10 reasons you have to visit Alphonse in 2016

In August 2015 The Gentleman’s Journal published an article on the 6 best fly-fishing destinations in the world. One of the destinations mentioned was the Seychelles, and for good reason. Here’s why…

Located 400km southwest of Mahe are a small group of two atolls and a couple of islands, known collectively as the Alphonse Group. This group ranks up there as one of the best saltwater fly fisheries within the pages of the atlas. It truly is a remote destination offering world-class sport to those who are willing to leave the modern world behind in search of perfection.

1. The Island

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The island is a quintessential tropical paradise set like a jewel in the sapphire waters of the Indian Ocean. Formerly a commercial coconut plantation, the island is ringed by soft white sandy beaches with turquoise water extending as far as the eye can see. The accommodation is not the most luxurious in the Seychelles but it will delight you with its Robinson Crusoe charm and is certainly very comfortable. It is the ideal place to come and switch off for a week or two with friends and family.

2. Bonefishing

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When you hop off your skiff into the warm knee-deep water on the flats of St Francois you start to understand why this is regarded by many as one of, if not the, best bonefish fisheries in the world. There are moments when these awesomely sporty fish flow past you in rivers and it leaves one speechless. You want to catch 100 plus bonefish in a week? No problem, tuck in; sit back, let your reel scream and enjoy.

3. Species

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As you walk across the coral fingers you will see species after species of fish. In fact, there are 60 separate species that you can catch on the fly around the atolls. What other destination around the world can offer that sort of inventory? From the menacing Giant trevally, or GT as they are known, to the fickle triggerfish and powerful milkfish; Alphonse has it all, and then some.

4. Diving/Snorkelling

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The professional dive team run daily dives to the 13 dive sites on the Alphonse Atolls, which have something to offer all standards of divers. The sites have sheer drop offs, rich currents and abundant sea life. You can expect daily encounters with stingrays, Manta rays, turtles, Moray eels, barracuda, wahoo, sharks, tuna, grouper and many others. If diving is not your thing then have a go at the snorkelling, which offers a great opportunity to explore this underwater paradise.

5. Other-half friendly

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There are very few locations I can take my other half fishing without it involving a serious temper tantrum! Let’s be honest… fishing on the whole is not a very non-fisher friendly pastime. This all changes when you throw in island life surrounded by turquoise water and white sandy beaches. You are more likely to get into trouble for not taking her along than you are for leaving her behind. If your partner does not want to join in on the fishing there is a pool, a spa and miles of white sandy beaches to enjoy.

6. Guides

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There is quite simply no better place to learn to fish. From the location, to the guides, to the numbers of fish, Alphonse has it all. As someone who grew up thrashing the west coast Scottish rivers, I would happily have swapped those cold, midge-filled days of no fish for just one day in the clear, warm waters of St Francois. The guides are all young, keen and very enthusiastic as well as being a great laugh. They will have you whipping out fish after fish in no time.

7. Permit

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The Indo-Pacific permit is the holy grail of saltwater fish. When you see that yellow dorsal fin approaching your fly you can’t help but feel the excitement build. Will he…won’t he…who knows! Let’s be honest, 9 times out of 10 the fish is going to ignore your fly, then on the 10th everything comes together perfectly and the permit inhales your fly – it is the stuff dreams are made of.

8. Milkfish

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There is something slightly sadistic about fishing for milkfish. If you manage to hook one of these beasts then you are in for 1 to 2 hours of heaven and hell. The milkfish is going to beat you up so badly but you are going to love every minute of it. After the fish runs into your backing for the umpteenth time you are going to be ready to cry as it launches itself like a torpedo before taking off again like a bat out of hell. Maybe the toughest vegetarians on the planet!

9. ‘Bills and Bones’ Slam

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There are very few locations around the world where you can spend the morning on blue water chasing down an awesome sailfish on a fly, then pull up on the flats, swap rods and land a bonefish for a ‘Bills and Bones’ slam. The waters around the atolls are very well protected and there is no commercial fishing, as a result the waters are teeming with sailfish, wahoo, dogtooth tuna, yellowfin tuna and dorado. These will all get the adrenaline up while putting a serious bend in any rod.

10. Freedom

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There is no such thing as enforced fun on Alphonse, you can do as much or as little as you want. If you don’t want to go for a week’s fishing why not go as a leisure guest and self guide yourself around the flats of Alphonse Island (as opposed to St Francois where the more full on action takes place), which is one hell of a destination in its own right. This can be combined with a couple of days of relaxation, or alternatively you can head out on the blue water boat or go for a dive at one of the world-class diving sites.

Alphonse is your oyster, enjoy it however you want.

Richard Scrope works for Frontiers Travel, the original specialist sporting travel company. He can be contacted on 0845 299 6212 or at fishshoot@frontierstrvl.co.uk, www.frontierstrvl.co.uk

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