A fortnight on Farquhar that will live long in the memory. The opening week welcomed nine old friends from the US for an epic guys’ trip, while the closing week brought ten anglers from the US, Ireland, and Spain, most stepping onto the flats of Farquhar for the very first time. The atoll produced trophy after trophy, including a 114 cm bumphead parrotfish that became the biggest of the season, four GTs over a metre in the closing week, and a true fish of a lifetime that simply has to be seen to be believed.
The GTs set the tone from day one. Barry opened the week with three in a single session, and by day three Scott, Stephen, and Jeff had each added one, with Jeff’s being his very first. Day four saw Jeremy stack five and Oliver claim angler of the day with three of his own. Day five became one of the finest GT days of the season, with the entire group connecting, William landing his first ever GT among them. Jeremy added another on the final day, and David sealed his very first GT in the dying moments of the trip. A wonderful 32 GTs closed out the week.
The defining moment belonged to Stephen. Paired with guide Chad, he hooked a brute on a turtlegrass flat just as a storm rolled in. Through pouring rain and lightning dangerously close to the boat, he brought the fish to the net at 100 cm on the dot, then landed a second GT in the same session for good measure. Week two raised the bar yet again. On day one Vince, Javier, and Cam each ticked their very first GT, with Cobb and Fiske also among the early scorers. The highlight belonged to David, who made a beautiful cast at a large GT on the outside of the surf, watched it empty the reel into the backing and charge the coral maze, before finally taming it at 104 cm for his first ever trophy GT.
Then came day three, and a fish that will live in Farquhar lore for years. Vince, armed with a small black tarpon seaducer, suddenly had a giant in front of him with no time to change flies. The first strip drew a refusal, the second triggered a furious eat, and with the small hook hanging in the balance, guide Chase and Vince played the fish with extraordinary care before sliding it into the net at a staggering 124 cm. A fish of a lifetime. The action continued through days four and five, with Bill landing his first ever GT, Cam landing a stunning 100 cm fish, and Fiske capping his week with a 102 cm trophy from a current line that magnetises GTs along the surf. 29 GTs for the week, with an exceptional four over a metre.
The closing week ended with a touch of permit magic from Javier. After just two shots on the lee of the atoll, he watched the fly sink and the fish eat, and with a clean sand and turtlegrass bottom underneath he slid a 60 cm permit into the net to finish his week with an absolute bang.
The bonefish provided steady action throughout. Week one produced 27 fish to the net, including William’s first ever bonefish at 61 cm, Barry’s stunning 63 cm trophy on day four, David’s first ever bonefish in the Seychelles, and a beautiful 60 cm trophy for Stephen. Week two added 13 more, providing a welcome change of pace alongside the trophy GT hunt.
The bumphead delivered one of the standout moments of the fortnight. After losing a large bumpy on day one and another earlier in the same session, Barry was hungry for revenge on day three. He hooked into a true tank, kept the leader clear of the coral, and watched guide Gerry slide it into the net at a record 114 cm, the biggest bumphead parrotfish of the entire season. Scott had added a solid bumpy on day two, and Oliver rounded out three for the week. In week two, Jed took one from a tailing group on the turtlegrass flats on day two, and Cam added his first bumpy on day three alongside the famous 124 cm GT session.
Two beautiful goldens were landed in the opening week. William found a group of tailing goldens on day four, laid a perfect cast, and landed his very first golden after a spirited fight. Stephen added the second on day five, a brilliant complement to his trophy bonefish from the same outing. Jed brought a touch of trigger diversity to the closing week, landing the only moustache triggerfish of the fortnight on day five.
Two weeks, two wonderful groups, and a fortnight on Farquhar that delivered the kind of fishing this atoll is dreamed about for. From a 114 cm season record bumphead and a 100 cm GT landed through lightning, to a 124 cm fish of a lifetime and a fairytale closing permit, this was a fortnight stacked with milestones, trophies, and moments that simply do not happen anywhere else. To every guest who joined us, thank you for sharing the water. We look forward to welcoming you back to Farquhar very soon.