Providence Atoll Fly Fishing Liveaboard
Fly Fish the Flats - Remote Indian Ocean
Providence Atoll lies 400 nautical miles south of Mahe and has remained mostly untouched, with fewer than a thousand visitors in the past century. After a recent six-year suspension on fishing, the Atoll reopened in 2015 with FlyCastaway Fishing Company. Providence is the largest fishable atoll in the Seychelles, and the least explored. And one of the best GT fisheries on the planet.
Providence Atoll - Seychelles
Providence Atoll offers exciting and diverse saltwater fly fishing. You'll wade and sight fish on seemingly endless pristine flats (up to 28.5 miles). The Atoll has an enormous lagoon system, countless channels and drainages.
The hardpacked white sand and turtle grass or coral flats make for easy wading. Huge shoals of bumphead parrotfish, various grouper species, milkfish, triggerfish, bonefish and big barracuda are also found on the flats. Offshore you'll target billfish,
yellowfin and dogtooth tuna, wahoo and GTs.
Milkfish have an incredible power-to-size ratio and execute spectacular aerial leaps, making it a demanding species to target.
Bonefishing: The Providence Atoll fishery caters to novice or highly experienced anglers alike.
Novices can target large numbers of fairly naive bonefish while the experienced rods hunt single trophy tailing bonefish, permit, and monster GTs.
YouTube Providence Atoll video.
Wading: Most of the fishing is wading. Anglers cover up to two miles a day over challenging terrain, so correct footwear is essential.
Protective flats wading boots must be worn (hard rubber soles with ankle support). Guests will not be taken on the flats without proper footwear.
The Outfitter: FlyCastaway Fishing Company has specialized in elite fly-fishing trips since 2004 and also operates:
• Farquhar Atoll
• St. Brandon's Atoll.
Atoll Fishing Facts:
Two Seasons: There are two fishing seasons: March through May and October through December.
Group size: 12 anglers per week and four guides. Three anglers per boat and guide.
Guides: The program has four world-class fly-fishing guides, three anglers per guide. These four young men speak English and are some of the most experienced fly-fishing guides in the Indian Ocean. They are experts in rigging, teasing, and the handling of bluewater fish. Each guide has a skipper’s license and is first aid trained.
Fishing Equipment: is not included in the package. A fly rod and reel rental is $100.00 per outfit per week. Fly lines are not included. A detailed list of what to bring is in our confirmation packet.
Fishing License: Fishing Licenses are not required on the Atoll. A Seychelles conservation license, $210.00 value per person, is included in the package.
Boats: Locally built panga-style tender boats are stored and transported on the liveaboard vessel to the Atoll. While you'll mostly be wade fishing, the boats are used for transport from the vessel to the fishing grounds and bluewater fishing.
Bluewater: At most anchorages, bluewater begins very close to shore, so it is possible to fish these waters from tender boats.
Surface fish for dogtooth tuna, barracuda, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, and an occasional marlin.
Guide and our client Bruce Tyson with sailfish.
Providence Atoll Liveaboard
The Liveaboard: Maya’s Dugong is a 135-foot expedition vessel. She sleeps 12 guests in seven air-conditioned cabins with a private bathroom and shower. Two guests per room. Laundry service is provided twice a week.
The liveaboard also has a large air-conditioned dining area and lounge, several outdoor decks, a spacious bridge, and an observation deck. The Maya’s Dugong boasts the most experienced crew in the region. The vessel’s large back deck provides ample room for gear storage and tackle setup. The vessel is ideal for these remote Indian Ocean fly fishing adventures as she can store the four tender boats.
Security: Providence Atoll fishing was suspended for six years due to piracy in the Indian Ocean. Though the risk of attack is considered low, there is three armed security personnel on board.
Meals: Hot breakfasts, packed lunches, and buffet-style dinners.
Alcohol: All beer, spirits, and wine are available for purchase onboard and do not include a 15% GST. You’re encouraged to bring your own alcohol from home or the duty-free store at the airport.
Communications: There is no Wi-Fi or cell reception on the Atoll. The Maya’s Dugong's satellite phone can be used for $5.00 per minute for incoming and outgoing calls.
Getting to the Liveaboard:
First, you'll need to fly to Dubai, which serves as a connecting hub for regular international flights from the United States. From Dubai, you’ll take a 4.5-hour flight to Seychelles International Airport on the island of Mahe. You'll arrive in Mahé the day before the start of the trip. In the morning, you'll take a two-hour charter flight on a Beechcraft 1900 to Farquhar Atoll. From the Farquhar airport, you'll take a 15-minute ride on a tractor and trailer (true island-style) to the mothership, the Maya Dugong. Once you've settled into your cabin, the liveaboard will begin the 4- to 8-hour sail from Farquhar Atoll to Providence Atoll. (The hotel night and ground transfers in Mahé are not included in the package. The 2-hour roundtrip air charter Mahe/Farquhar is included in the package.)
Typical Fishing Day:
7:00 a.m. You'll have a quick breakfast.
7:30 a.m. You'll head out to the flats to fish the first tide.
Midday: Anglers generally stay out on the flats with a packed lunch, especially if the prime tidal movement coincides with the lunch break. There is the option to return to the mothership for lunch if the tide allows. However, it is best arranged with the head guide the evening prior.
5:00 to 5:30 p.m. You'll return to the vessel.
7:30 p.m. A buffet-style dinner is served. Each evening, the guides and captain figure out the fishing tides for the next day.
2023 and 2024 USD Rates
Two Seasons: March - May and October - December.
Two guests per cabin, three anglers per boat
7-nights and 6-days guided fishing
$15,220.00 per person
($14,850 + $270 fuel surcharge + $100 Global Rescue insurance)
One angler per cabin add $2,500.00
Single cabins are based on availability.
Packages Include:
• Roundtrip charter flight between Mahe and Farquhar Atoll
• 7-nights on the liveaboard
• 6-days of Guided fishing
• All meals on the liveaboard
• Purified water, soft drinks, coffee, and tea
• Global Rescue $100.00
• Laundry service on the Liveaboard
• Fuel surcharge of $270.00
• Visitation permit fee.
Packages Do Not Include:
• International airfare• Ground transfers on Mahe
• Hotel night and meals and beverages in Mahe
• Alcohol--beer, spirits, wine
• Gratuities for guides and staff
• Fly rod and reel rental $100.00 per outfit
• Terminal tackle and flies
• Items of a personal nature•Satellite phone calls ($5.00 per minute)
• Travel insurance
• A GST of 15% will be charged on all goods purchased on the Liveaboard
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.
Providence Atoll photos
Farquhar Atoll Tractor Ride
From the airport on Farquhar Atoll, you'll take a 15-minute ride on a tractor and trailer (true island style) to the mothership.
Bruce Tyson with Giant Trevally
"Great trip! The GT is the most exciting fish I have ever caught. Sailfish was pretty cool too." - Bruce Tyson - 2018.
Bluefin Trevally
As these trips are primarily based on sightfishing the flats, having top-quality polarized sunglasses is a must. We suggest bringing two pairs with you.
Endless Wading Flats and Trophy Bonefish
The Atoll's hard white sand, turtle grass, or coral flats make for easy wading.
Exotic Species - Providence Atoll has it all!
Bring a Digital Camera with 5 million or more pixels, preferably waterproof. Bring your downloading cable so they can back up your photos every few days. Each guest is given a selection of low-res images from the week at the end of the trip.
Bumphead Parrotfish
For Bonefish, Triggerfish, and Bumphead Parrotfish, FlyCastaway, the outfitter, recommends a top-quality 9ft. 9wt. saltwater fly rod such as G.Loomis NRX or G.Loomis GLX CrossCurrent. A detailed tackle list is provided in our confirmation packet.
Providence Atoll Adventure
English-speaking guides have abundant knowledge and experience in successfully targeting Providence’s flats and offshore species. Offshore, target billfish, yellowfin, dogtooth tuna, wahoo, and GTs.
Arguably the finest GT flats fishery on the planet
Powerful and predatory, the GT is the bully on the block and hunts individually or in schools.
