AlPhONSE ISlANd RESORt - Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co.

alphonse island resort
THE FISHING
seychelles
The Fishing:
We have visited Alphonse several times
over the last seven seasons and can honestly
say that the quality of the fishing actually
continues to improve each year. Strict
enforcement of the rules governing the
fishing program (fly fishing only & barbless
hooks) have dramatically enhanced the
long term sustainability of this remarkable
fishery. It is without question the world’s
greatest all around flats fishing destination
– and it is totally worth the long journey
to get there.
Anglers at the Alphonse Island Resort fish
a very well defined fishery known as the
Alphonse Group. The Alphonse group is
made up of three islands and their respective
lagoons; Alphonse, Bijoutier, and St.
Francois. While the majority of anglers’
efforts are focused on St. Francois, the
while island group is rich with incredible
angling opportunities. The entire system is
a giant conglomerate of flats and channels
completely surrounded by and protected
by barrier reef. All of the fishing is ‘flyfishing
only’, barbless, as well as catch
and release. As a result, the fishery
has held up remarkably well and remains
as reliable as it did back in the
late nineties. In fact the bonefishing
seems to be inexplicably improving
with 20-30 fish morning bonefish sessions
the norm for most anglers!
The Fishing Day
Here is the daily routine: Wake up at
5:30AM… eat breakfast at 6:00AM,
board the mothership, St. Francois, at
7:00AM, and sail 30 minutes to the
skiff moorings inside the St. Francois
Lagoon. The boat ride out to St.
Francois is one of the most memorable
parts of the trip. Everyone is
strapping on gear, rigging equipment,
and game planning while caffeine and
beautiful ocean wake you up. Often
you will encounter yellowfin tuna or
milkfish feeding, whales, manta rays,
dolphins, or other sea creatures on
the way out past Bijoutier (“Gilligan’s Island”)
and into the lagoon. St. Francois
Lagoon is a labyrinth of flats, reef, coral
heads, channels, etc…. tailor made habitat
for bonefish, permit, trevally, milkfish, triggerfish,
sharks, rays, turtles, etc.
Boat runs are never more than 10-15
minutes, and your fly line will be in the
water by 8:00AM at the latest. Guides
always give a brief orientation and chat up
the day’s game plan relative to what species
you want to target, the expected tide,
and fishing conditions. The game plan may
consist of a morning bonefishing session
followed by a walk to the reef, cruising for
trevally, walking the edges harassing triggers,
or hitting the channels in search of
feeding milkfish. It seems every day is a
different ballgame – but with so many different
species around there is absolutely
never a dull moment. After a full day
of fishing you return to the mothership
at 4:00PM, arrive at Alphonse at 5:00PM,
cocktails at 6:30, dinner at 7:00, and off
to bed at 9-10. This regimented routine
makes the week fly by.
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