Included / Not Included –
Included: Accommodations and meals, shared guide and skiff, meeting on arrival in Mahe after customs, round-trip airfare Mahe/Alphonse Island/Mahe, ground transfers only on Alphonse Island including baggage handling, fishing licenses, and transportation to and from the fishing areas.
Not Included: Round-trip airfare to Mahe, meals and accommodations in Mahe, any extra transportation services on Mahe, baggage overweight charges levied by airline, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, staff and guide gratuities, items of a personal nature, including fishing tackle and any other items not specifically listed in the inclusions and $40 per person departure tax.
Arrival Information: To get to Alphonse Island Resort you will need to fly into Mahe, Seychelles. Please make sure you arrive Mahe no later than 12:30PM on your arrival Saturday. Your departure flight home cannot be any earlier than 7:00PM on the following Saturday. If traveling from the United States, plan to depart no later than Thursday evening for arrival Saturday morning in Mahe. For those traveling from Europe, departure could be as late as Friday evening for arrival Saturday morning in Mahe.
Getting to the Lodge: You will arrive St. Alphonse Island on Saturday, followed by six full days of fishing (Sunday through Friday) and then depart on Saturday.
Departure Information: After breakfast on your departure day you will settle up on any miscellaneous charges before departing for Mahe.
Documentation Requirements:
A passport that is valid for 6 months after the last day of your trip is required for entry into the Seychelles. If your passport expires before then, please renew it right away. No inoculations are required.
Currency:
It is strongly suggested that you NOT change your US dollars into the local currency. The hotel accepts US dollars, Euros, and credit cards (MasterCard and Visa). Note: Local currency is not accepted at the hotel. All gratuities must be given in US dollars or Euros. Credit cards are not accepted for gratuities.
Travel Cash:
As a guideline we recommend that each guest travels with approximately $800 - $1, 200 for staff and guide gratuities, alcohol, flies, etc.
Gratuities:
The recommended gratuities for the guides are US $50 per person per day, and for the hotel staff US $250 per person per trip. Please note that this is only a guideline for guests interested in tipping the guides and the staff. All gratuities are up to the discretion of the individual guest. All gratuities must be given in US dollars or Euros. Credit cards are not accepted.
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are included and the lodge will issue your license when you arrive.
Climate:
Air temperatures are usually in the upper 80’s to low 90’s and water temperatures rarely vary more than a few degrees above 75°. With this said, a rain coat can be handy for windy wet boat rides. A word on the sun! The sun is very intense near the equator. Plenty of sun screen, a big hat, and long sleeve shirts and pants are a must! We recommend bringing a “Buff” facial sun protector – their website is: www.planetbuff.com.
Medical Facilities:
The closest medical facility is in Mahe, approximately one hour by air from the lodge. Guests have the responsibility to disclose any special medical, physical, or dietary needs to the lodge ahead of time.
In emergency situations, a charter flight may be required to reach a medical facility. Guests may want to consider medical evacuation coverage. We recommend Global Rescue.
Power and Communications:
The island has 24-hour current (240 volt, 50 cycles AC). Each chalet has phone service and seven-station satellite television. Local and international satellite services are operated by Cable & Wireless. Guides carry a two-way VHF radio at all times for communicating with each other and the island. Personal flotation devices, flare kits and basic first-aid kits are carried on each skiff.
Water:
There is a desalination plant on Alphonse, and water from the faucets is safe to drink. However, bottled water is available.
Clothing:
We recommend wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into the top of socks or wading shoes, a wide brimmed hat, bandannas, and gloves for sun protection. Liberally apply a waterproof sun block of at least #30 rating to all exposed skin. Re-apply every hour while outside. Remember that, even if you wear a hat, the sun reflecting off the water can still burn your face, lips, etc.
Laundry:
Daily laundry service is available and reasonable.
Beverages/Alcohol:
Alcoholic beverages are not included so you may purchase them at the lodge.
Tackle/Equipment List:
Bonefish, Indo-Pacific Permit, Milkfish, Triggerfish and Bumphead Parrotfish:
Rod: 9 weight, fast action rods. Take at least 2 rods in case of breakage.
Reel: Saltwater, with at least 150 yards of 20lb backing.
Lines: WF floating, saltwater lines such as Mastery Bonefish or Saltwater Taper
Leaders/Tippet: 9-12 foot long leaders 12-20 lbs, clear monofilament with 12 - 20 lb tippet.
Flies: Green Machines #4-6, Gotchas #4-6-8, Tan Crazy Charlies #4-6, Tan and white Clouser Minnows #4-6-8, Chartreuse and white Clouser Minnows #4-6, Shallow Water H2O #4, Spawning Shrimp #4, Small merkin crab, Fleeing Crab #8 Branham’s Swimming Crab #6, Milky Dreams #2. Include flies with lead eyes, bead chain eyes, and some that are unweighted.
Trevally:
Rod: 11-12 weight, fast action. Take at least 2 rods in case of breakage.
Reel: Saltwater, with at least 250 yards of 30-lb backing. A large arbor reel is an advantage with both fish species. Bring extra spools with backing and extra fly lines.
Lines: WF floating and intermediate saltwater lines such as Mastery Tarpon or Saltwater Taper.
Leaders/Tippet: The Guides recommend a straight shot of at least 50-lb abrasion-resistant mono or fluorocarbon, 4-6 feet long, to which you attach a couple of feet of 80-100 lb mono shock tippet. No wire is necessary unless you are fishing for barracuda. Trevally have sizeable denticles in their mouth and sharp gill plates that can slice through line
Flies: Streamers should ideally be flashy and 5"-7" in length. Flies should be tied on strong 6-8/0 hooks. We would recommend either Owner, Tiemco SP600, or Gamakatsu SL12S (Trey Combs) hooks for their strength.
Saltwater Poppers in size 4/0-6/0 – A selection of Gaines poppers or the equivalent “closed-cell” foam poppers; even large offshore-style poppers work well if you can cast them. Remember to insist on strong hooks as this could mean the difference between landing a trophy or having it straighten your hook. Poppers seem to work best on bluefin or small giant trevally.
Streamers 4/0-8/0 – Lefty’s Deceivers (blue/white, green/yellow, yellow/red, red/white), Saltwater Zonkers and Saltwater Streaker, large Clousers, Roger’s Big-eye Baitfish – virtually anything that looks like a good-sized baitfish.
The Resort Fly Shop does have some flies on site: Basic bonefish, GT, milkfish and triggerfish flies. We highly suggest that anglers take a good supply of their own flies with them. They accept US Dollars and Euros at the lodge. Guests can use Mastercard and Visa for the bar bill and miscellaneous charges. You must use cash for gratuities with the guides and staff. There is no rental gear available at the resort; each angler is expected to bring enough tackle for the week.
