St. Brandon’s Atoll Here We Come!

As long as todays threatening winter storm moves out of here by tomorrow morning, in 24 hours I’ll be on my way to St. Brandon’s Atoll off Mauritius.  This spectacular chain of islands and endless flats, also known as, Cargados Carajos Shoals, is home to some of the finest Indo-Pacific permit fishing on the planet and holds many of the largest bonefish in the world.  Not to mention, giant trevally (GT), bluefin trevally, golden trevally, island trevally, brassy trevally, Picasso triggerfish and more.

 

St. Brandon’s is about as far as you can go for fishing from the USA.  It is our antipodes.  For example, if I traveled straight through the center of the earth, I’d pop out pretty close to St. Brandon’s in the southern Indian Ocean.  My journey to get there breaks down like this:

 

Leave my house at 8:30 am for the Duluth Airport – 90 minutes’ drive

Duluth to Minneapolis – 40 minute flight

Minneapolis to Paris – 10 hours flight

Paris to Mauritius – 12 hours flight

Mauritius Airport to Port Louis – 1 hour drive

Take a 48 hour break!

Then,

Port Louis to Île Raphael, St. Brandon’s – 28-30 hour boat ride

 

To sum up the travel, I leave home tomorrow (Friday morning) and my first cast won’t be until Wednesday eve, USA time, or Thursday April 9^th, Mauritius Time.  This is if seas and weather allow our boat to leave on time.  Mauritius is 9 hours ahead of Hayward, Wisconsin.

 

Is this grueling mix of car time, air travel and potential seasickness worth it?  Absolutely!  My first amazing trip here took place in 2017 and I was back a year later in 2018.  If it wasn’t for Covid, I’m certain I would not have waited till now for my 3^rd trip.

 

St. Brandon’s Atoll is a destination by my good friends at FlyCastaway of South Africa.  I am hosting here for Yellow Dog Flyfishing.  While it will likely be a few years before I host here again, this is a destination you can book through Yellow Dog at any time.

 

Other than an update upon my arrival in Mauritius, it’s unlikely the actual fishing blogs will appear until I return to civilization on April 23.  This remote destination advertises “No Internet” and considered the ultimate place to unplug and enjoy this remote wilderness.  However, I will be writing and photographing this trip day by day and will post the daily adventures upon my return.

 

If you feel the need to fish the furthest destination on the planet, contact me and Yellow Dog and we will get the ball rolling.

 

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing