FISHING IN SEYCHELLES

The Fish: Being just south of the Equator, Seychelles is home to all tropical gamefish, including broadbill swordfish, sailfish and three species of marlin; all are caught throughout the year, but October through February are peak months.

Several Seychelles species, such as Dogtooth Tuna, Eastern Little Tuna and Green Jobfish -- are of world record quality.

The major event this past year has been the capture of two "grander" marlin and the discovery of vast numbers of bonefish, milkfish (Chanos chanos) and world class bigeye kingfish (trevally) in the Amirantes Islands, about 260 km southwest of the main Seychelles group.

To be more specific, the shallows of St Joseph's Atoll and d'Arros Island are where the bonefish hang out.

1) Joseph/d'Arros island: Being some 110 km south of Desroches, these islands can only be visited with Tam Tam. And a seven night trip simply doesn't work -- the logistics are such that you'd only get in three days of fishing. It just has to be two weeks, which is inevitably costly. But then, this is the adventure of a lifetime.

Arrive on Saturday Eve, transfer to a Mahe Hotel for an overnight stay . Sunday, fly to Desroche Island for one night at the Lodge, and 11 nights cruising the Amirantes/Alphonse groups aboard Tam Tam. Friday, fly back to Mahe for the final night.

Cost = US $3,907 (R19,535) per person, minimum 4 pax.

2) Tam Tam: the 12 metre live-aboard sportfisher catamaran which is easily the Seychelles most successful charter craft which accommodates maximum 4 persons; one of the two owners, Martin and Anna Lewis, are always aboard. She takes only four clients, but Tam Tam is probably the best way to see and fish the Seychelles in limited time, whether your destination is those Amirantes bonefish, night fishing for broadbill swordfish, going for the giant bottom fish of those uncharted waters, or general gamefishing around the other islands -- last year's two grander blue marlin were also caught in the Amirantes. Below are some sample itineraries of where you could charter Tam Tam:-

a) North Plateau dropoff and Islands: Arrive on Saturday Eve, met by Martin & Anna Lewis and escorted to TamTam. Sail overnight to Bird Island area. (note: In rare cases weather may dictate against overnight traveling, in which case hotel meals/accommodation will be provided.)

Fish Sunday round Bird Island, go ashore weather permitting. Eat on board or ashore at the lodge. Anchor off Bird for the night. Monday, fish north and east of Bird. Fish that night for shark if you wish. Again, anchor overnight near Bird.

On Tuesday, fish west of Bird along the dropoff, or east of La Digue on proven marlin grounds. Anchor off La Digue that night. Explore La Digue Wednesday morning, then sail back to Mahe, arriving Victoria harbour mid-afternoon.

Transferred to the Coral Strand Hotel, on the Beauvallon Beach, rightly the most famous of Mahe's Beaches; your stay is for three nights on dinner, bed & breakfast basis.

b) Inner - Island - Hopping, and Fishing the Plateau: Same as (a) until Monday morning, when you fish from Bird across to Aride Island, and then in the afternoon over to Praslin Island for an overnight.

One Tuesday visit Anze Lazio, the most beautiful beach in Seychelles, and make a trip into the Vallee de Mai, home of the coco-de-mer and the rare black parrot. Lunch aboard, off Curieuse Island, and visit the island's famous bird sanctuary in the afternoon. Sail to La Digue Harbour for overnight, and dinner ashore at Choppy's Restaurant.

Explore La Digue Wednesday morning, then lunch aboard en-route to the Rcif Banks for fishing, getting back to Victoria, Mahe Island, mid-afternoon. Transfer to Coral Strand Hotel as (1) for final three nights.

c) South Mahe, Platt Island and the constant banks: Starts the same as (a), arriving off Platt Island, 120 kms south of Mahe, sunday morning, and fish this highly regarded deep dropoff area and/or The Constant Banks for the day.

Anchor off Platt Sunday night, and again fish Platt/Constant Banks on Monday. Either drift (try for broadbill) or anchor off Platt Monday night, and again fish all day Tuesday.

Plan to arrive at the dropoff of the main plateau by Wednesday morning, and fish the plateau until reaching victoria Harbour mid-afternoon. Transfer to Coral Strand, as (a).

d) Fish Amirantes -- The Ultimate!: Starts the same as (a), depart for Desroches and the Amirantes, a separate group of deep-water islands 190 km southwest of Mahe. This virtually untouched and little populated region definitely offers the best serious game fishing in the Seychelles.

Fish Desroches and the Amirantes until Wednesday evening, returning overnight to arrive back at Victoria Harbour, on Thursday morning. After weighing of fish, lunch at the Victoria Yacht Club and then t'sfer to Coral Strand, as (a).

e) Desroche Fishing: Depart on Sat to Mahe, arrive and transfer to Casuarina Hotel on bed & breakfast basis. Sunday, transfer to the airport for your flight to Desroche for five nights on full board basis with fishing every day. Friday, depart back to Mahe and transfer to Coral Strand Hotel on dinner, bed & breakfast basis. And the only boat at Desroches is COOKIE TWO, a superb deep-sea sportfisher but at about R3 500 a day somewhat uneconomic if all you're using her for is to transfer yourself to d'Arros/St Joseph's to wade for bonies.

f) Mahe - Striker 11: Leslie Pool who owns Striker 11 a High Speed Catamaran power boat 9 metres/fully equipped with Shimano tackle, is situated behind Coral Strand Hotel on Beauvallon Beach. Boat costs R2,000 for a half day and R3,000 full day, fishing to Silhouette with Barbeque included.

Sat arrive and transfer to Coral Strand Hotel on bed & breakfast basis for seven nights. Fishing can be booked for five full days.

All itineraries: Depart and return on Saturdays.

Please call us for prices of the above suggested itineraries, each quotation depends on how many people, meal plan and time of year.

Price are subject to change without notice. $ Currency Exchange $

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