In recent years, Cosmoledo has become known as perhaps the best Giant Trevally (GT) fishery anywhere, and has become the benchmark for anglers searching for the ultimate saltwater flats destination full of hyper-aggressive GT’s. The sheer numbers and variety of fish species has amazed the fly fishing world, with anglers from across the globe queuing up to sample the ultimate Seychelles fishing playground. It is a rare opportunity and a privilege to gaze into an environment that has been almost totally un-impacted by the hands of man.
Cosmoledo is one of the most remote fishing destinations in the world, situated 560 nautical miles SW of Mahe, the capitol and main island of the Seychelles. The atoll is situated a stones throw away from the world heritage site of Aldabra, which is often referred to as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean. Cosmoledo comprises of a large white sand lagoon surrounded by 18 islands, numerous pancake flats, and two main channels. Menai and Wizard Islands occupy the Eastern and Western points and were named after the two ships that explored the atoll on the Moresby Expedition in 1822. Wouth Island stands near the main entrance to the inner lagoon, while the second smaller entrance is just south of Menai. The Northern Islands are interspersed with numerous islets and banks, all of which see good numbers of large fish.
Cosmoledo’s large white sand flats, lagoon edges and channels are without question ruled by the notorious Giant Trevally, and they make for ideal wading opportunities. GT’s are not the only species which can be found here in fantastic numbers, however, as bonefish, milkfish, the finicky indo-pacific permit, and a host of triggerfish species all call Cosmoledo home and hence make this a truly special fishing destination.
Reservations & Rates
Fly Fishing | SHARING PACKAGE
A seven-night fly fishing package staying in shared accommodation, with six days fly fishing on a shared skiff.
From: $18,560 per person
Fly Fishing | SINGLE SKIFF
A seven-night fly fishing package staying in shared accommodation, with six days fly fishing on a single skiff.
From: $22,460 per person
Fly Fishing | SINGLE ACCOMMODATION
A seven-night fly fishing package staying in single accommodation, with six days fly fishing on a shared skiff.
From: $23,600 per person
Inclusions
Your angling package includes: 7 night package with all meals included / private charter flight / 6 days fully guided fishing / tender boat and fuel / fishing license / landing fees / soft drinks, water, tea, and coffee / $210 per person Conservation Levy
Non-Inclusions
International Flights / ground transfers and hotels on Mahe / Park Fees / Alcoholic drinks, laundry, items of a personal nature, telephone charges and internet / travel and medical evacuation coverage / trip insurance / tackle and flies / gratuities.
Travel Insurance
The Fly Shop® is not in the insurance business, but we recommend Travel Guard coverage as a service with a desire to see your best interests protected. It is impossible to know when an unfortunate situation (loss of luggage, fly rods, illness in the family, or an accident) may occur. However, such things can and do happen, and this insurance can provide a means of recourse against non-refundable financial losses.
• Travel Insurance Information
Seasons at Cosmoledo Atoll
The first part of the season traditionally runs from early November to late April, with a break over the festive season. The south-easterly monsoon winds blow insistently from May to October.
The Seychelles is typically hot and somewhat humid. During midday, temperatures hover near 90 degrees but there is usually a steady breeze to keep things comfortable on the flats. Evenings are also invariably warm
Read More
with the exception of the first few weeks of the season, when there may be a strong, cooling breeze.
Getting to Cosmoledo Atoll
Day of Arrival: Please arrange to arrive in Mahe, Seychelles no later than the day BEFORE your scheduled arrival day and depart Mahe the day AFTER your departure day from Cosmoledo. Guests are expected to arrive in Mahe the day before their trip to Cosmoledo, as any delay on the day of departure will certainly cause the trip to be missed.
The Seychelles is a 4.5 hour flight from Dubai, which serves as a connecting hub for regular International flights from Europe and the US.
Read More
There are also direct flights to Mahe from Paris.
The group meets an hour before the scheduled departure time at the IDC Hanger terminal, on Mahe. You will be notified closer to your departure date the scheduled departure time. The IDC Hangar is situated at the far end of the runway on the road south. It is very straightforward to take a taxi from the front of the international airport to the IDC Hangar, which will take about 5 minutes. The taxi drivers will know where the IDC Hangar is located and can take payment in either US$ or Euros. Too, most hotels will be able to arrange transfers from the hotel to the IDC Hangar.
Cosmoledo Atoll is a 3 hour sail (18 nautical miles) from Astove Atoll, which is a 3 hour flight from Mahe (the main island of the Seychelles). After the 3 hour flight to Astove or Assumption Atolls, guests will be met by the Alphonse Fishing Co. crew and transferred to the SY Lone Star. The yacht will then immediately depart on the 3 hour sail to Cosmoledo Atoll, situated 18 nautical miles away. The group will spend the days fishing and exploring the islands, flats and channels of Cosmoledo Atoll. On the last evening, the SY Lone Star will sail back to Astove or Assumption, where the IDC Charter flight will collect the group for their 3 hour flight back to Mahe.
Everyone traveling to Seychelles must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the end of travel. United Kingdom, United States, European Union, Russia, and Republic of South Africa passport holders do not require a Visa for entering into the Seychelles for vacation purposes.
Your Fishing Days:
Breakfast is served at 7:30 am, and anglers are ready to depart for fishing by 8:30 am. Guests will choose between a packed lunch or lunch onboard. After a full day of fishing, you will return to the SY Lone Star between 5:30-6:00 pm. On your final day of fishing, you will return to the boat after another full day of fishing, 5:30-6:00 pm. If the next day’s charter is scheduled to depart from Assumption, the boat will depart that evening. If the charter is departing from Astove, they will depart at the early hours of the morning to arrive at first light.
Day of Departure:
SY Lone Star will arrive at either Astove or Assumption at first light. Guests pack, settle bills, and disembark 1 hour before the flight. The charter flight will then depart, possibly divert to Alphonse, landing at the IDC hanger in Mahe 3 hours later. The precise arrival time of the Charter back to Mahe is not predictable. As such, it is important for return flights to be booked the next day after arriving back in Mahe, as any delays may cause guests to miss their flights home.
Lodging at Cosmoledo Atoll
Cosmoledo Atoll is truly a diverse nature lover’s paradise of incomprehensible proportions. The ecosystem is pristine and untouched, with humans having had very little impact on its environment over the years. The encounters you will see on a daily basis are proof of how remote and preserved this magnificent atoll is.
Beginning in 2019, Cosmoledo will have an Eco-lodge situated on Wizzard
Read More
Island; where nature meets creative, eco-friendly hospitality. The lodge consists of eight double/twin en suite rooms with a central communal dining and entertainment area. The rooms are made up of custom designed, beach cottages and the communal dining and entertainment area is a large tent with bare sand floors; both of which are committed to the conservation, preservation, and protection of the natural resources of Cosmoledo.
Each cottage can be catered for as a double or twin set up and has all the amenities and modern luxuries one can expect. Each room is fully air conditioned and boasts a front veranda with a seating area and a well-appointed outdoor shower. The rooms are tailored in fresh neutral colors accentuating the island and surrounding ocean, drawing in serenity, outdoor adventure, and a sense of becoming one with your surroundings.
The dining and entertainment area are equipped with all the necessary features to make your stay one of comfort-in-style, including an exceptional dining area and a fully stocked bar. Nature enthusiasts, divers, anglers, single travelers, and couples alike dine together for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A full house buffet breakfast is served between 7:00 and 8:00 am, lunch will be served in the form of a lunch pack or at the lodge between 12:00-1:00; dinner will be served between 7:30-9:30 pm. The chef prepares a mix of Creole and International dishes and incorporates fresh fish on a daily basis, with fruit and vegetables which are farmed in the Alphonse garden.
The lodge is fully equipped with snorkeling and dive gear as well as stand up paddle boards and kayakas that are available for all guests to use. Quite picnics on secluded beaches, sunset cruises, mesmerizing encounters with captivating marine life, and experiencing the true essence of an untouched paradise, all in picture-perfect surroundings that will enhance every sensation.
Fishing at Cosmoledo Atoll
Cosmoledo is perhaps the best GT fishery in the world. The atoll’s large white sand flats, lagoon edges and channels are without question ruled by the notorious Giant Trevally. It’s a perfect environment for these hyper-aggressive aquatic predators, and there may be no better spot on Earth for multiple opportunities, every day, as these powerful fish.
GT’s are not the only species which can be found here in fantastic numbers, however, as bonefish, milkfish, the finicky indo-pacific permit,
Read More
and a host of triggerfish species all call Cosmoledo home and hence make this a truly special fishing destination.
Cosmoledo features amazing opportunities to wade pristine saltwater flats. Anglers here have access to pristine white sand and turtle grass flats, an enormous lagoon system, as well as numerous channels which link these structures with the Indian Ocean. It’s a perfect, pristine environment for targeting massive GTs and a broad variety of other flats species, all on foot.
The hard white sand, turtlegrass, or coral flats of Cosmoledo make for easy wading, thus separating it from other destinations in the world. As most of the fishing will be done whilst wading, good protective footwear is essential. Standard diver’s neoprene booties with a reinforced rubber sole are not appropriate. More protective flats wading boots must be worn. There are a number of good, durable boots on the market, which are excellent. We recommend the Simms Flats Sneakers as our preferred saltwater wading boots.
Each two anglers will be paired up with an experienced, professional Alphonse Fishing Co guide and skiff each day. Each guide is a qualified skipper, has first aid experience and is extremely seasoned with regards to all facets of fly fishing these remote saltwater destinations. Their passion and dedication is infectious and rest assured they will definitely go the extra mile in search of your fish of a lifetime.
What Makes This Destination Special and Unique?
• Cosmoledo is a true flats fishing wilderness. There is no population living at Cosmoledo. Getting there requires a charter flight first from Mahe to Astove or Assumption, then a 3 hour crossing to reach the atoll. This remarkable atoll has remained largely untouched, a rare glimpse to a place almost totally un-impacted by mankind.
• Cosmoledo is perhaps the best GT fishery in the world. The atoll’s large white sand flats, lagoon edges and channels are without question ruled by the notorious Giant Trevally. It’s a perfect environment for these hyper-aggressive aquatic predators, and there may be no better spot on Earth for multiple opportunities, every day, as these powerful fish.
• GT’s are not the only species which can be found here in fantastic numbers, however, as bonefish, milkfish, the finicky indo-pacific permit, and a host of triggerfish species all call Cosmoledo home and hence make this a truly special fishing destination.
• Cosmoledo features amazing opportunities to wade pristine saltwater flats. Anglers here have access to pristine white sand and turtle grass flats, an enormous lagoon system, as well as numerous channels which link these structures with the Indian Ocean. It’s a perfect, pristine environment for targeting massive GT's and a broad variety of other flats species, all on foot.