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Fly Fishing in the Seychelles
Giant trevally. Bonefish. Permit. The finest flats on earth.
Among saltwater fly fishers the outer atolls of the Seychelles are the benchmark. Spread across roughly 400,000 square kilometers lie five atolls that count among the most remote and most productive flats in the world: Alphonse, Astove, Cosmoledo, Farquhar and Providence. What made them famous is the giant trevally – there is probably nowhere else where GT can be fished on flats at this quality.
Alongside them comes a range of species with few equals: bonefish in numbers, Indo-Pacific permit, triggerfish, milkfish, bluefin trevally, barracuda, snapper, sailfish, wahoo and tuna. You fish from modern skiffs and on foot, guided by some of the best in the business. Every atoll is strictly limited and fished only during the best weeks of the year.
The five atolls
Not included: International flights to Mahé, conservation and environmental levy, personal gear, gratuities. Supplements for a private skiff or larger accommodation on request.
Prices differ by atoll and accommodation. We advise you personally on which water fits your dates, target species and budget. Inquire now
The atolls in detail
Alphonse Island – comfort and a year-round season
Alphonse lies about an hour's flight from Mahé and is the only one of the five atolls fished all year. You stay in one of the 22 beach bungalows or five beach villas, all facing the sea. The main lodge holds a restaurant, bar, swimming pool and tennis court. A maximum of twelve guests fish each week.
The fishing takes place on the neighboring atoll with its expansive flats – bonefish, Indo-Pacific permit, triggerfish and GT. Because Alphonse offers plenty beyond the fishing, it is the only atoll that works for traveling with non-angling company.
Astove Atoll – four anglers, one atoll
Astove has been uninhabited since 1969 and sits around two and a half hours' flying from Mahé. Astove Coral House has six en-suite rooms but takes only four anglers at a time – it does not get more exclusive.
The Astove Channel is the famous piece of water, where GT push out of the deep onto the flats. Add dogtooth tuna along the reef drop-off, triggerfish and bonefish in the lagoon. The season runs November to April.
Cosmoledo Atoll – bonefish in numbers
Cosmoledo is reached by boat from Astove, another hour on the water. You stay in the eco camp or aboard a catamaran serving as mothership. The vast lagoon holds one of the best heads of bonefish in the region, with GT on the flats and sailfish out in deeper water. Season November to April.
Farquhar Atoll – the southernmost outpost
Farquhar lies just under two hours' flying from Mahé and is the southernmost outpost of the Seychelles. Expansive flats, GT, bonefish and triggerfish. With October to April it has one of the longest seasons of all the outer atolls.
Providence Atoll – two months a year
Providence is the most exclusive water in the Seychelles: fished only in January and February, from a mothership. On the untouched flats you find GT and the rare bumphead parrotfish – a target that can be taken on the fly in only a handful of places worldwide.
The target species
Giant trevally – the reason everyone comes
The GT made the Seychelles famous. Few fish anywhere combine size, speed and sheer violence like this – and nowhere else can they be fished so reliably on flats. A GT charging out of deep water onto the flat is a sight that stays with you. The fishing is physically demanding and forgives no mistake in the fight – it calls for heavy tackle and experience.
Bonefish, permit and triggerfish
Bonefish hold on the flats in numbers, particularly in the Cosmoledo lagoon. Indo-Pacific permit are the most demanding target – warier and rarer than their Caribbean relatives. Triggerfish count as a discipline of their own: they feed visibly on the flat, take hesitantly and spook at the slightest disturbance.
And everything else
Milkfish, bluefin trevally, barracuda, snapper, bumphead parrotfish, dogtooth tuna, sailfish, wahoo and tuna. Few destinations offer a comparable breadth of species on a fly rod.
Seychelles, Los Roques or Mexico – which fits?
All three are saltwater destinations with flats fishing. The biggest difference is the price level: a week in the Seychelles costs several times a trip to Mexico or Los Roques.
In character they differ like this: in the Seychelles the giant trevally is the centerpiece, with bonefish in exceptional numbers on expansive, easily waded flats and a breadth of species with few equals worldwide. Los Roques offers mostly wading for bonefish, permit and tarpon in an original Caribbean setting. Mexico is skiff fishing on coastal flats with grand slam potential.
If your budget allows the Seychelles, there is nothing against it – the bonefish flats of Alphonse offer plenty even to less experienced saltwater anglers, and the guides are among the best in the business. If you want to keep the scale smaller, Mexico or Los Roques deliver first-class flats fishing at a fraction of the cost. We give you an honest view of what fits your budget.
The country, getting there & the season
The Seychelles lie in the western Indian Ocean and consist of 115 islands. The outer atolls are largely uninhabited apart from the lodge teams – hundreds of kilometers from the nearest settlement. The climate is tropical, between 24 and 31 °C all year, and the water stays warm throughout. The seasons on each atoll follow the calmer months – from May to September the remote destinations stay closed.
Travel runs via Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles. From there a charter flight takes you on to your atoll:
Alphonse around one hour · Providence a further 45 minutes · Farquhar a further 55 minutes · Astove a further hour and a half. From Astove to Cosmoledo the boat transfer takes another hour. Those distances say everything about how remote and untouched this water is.
The season differs by atoll: Alphonse is fishable year-round. Astove and Cosmoledo run November to April, Farquhar October to April. Providence is fished only in January and February. Every destination is strictly limited – early planning is decisive.
Gear for the Seychelles
The Seychelles place the highest demands on saltwater equipment in all of fly fishing. A GT finds every weakness in your tackle. We advise you personally, in our shop in Vienna, by phone or through our online shop.
- Rods for GT: Single-hand #12, ideally a second as backup. Nothing lighter – a big GT breaks weaker tackle. Single-hand fly rods →
- Rods for bonefish: Single-hand #8 with a tropical floating line. Single-hand fly rods →
- Rods for permit, triggerfish, milkfish: Single-hand #9–#10. Single-hand fly rods →
- Reels: Saltwater reels with a sealed drag and at least 300 m of backing on the GT rod. Saving money here is the most expensive mistake of the trip. Saltwater reels →
- Fly lines: Tropical floating lines – standard lines go limp in the heat. Add an intermediate for deeper water. Fly lines →
- Flies: Large brush flies and poppers for GT. Crab and shrimp patterns for permit and triggerfish. Gotcha and Crazy Charlie for bonefish. Saltwater flies →
- Leaders: Heavy fluorocarbon up to 130 lb for GT, 12–20 lb for bonefish and permit. Leader material →
- Flats boots: Essential – you wade over sharp coral, not sand. Add stripping guards against line cuts. Wading boots →
- Sun protection: Long-sleeved UV clothing, buff, wide-brimmed hat, reef-safe sunscreen. UV shirts → · Polarized sunglasses →
Before your trip: If you can make it to Vienna, come by our shop and we will build your Seychelles setup with you. If not, call us or send an email, and you can order everything from our online shop.
Frequently asked questions about the Seychelles
When is the best time to fish the Seychelles?
Which species can I catch in the Seychelles?
Which atoll suits me?
How do I get to the Seychelles?
What does a fly fishing trip to the Seychelles cost?
What gear do I need for the Seychelles?
Do I need a lot of experience?
Can I bring non-angling company?
Plan your Seychelles trip
Five atolls, five very different fisheries – we advise you personally and organize your trip.
Tell us your preferred dates, target species and experience level. We reply within 24 hours.