Astove Atoll is famous for big GTs. They don’t come along often but when they do, they can be big. Very big. Astove’s shallow lagoon, with one small entrance surrounded by sheer drop-offs, is a sanctuary for juvenile fish and it’s this that makes it one of the most extraordinary fly fishing destinations on the planet. Along with big GTs, Astove is also frequented by bonefish, permit, barracuda, milkfish, bluefin trevally, triggerfish, yellowfin tuna, dogtooth tuna, wahoo, sailfish and marlin. Great fishing can be had on both spring and neap tides with each cycle giving a host of different opportunities.
Keep an eye on these pages where we will update all the news from the Astove Atoll 2026 fishing season.
10th to 23rd February
February delivered an exciting stretch of fishing on Astove Atoll, combining exceptional GT action, memorable permit encounters and classic lagoon bonefishing. Anglers experienced everything from first GT’s and permit to metre class fish and impressive flats slams, proving once again why Astove remains one of the most dynamic fisheries in the Seychelles.
Giant Trevally stole the show with an impressive total of 91 fish landed. Matt arrived determined to find a bigger fish and delivered with several memorable captures, including a powerful 104cm GT taken while targeting predators following feeding bonefish. Later in the trip, he raised the bar again with a second metre class GT measuring 107cm.
George also enjoyed excellent GT fishing, opening his Astove account early in the trip and later adding several more fish. Jacques had an outstanding session as well, landing multiple fish, including a strong 94cm fish along a shallow sand flat. Volkmar made the most of the offshore drop off where explosive popping sessions produced outstanding results. On one outing he landed eight fish in a single session before adding several more on the flats.
Strong fishing continued throughout the period with Aldo and Gio enjoying a particularly exciting session on the outer reef where they landed eight fish between them. Dawie and Alkuin also enjoyed consistent action in both the lagoon and surf zones, landing several fish, including a strong fish around 70cm.
Permit fishing delivered some memorable moments with 12 fish landed across the period. Volkmar arrived with the goal of landing a permit and achieved it with a beautifully stalked fish taken from shallow water before completing a flats slam shortly afterwards. Later in the trip, he added another permit as part of a rare super slam, which included a GT, bonefish and moustache triggerfish.
George and Matt both landed permit during a productive session along the beach before adding a GT and a bonefish to complete their own slams. Jacques also connected with permit while exploring the lagoon and flats. Aldo landed his first ever permit during a long walk around the island, while Dawie followed shortly after with another impressive fish taken from feeding permit around stingrays.
Bonefish once again provided consistent action across the lagoon and surf zones with 159 fish landed. Jacques and Dale enjoyed a remarkable morning session landing 38 bonefish on the endless white sand flats of the lagoon. George later had a standout session of his own landing 27 bonefish while completing his flats slam. Dawie landed trophy bonefish in the surf including a powerful 60cm fish feeding along a sand spit. Alkuin also landed his first bonefish during the trip, a memorable catch taken in the surf which many consider the ultimate Astove bonefish experience.
Moustache triggerfish added technical excitement to the fishing with seven fish landed. Matt opened the trigger account with a strong 42cm fish near the wreck, while Alkuin landed a beautiful 44cm trigger as part of his first flats slam. Dawie later added another moustache trigger during a productive surf session. Volkmar also joined the trigger tally after patiently stalking a tailing fish along the rocks before successfully landing it just seconds before it reached a coral hole.
One of the most exciting moments of the trip came when Jacques hooked and landed the first milkfish of the Astove season while casting to surface feeding fish offshore. The powerful fish delivered an unforgettable fight and added yet another species to the trip’s catch list.
Astove delivered an outstanding season, its diversity and action are what keep anglers coming back. From metre class GT and trophy permit to surf bonefish and technical triggerfish, the atoll once again proved why it remains one of the most thrilling and adventurous fly fishing destinations in the Indian Ocean.
29th January to 9th February
The opening weeks of the 2026 Astove season delivered exactly what this remote coral Atoll is known for cliff top GT eats, surf zone permit, lagoon slams, and rods bending from sunrise to sunset. Across the two weeks, returning guests and first time saltwater anglers alike experienced milestone fish, first flats slams, and unforgettable battles in one of the wildest fisheries in the Seychelles.
GT action defined the fortnight, with 51 fish landed across the two weeks, from cliff edges to surf walks and deep coral ridges. The season kicked off spectacularly at the iconic Paulie’s cliffs, where Greg hooked and landed his first GT at 75cm before his guide could finish calling the shot. Jamie followed shortly after, landing his first GT and then adding two more later. His fishing partner responded with three of his own, setting the tone early. Kurt opened his account early and added several more, to his tally from last year. Rob, Matt, and Laurent all joined the action, with one standout session producing 11 GTs between Rob and Matt, alongside two bluefin trevally measuring 70cm and 78cm. The most notable GT of the period came late in the second week when a 90cm fish was landed during chaotic baitfish feeding in the lagoons channel.
Permit fishing continued its exceptional form from last season, with eight fish landed in the first two weeks, including one truly special fish. Bill finally completed his long standing quest for an Indo-pacific permit, landing one in the closing moments before departing for Cosmoledo. His partner, Kat, also got in on the action and landed her very first fish as well.
Matt and Kurt both completed flats slams featuring permit, GT, and bonefish. Laurent, after years of fishing the Seychelles without a permit, finally broke the streak with his first and landed a second later that same day. One of the week’s highlights came in Kurts final session; after scrambling down jagged cliffs to reach moving fish, Kurt made the shot count and landed the biggest permit of the season thus far, a superb 68 cm fish wrestled clear of rocks and surf. Technical, visual, and high stakes, fishing on Astove at its finest.
As always, the bonefish of Astove kept our anglers extremely busy. Bill and Kat opened their week with over 30 bonefish in a single morning. Large surf and lagoon fish featured, including multiple 60cm specimens for Laurent and Kurt near Paulie’s and along the lagoon edges. Bonefish were key to multiple slams and kept rods bending daily, whether feeding along mangroves, cruising the lagoon, or tailing in the surf.
Astove’s fishing delivered variety and power in equal measure, from cliff top action to wading in the surf, it provided it all. The abundance of permit has added an exciting element to the fishery, and the bonefish are consistent as always. All in all, an exceptional start to the Astove season, delivering everything this special fishery and destination has to offer.
If our Astove Atoll News 2026 has piqued your interest and you would like more information on this superb fly fishing destination or any of our other Seychelles operations please contact Peter McLeod or Olly Thompson or call us on +44 1980 847389.
