Saltwater Fishing – Fly Odyssey

Alphonse Island Resort is one of the premier fly fishing holiday experiences in the Indian Ocean. Ideal for couples, families and small groups it’s an authentic, pristine experience in the outer islands of Seychelles some three hundred miles south-west of Mahe, with fine accommodation, dining, scuba diving, eco-tours and of course fly fishing. What truly distinguishes Alphonse Island as one of the most outstanding fishing destinations in the world is the combination of stylish hotel accommodation alongside the opportunity to fish 3 different islands right on your doorstep. Comprised of Alphonse, Bijoutier and St.Francois islands which collectively make up the Alphonse Island group this is a remote ‘must-do’ flats fishing destination with one of the most diverse fisheries in the world. Fly fishing St. Francois provides a large population of Bonefish, Permit, Triggerfish, Giant Trevally and Milkfish all available with excellent Bluewater options. This diversity gives anglers the opportunity to target a myriad of different species during their stay. The St. François fishery caters for just 12 fly anglers at a time to maintain excellence and sustainability, and with huge expanses of flats to fish, it’s a destination suited to both beginner and experienced fly fishermen. Alphonse Island is the quintessential island paradise with its remote location providing an atmosphere of solitude and spectacular ocean views. Comprising of a main single lodge, the accommodation features private beach villas, beach suites, and bungalows situated on the water’s edge. The theme of the accommodation reflects the ongoing commitment to embrace local creole style with that of the barefoot luxury sought on private islands. Featuring a range of sandalwood colours, whites and greys, incorporating local materials, the design concept has reflected a sophisticated fresh, island-style of the 21st Century. Accommodation is usually one guest per room unless you are travelling as a couple. The rooms are spacious, comfortable and clean and have either a large double or twin beds along with plenty of room to store your fishing gear and equipment. There is also a large reception/lounge and dining area with bicycles available to facilitate getting around the island. The dining and cuisine on the island are beautifully prepared by the kitchen team and offers a mix of international and local Creole dishes. Bijoutier Restaurant and Le Lys Bar allow guests to socialise alongside the sparkling pool and shoreline, with diverse cuisine inspired by the sensuous island atmosphere and complemented by a comprehensive wine list. The culinary team aims to provide an experiential dining experience every day. These range from a Creole-themed menu with various fish dishes complemented by sweet and spicy sauces, to a beach barbeque next to a bonfire, to whisking guests off to a sandbank close to St. François for a lunch on the flats. Fresh fish is available daily along with their own garden and forest harvests. WIFI is available. Alphonse Island is considered by many as one of the finest saltwater destinations in the world and provides an ideal location for your first experience of Seychelles. It’s is the longest established destination in Seychelles and has one of the largest populations of Bonefish in the world, with a huge range of species available to target on the fly. The sheer variety of species in the island waters is truly staggering and it provides fishing opportunities rarely found anywhere else in the world. It is possible to target three different types of triggerfish (Yellow Margin, Giant and Picasso), eight species of TrevallySnappers, Groupers, African Pompano (Indo Pacific Permit), Parrot Fish and, of course, the incomparable Milkfish. The choice is almost limitless and the island resort has caught over sixty different species of fish on the fly. So, come well equipped! A typical day starts after breakfast when all anglers meet at the fishing club-house where you are taken by the daily mothership catamaran to St Francois. Anglers are transferred for the short run from Alphonse to St. François lagoon where the fishing skiffs are kept anchored. The skiffs range between 16 to 17ft in length and have single tiller arm engines. Guests require a level of fitness that will enable them to board the skiffs, as it will be their only means of transport around St. François when fishing. All the skiffs are equipped with flares, flotation devices, first aid kits, rod holders, storage compartments, anchors and cooler boxes. There are 3 offshore vessels that can be chartered for Bluewater fly fishing. The Alphonse skippers and deckhands are experienced at rigging, teasing and switching to all the different Bluewater pelagic species, such as Sailfish, Wahoo, Dogtooth and Yellowfin Tuna. Most of the fishing is walking and wading and the boats are used to access the shallow flats and occasionally chase down large fish. The guides are rotated with the guests and all are very experienced skippers. There are two anglers per guide as standard with a single skiff supplement available. On return around 4:00 pm, guests are welcome to fish the home flats of Alphonse and target Bones, Snapper and a variety of other species with Bicycle access. There are some back-up rods and flies at the fishing club-house but we would advise all anglers to take their own gear and fishing equipment – rods, reels, lines flies, good wading boots polarized glasses and lots of sunscreen. They do have a very well stocked tackle shop to purchase any additional gear or flies that you may require. As per all Fly Odyssey bookings, we will provide a comprehensive & detailed pre-trip fly fishing guide, prior to your departure. Passport with minimum six months validity. No visas are required. There are numerous international flight options to the capital, Mahe from Australia, Europe, and Asia. Usually, you will have to overnight before the domestic charter flight the following day to Alphonse Island. Luggage allowance on internal flights is a max of 15 kilos. Please note that this is considered a very remote location and as such, you must bring with you proof of Medevac Insurance cover and all the information regarding Medevac and emergency details. Let us do the groundwork for you. Our tailored fly fishing and accommodation itineraries are designed with you in mind to suit your preferences. They are also quoted in your local currency with very favourable exchange rates. This includes flight bookings, transit accommodation, transfers and a host of non-angling activities and experiences. We specialise in group stays to the region, and our long involvement with our partners on the ground in Seychelles will ensure you are well looked after both on and off the water. This includes extended stays in South Africa, Dubai, and Doha. CONTACT OUR AUSTRALIAN OFFICE M: +61 (0)499 900816 E: CONTACT OUR UK OFFICE M: +44 (0)7936 708305 E: Creating and sharing memorable travel experiences with our clients and friends provides us with genuine satisfaction. All of our trips are bespoke, tailored to your needs, and we always love hearing all about the adventure on your return. Our knowledge of travel logistics saves you time, and our highly experienced team is here to ensure it’s spent on the water and not at the desk or on a long flight connection that you didn’t require. Since 2006 we have developed a valued client-base that has travelled to all corners of the globe. We are a fully-accredited travel agency, where all of our flights, accommodation and associated travel bookings are made in-house, which means that you pay less. We have access to a huge range of specials, deals, great volume pricing, and excellent currency exchange rates which allows us to pass these benefits directly onto you. On the fishing front, our extensive expertise and experience around prime seasons, species, moon-phases, tides and personalised customer service is centred around one principal – preparation. This includes detailed gear and equipment lists, the fly patterns, transfer details, up-to-date fishing reports and some of the finer aspects that can often be overlooked. We travel extensively and understand that your free-time is important. Just as we all understand from experience, that the key to a successful trip is pre-trip preparation. Our highly experienced team has fly fished the world for the last 25 years, and we understand the considerations and gear needed to turn a good fly fishing trip into a great one. Fly fishing and travel is our passion. It’s all we do.