If you are looking for an unforgettable fishing holiday, then the remote Seychelles outer islands should be your first choice. The reason is that these islands are practically untapped. You can see schools of bonefish numbering in the thousand on the coastal plains. And the bones are big, many 10 pounds and up. Where else will you see that?
Yes, there’s more to this tropical island vacation destination than just beaches. In fact, it is a paradise for fishermen, although still relatively unknown and a well-kept secret by many. Perhaps this is why fly fishing in the Seychelles is still so good.
And the choice between fly fishing the Seychelles coastal plains and trolling its blue waters for big game fish is tougher than you might think if you’re ever fishing in the Seychelles, especially Cosmoledo and Providence. . Both types of fishing are incredibly good. But it is not easy to write about Cosmoledo fishing without superlatives…
A fisherman says: “For every pound of fish you catch in the Caribbean and Yucatan, you will catch ten pounds in the Seychelles.” The fish in the latter are large and abundant. You will never get bored fly fishing in the outer islands of Seychelles. And those who discover the fishing Seychelles has to offer come back year after year, but they don’t tell. It’s his little secret.
So the next time you’re thinking about a fly fishing holiday, Seychelles should be at the top of your list of possible destinations. Of course, not just anywhere in the Seychelles, but on the outer islands, of which there are several to choose from. At the top of the list are: Providencia, Cosmoledo and Alphonse Islands. All you have to do is find a yacht that will take you there.
On your Seychelles fly fishing holiday, you should ideally aim for several species, as there are hundreds of varieties around these islands, giving you a unique opportunity to catch a large number of species in a relatively short time. Anglers have been known to land up to 41 different species in just 6 days of fly fishing in the Seychelles with catches of 40 to 60 fairly large fish per day. More on that later.
There are two types of saltwater fly fishing in Seychelles: Fishing the coastal plains will yield big catches of bonefish, giant trevally, grouper, snapper, giant guitarfish, triggerfish, bigeye trevally, sticks, bluefin trevally, parrot fish and many others in Providencia and Cosmoledo…
If it’s sport fishing you’re after, the Seychelles won’t disappoint with sailfish and billfish either. Some can be really huge and may even challenge the record books. You can also land large specimens of bonito, wahoo, dorado, trevally, giant barracuda, tuna, rainbow runner and many others by trolling in the blue waters of Cosmoledo, Alphonse, St Joseph, Providence and St Francois islands…
And don’t make the mistake of pre-choosing one type of fishing over another before you arrive. In the Seychelles fly fishing season, there is no reason to choose between inshore fishing and blue water fishing when you can enjoy both at a superlative level every day.
Bonefish on the coastal plains are large. They come down with the tide in huge shoals of perhaps a thousand and you can expect to catch 50 bones a day on those flats, including several 10lbs and larger.
And there you will enjoy the best sport fishing beyond the reefs about two hundred meters away. So this is why you shouldn’t choose between the two for your best fly fishing vacation. I say get tips from a knowledgeable local guide…
And fish the coastal flats with the tide. Between tides, you can go after the big ones just beyond the reefs. Otherwise, you will lose the opportunity of a lifetime. The opportunities in the outer islands of the Seychelles for fly fishing are gigantic and unparalleled. You can have a lot of fun and easily break a record with a catch of 50 or more medium to large fish per day.
What do I mean by “medium to large”? While your catch of bonefish will likely average 5 pounds, you can hook several that are 10 pounds and up. For Giant Trevally (GT) you will land 25lbs with some much larger even 70lbs have been caught. Here’s what to expect in fly-fishing heaven, or as one angler calls Cosmoledo Atoll, “the GT capital of the world.”
If you are considering a fishing holiday, know that the Seychelles fishing season is from October to May. During the low season, the sea is rough and fish are scarce. So for an unforgettable fishing holiday, choose the rainy season in the remote Seychelles outer islands.
But the rainy season does not mean that it rains every day and all day. It just means that it is wetter than the other half of the year with some heavy showers at times. So now you know. come prepared…
And remember that the reason the fishing is so good is that these islands are mostly uninhabited and remote – 250 to 600 miles from Victoria, Mahe. In most, including Cosmoledo, you’ll have to stay on a live-aboard yacht during your fishing vacation.
Now go have fun in the fly fishing paradise of Seychelles and don’t overlook the shallow coastal plains if sport fishing is your preference and vice versa. Trust me.