Who is best suited to this destination? Anglers of all skill levels are welcome but to best take advantage of everything this destination has to offer, we would suggest anglers have previous bonefishing experience and are comfortable casting a 12-weight for extended periods of time.
Where is the lodge? The lodge is located approximately 450 miles southwest of the Seychelles capital, Mahe.
How do I get there? Most guests from the U.S. fly through Dubai to reach Mahe and then overnight. From Mahe, all guests take a 90-minute charter flight to the lodge.
When should I go? Farquhar has two limited seasons: mid-October to mid-December and then March through April. Both seasons are in the heart of the best weather in the Seychelles. If you are looking to have the best chance with giant trevally, you will want to be aware of the moon phases. There are very large tide swings in the Seychelles so making sure the full or new moon is at the beginning, middle or end of your trip can be a great advantage.
How will I fish? Anglers fish two per boat and guide. Most fishing is done while wading the flats but depending on the tides, anglers can sometimes spend two or three hours per day fishing from the boat. Boat fishing is typically in the bluewater or drifting over vast fields of coral heads in the lagoon, doing what the guides call “bommie bashing”. This is drifting over coral heads with both anglers blind casting 12-weights with baitfish patterns is search of GT’s, bluefin, snapper, barracuda, and a variety of other species. Typically, only about 20 percent of your overall time is spent targeting bonefish, as the guides are motivated to constantly change venues and target species in accordance with the changing tides.
Is there wade fishing? Yes. On average you will spend 70 percent of your time wading.
Where will I fish? They fish the interior lagoon, ocean-side reefs, and the bluewater surrounding the atoll.
How long does it take to reach the fishing grounds? The closest flats are minutes from the lodge and a long run is about 45 minutes.
What type(s) of fish will I catch? The primary targets at Farquhar are bonefish, GT’s, and triggerfish. However additional species such as snapper, barracuda, wrasse, grouper, permit, tuna, and sailfish are often caught.
How many fish will I catch? This can vary greatly from angler to angler depending on what species you decide to target. When targeting bonefish, it is not unusual to land up to ten fish in a session. However, most guests spend a limited amount of time chasing bonefish. This means a good deal of time is spent on triggerfish, trevally, and other species that are much harder to land. We expect anglers to get several good shots at these species each day and if all goes well, land a handful of special fish each week.
Will I see other anglers? No. The atoll is exclusive to your group.
What are the guides like? The guides are almost all from South Africa. As a rule, we find them to be some of the hardest working and most professional guides in the saltwater world. The guides all speak English.
What are the physical demands? There are not major physical demands, but you should be prepared to spend much of the day walking the flats. They can vary from easy beach walking to ocean-side flats where you are navigating a fair bit of coral.
Are there any special skills required? Being proficient at casting a 12-weight will greatly increase your odds of catching a fish of a lifetime.
Does the lodge provide equipment? You should come well-prepared with all your personnel equipment, but they do have a limited supply of rod and reel set ups and flies.
What is your favorite setup for the trip? I always travel with fast action 8-, 10-, and 12-weights. The 8-weight is for bonefish and triggers, the 10-weight for permit, and the 12-weight is for the numerous larger species.
What are the top flies? The top flies are Brush Flies for giant trevally. FlyCastaway guides are very particular about the flies for this trip. We highly recommend anglers purchase custom fly kits from the outfitter for their trips.
What are the options if weather conditions become challenging? The FlyCastaway guides are total professionals about having a plan A, plan B, plan C and even D. We trust them implicitly to adjust to conditions and provide a good experience on the water regardless of conditions.
What is a typical day like? Anglers begin their days early depending on the previous night’s fishing plan devised by the guide crew. Each day’s schedule may be unique depending on the conditions, fishing goals for the day and given tides. It is best for anglers to remain very flexible in terms of the schedule to take advantage of the best fishing windows.
What is the general vibe, atmosphere, and style of the lodge? This is a casual island fish camp. Once guests arrive, they typically do not put on shoes the rest of the week. They wake up, put on their flats attire and head out to fishing. At the end of the fishing day everyone relaxes around the lodge in plastic chairs or on the grass near the beach, typically in shorts and a tee shirt with a beer in hand.
Is there an on-site owner, manager, or other point-person at the lodge? FlyCastaway’s head guide will always act as the point person for the trip. The head guide will vary from season to season, but they are always professional and accommodating. It should be known that the lodging and meals portion of the trip is run by the government in partnership with FlyCastaway.
Where do we eat, and what are the meals like? Meals are taken in the small dining area at the lodge or outside depending on weather. There is often a good mix of fresh seafood and western fare.
What is the alcohol policy? Alcohol is not included in the package. All mineral water and soft drinks are included in the package price. Plenty of beer and a limited quantity of wine and alcohol are available for purchase.
Where do we stay, and what are the accommodations like? The small lodge on the island has recently been updated from a single building to a small main lodge with a bar as well as indoor and outdoor dining areas and three newly built two-bedroom condos. Each condo has two ensuite rooms, all finished with storage, two single beds, bedside tables, mini bar, and coffee station. The meals have also been upgraded and are now served on the veranda overlooking the lagoon.
Is there internet and/or cell service? No. Currently the only communication is a satellite phone at the lodge.
Are there other activities? No this is really a fish camp for hardcore saltwater fly anglers.
Are there any other expenses? Custom fly selections, tackle rental, and alcohol are the main additional expenses to be aware of.
Do I need a visa? Anglers visiting the Seychelles do not currently require any special documentation other than a valid passport.
Are there any health concerns, dangers, or annoyances? Although the island environment is benign, there are stingrays, stone fish, cone shells, and sharks to be aware of. The guides are very cautious and make a point of giving a safety briefing prior to fishing.
We recommend that guests always consult with the U.S. Department of State and the Center for Disease Control websites for general travel information and guidelines.