Farquhar Fishing
Farquhar Atoll - Indian Ocean Flats
Farquhar Atoll lies 450 nautical miles southwest of Mahe. Farquhar Atoll is part of the Farquhar Group of Islands, 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 on the planet. 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. Farquhar, "one of the world's most remote atolls," is accessible by aircraft, and it is a two-hour flight from Mahe—Seychelles' main island.
Farquhar Atoll
Farquhar Atoll is the most southerly atoll in the Seychelles chain of islands, just over 700 km southwest of Mahe, the main island of Seychelles.
The large ear-shaped lagoon provides easy access to the countless flats, channels, and surf zones for a diverse fishery.
1:27 YouTube Video - Farquhar GT
Bumphead Parrotfish
Farquhar Atoll is one of two Seychelles destinations where you can target Bumphead Parrotfish in the turtle grass flats. They are certainly one of the most powerful tailing fish you will likely 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
Target one of many GTs Patrolling the Shoreline.
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: Farquhar's hard white sand, turtle grass, or coral flats make wading easy. Proper footwear is mandatory.
The Outfitter: Alphonse Fishing Company specializes in elite fly-fishing trips and also operates
• Alphonse Atoll
• Cosmoledo Atoll.
The Fishing Program
Two Fishing Seasons: The 2025 season runs from January 24 through May 1 and from October 16 through December 18 The fishing is very tide-dependent, so the prevailing conditions dictate which species to target. You’ll fish the vast flats, lagoons, channels, and reefs.
Group Size: The Lodge caters to ten anglers per week. Two anglers per boat and guide.
Guides: Five world-class English-speaking guides who are personable and passionate about fishing. Each guide has a skipper's license and has completed a marine safety course and basic first aid training.
Boats: Five 17-ft. custom-built skiffs with 90 HP 2-stroke Yamaha motors.
Fishing Equipment: Tackle and gear are not included. Upon request, 9, 10, or 12-weight fly outfits are available at no charge–top-quality fly rods and Shilton reels loaded with 300 yards of braided backing. Breakage fees are $150.00 per rod or reel. You’ll supply the fly lines, fly tackle, and flies. The Lodge has a range of fly lines, flies, and other items for sale should you run out. A comprehensive tackle and gear list is included in our confirmation packet.
A Fishing License is included in the package.
Angler with Milkfish
A Typical Fishing Day:
7:00 am - Buffet-style breakfast.
8:00 am - Anglers are ready to head out to fish.
Midday - Enjoy a packed lunch on the water. The skiffs have cooler boxes with ice, soft drinks, and water bottles.
4:30 pm - You’ll head back to the Lodge.
6:00 pm - Pre-dinner drinks.
7:00 pm - Dinner.
First Season Highlights from 2020
In May of 2020, they wrapped up their first season at the Atoll.
Season Highlights 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!
Farquhar Guest House
The Guest House (Lodge) consists of a main dining building and three duplex-style chalets, with six bedrooms facing the lagoon. The Lodge was rebuilt after a hurricane in 2016 and was back up and running in 2017.
Meals at Farquhar Atoll
The air-conditioned dining area has a fully stocked bar.
Meals: Buffet-style breakfasts, packed lunches for fishing, chef-prepared meals featuring Creole and international dishes, fresh fish daily, and fruit and vegetables from the Alphonse island garden.
Beverages: Packages include soft drinks and mineral water. Local beer and a basic selection of spirits and wine are available for purchase.
Chalets on Farquhar Atoll
The three duplex-style chalets have a total of six air-conditioned bedrooms. Each room has two twin beds or one double bed, a mini-fridge, and a private ensuite bathroom with plenty of hot water via solar panels. Daily housekeeping is provided with free laundry service every third day.
Bedroom
Power: The chalets have 24/7 solar-powered 220-volt electricity (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 of talk time).
Weather: Seychelles is typically hot and somewhat humid, with the midday temperature hovering at 35 degrees Celsius (95 F°). Evenings are invariably warm, except for the first and last few weeks of the season, when there may be a strong, cooling breeze.
Getting to Farquhar Atoll:
If you have a United States passport, you need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) to travel to the Seychelles. Seychelles also requires Mandatory travel health insurance.
1.) Getting to the Seychelles, you must first fly to Dubai. Dubai is the connecting hub for all international flights from the United States.
2.) From Dubai, you'll take a 4.5-hour connecting flight to Mahe. You'll need to arrive in Mahe the day before the start of the trip. (The hotel night, meals, and ground transfers in Mahe are not included in the package.)
3.) 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. (The roundtrip charter flight between Mahe and Farquhar is included in the package, a $3,950.00 value p.p.)
4.) From the Atoll's small landing strip, you'll take a 15-minute tractor-trailer ride (true-island-style) to the Lodge.
Farquhar's Endless Flats
Most of the fishing is done by wading some of the best flats in the Indian Ocean. 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.
Request a Farquhar AtollInformation Packet.
2024 and 2025 Rates:
2024 USD Rates:
7-nights and 6-days guided fishing
Two anglers per room and boat:
$14,200.00 per person
One angler per room and two per boat:
$18,190.00 per person
Upgrade to one angler per boat:
Add $3,900.00 per person
Subject to availability, two per week.
*Rates above include the IDC flights between Mahe and Farquhar.
2025 USD Rates:
7-nights and 6-days guided fishing
Two anglers per room and boat:
$14,976.00 per person
One angler per room and 2 per boat:
$22,326.00 per person
Upgrade to one angler per boat:
Add $3,900.00 per person
Subject to availability, two per week.
* Rates above include the IDC flights between Mahe and Farquhar.
The Packages Include:
• IDC charter flights between Mahe and Farquhar
(a $3,950.00 value)
• Land-based lodging on Farquhar Atoll
• Meals, soft drinks, and mineral water at the Lodge
• Daily housekeeping
• Daily laundry service
• Wi-Fi at the Lodge
• Guided fishing
• Use of fly rod, reel, and 300 yards of backing
• Fishing license
• Use of snorkeling gear.
The Packages Do Not Include:
• International flights
• Hotel nights, meals, and ground transfers in Mahe
• Fly lines, tackle, and flies
• Beer and alcoholic drinks
• Phone calls/phone cards
• Gratuities for guides and Lodge staff
• Mandatory Trip Cancellation Insurance
• Mandatory Travel Health Insurance
• Mandatory Medical Evacuation Insurance
(We recommend Global Rescue.)
• Island Conservation Fee of $210.00 p.p.
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.
• Fishing with Larry adds a 2.5% convenience fee to all credit card transactions as of 12/2020.
Farquhar Policies:
Required Indemnity Form: All guests are required to sign an indemnity form once on location.
Deposit Policy: A 50% deposit within two weeks of booking confirms your reservation. Final payment is due 90 days prior to your arrival.
Cancellation Policy: A 10% fee shall be levied if cancellation is made more than 180 days prior to arrival OR if the reservation is moved to an alternative date within the same year. A 50% fee shall be levied if cancellation is between 180 and 90 days prior to arrival. A 100% fee shall be levied if cancellation is 90 days or less prior to arrival.
Private island bookings require a 50% non-refundable deposit with final payment 90 days prior to travel. All cancellations and provisional bookings must be confirmed in writing. Bank fees associated with refunds are for the clients’ account.
Sample Itinerary:
Day 0: You'll arrive in Mahe and stay overnight at a hotel of your choice (not included in the package.)
Day 1: You'll take the flight from Mahe 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 Mahe and, in the evening, your international flight home. If desired, you can stay another night in Mahe (not included in the package).
Day 0: You'll arrive in Mahe and stay overnight at a hotel of your choice (not included in the package.)
Day 1: You'll take the flight from Mahe 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 Mahe and, in the evening, your international flight home. If desired, you can stay another night in Mahe (not included in the package).