Fly Fishing the Seychelles
The main islands like Mahe, Praslin, Curieuse or La Digue are perfect for diving and snorkeling but good spots for fly fishing are hard to find. There are some places where you can find bones and milk fish but they are rare and those areas which would be perfect are usually protected as marine national parks (Port Launey, Curieuse). La Digue is beautiful and its beaches with the huge granite rocks belong to the most beautiful beaches on the planet but for fly fishing the island does not fit. You might be able to catch the one or other fish from the rocks next to deeper water but it is difficult to be honest. Mahé has got a few flats with turtle grass where you can try for bone fish. The best one might be the flat at Anse á la Mouche but you can also try Turtle Bay at Anse aux Pins. These flats are regularly fished by the hotel guests so the bones are very spooky there beacuse they are resident fish.
nice bone fish caught on a beach of the main islands
The Seychelles offer great fly fishing for bone fish and GT and if you have the chance to fish the outer Islands like Alphonse, Cosmoledo or Aldabra you will remember it for all your life. These more or less untouched areas north of Madagaskar are a paradise for every single saltwater fly fisher. All really good saltwater fly fishing takes place on the outer islands. You can book trips to these destinations and you will definitely have a great time there. Of course they are much more expensive than those to the main islands. The main islands on the other hand offer much more possibilities if you travel with your family. Especially on Praslin it is great to hire a car and explore the island.
On Praslin you can find a nice flat just when you come down from Val du May(the national park where you can find world's largest coconuts). Unfortunately Fond de l'Anse as the flat is called is heaviliy fished because the hotel nearby(Palm Beach) advertises with fly fishing. So the bones are spooky there. You will definitely catch some perch species, mullets, half beaks and maybe also garfish there. When wading the flat you will also spot the one or other eagle ray passing by. Of course there are a lot of coral fish everywhere on the Seychelles but nobody fishes for them. If it gets too hot take your goggles and snorkel a bit. Turtles are very common around the Seychelles and diving is great especially in April and May. North of Praslin there is one of the most beautiful beaches, Anse Lazio.
There are bonefish there but they are not easy to catch. They are feeding in quite deep water and you have to wade in as far as you can to reach them. They are there but as on all other spots on the main islands the fishing for them is free but not easy. The best time for fishing the Seychelles is October and November when numberous tuna species, Sailfish and others move in. It is a quite windy period but althoug you might not feel the sun to be very hot be sure you protect all your body from it. Even gloves are a good choice. If you want to combine your trip with diving spring is the better time to enjoy a quiet sea.
guided fly fishing
On Praslin you can also go out fly fishing by boat. Open water fly fishing means usually trolling the fly, trolling a teaser or casting to hot spots sometimes also in connection with cumming. You will definitely reach better spots by boat than just seeking for flats on your own. On Praslin I can highly recommend Capt. Pierre d'Offay. Pierre has got more than 30 years of experience in fishing the waters around the Seychelles and he is the one you should contact if it comes to hiring a boat. Pierre has got a perfect boat and you will have a good time with him. Pierre is based at Hotel L'Archipel.
this nice picture of bone fish I took during my stay on Praslin in 2008
Corsaire boat charter has different boats available depending on the target fish and location:
PDF file on Corsaire prices 2008
Book Corsair Boat Charter online - the best on Praslin
Impressions from the Seychelles
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|