Come fishing in Seychelles - catch Giant Trevally in the Archipelago

Intrepid Seychelles

Intrepid Fly’s guides have been fishing and guiding groups in this region for a few years, focusing on the more remote destinations like Cosmoledo (a world heritage site), Farquhar, Providence and Assumption. There are numerous atolls that have been fished closer to the main island (Mahe), but if you are prepared to travel a bit further, you will be overwhelmed by the abundance of game fish, diversity of species and sheer beauty and solitude of the experience. Intrepid Fly hosts and guides a number of trips to the region and generally seeks to visit a few different atolls for a more fulfilling experience.

The Fishery

The main atolls Intrepid Fly targets are Cosmoledo, Farquhar, Providence, Assumption and Astove (See the Map). These incredible islands are volcanic pillars that rise from depths of well over 2500 meters, providing for an abundance of fish species. These atolls are also home to some of the rarest sea birds and other marine wildlife. The islands that the intrepid fishermen will focus on will largely be determined by the season, the weather and the tides. Each trip that is organised is planned in accordance with the season and the tides and seeks to cover as many of the fisheries that time and well planned fishing will allow. Catch and release is practiced in the area.

The land rises steeply off the sea bed, creating these atolls that are a haven for both local and migratory fish. These dramatic changes in the sea bed attract diverse and vast numbers of pelagic species that are regularly caught on fly. While the “smaller” giant trevally and other predatory species leave the deeper drop-offs to feed on the flats, the larger species hunt along the ocean shelves. Off the boats you can expect to raise sailfish and marlin on the fly. Other species like dog-tooth tuna, yellowfin tuna, dorado and wahoo are commonly caught and will test any angler’s skill and strength.

The main attraction of these destinations is the sight fishing along the vast and unpopulated “flats”. Here we have been targeting giant trevally up to 130 cm as well as other species such as bonefish, milkfish, triggerfish, bluefin kingfish (Jack) and indo-pacific permit. The off shore fly fishing opportunities are also exceptional and you can expect to fish for sailfish, giant kingfish, GT, dog-tooth tuna, dorado (dolphin), yellowfin tuna, wahoo, leopard grouper, chinese grouper and numerous other species. One can also expect to see rays, turtles and a range of sharks.

Our expeditions will focus on the large populations of giant trevally in the region. These “bullies of the sea” hunt the flats, giving fly fishermen the opportunity to stalk and sight cast to specific fish. With an array of flies like flashy profiles, gurglers, poppers and mega clousers, many anglers have landed giant trevally around 100 pounds on the flats and larger trevally off-shore. So greedy are these giants, that Intrepid Fly has regularly seen our clients get into double and even quadruple hook ups as the fishermen target the predatory schools.

Though the emphasis on the flats fishing is on the giant trevally, you will also encounter huge schools of bonefish. The Seychelles is world renowned for the abundance and size of its bonefish. Expect to regularly cast at bonefish of 4 – 6 pounds, and even target fish up to 12 pounds. The strength of these Seychelles bonefish is legendary. Accounts from anglers who have been fortunate to fish for “bones” elsewhere confirm that they are larger and stronger than most other fisheries. These local bones will take Charlie’s, crab and shrimp patterns, but are not that hard to please. There are not real issues with them being “line shy” and spooked by the cast, as there are so many and there is very little pressure on the flats. While hunting on the flats it is not uncommon to also spot permit, trigger fish, barracuda and milk fish, all of which can be taken on fly.

These islands provide an abundance of food to both the fish species and numerous species of sea birds that congregate in these sanctuaries. One can expect to see various gannets, boobies, cormorants, terns, topic birds and frigate birds to name a few. Most of the remote southern atolls are considered bird sanctuaries, and are home to rare species that choose these venues to breed, nest and raise their young as they are so remote and protected. Some of the atolls are becoming marine sanctuaries that are only open to birding enthusiasts.

Getting There

There are various ways of entering the Seychelles. From South Africa you generally fly direct to Mahe or via Nairobi (Kenya), this depends on the season and the flight schedules. The same applies for other international routes to the Seychelles. Once on the island, the group will spend a night in a comfortable hotel in Mahe. Here you will have a chance to acclimatise before heading off on the expedition. The following day the group will take a flight from Mahe on a charter flight to Farquhar or Assumption, where you will be met by the live-a-board (boat / yacht). This is from 1.5 - 3 hours depending on the destination. The destination varies depending on the chosen live-a-board and the itinerary (atolls and target species).

Accommodation

All of the fishing is done around remote atolls and requires the groups to be permanently based on the specific live-a-boards. The live-a-boards used for the Intrepid Fly expeditions are all captained by experienced skippers and enthusiastic crew. The yachts and boats are large vessels ranging from 50 foot cats to 110 mono-hull boats fully air-conditioned, with double en-suite births accommodating 10 – 14 anglers. They all have a spacious air-conditioned lounge and dining area with lots of space on the deck. The chef and crew provide exceptional meals and refreshments. All the boats are supported with tenders of various sizes used to transport you to and from the atolls, while also suited for deep sea fishing. The live-a-boards are equipped with scuba gear and dive instructors who can take you out for deep sea diving as well as dives amongst the reefs as part of the package. All the boats are equipped with satellite phones so that you can remain in contact should you feel the need.

Season

The best months to visit the southern Seychelles are after the May monsoons. It is advisable to book your trips November to April. This is the summer time and the ideal time to target the trevally and the other species. Temperatures will reach the mid 30’s and the odd squall will cool you off on the flats. These months generally offer calm seas and low wind.

Tackle

This particular trip is tackle intensive to say the least. Based on the species and the terrain you will need various fishing outfits and adequate clothing. More information will be provided to ensure your comfort and that you are prepared. All anglers will need to bring their own equipment, tackle and flies.

For all your fishing requirements, please contact us so that we can assist you in your selection. Intrepid Fly can source all equipment at a competitive price, or call us to arrange for you to visit a shop we recommend close to you (SA only).