Seychelles

No matter what you call them, these fish have captured the imaginations of anglers everywhere and are the focal point of many Seychelles fishing trips. These large apex predators create vicious, violent and visual takes and are incredibly strong fighters. The Seychelles is the premier destination for targeting Giant Trevally.

Bonefish are found in excellent numbers across the Seychelles. In some fisheries, they are the predominant game fish and the go-to target species for fly anglers. In other destinations, they play a supporting role to more exotic quarry like Giant Trevally. Either way, the bonefishing in the Seychelles is among the best flats fly fishing available, period.

Permit everywhere are recognized as one of the most discerning and difficult species to target on the fly. The Indo-Pacific Permit are no different than their Atlantic counterparts, and can breed the same compulsive focus from serious anglers. Convincing an Indo-Pacific Permit to eat a well-presented crab fly is one of the most rewarding experiences, whether it’s on the coral edges of Farquhar Atoll, in the lagoon on Astove, or tailing on the flats of Cosmoledo.

“Bumpies” are a totally unique species found in tropical waters near coral. These fish are incredibly beautiful and strong. As a gamefish, they are unpredictable, but can be caught on the fly when feeding on or around the coral, or when they are tailing in large schools, typically on turtle grass flats. The secret is keeping the fly totally still! Bumphead parrotfish are only found consistently on Farquhar and Providence Atolls. The vivid colors, prominent parrot-like beak, and the massive bump makes this fish recognizable in every photo.

Milkies are a unique species to target because the primary flies imitate the appearance of algae! They can grow to over 6 feet long and are extremely hard-fighting fish with unusual endurance. Milkfish are also known as the fork-tailed devil, because like permit, they are extremely finicky. They’re surprisingly easy to spot when on the flats — they are usually found in small pods cruising over algae patches with their tails protruding out of the water as they feed on the bottom.

There are primarily three species of triggerfish found in Seychelles: Yellowmargin, Moustache, and Picasso. They prefer the shallow coral reefs and flats. The yellowmargin triggerfish prefers sandy-bottomed areas close to patches of turtle grass and coral. It is also common to find a yellowmargin close to a large coral “bommie” situated on a white sandy flat. Remember these three things when fly fishing for triggerfish: approach quietly and keep maximum distance, and make your first cast count.