Providence Atoll, Seychelles March 2024
Peter McLeod has hosted six trips to this extraordinary fishery. It regularly tops his list of ‘best saltwater fishing destinations’ and he’s looking forward to leading another trip in November 2024. Large portions of this remote speck in the Indian Ocean remain unexplored. Among the myriad saltwater species here are metre long GTs, large permit, trevally, bonefish, and bumphead parrot fish. It is a real bucket list trip for the adventurous saltwater angler.
Providence Atoll – A true fishing wilderness experience
Providence Atoll consists of two islands surrounded and separated by vast sandbanks, flats and channels. It is 55km long and 15km wide and offers some 345sq km of fishing. The populations of large bonefish feed to the rhythm of the tides and several fish of over 10lb have been landed. The GT fishing is equally exciting with one notable afternoon session when a group of anglers caught 35 fish in a few hours. The bluewater fly fishing can be equally spectacular with large numbers of sailfish, dogtooth tuna and wahoo found just off the reef.
The operations have been considerably refined since the early days and the trip operates a purposely fitted out live aboard vessel, the Mayas Dugong. Anglers fly into Farquhar Island and then take the six hour sail to Providence during which time the excellent team of guides will have helped to set up and organise all your kit. If you, like Peter, have a love for saltwater fishing and the species diversity of the Indian Ocean this is definitely one to consider.
Why Peter wants to return to Providence
I’m drawn by the pristine atoll, an ecosystem that is home to a huge variety of species, massive populations of bonefish, giant trevally, triggerfish and milkfish – all fished in the company of some of the most highly experienced and enthusiastic guides in the world.
I love that my world revolves around nothing but tides, tactics, fishing tackle, camaraderie, serious fly fishing, and stunning sunsets.
You have no idea what the next day will bring, but you just know it’s going to be an adventure.
That feeling of setting off on an adventure on a mothership, knowing that there is no Wi-Fi and I can be unplugged for a whole week is hard to beat.
Trip Itinerary 2024
Tuesday 12th March: Fly Mahe to Farquhar Atoll, board Mayas Dugong for the six hour sail to Providence Atoll.
Wednesday 13th March to Monday 18th March: Six days fishing.
Tuesday 19th March: Arrive back on Farquhar Atoll this morning to connect with onward flight to Mahe.
This is a great week for the adventurous salt water angler keen to test their stills against myriad species and particularly big GTs. This week will see the tides coming off the back of the new moon moving onto the neap tides for the final three days of the week. This means we will encounter large water movement on and off the flats in the beginning of the week, and less water movement towards the back end. There will be a midday low tide during the first three days, meaning high water in both the morning and afternoon. During those times the water level will be too high wade the majority of the flats and we will need to look at non flats fishing options, including teasing off-shore, bommie bashing, fishing up around the land masses in the south or north.
We would also expect to see milkfish feeding offshore during the morning dropping tide provided there isn’t too much wind. Anglers ideally need to be on point from the start of the trip as we would expect to see the larger GTs accessing the flats because of the large tides in the beginning of the week. As the water movement decreases over the last three days we would then expect to see more of the tailing species such as bones, triggers and bumpies. One should be able to spend the whole day on the flats over the last three days as there is very little rise and fall in the tide. All in all not a bad tidal week, with good flats time. As mentioned before, anglers will need to be on point from day one as there is a good chance of seeing big GTs during the beginning of the trip.
For more information and an itinerary please contact Peter McLeod or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.