Providence Blog: 21-28 Nov 2017
Providence Blog: 21-28 Nov 2017
Day 1: We started off our week with half moon neap tides that included an early morning high tide. This allowed us to fish a good drop late morning tide and as well as a push during the afternoon. The GTs were around in solid numbers with Stefan managing to land our first two for the trip. The ladies Waltraud and Maria then got into the action each of them opening their account with a fish apiece. There was also some great species action throughout the day to ensure spirits were high at the end of our first day out.
Day 2: The GTS were around in good numbers today and our guests really capitalized! The team of Bern, Stefan and Alex really got stuck into it, between the three of them they landed 19 GT’s the biggest fish one of 103cm which was landed by Alex. The other teams also did well, Thomas landing two GTs, whilst Michael and Olly each got one. Maria’s day was equally special, her first “Slam” including a GT, Triggerfish and Bonefish. All in all it was a great day out with only our Bumpy friends being on the scarce side.
Day 3: After an exciting morning session over the high tide ticking off the species, we eventually got onto the flats where we found our friends the Bumpies. We had some solid hook ups but hooks pulling and snap offs was a recurring theme. The GT fishing continued to impress, good numbers of fish prowling around sharks and rays. Waltraud got a nice one, Alex smashed them again with five, Thomas four solid fish and Stefan not far behind with two. The fishing was great and best of all we had found these fish in some newish areas that we have not spent much time on.
Day 4: We headed out for some offshore action over the early morning high tide action. The Sailies were around in great force and with 30 mins Alex, Stefan and Thomas each had one at the boat. Just incredible! The Triggers were around in good numbers on certain parts of the atoll, Stefan making them shots count when he landed his biggest Giant Triggerfish to date. Congrats! The GT’s were not around in huge numbers today but we still managed a few. Olly managed to tail three for the day, Alex another two, whilst Bern and Maria each managed to land one. We also managed to land some seriously good-sized Bluefin Trevally, another highly underrated and common species on this amazing fishery.
Day 5: We again headed straight out for some Sailfish action in the morning and it sure paid off, with both Waltraud and Olly getting beautiful big sailfish by the side of a tender. Maria continued on her good form and landed two sails before the morning session when quite. Congrats! The GT fishing was solid but no fireworks, however Stefan did manage our second 100cm fish for the week. Congrats! Alex also managed another one but it was his 105cm Bumphead parrot, which will surely stay with him for along time to come. Awesome fish Alex. Unfortunately the Bones continue to be a bit scarce but the species fish was simply off the charts.
Day 6: The tides allowed for a full day out on the flats. The Triggers were subsequently around in good numbers and despite quite a few being lost, Stefan had them under control and managed to land a beastly sized Yellow-Margin Triggerfish (#rollingbeadcrabforthewin ). Michael and Waltraud ended their week off strong with one GT each for the day but as a group we probably should have landed more considering the solid numbers encountered. The species fishing continued to impress, the variety of fish landed for the day a real standout. Well done however to Bern for making it happen today on a Sailfish late in the day to cap off a really enjoyable week with a great bunch of people.
Until next week
The Providence Guide team
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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.
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!
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.
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.
Our second day out on the flats saw us moving into the full moon spring tides cycle which cause a lot of water movement throughout the atoll. These tides bring in huge numbers of predatory fish and are ideal conditions for hunting GTs, there was a morning falling tide meaning some solid wading time on the flats. The GTs were around in good numbers and some of the guests managed to capitalize; a huge congratulations must go to Eugene who managed to get a fish of 111cm riding on the back of a big lemon shark! A well presented cast and a slow long strip caught its attention, the fish rushed and engulfed the fly and after a solid tussle the battle was eventually won.
A moderate easterly wind and bright sunshine were the conditions on the fourth day. We were now in the middle of the full moon spring tide cycle with huge volumes of water being pushed on and off the atoll. A 12pm low ensured we got to fish a few solid hours of the dropping tide as well as the following pushing tide. Some guests opted for the white sandy flats and turtle grass areas whilst the more adventurous whose legs were up for the challenge took on the surf. Arriving at the surf they were greeted with milky water but thankfully it was still cool from the night before and the clarity improved as the morning progressed. Congratulations has to go to Jeff for completing his Grand Slam and landing a GT, Trigger and Bone at the runway on the northern tip of the atoll. It took some really impressive and technical fishing to achieve this as conditions were tricky. The Trigger of 50cm was hooked on the dead low in the surf in a foot of water – this fish ran around numerous coral heads before being landed. Then came the Bonefish and to complete the slam an hour into the push Jeff found a GT cruising with a Lemon shark. He made the cast and the GT peeled off the shark and smashed the fly. Congratulations is also due to Gehard for landing a GT of 82cm.
With the week slowly but surely drawing to a close our guests have all had some great shots at a few trophy Farquhar fish. Some came to hand and others caused sleepless nights and nightmares. The latter being the case for Rich who had a few shots at GTs but unfortunately none of them this far worked out. Happily for him, he managed to convert his chance and land his first GT measuring in at 83cm on day 5. This fish was hooked during a surf walk on the runway over the dropping tide. He found the fish cruising in the cuts in the exposed coral reef. After losing a few metre plus fish this week Tony was also eager and driven to get it done. Congratulations to Tony for achieving his personal best GT of 101cm while wading the turtle grass patches near the surf. This GT was spotted cruising against the current during the dropping tide. Tony ran ahead of the fish, made the cast and the fish exploded on the fly with an epic chase and eat.
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!
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.
With the rebuild to Farquhar’s lodge progressing at full steam during the months of March and April, the atoll’s incredible fish population for the most part carried out their daily existence without the presence of anglers or guides. I say for the most part, as we were fortunate to sample at least one week of incredible flats & offshore fishing on Farquhar, albeit from Maya’s Dugong at the end of our Providence atoll season. It was a week I had been really looking forward to, this incredible atoll and fishery holding a very special place in my heart and which thankfully will again become my home for two 3 month stints per year starting October this year. But back to the fishing a bit later.
During every weekly changeover on our Providence season I got to spend an hour or two on Farquhar as we waited for the plane to arrive. I was amazed by the pace at which the IDC building team has worked on Farquhar. To give you an idea, the cleanup of the area between the slipway and the airstrip had been completed in less than 5 months, an incredible achievement considering the size of the area and the amount of fallen trees and other debris that was originally left over from the cyclone. On the building front, the staff have been on top of their game here as well. Every week new buildings were erected whilst others received their finishing touches, in a style and layout that I believe will make a huge impression on our guests. Anglers will now be accommodated in three separate duplex style chalets that overlook the lagoon. Each chalet contains two air-conditioned bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, the new layout certain to provide additional privacy and that finishing touch to a week of incredible flats fishing. The former guesthouse has been converted into a large dining and lounge area, which together with the new bar area is sure to provide an extremely comfortable and relaxed environment for our guests whilst enjoying a cold beer or nice glass of wine with their evening meals. All in all, it looks terrific and I cannot wait to welcome our guests in the new format this coming October!
And now back to the fishing during that one week. Our guests from England, Germany and South Africa had arrived with high expectations, especially considering the atoll hasn’t been fished for nearly five months. The good news is Farquhar did anything but disappoint! Plenty of GT action took place on the outer reefs as well as on the flats inside the lagoon, with all our guests sampling the thrill of GT’s charging in and eating a rapidly stripped streamer. This is clear proof that not only has the cyclone refreshed the system, but also that the rule of zero plugging and teasing for GT’s offshore, as well as on the atoll which has now been in effect for the last two and half seasons is really paying dividends. We are also seeing bigger and bigger GT’s coming onto the flats on a regular basis, so for guests looking for that real trophy GT, Farquhar is tough to look past. Our friends the Triggerfish were also around in good numbers, their colourful tails providing many memorable walk and stalk moments between guests and their guides. The hungry Bonefish were in good numbers and provided superb light tackle sport in some super skinny water. Farquhar’s infamous Bumphead parrotfish are present in good numbers as well, and despite us losing more than we landed provided some intense wade fishing sessions never to be forgotten. I for one cannot wait to spend hours and hours stalking these gentle giants come October! The reef species we encountered really have me excited for the coming season, the group enjoying some superb “Bommie Bashing” for Bohar Snapper, Groupers, Napoleon Wrasse, Bluefin Trevally, Emperors…the list just went on! So as you can tell, the fishing lived up to our expectations….in fact it was great!
So if I consider the fishing we experienced now, together with those three weeks in November last year, it’s little wonder I’m counting down the days until I strap on my wading boots for another gloriously long season on Farquhar. Below is a selection of images taken from the two periods. Myself and the rest of the guide team are really looking forward to this new chapter on Farquhar and hope to see you all out there someday soon!
