St. Brandon's Atoll Fly Fishing

Lodging Details
While originally a mothership-based operation, all guests that visit and fish St. Brandon’s Atoll are now accommodated in a spacious and centrally-located four-bedroom guesthouse situated on Raphael Island in the northern part of the atoll. While the guesthouse is not overly-luxurious, it is simple, clean, comfortable, and much more spacious than the live-aboard ship that was previously utilized for these trips. For the 2019 season, the transfer details to and from the island have changed significantly, which means that there will now be a maximum capacity of only six (6) anglers per week. The guesthouse features four bedrooms (allowing for two people to be single occupancy and four to be double occupancy), and two fully functioning bathrooms, each outfitted with showers, toilets, and hot running water. In addition to this, there are two outside showers. While the guesthouse and land-based facilities are fairly basic, they are indeed comfortable, with air conditioning in all of the bedrooms, spacious social and lounge areas, and a fully-equipped kitchen. There are new staff and guide quarters as well as a “saltwater mud room” area with freshwater facilities located right at the boat ramp. This area provides the ideal location for guests to “boot up” each morning and is the perfect place to rig, store, and clean all gear and equipment daily.

The water and boat transfers to and from Mauritius to St. Brandon’s Atoll will be changing beginning with the spring 2019 season. While over the past several years the operation has relied on two, 50-foot sport fisher vessels to conduct the 24-28 hour crossings, the rate to charter these vessels has continued to rise each season to the point where the operator was going to have to increase end rates substantially. Recently, however, Raphael Fishing (the partners in the St. Brandon’s project who run the ground operations) acquired two new supply vessels to service the small commercial fishing operation on the atoll, creating a new option to transport guests to and from the atoll in place of the smaller sport fishers.

From a crossing length point of view, the new boats do the crossing in the same amount of time as the sport fishers (+/-24 – 28 hours). Added to this, the St. Brandon’s guide team has done multiple crossings on these boats and they are confident the ride out to the atoll for guests will be more comfortable compared to the sport fishers. In the first place, the hull design reduces the rolling motion. Secondly, the cabins are air-conditioned and much more comfortable. And third, there is a large partially-covered back deck area that provides plenty of fresh air during the day.

Since the transfer boats are a bit cramped for eight guests at a time, however, the operator has decided to reduce the number of rods from eight guests per trip down to six guests per trip, running a back-to-back schedule whereby they are not losing days with the sport fisher transfers boats sitting in Port Louis, refueling and resupplying. Beginning in April 2019 there will have a boat departing Port Louis every Monday – arriving back in Port Louis every Thursday. That means it is still a 10-night program and all guests will still get seven (7) full fishing days. It also means we can now offer single room and single angler options on St Brandons!

Food and Beverages
Over the week, the guesthouse chef will prepare a mix of Creole cuisine and international foods that include meat, pasta, fresh vegetables, and fresh seafood. Although a selection of wine and spirits can be pre-ordered and pre-stocked before the trip, clients are more than welcome to bring their own bottles of preferred spirits. All mineral water, soft drinks, and local beers are included in the package price.

Typical Length of Stay
All packages are ten (10) nights with seven (7) days of guided fishing.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
The reason to make the trip to St. Brandon’s is to fish. There are absolutely no structured non-fishing activities on the Atoll, and – aside from wading the flats, walking the beach, or snorkeling – very little for the non-angler to do.

Internet / Communications
The hotels and many restaurants in Mauritius offer Wi-Fi for guests. Some U.S. cell phones may work in Mauritius as well. Once you depart Mauritius for St. Brandon’s, however, cell and internet service are non-existent. A satellite phone is recommended if the need to call home or if the ability to communicate is a factor. The guesthouse is equipped with an emergency satellite phone which can be used by guests for an additional cost.

AFRICAN SAFARI TRIP ADD-ON
SafariScapes works hand-in-hand with Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures to extend your fly fishing trips to include world-class African safari experiences. Whether fishing the flats in the Seychelles or fighting tigerfish in Tanzania there is no better way to top off a trip than with a visit to one of many beautiful safari lodges. At SafariScapes they work with you to plan a safari for family or friends that fits your interests and can support you in customizing itineraries as needed. From hot air ballooning to private aviation there is no limit to your dream safari.

How To Get There
The primary airport and access hub for St. Brandon’s is the international airport on Mauritius (MRU). Guests will need to fly into the main island of Mauritius the day before the trip begins and should overnight at a local hotel the night before. We recommend staying at Le Suffren Hotel & Marina, located in Port Louis, Mauritius.  This is the marina where the transfer boats will be docked, and the central location offers easy access to a host of restaurants, bars, shopping, and other activities.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
Guests are asked to fly into Mauritius the day before departure. It is possible to arrive on the island the day of departure, but be aware that you must land no later than 10:00 AM, as the transfer boat generally departs Port Louis for St. Brandon’s that same afternoon. There are more than a dozen daily international flights into Mauritius from several European and African cities. The boat will arrive on Raphael Island approximately 24-28 hours after departing Mauritius. Guests will then receive a briefing from the head guide and set up gear and rods before heading off onto the flats for the remainder of the day (generally a full day of fishing). Guests will then spend the following six (6) full days out on the flats. On the day of departure back to Mauritius (the eighth day), guests will have the opportunity to fish until around 12:00 PM, following which the transfer boat(s) will then head back to Mauritius at around noon, arriving in Port Louis sometime between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM the following day. Although every effort is made to stick to this schedule, weather and other factors associated with remote locations of this nature can affect timing. We ask all guests to go into this trip with an open mind towards the logistics, appreciating how remote a venue St. Brandon’s really is and what a privilege it is we are allowed to fish these waters! Return international flight can be booked which depart after 8:00 PM on the end date of the trip.

Documents Required
All U.S. citizens are required to have a valid passport that does not expire within six (6) months of trip dates. Please be sure that your passport has at least two blank, unstamped pages remaining in the back, and that it is not torn, delaminated, or damaged in any way. UK, US, EU, and RSA passport holders do not require a visa for entering the country of Mauritius for vacation purposes.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes.

Travel Tools
- Travel Insurance
- Moon Phases
- Airline Ticketing
- Rent This Rod
- Global Rescue Membership

General Information
Upon arriving at St. Brandon’s after the ocean crossing from Mauritius, no time is wasted getting you onto the flats. The guides immediately put their vast Indian Ocean experience and planning to work, allowing you to fish and explore the Atoll’s huge expanse of pure white sand flats and broken coral islands, all of which are infested with large, native bonefish. We can testify from personal experience that this is the most spectacular bonefishing you will ever encounter. On most tides, anglers can expect to see huge schools of bonefish as well as enormous singles and doubles. Over the past few seasons, this fishery has delivered bonefish that measure up to nearly three feet (87 centimeters) fork length, weighing in excess of 15 pounds. Aside from the Atoll’s huge bonefish, St. Brandon’s may also be the most productive Indo-Pacific permit fishery in existence. When specifically targeting these notoriously finicky fish (the Indo-Pacific permit is just as difficult as their Caribbean cousins) anglers are usually afforded multiple shots per day.

The giant trevally (GT or “Geet”) fishing can be quite varied as well. Some days you can see a fair number of these bruisers, and at other times none at all. St. Brandon’s isn’t a place where you are going to get shots at GT’s every day, but it is certainly the place to break the 100-centimeter (40-inch) mark with a trophy fish. The fish in this part of the Indian Ocean are typically large, which means that you will usually catch fish that are more likely to be over a meter than under. Geets well over the 150-centimeter (60-inch) mark have been hooked and landed over the past several years. Large Bluefin Trevally is also around, as well as golden, yellow dot, and green spot trevally.

The flats of St. Brandon’s are primarily made up of white compacted sand, which makes for easy and endless wading. This is one of the key things that separates this fishery from most other flats destinations in the world. And since almost all of the fishing will be done via wading, heavy-duty, high-quality protective footwear is essential. Although the sand flats are easy on the feet, there are certain areas that are made up of broken coral or littered with coral “bommies,” which means that standard diver’s neoprene booties and thin rubber-soled slip-ons are not appropriate. Guests will not be taken onto the flats without proper footwear. We recommend the Simms Vapor Boot or the Simms Flats Sneaker.

All trips to St. Brandon’s are hosted and guided by a team of world-class, professional fly fishing guides from South Africa. During your stay on the atoll, there will typically be four guides working, including one head guide. Each guide is a qualified skipper, has advanced first aid experience, and is extremely experienced with all facets of fly fishing in the remote saltwater destinations of the Indian Ocean. Their passion and dedication are infectious, and as a team, these guys will always go the extra mile in search of your fish of a lifetime. All of the guides are great instructors and 100% fluent in English.

Boats and Equipment
Boats used daily by the guides to access the flats are small 20-foot wooden “tenders” that are based on the atoll. These boats are used for transportation only, as almost all fishing on the atoll is done while wading. Anglers should plan on bringing all equipment such as rods, reels, extra fly lines, and quality, heavy-duty wading boots. The guides do have flies available for purchase at the guesthouse, and pre-organized fly selections can be pre-ordered for your trip through Yellow Dog. Single-handed 9-foot rods in 9 to 12-weights are recommended. All fly lines should be tropical floating lines. The guesthouse does have a limited selection of 8, 9, and 12-weight G-Loomis Rods and Shilton Reels that can be rented on a weekly basis. A comprehensive tackle and gear list will be provided by Yellow Dog after your booking has been confirmed.

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter. All prices listed below are per person and quoted in US Dollars.

2024 RATES

• $10,600 per person sharing for a 10-night/7 day fishing expedition
• Extended, two-week, back-to-back trip options (17 nights/14 fishing days) = $18,200 pp
• Single angler option is $2,500 per person, per week
• Single room option $2,500 per person, per week

*Note that while the back-to-back trips are long, considering how far you are traveling and the costs involved, this option is well worth it. Over the last few years, we have had more and more guests requesting extended trips and more fishing days, which is why this option is now available!

What’s Included:

• Full board and accommodation at the Raphael Island guesthouse based on two people sharing a room
• Round-trip transfers from Mauritius to Raphael Island aboard the transfer boat(s)
• 7 days of guided fishing (2 anglers per boat/guide)
• Three meals per day on the island and during transfers to the atoll
• All bottled water, coffee, tea, juice, and beer
• Mauritian fishing licenses
• Laundry services on the island
• All applicable taxes and GSTs

What’s Not Included:

• International flight to Mauritius (MRU)
• Gratuities for guides and guesthouse staff
• Liquor and wine (BYO!)
• Round-trip taxi transfer between the international airport on Mauritius and the hotel in Port Louis
• Meals and accommodation in Port Louis or any other en route cities
• Travel insurance and Global Rescue coverage
• All fishing equipment, tackle, and flies

St. Brandon’s Atoll (Mauritius)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
A deposit of 50% per person is due at the time of booking to hold both space and guides on all packages. No space or guides will be held without receipt of deposit. Full pre-payment is due 90 days prior to date of trip. All cancellations must be received in writing, sent to Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, LLC. For cancellations:

If a cancellation is made 12 months or more prior to departure, then 50% of the deposit received to date will be forfeited.

For cancellations made 12 to 6 months prior to departure, 50% of full charter rate shall be forfeited.

For cancellations made inside of six (6) months from start of trip date, full individual charter rate shall be forfeited.

Reservation for which payment are not received as on time as per the terms are subject to cancellation by FlyCastaway (FCA) seven (7) days after notification.

Rates are subject to change without prior notice

If a cancelled package is resold by either the operator or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be sent minus a $100.00 per person change fee charged by FlyCastaway (FCA) as well as a $100.00 per person cancellation fee charged by Yellow Dog Flyfishing. In the case of cancellation by the client, both deposit and final payment may be transferred to another guest or angler for those same (original) dates if facilitated and arranged by the client. The lodge reserves the right to cancel a trip due to bad weather conditions and safety issues. If this occurs, all efforts possible will be made to reschedule and re-book the trip package for a future date. At time of quote, water transfers, island fees and government taxes are correct but are subject to change without prior notice. Increases in any of these facets are out of the control of FCA and will be transferred to the client. Service providers used such as charter boat operators are independent business concerns and are in no way affiliated to FCA. Although all reasonable efforts will be made to ensure the smooth running of the tour, FCA cannot be held responsible in any way for bad or non-performance of service providers or for cancellation in total or in part due to bad weather or any other detrimental natural phenomenon, disaster, political unrest or war. All guests must have a comprehensive medical emergency evacuation insurance policy, as well as travel insurance policy to cover them for the duration of the trip. It is the right of the operator to cancel any booking without refund if the client is not adequately insured. Please be aware that all guests will be required to sign and return the FCA Reservation and Indemnity Form prior to the trip, and there will be no exceptions to this. No refunds can be made for unused arrangements or fishing time lost due to inclement weather. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for all FCA packages.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT. 

“Best bonefishing that exists anywhere in the world–bar none! Even with the iffy weather, we caught many, many bonefish of quality size (5 or 6 fish above 10lbs in the week) and most over 6 lbs. In addition, the fish are well fueled by the deep Indian Ocean waters and fight like there is no tomorrow. Rare is the fish that does not immediately take you into your backing even with the drags cranked down. There is a reason that most fisherman are repeat clients.” – Stephen N.

“My wife had never been saltwater fly fishing, within the first two hours she had her first bonefish landed and we both caught fish every day, multiple shots at Permit and GT’s, bonefish all day long, even chased some Milkfish on the flats one day. We caught 8 or 9 different species of fish on the trip, some I had never even heard of before. Caught the largest bonefish of my life and then as usual my wife caught one even larger. I have never been anywhere with so many large bonefish and so many different varieties of fish on the flats. It’s a really long way to go but well worth the trip, would go again in a minute, just wish I could be teleported there.” – Henry A.

“Better than expected. I did not believe that places like this still existed in the world today!” – Robyn H.

“Skinny water heaven.” – Terry G.

“This trip was absolutely awesome.” – Charlie M