The Guides
The best guides in the Seychelles are on-site – and with Cameron, Serge, Christiaan, and Wayne, probably the most renowned and experienced ones. I know them all well now, and I like them all: Each has their unique style.
The Team
Furthermore, we anglers are an amazing group. I meet Jörn again, this time with his wife Ulla, and there's also Ronny, Sam, and Sarah.
The Fishing
We have only five full days left: We lost one due to weather, and on the arrival day, we were all exhausted. However, we know that we'll have a spring tide. I know this from my first fishing experience on Astove. That's when the surf usually becomes active.
The lagoon is full of bonefish this time. Personally, I focus on the gangsters of the flats: I love fishing for GTs! – Even though it's great to catch bonefish one after another. I prefer the GTs and keep an eye out for rays and dark shadows. Particularly noticeable is the large number of bonefish in front of the surf. At times, there are schools of 100 fish weighing over 10 pounds. In between, I also catch a bonefish or two. Their fighting strength is truly extraordinary.
Seychelles Grand Slam. On the third day, Serge and I achieve a "Seychelles Grand Slam." That means: catching a bonefish, a triggerfish, and a GT in a single day!
Every day is insane! I never hook less than 7-8 GTs, and in total, I catch 27 GTs in these five days.
I have an extraordinary day with Serge in the surf, where we spot the GTs from a distance and I can almost perfectly cast to each one. I also fish with Cameron and Christiaan in the surf, where the GTs come after rays in very shallow water.
Then comes the day with Wayne at the wreck in the surf. After lunch, Wayne shows me a spot and encourages me to make a few "blind casts" into deeper water. I go to the designated spot, and there's a ledge there. With coral blocks and bommies everywhere, I think it'll be hard to land a fish there. Then I see a huge GT riding a wave! I only see its tail fin and its back in the foamy water. It's clear to me that this is a trophy fish. I call Wayne and start casting in its direction. The GT immediately approaches, misses my fly, but apparently doesn't see me. A few more casts, and it comes at full speed, attacking my fly with brute force. Wayne recognizes who we're dealing with and instructs me to fight the fish as hard as I can. I don't need to be told twice. With all the coral blocks – I hardly believe in a chance. I give the fish hardly any line and hold it so tightly that I'm almost at the breaking point. I manage to turn the fish completely in the wave twice, and it goes into the backing just once. It doesn't manage to dive deeply anymore; I've given it everything I've got. When the fish starts turning towards the shallow water, Wayne already has it by the tail fin. In three or four minutes, it's landed: It's 120 cm long. Wayne and I are overjoyed. Afterwards, we look at the spot a few more times and still can't believe it.
Everyone has an amazing week and enjoys the beautiful weather and incredible fishing. Everyone catches their dream fish. On the second-to-last day, Jörn catches a substantial GT measuring 117 cm – I can hear his shouts of joy all the way to the other side of the lagoon!
