Providence Atoll, Seychelles

Providence Atoll is one of the most exciting destinations we offer in the Indian Ocean. Hardly visited and mostly exploratory it is a fisherman’s paradise focusing on giant trevally, bluefin trevally, bumphead parrotfish, triggerfish and bluewater species.

A true wilderness experience to fish untouched flats for giant trevally, triggerfish and bumphead parrotfish.

The mother ship Mayas Dugong will meet the group at Farquhar where anglers and their gear are transferred via tender boats. It is a six hour sail from Farquhar to Providence and in that time the guides will help you set up and check your kit.

Providence Atoll consists of two Islands, Providence North and Cerf Island. These are surrounded and separated by vast sandbanks, flats and channels offering adventurous anglers a hugely diverse array of fishing scenarios. The atoll is 55km long and 14km wide offering some 345sq km of fishing. Providence offers superb flats fishing for bonefish, Indo-Pacific permit, giant trevally, barracuda, milkfish, triggerfish as well as bumphead parrotfish, and countless other species.

The populations of large bonefish feed to the rhythm of the tides. They move to the shoreline on the ebb, and spread out onto the far reaches of the flats on the flood. On both North and Surf Islands bonefish of 10lb and over have been landed. The GT fishing can be equally exciting with one notable afternoon session, where a group of anglers caught as many as 35 GTs in a few hours. On one occasion an unfortunate angler had his fly rod bitten in half by an 8ft barracuda.

To say that it is wild place is an understatement. Providence is an unbelievable destination and is one of the last truly unspoilt fishing destinations left on planet earth. Providence’s bluewater fly fishing can be equally spectacular, with large numbers of sailfish, dogtooth tuna, yellowfin tuna and wahoo often found just off the reef edge, allowing anglers the opportunity to take a break from fishing the flats whilst still standing an excellent chance of landing a trophy pelagic.

Aboard the Mayas Dugong

Accommodation is on board the Mayas Dugong, an ex-research vessel which has been upgraded and modified into a mother ship catering for long range fly fishing expeditions.

She is rustic but can accommodate up to 12 fly fishermen, four guides, as well as eight crew and four security. She can store and transport four tender boats on her spacious aft deck and because of her large size and high fuel storage capacity, the Maya’s Dugong can cover long distances at good speed and comfort in almost any sea conditions. There are seven cabins, all with en-suite facilities. The interior is air-conditioned the common rooms well sized. The food is fantastic with a mix of Creole and international cuisine.

“Outsize bonefish, milkfish, bluewater stuff, you name it, this remote part of the Indian Ocean has got the lot.”  H.G.

Undiscovered Fishing Paradise

According to the authorities who govern this tropical paradise, less than 1,000 people have visited the atoll over the last 100 years.

Providence Atoll is situated 380 nautical miles SSW of the main island Mahé and is just short of being the most southerly atoll in the Seychelles group.  Farquhar is the closest island to Providence that harbours an operational airstrip.