| If it is an unforgettable fishing holiday you're after, | | | | others trolling the blue waters around Cosmoledo, |
| then Seychelles remote outer islands should be | | | | Alphonse, St Joseph, Providence and St Francois |
| your first choice. The reason is because these | | | | islands... |
| islands are virtually untapped. You can see shoals | | | | And don't make the mistake of choosing |
| of bonefish one thousand strong on the inshore | | | | beforehand one type of fishing over the other |
| flats. And the bones are big - lots of 10-pounders | | | | before you get there. In Seychelles fly-fishing |
| and over. Where else will you see that? | | | | season there is no reason to choose between |
| Yes there is more to this tropical island holiday | | | | inshore fishing and blue-water fishing when you |
| destination than just beaches. In fact it's an | | | | can enjoy both on a superlative level every day. |
| anglers' paradise although still relatively unknown | | | | The bonefish on the inshore flats are big. They |
| and a well-kept secret by many. Perhaps this is | | | | come down with the tide in huge shoals of |
| the reason that in Seychelles fly-fishing is still so | | | | perhaps one thousand strong and you can expect |
| good. | | | | to hook 50 bones a day on those flats including |
| And the choice between fly fishing the inshore | | | | several 10-pounders and bigger. |
| flats of Seychelles and trolling its blue waters for | | | | And there you'll enjoy the best big game fishing |
| big game fish is more difficult than you may think | | | | just beyond the reefs a couple of hundred |
| if you ever go fishing in the Seychelles especially | | | | metres out. So this is the reason that you should |
| at Cosmoledo and Providence. Both types of | | | | not choose between the two for your best |
| fishing are just so unbelievably good. But it's not | | | | fly-fishing holiday. I say get advice from a |
| easy to write about Cosmoledo fishing without | | | | knowledgeable local guide... |
| superlatives... | | | | And fish the inshore flats with the tide. In |
| One angler says, "For every pound of fish you | | | | between tides you can go after the big ones just |
| catch in the Caribbean and the Yucatan, you'll | | | | beyond the reefs. Otherwise you'll miss out on a |
| hook ten pounds in Seychelles." The fish in the | | | | chance of a lifetime. The opportunities in the outer |
| latter are big and plentiful. You'll never get bored in | | | | islands of Seychelles fly-fishing are gigantic and |
| the outer islands of Seychelles fly-fishing. And | | | | incomparable. You can have lots of fun and easily |
| those that discover the fishing Seychelles has to | | | | land a record-breaker among a catch of 50 or |
| offer come back year after year but they're nor | | | | more medium-to-large fish a day. |
| telling. It's their little secret. | | | | What do I mean by, "medium to large?" While |
| So, next time you're thinking of a fly-fishing | | | | your bonefish catch will probably average 5 |
| holiday Seychelles should be at the top of your list | | | | pounds you can hook several 10-pounders and |
| of possible destinations - Of course not just | | | | over. For giant trevallies (GT) you will be landing |
| anywhere in Seychelles but the outer islands of | | | | 25-pounders with some very much bigger - even |
| which there are several to choose from. At the | | | | 70-pounders have been caught. This is what you |
| top of the list are: Providence, Cosmoledo and | | | | can expect in fly-fishing heaven, or as one angler |
| Alphonse Islands. All you have to do is find a | | | | calls Cosmoledo Atoll "the GT capital of the world" |
| yacht that will take you there. | | | | If you are considering a fishing holiday know that |
| On your Seychelles fly-fishing holiday you should | | | | the Seychelles fishing season is from October to |
| ideally target several species as there are | | | | May. During the off-season the sea is rough and |
| hundreds of varieties around these islands, and | | | | fish are scarce. So for an unforgettable fishing |
| that gives you a unique chance to hook a large | | | | holiday choose the rainy season in the Seychelles |
| number of species in a relatively short time. | | | | remote outer islands. |
| Anglers have been known to land as many as 41 | | | | But the rainy season doesn't mean it rains |
| different species in as little as 6 days of fly-fishing | | | | everyday and all day. It just means it's wetter |
| in the Seychelles with catches of 40 to 60 fairly | | | | than the other half of the year with some heavy |
| large fish a day - More on that later. | | | | rains at times. So now you know. Come |
| There are two types of salt-water fly-fishing in | | | | prepared... |
| Seychelles: Fishing the inshore flats will yield large | | | | And remember the reason that the fishing is so |
| catches of bonefish, giant trevally, groupers, | | | | good is that these islands are mostly uninhabited |
| snappers, giant guitarfish, triggerfish, big-eye | | | | and remote - 250 to 600 miles from Victoria, |
| trevally, permits, blue-fin trevally, parrotfish and | | | | Mahe. On most, Cosmoledo included you'll have to |
| many others at Providence and Cosmoledo... | | | | stay on a live-aboard yacht for the duration of |
| If you are after big game fishing Seychelles won't | | | | your fishing holiday. |
| disappoint you either for sailfish and marlins. Some | | | | Now go enjoy yourself in Seychelles fly-fishing |
| can be really enormous and may even challenge | | | | heaven and don't overlook the shallow inshore |
| the record books. You can also land large | | | | flats if your preference is big-game fishing and |
| specimens of bonito, wahoo, dorado, trevally, | | | | vice versa. Trust me. |
| giant barracuda, tuna, rainbow runner and many | | | | |