rd day.

Day 4 dawned with ominous cloud banks and sheets of continuous rain which settled in for most of the day. Despite the exceptionally tricky fishing conditions our group still managed to convert a few catches of note including 1 Bumphead Parrotfish and 4 GTs for the day. Health managed to land his very first Bumpie while Scott, Tom, and David shared the spoils on the trevally front.

The penultimate day of the week saw us battle the conditions again, with tricky light and winds circulating around the compass. While the light switched on and off sporadically throughout the day, our guests still managed to make the most of their opportunities with Lane and Tom landing 2 GTs each. Scott had been fascinated by the sightings of Bumphead Parrotfish during the fishing days prior and finally managed to get himself connected to 1 of these powerful creatures. His Bumpie, an absolute monster stretched the measuring tape all the way to 121cm! An epic catch, and a special moment shared on the flats. Well done guys! Will however enjoyed the variety available on Providence and went onto land a slam that consisted of 2 GTs, a Triggerfish, and a Bumphead Parrotfish.

The 6th and final fishing day saw the conditions improve dramatically. Heath had his sights set on the Milkfish which was the last of the species left on his hitlist to tick off, which he did, in fine fashion. The Bumphead Parrotfish were seen in good numbers and our group set out for them with determined vigor. David and Lane were the lucky anglers to taste success on this front landing 1 each for the day. Miles landed the only Triggerfish for the day while Tom, George, and Bo enjoyed a flurry of action for the atoll’s resident Giant Trevally.

This brings another truly enjoyable week of fly fishing on Providence Atoll to an end. It was a pleasure for our team to share this experience with a group of newcomers, who we’re sure will soon become familiar friends in the future.

Our catch tally for the third week was:

65 GTs (6 over 100cm)
7 Bumphead Parrotfish
4 Triggerfish
1 Milkfish
243 other species
2 Napoleon Wrasse

Till next week,

The FlyCastaway Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 14-21 March 2023

The second week of our March-May 2023 season saw us welcome back the familiar faces that join Aardvark Mcleod on their annual hosted fly fishing trip to Providence. Excited to explore the fishery with our friends from the UK we set about preparing everyone’s gear for the 6 days of fly fishing that lay before us…

Our group landed a total of 10 GTs during the first day of fly fishing as well as loads of action on the tailing species, with 5 Triggers and 7 Bones landed. The standout catch went to Fred who managed to land a trophy Bonefish of 10lbs, well done Fred! Other highlights from the first day included a flats slam for Tom consisting of 2 GTs, a Triggerfish and 3 Bonefish. Peter M also tasted sweet success during his day out landing 2 Triggerfish and 2 GTs.

Day 2 saw our group enjoy jaw-dropping weather conditions with clear skies and a light sea breeze. The group made the most of the favourable conditions landing a total of 13 GTs, 8 Bonefish and a single Trigger for the day. The team of Peter, Fred, and Andrew all enjoyed the action on the flats with Peter converting 4 GTs and 4 Bonefish, Fred managed 4 Bones and a GT, while Andrew landed 4 Bones and a Trigger. Great job guys!

Day 3 delivered a variety of catches under perfect bluebird skies and almost no wind whatsoever. Impressive catches of GTs, Triggers, and Bonefish were shared amongst the group with Mark and Piers landing 2 Triggers each. Joern added 3 GTs to his tally while Brummy came close to a slam landing two GTs and a very large Bone that tipped the scales at 10 lbs! The boat team of Peter O, Tom O, and Fred climbed into the GTs and managed to land 7 between them for the day with the standout catch going to Fred, his trophy GT pulled the measuring tape to 101cm. Awesome job, gentlemen!

The 4th day of the week provided our guests with numerous shots at GTs with a total of 17 brought to hand for the day. Peter M and Jim came into a rich vein of form and managed to bag 4 a piece. Andrew landed the only Triggerfish for the day, a beautiful Mustache Triggerfish that he managed to fool into eating his fly early on during the fishing day. The catch of the day, however, went to Joern who had been hunting his Indian Ocean nemesis for almost 15 years. On this Saturday, he finally found himself and a trophy Napoleon Wrasse in the same image, his trophy measured 94cm. Well done Joern!

Day 5 was filled with action with a slam and 16 GTs caught. Peter McLeod found himself in the land of giants when he hooked and eventually landed a monster GT that measured 116cm. He then went on to add another 4 to his tally, well done Peter! Peter’s boat partners, Jim and Brummy also had their share of the action with the pair landing 3 and 2 GTs respectively. Peter M’s knack of finding himself in all the right places continued as usual bagging a slam that consisted of a GT, a Triggerfish and 4 Bonefish. Great job Pete!

We decided that GTs were going to be the primary focus for the final fishing day. This gamble paid off big time with 25 GTs brought to hand. The father and son pair of Peter O and Tom O managed to land 3 GTs between them while Jim brought a lovely specimen that measured in the high 90s to hand. Peter M continued his rich vein of form and landed 6 GTs while his boat partner Piers managed to convert 5. Mark matched Peter M’s efforts with another 6 including 1 that broke that magical meter mark measuring 101cm. This brought a cracking end to a diverse week of flats fishing on Providence Atoll.

As always, we enjoyed our time with the good folks hosted by Aardvark McLeod. Thanks for joining us and we look forward to welcoming you all back to the atoll again next year.

Our catch tally for the 2nd week of the season was:

97 – GTs (3 over 1m)
13 – Triggerfish
25 – Bonefish (2 over 10lbs)
1 – Napoleon wrasse

Till next week,
The FlyCastaway Guide Team

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Providence Blog: 5 – 14 March 2023

The opening week of our March – May 2023 fly fishing season saw us welcome a group of guests to our favorite fly fishing destination in Seychelles for the third consecutive year. Following a round of excited hello’s and a quick tender boat run from Providence Island to our trusty mothership, we set about readying our everyone’s gear for their customary extended 9-night/8-day trip with us.

Day 1 saw us treated to excellent weather with clear skies and a slight breeze originating from the west. Our group which consisted of eight anglers got stuck into the action immediately landing 23 GTs for the day. Scott opened his account in style landing an impressive 6 GTs while Charlie, a newcomer to the group brought his first-ever Seychelles GT and Milkfish to hand. Ivan followed suit by landing a powerful Milkfish and 5 GTs to close off a very productive day of fly fishing on Providence Atoll.

The pleasant weather continued during day 2 and provided our guests with the perfect conditions to tackle the larger GTs found throughout the atoll. Scott, who is no stranger to landing big fish on Providence managed to find himself in the right place at the right time bagging a monster 117cm GT. His fish was picked from a school that was following a large shark. Great job, Scott! The father and son team of Jeronimo and Camillo made hay while the sun shone and managed to land 3 GTs respectively. Kyle enjoyed a stellar day adding 6 GTs to the tally which clocked 23 by day end. Well done guys!

Day 3 and no change in the conditions, still perfect. Our group enjoyed excellent fishing with Juan landing 4 GTs himself while brother Jeronimo went on to land the first Triggerfish of the season and another 2 GTs. Scott continued to enjoy the action on the big fish front. This time he found himself attached to an immensely strong 113cm GT which had his reel working overtime before it was tamed. Kelly however landed the standout catch of the day when he hooked a massive 118cm GT that was found in a large lagoon. Our end-of-day tally saw us land another 23 GTs…incredible fishing!

The 4th day saw our team explore areas of the atoll known to deliver a variety of grouper, snapper, and wrasse species. The plan paid dividends with the standout catch of this session going to Jeronimo who managed to bag himself the iconic Napoleon Wrasse that measured over the 1-meter mark. Kyle maintained his streak of good fortune on the flats taming 5 GTs, however, the top rod for the day was Charlie who managed an impressive 7 GTs bringing the total count for the day to 18 GTs landed.

Day 5 and we were beginning to encounter more and more of the tailing fish species that frequent the atoll. Juan and Kelly enjoyed great fishing for both Bonefish and GTs landing 4 GTs and 6 Bonefish between them. One of Kelly’s bones measured 28,5 inches which put it in the region of 10lbs… Great catch Kelly! The GTs were still around in great numbers with a total of 18 landed for the day. The standout catches on this front went to Ivan and Charlie, a 107cm & 106cm fish respectively.

Day 6 saw a change in conditions with a strong draft and a bank of clouds hanging above the atoll. Despite the conditions, every flyfisherman in the group managed to land at least one GT. Kelly landed yet another 4 GTs, one of which stretched the tape to 115cm! Camillo, Kelly’s boat partner for the day also managed to land 3 GTs which brought the total of GTs for the day to 13.

Day 7 and the weather conditions were as they were the previous day. Despite the variable conditions, everyone in the group managed to land a GT with a total of 14 landed for the day. Charlie enjoyed the bulk of the action landing 5 GTs, one of which broke the meter mark measuring 103cm. It did not stop there for Charlie, while walking one of the lagoon edges, a very large blue shape emerged and tailed on a tapered turtle grass bank. It was quickly identified as a very large Napoleon Wrasse and after a couple of presentations, the wrasse charged the fly and engulfed it. Panic ensued as the fish sped off for his coral bommie home and after an intense tug of war Charlie managed to break the fish’s will to get to the coral and eventually landed. Great catch Charlie!

The weather finally broke for the final day of the trip and we were treated to clear skies and a light breeze prevailing from the southeast. It was decided that the family affair of Camillo, Juan, and Jeronimo would partner and fish together. They made the most of their day together with Juan landing a slam that included a Trigger, 3 GTs, and a 10lbs Bonefish. Jeronimo narrowly missed his slam landing a Milkfish and 2 GTs, 1 of which broke the 1-meter mark measuring 101cm. Camillo finally landed his Trigger bagging himself a beautiful Yellow Margin. Kyle came in hot again landing himself 4 GTs for the day. Charlie also kept up his good form saving the best for last managing 6 GTs for the day, two of which broke the 100cm mark measuring 109cm and 115cm.