If you are an absolute bonefish or permit junkie, St Brandon’s may be your Nirvana. The bones consistently get double digits and there is no place in the Indian Ocean that you will get as many shots at perms as you will at this remote destination. This is the place for guys that want to see the graduate program version of the Caribbean…with a few more tricks up its sleeve.
St. Brandon’s is a group of over 50 small islands in the Mauritius, made up of coral ridges and vast sand flats which is cut by three major passes and extends 50 km from north to south. Situated 268 nautical miles north-east of Mauritius’s main island, this area is rich in fish stocks, flora and fauna. The magnificent condition of the coral and the lobster-infested outer reefs are proof that other than a small population of Creole natives who live on Raphael Island in the north, this area has had very little human interference in its entire history. This magical atoll has quickly risen to iconic status in the world of saltwater fly fishing…and for good reason. The flats fishing for bonefish, Indo-Pacific permit and a host of trevally species is simply world class!
Previous seasons on St Brandon’s have been run using the live-aboard mothership, as foreigners were not permitted by the Mauritian authorities to stay on land. Years of hard work finally paid off and anglers are now housed in land-based accommodations! Guests are accommodated in a low key but charming guesthouse on Raphael Island in the north of the atoll. The guesthouse takes a maximum of eight guests in four twin, air-conditioned rooms. Each room has two large single beds, is tastefully decorated and is serviced daily. Laundry is done twice during a standard seven fishing day tour. The guesthouse currently has two fully renovated bathrooms. A covered outdoor dining and lounge area provides an idyllic setting for enjoying a cold Phoenix (local beer) at the end of a great day of fishing. A separate mudroom/tackle room ensures all your gear has been cleaned and is neatly stored away and ready for another great day of wading.
On arriving at St Brandon’s no time is wasted as the guides put their vast Indian Ocean experience and planning into practice as you venture out to spend your days exploring the multitude of pure white sand flats and broken coral islands, all of which are infested with naive bonefish. This is most certainly the most spectacular bonefishing you will ever encounter as on most tides anglers can expect to see shoals of these shallow water speedsters as well as enormous singles and doubles up to an astonishing 15 pounds! St Brandon’s is also perhaps the most productive Indo-Pacific permit fishery in the world. When specifically targeting these gloriously finicky fish, guests are afforded multiple shots per day.
The GT fishing can be quite varied. Some days you can see a few proper fish and at other times none at all. St. Brandon’s isn’t a place where you are going to get shots at GT’s everyday but it is certainly the place to break the 1 meter mark. The fish are all large and you catch more over a meter than under. We have in fact landed fish to 130cm and casted at fish well over that. Large bluefin trevally are also around and we have caught some truly world class specimens. Other notable fish species one can encounter on the flats include golden, yellow Dot and green spot trevally.
All our trips to St. Brandon’s are led by a team of world class professional fly fishing guides. There will be four guides including one head guide onboard. Each guide is a qualified skipper with first aid training and is extremely experienced with all facets of saltwater fly fishing. Their passion and dedication is infectious and rest assured they will definitely go the extra mile in search of your fish of a lifetime. All FlyCastaway guides are fluent in English.
Headed out on your next adventure with us? The Fly ShopⓇ has you covered. As a thank you to our travel guests, enjoy 15% off all retail purchases for a year! — the perfect chance to gear up before your trip.
Whether it’s flies, leaders, apparel or a new rod and reel outfit, we’ve got everything you need to make your journey more comfortable, more successful, and more fun. (some exclusions apply)
