Fly Fishing Blog by Alphonse Fishing Co™

ALPHONSE ISLAND FLY FISHING REPORT | 19 OCT – 26 OCT 2024

Week four of the high season gave us a glimpse of the changing weather ahead. Some days brought calm, glassy waters with no wind—a beautiful sight. Early in the week, we experienced spring tides, gradually slowing into a clear neap tide.

Angler John Stout stopped over on Alphonse for a few days before making the island hop to Farquhar. He hoped to get his eye in and his arms warmed up on a few of St Francois’ inhabitants. On his first day he went in search of our pickiest fish to target, the Indo-Pacific permit. His guide spotted a solo fish to which he made a precise and delicate cast. The fish reacted exactly how John and his guide hoped, turning sharply and inhaling the fly. John fought it superbly and landed the 44 cm golden nugget. John then set off in search of a triggerfish with his guide at his side. A big yellowmargin with dark colours was spotted feeding happily some distance up ahead. With another skilful cast and a few slow strips the giant looked up and furiously rushed towards the fly. When John felt the tension he strip set hard and the fish sailed straight over the drop off and into the deepwater. With the assistance of his guide, John was able to keep the fish away from surrounding corals and landed the fish after a hard fight. It was a beautiful fish with some amazing colours, measuring in at 51 cm. Later in the day John caught a few bones to complete an awesome flats slam.

A couple of days later and after a few attempts which didn’t materialise, John was still searching for his first GT. His guide poled them along one of the finger flats where he spotted a juvenile GT. John made this chance count and netted the 65 cm fish with relative ease. With some confidence now, the GT hunt continued but a bigger fish was the target. Along the same finger his guide spotted a pack of GTs. John followed his guides instructions and cast way ahead of the pack, allowing his fly to sink slowly as the fish approached. When the fish were within a few meters of his fly John began to strip, and fortunately the bigger fish grabbed the fly. The beast instantly cleared the excess fly line and then hit the reel, still ripping line with no sign of remorse. John cranked up the drag and pumped the fish which eventually broke its massive run. The fish then used its girth to continue the fight around the boat for some minutes. The fish was landed after a massive tug of war and John was as stoked and exhausted. The banger geet measured an incredible 100 cm, an unbelievable fish. Well done on your very impressive fishing John!

Anglers Kevin Small and Laura Dawson continued fishing with us for a second week, eager to experience as much of our flats fishing as possible and curious about the newly targeted batfish they had heard about. They spent an afternoon casting blue-bottle flies at some bats on the pushing tide. Watching these fish rise to the surface with their eyes and backs out of the water is an amazing sight. Laura was able to catch one and Kevin was able to catch three in total, the biggest of which was a real ‘dustbin-lid’ which measured 50 cm. Kevin was able to catch himself another GT and a moustache trigger. Laura had loved her time on the flats, but on her last day she was in for a special treat. She kicked her day off with some bonefish on the dropping tide as she had done for most of the week. With her eye in her guide took her to try for a triggerfish. She fished really well and caught herself a beautiful specimen of a moustache triggerfish, her first. Once the trigger was in the bag it was then time to go and try complete the slam – by catching a GT on the pushing tide. Laura’s guide was polling her on the grassline adjacent to the surf when he spotted a geet on the back of a stingray. She made a great cast and instantly the geet lit up and belted the fly. Laura fought the fish expertly and landed it to complete the flats slam – she was over the moon with excitement. Congratulations Kevin and Laura and your awesome fishing and we look forward to having you back on our island again soon!

A number of other great fish were caught during the week, and so a big congratulations also go out to Steven Petit who caught two more geets in his second week of fishing, the biggest of which was a beauty of 82 cm. Well done to angler Ted Johnstone caught his first ever GT on fly, a gorgeous 70 cm specimen. Angler Francesco Benassi also caught a really nice GT of 82 cm and his first ever yellowmargin trigger, congratulations Francesco! Andrea Baia worked hard for his fish and caught himself a moustache trigger and a batfish, congratulations Andrea. Steve Walsh was able to catch himself a GT whilst fishing around alphonse which made his trip, well done Steve.

The bluewater fishing, and particularly the wahoo, have made a very timely appearance right as the ocean has calmed down. Congrats to Robin Janaway who ticked a wahoo off the list and to Philip Janaway who caught a wahoo and a sailfish on the same day. Ed Stewart had the privilege of catching one of these bluewater speedsters on fly, a very unique achievement. The Walsh party however really got stuck into the wahoo, a big well done to Michaela who bagged one and to brothers Steven, Anthony and Paul who were all able to catch a number of wahoo both conventionally and on fly.

We look forward to another week of new guests and more exciting stories to come from the flats and the deep blue.

Tight lines, Blue Safari Fly Fishing

EXPLORE OUR FLY FISHING SPECIES

Fly fishing tips, facts, flies, tides, rods & more

• Bonefish
• Indo-Pacific permit
• Triggerfish
• Yellowfin tuna
• Milkfish
• Bluefin trevally
• Barracuda
• Giant trevally
• Wahoo

EXPLORE OUR SALTWATER FLY FISHING DESTINATIONS

• Alphonse Atoll
• Astove Atoll
• Cosmoledo Atoll
• Farquhar Atoll
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• Amirante Islands