Farquhar Fishing - Seychelles
Farquhar Atoll - Indian Ocean Flats
Farquhar Atoll lies 450 nautical miles southwest of Mahé. Farquhar Atoll is part of the Farquhar Group of Islands that are part of the Outer Islands of Seychelles. The total area of the Atoll is 105 square miles, which includes the large ear-shaped lagoon. Here, you'll find some of the best saltwater fishing in the world. Farquhar island is home to dunes up to 75-feet high and is an important nesting site for turtles. The Island is also home to incredible fishing with variety. Target one of many GTs patrolling the shoreline or bumphead parrotfish in the turtle grass flats.
Farquhar Atoll
Farquhar Atoll is the most southerly atoll in the Seychelles chain of islands, lying just over 700 km to the southwest of Mahé, the main island of Seychelles. The large ear-shaped lagoon provides easy access to the countless flats, channels, and surf zones, which all contribute to making Farquhar such a diverse fishery.
FlyCastaway 1:27 YouTube Video
Farquhar GT Fishing.mov
Farquhar Bumphead Parrotfish
Farquhar Atoll is one of the few Seychelles destinations where you will have the chance to target bumphead parrotfish on the flats. They are most certainly one of the most powerful tailing fish you are likely to encounter. They shoal in numbers between 5 and 30 fish and can be seen from a mile away when waving their big blue tails in the air.
The Agua Hulk 3:47 YouTube Video
Bumphead Parrotfish on Farquhar.
Farquhar Fly Fishing - FlyCastaway
Farquhar has some of the finest, most productive flats the Indian Ocean has to offer with incredible diversity.
Endless flats fishing opportunities and fantastic offshore fishing. Farquhar is the ideal destination for anglers who want to explore Seychelles and stay at a land-based lodge.
Flats Species: Wade and sight fish to a variety of species including bonefish, trophy giant trevally, plus other trevally species, permit, triggerfish, bumphead parrotfish, barracuda, bohar snapper, milkfish, and more.
Blue Water Species: Giant trevally, barracuda, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, dogtooth tuna, grouper, snapper, sailfish, and more.
Endless Flats: The hard white sand, turtle grass, or coral flats of Farquhar make for easy wading. Proper footwear is mandatory.
The Outfitter: FlyCastaway Fishing Company has specialized in elite fly-fishing trips since 2004 and also operates Providence Atoll and St. Brandon's Atoll.
In May of 2020, Flycastaway wrapped up their first season at the Atoll.
Highlights of the season include:
• A total of 15 bumphead parrotfish were landed for the season.
• Joern Heiner caught the first bumpy of the season and a behemoth GT at 134 cm.
• Andrew Hogg landed a permit measuring 84 cm. To date, it's the record for Farquhar.
• Mike Becci landed a mustache triggerfish at 56 cm.
• Mark Jensen caught a bumpy measuring a whopping 103 cm.
• 37 giant trevally were landed in a week!
Fishing Facts:
Two Seasons: The season runs from October through May. January is the rainiest month in Seychelles.
Group Size: The Lodge caters to ten anglers per week and five guides. Two anglers per boat and guide.
Guides: Five English-speaking guides are world-class, personable, and passionate about fishing. Each guide has a skipper's license, has completed a marine safety course and basic first aid training.
Boats: Five 17-foot Angler boats with 90 HP 2-stroke Yamaha motors and two custom-built 18-foot panga skiffs with 25 HP, 2-stroke Yamaha motors.
Fishing Equipment: is not included in the package. G-Loomis rods and high-end reels are available for rent and subject to a $150.00 breakage fee. A comprehensive tackle and gear list is included in our confirmation packet.
Fishing License is included in the package.
The fabled and tricky milkfish.
Triggerfishing, too at Farquhar Atoll.
Farquhar Lodge
The newly-built lodge is beside the large inner lagoon. The Lodge was rebuilt (due to a hurricane in 2016) and up and running in 2017. The Lodge has three air-conditioned duplex-style chalets with a total of six bedrooms. Each bedroom has two twin beds, a mini-fridge, and an ensuite bathroom with plenty of hot water (via solar panels). Daily housekeeping is provided with free laundry service every third day.
Meals: Chef-prepared meals are a combination of Creole and international dishes. You'll dine in the air-conditioned dining area that also has a lounge and bar. When the weather allows, there is a covered dining area near the water’s edge.
Beverages: Packages include soft drinks and mineral water. Local beer and a basic selection of spirits and wine are available for purchase at the Lodge.
Power: The chalets have around-the-clock electricity with 220-volt power (British square three-prong). You’ll need to bring an adapter.
Communications: No cell phone reception or Wi-Fi is available. A phone card is needed for outgoing and incoming calls ($15.00 for 40-minutes talk time).
Weather: Seychelles is typically hot and somewhat humid, with the midday temperature hovering at 35 degrees celsius. Evenings are also invariably warm, with the exception of the first and last few weeks of the season, when there may be a strong, cooling breeze.
Getting to the Lodge:
Getting to Seychelles requires that you fly to Dubai first. Dubai is the connecting hub for all international flight from the United States. From Dubai, you'll take a 4.5-hour connecting flights to Mahé. You'll need to arrive in Mahé the day before the start of the trip. (The hotel night, meals, and ground transfers in Mahé are not included in the package.) The next morning, you'll need to take a taxi to the IDC Aviation hanger, a five minute-drive from Seychelles International Airport. From here, you'll take a one-hour and 55-minute charter flight on a Beechcraft 1900 to Farquhar Atoll. (This roundtrip charter flight between Mahé and Farquhar is included in the package.) From the Atoll's small landing strip, you'll take a 15-minute tractor and trailer ride (true-island-style) to the Lodge.
RATES and PACKAGES
2023 USD Rates
7-nights and 6-days guided fishing
Two anglers per room and boat
$13,505.00 per person
Rates include a roundtrip charter flight between Mahé and Farquhar, a $2,655.00 value.
Upgrade to one-angler per room $17,355.00 p.p.
Upgrade to one-angler per skiff add $3,900.00 p.p.
*Limited single room options available.
Packages Include:
Roundtrip charter flight between Mahé and Farquhar, Land-based lodging on Farquhar Atoll, meals, soft drinks and mineral water at the Lodge, laundry service, guided fishing, and fishing license.
Packages Do Not Include:
International flights, hotel nights, meals and ground transfers in Mahé, fishing gear, tackle and flies, beer, alcoholic drinks, phone calls/phone cards, gratuities for guides and staff, (Island Conservation Fee of $210.00 is excluded from the rates and will be added to your final invoice), Global Rescue, travel insurance, and anything not mentioned under inclusions.
Farquhar Policies - Alphonse Fishing Company:
Deposit Required: A 50% deposit within two weeks of booking confirms your reservation. A final payment is due 90 days prior to your arrival. As of December 10, 2020, Fishing with Larry now adds a 2.5% convenience fee to all credit card transactions.
Cancellation Policy: A 10% fee shall be levied if cancellation is made more than 180 days prior to arrival. A 10% fee shall be levied if the reservation is moved to an alternative date within the same season. A fee of 50% shall be levied if cancellation is between 90 and 60 days prior to arrival.
A fee of 100% shall be levied if cancellation is 60 days or less prior to arrival. All cancellations and provisional bookings must be confirmed in writing.
Medical Evacuation Insurance is Required: All guests are required to obtain Medical Evacuation insurance. Details will be provided prior to arrival in our confirmation packet. Agents cannot assume any financial responsibility for consequences incurred if this has not been obtained.
Travel Cancellation Insurance: All guests are required to obtain travel insurance to cover part or full cancellation of a trip due to flight delays, health, weather, or force majeure.
Indemnity Form: For all activities Alphonse Fishing Company requires you to sign an indemnity form once on location.
Gratuities: If you wish to show appreciation to the general staff, a guideline of USD $300.00 per guest per week or USD $45.00 per day is suggested. This is to be left with the reception upon departure for equal distribution. For the Fly Fishing Guides, a suggested tip of USD $650.00 per angler per week or USD $110.00 per day guideline, which is to be given to the head guide at the end of the week. All tips are to please be paid in cash.
Disclaimer: At time of quote flight charges, island fees and government taxes are correct but are subject to change without prior notice. Increases in any of these facets are out of the control of Alphonse Island Limited trading as Blue Safari Seychelles and will be transferred to the client. Service providers used such as airlines and lodge operators are independent business concerns and are in no way affiliated to Alphonse Island Limited trading as Blue Safari Seychelles. Although all reasonable efforts will be made to ensure the smooth running of the tour, Alphonse Island Limited trading as Blue Safari Seychelles cannot be held responsible in any way for bad or non-performance of service providers. While all possible efforts will be made to ensure the success of this tour, Alphonse Island Limited trading as Blue Safari Seychelles cannot be held responsible in any way for the cancellation in total or in part or non-performance
in any way, due to bad weather, insufficient bookings or any other detrimental natural phenomenon/disaster, political unrest or war.
Sample Itinerary:
Day 0: You'll arrive in Mahé and stay overnight at a hotel of your choice (not included in the package.)
Day 1: You'll take the flight from Mahé to Farquhar Atoll. After lunch and a brief orientation, you'll have the afternoon free to take in some fishing.
Day 2-7: Six full days of guided fishing.
Day 8: You'll take the charter flight back to Mahé, and in the evening, your international flight home or, if desired, stay another night in Mahé (not included in the package).
Day 0: You'll arrive in Mahé and stay overnight at a hotel of your choice (not included in the package.)
Day 1: You'll take the flight from Mahé to Farquhar Atoll. After lunch and a brief orientation, you'll have the afternoon free to take in some fishing.
Day 2-7: Six full days of guided fishing.
Day 8: You'll take the charter flight back to Mahé and, in the evening, your international flight home or, if desired, stay another night in Mahé (not included in the package).
Farquhar Atoll
Farquhar Guide Team
Farquhar's world-class guides are typically from Seychelles or South Africa and speak fluent English. Whether it be stalking finicky Triggerfish, hunting down Giant Trevally or accurately presenting to Bumphead Parrotfish while on the flats or lining up Milkfish, teasing in Sailfish, or dredging up monster Doggies while offshore, this guide team has the knowledge and communication skills to help you land the fish of a lifetime!
Farquhar Boats
The Lodge employs five 17-foot Angler skiffs with 90 HP 2-stroke outboard motors. These boats are designed for both the flats and blue water and have fish finders, rod storage, bimini tops, and padded seats. The guides are qualified skippers. There are also two custom-built 18-foot panga skiffs with 25 HP, 2-stroke Yamaha motors.
Farquhar Giant Trevally
Farquhar is regarded as one of the best Giant Trevally fisheries in the world.
Endless Flats
Most of the fishing is done by wading some of the best flats the Indian Ocean has to offer. Standard diver’s neoprene booties with a reinforced rubber sole are not appropriate. Protective flats wading boots are mandatory, or they will not take you out on the flats.
Farquhar Blue Water Fishing
Farquhar blue water is close to shore. Common species include giant trevally, sailfish barracuda, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, grouper, bohar snapper, and more.
Farquhar Exotic Species and Recommended Gear
Bumphead parrotfish are one of the many exotic species available at Farquhar Atoll. The outfitter recommends single-handed 9ft #9wt and 12wt saltwater outfits with matching tropical floating lines. G-Loomis rods teamed with Wade Caranx fly reels are available for rent and subject to a $150.00 breakage fee. A comprehensive tackle and gear list is included in our confirmation packet.
Meals at Farquhar Atoll
Chef-prepared meals are a combination of Creole and international dishes. The Lodge has an open-air dining room and bar.
New Chalets on Farquhar Atoll
Built in 2017, duplex-style chalets have two air-conditioned bedrooms, 24-hour electricity with British plug points, and private ensuite bathrooms with plenty of hot water.
