Fly Odyssey UK Director Gilly Bate recently visited Alphonse Island resort for the first week of the 2016/2017 season. Here are her views on what was a great trip to this fabulous flats fishery…
I had dreamed of visiting Alphonse Island in the Seychelles for many years and to say that it lived up to my expectations would be understating both the fishing and the resort itself. From the moment we arrived on the Island the hospitality and attention to detail was outstanding. This was an intimate place and the atmosphere was similar to a private house party.
Each morning we boarded the mother ship to travel out to the flats with the guides preparing our rods, reels, lines, leader set ups and flies for the day. These were the most professional team that I had fished with and their understanding of the fish and surrounding atoll was exemplary. Even a broken rod was instantly repaired.
The flats and reef were truly extraordinary and teeming with all manner of species. We caught, GT’s, permit, triggers, yellow lipped emperors, blue spangled emperors and endless bonefish. The hardest thing was deciding what you really wanted to fish for. Safety was paramount with the guides and they continually reminded you to drink water and apply sunscreen which was so easy to forget when you were chasing GT’s!
Aside from the fishing, it was the most stunning place with turtles, mantas, amazing bird life and you could fish as hard or as gently as you so wished.The fishing completely blew me away but the socialising was fabulous fun with sundowners on the beach and the decadent flats lunch, all little touches that made it the holiday of a lifetime. Many friends have asked if I would like to return. My answer would be, why would I want to go anywhere else.
