Article Highlights:

  • Cosmoledo Atoll is considered the Giant Trevally (GT) capital of the world, with GTs regularly exceeding 100cm
  • Bonefish in Alphonse and St. Brandon’s average 6–7 lbs. with some topping 10 lbs.
  • Triggerfish, permit and milkfish offer rare and challenging targets for sight-fishing enthusiasts
  • Accessing Seychelles atolls requires private flights and expedition-style logistics
  • Tigerfish in inland Botswana and Tanzania deliver fierce freshwater action reminiscent of tarpon

 

 

In the remote corners of the Indian Ocean, where land is sparse and tides still follow their ancient rhythms, lies a fly fishing paradise like no other. The Seychelles archipelago and the coastal fringe of East Africa are home to some of the planet’s most explosive and elusive saltwater gamefish. Among them are the legendary giant trevally, or GT, the elegant bonefish and rare prizes like permit and milkfish.

Fishing outfitters, like African Waters and FlyCastAway, specializing in ultra-remote African destinations like Cosmoledo, Astove and Farquhar help anglers go toe-to-fin with the wildest fish in the bluest seas. These atolls offer unpressured fisheries with near-mythical biodiversity.

Cosmoledo has earned its name as the GT capital of the world. The flats shimmer with life and the strikes come fast and brutal. Anglers from around the globe make pilgrimages to these shores, seeking the heart-pounding rush of hooking into giant trevally that exceed 100 centimeters.

Ryan Hammond, FlyCastaway’s operations director, recounts a dream-catch. “The fish stripped a lot of backing through a lagoon before it was subdued and measured at 111cm. It was a GT of a lifetime.”

 

Giant Trevally, Bonefish and Triggerfish

Giant trevally are apex predators. Aggressive, intelligent and ferociously strong, they dominate reef edges and drop-offs. Hooking one is a battle of skill and strength. The angler’s cast must land precisely, and the retrieve must provoke a reaction. When it happens, there is no mistaking it. The surface explodes. The reel screams. And the fight begins.

Keith Clover and Rob Scott, co-founders of African Waters (formerly Tourette Fishing), have shared valuable insights into their fly fishing experiences across Africa.

“My passion for Africa, its wilderness areas, the fish and wildlife these areas support, and the people that rely on them is what motivates me,” said Clover.

But GTs are only the start.

Bonefish, sleek and silver, cruise the sand flats in small schools, offering anglers the purest sight-fishing experience. Known as the “ghosts of the flats,” they spook easily, demanding soft presentations and stealthy wading. Stalking these fish in ankle-deep water under a tropical sun defines fly fishing perfection.

Alphonse and St. Brandon’s Atoll are particularly famed for their bonefish populations. Gerhard Laubscher, founder and CEO of FlyCastaway, calls St. Brandon’s “the best bonefishing on the planet for both numbers and size.”

“During the best weeks of the season, anglers have landed multiple bonefish over 10 pounds, with the average ‘school’ fish weighing between 6 to 7 pounds,” he added.

Such numbers are almost unheard of in the fly fishing world and are a testament to the pristine nature of these waters.

The variety continues with triggerfish, bold, colorful and maddeningly tough. These fish haunt coral flats, biting down on crustaceans with crushing jaws. Hooking one is a delicate game. Their mouths are small, their eyesight sharp and their behavior erratic.

Permit, by contrast, are the holy grail. Shy, unpredictable and excruciatingly difficult to hook, they’re known to drive seasoned anglers to obsession. Milkfish, vegetarians of the flats, provide the ultimate surprise: a bonefish-like body combined with tarpon-like power and aerial antics.

Barracuda, too, patrol the channels. Lightning-fast and armed with razor teeth, they crush flies in violent strikes that make every cast a gamble. And then there’s the wilderness factor. Each cast takes place in untouched, aquamarine ecosystems where reef sharks, turtles and manta rays roam.

 

Access Is Tricky

Accessing these waters is no simple endeavor. Reaching places like Farquhar or Cosmoledo often requires private charter flights, long-range boats or mothership operations. Many FlyCastaway trips operate under tight permit systems or exclusive-use agreements, enhancing the fishing quality and protecting sensitive ecosystems from exploitation.

It’s this blend of remoteness and richness that sets these waters apart. The visual nature of the experience — sight-fishing across vast, crystal-clear flats — is part of the allure. Seeing a fish, stalking it, delivering the perfect cast and watching the take are as thrilling as they are technical. The skill required turns each catch into a badge of honor. Every fish is earned.

Scott explains that everything depends on where the ocean-dependent fish are holding at any particular time. “Not enough fresh water in the mouth might mean that they are not entering the system or holding 45 meters off the beach. It doesn’t matter how skilled a saltwater fly angler you are it would just be impossible to get a fly in front of them.”

And it’s not just the Indian Ocean. Inland waters hold their own excitement.

 

Inland Waters

In Botswana and Tanzania, the infamous tigerfish lurk beneath the tannin-stained waters of the Zambezi and its tributaries. Often described as Africa’s freshwater tarpon, tigerfish are blisteringly fast and strike with a ferocity that splits leaders and snaps rods. Their dagger-like teeth can slice through baitfish and fly lines alike. These freshwater predators are best pursued from drift boats, casting toward riverbanks where the current meets structure.

Back in the salt, the seasonality of these atolls keeps the fishing fresh. Weather windows, moon phases and tides must align. When they do, magic happens. One week might deliver record-breaking GTs. Another might offer dozens of triggerfish. Each trip is a roll of the dice in nature’s greatest aquatic casino.

 

The Global Rescue Connection

If you’re fly fishing in remote areas like the Seychelles, you know there’s no WiFi, no cities and no crowds. Just water, wind and the electric silence that comes before a strike. That’s the essence of fishing in the waters of Africa. And that’s why those who experience it return changed.

From battling Giant Trevally to chasing tough triggerfish, the possibilities are as vast as the waters. But with unforgettable fishing adventures come real-world risks, ranging from minor injuries like bites, stings and cuts to more serious concerns like dehydration, heat stroke, cardiac episodes or spinal injuries. Being prepared with proper medical evacuation protection transforms these potential setbacks into manageable moments, allowing anglers to focus on the experience, not the emergency.

That’s where a Global Rescue membership becomes essential. In destinations where local healthcare may be limited, or evacuations are complex, Global Rescue provides the support needed to ensure safe outcomes. Whether you’re an individual angler or a professional outfitter, partnering with Global Rescue adds a layer of confidence and protection to every expedition.

As Yellow Dog Flyfishing’s Jim Klug advises, “Travel smart and be prepared. Regarding medical evacuation and security insurance, my recommendation is to never leave home without a Global Rescue membership.”