The remote flats and atolls of the Indian Ocean represent one of the final frontiers in saltwater flats fishing.
These destinations are a long way from anything, which has helped protect and preserve the resources and fisheries so that wading the flats here is akin to what Christmas Island or the Bahamas must have been like 100 years ago. Myriad fish species stalk these waters, from tiger sharks to Giant Trevally, Triggerfish to bonefish, and probably a few that have yet to be named. They are as exotic as the waters they call home.
Indeed, it is the uniqueness of each destination in the Indian Ocean that really sets this region apart. Each atoll has its own character and personality, often reflected in the shimmering sides of the fish most frequently found there.
Farquhar Atoll is best known for it’s overall diversity, a place where a dozen or more different species can be found on any given day, from the ubiquitous bonefish to the one-of-a-kind bumphead parrotfish, and monstrous GTs, the “Gansters of the Flats,” are a regular site marauding the edges of the flats. Alphonse is more peaceful, a better option for non-angling companions and some of the most consistent bonefishing to be found anywhere; it’s also one of the only places in the world where the super-charged milkfish can be targeted on the flats. St. Brandon’s is so remote it takes a 24+ hour boat ride to get there, resulting in the finest bonefishing on the planet. There are several other out-islands, too, such as Providence, Cosmoledo, Aldabra, and Astove that are only accessible by liveaboard vessels and remain almost totally un-impacted by anglers.
Indian Ocean trips are not for everyone. But if you’re not afraid to fish on the edge of the wilderness in order to experience some of the finest saltwater fly fishing on the planet, then these trips are definitely for you!
