Originally decided against posting this but I wanted this to be a thank you to the people who were involved.
The last time I went fishing was in December of 2017. We went to Ft Lauderdale and Miami to visit a friend and ended up getting a charter for the day and had fun catching groupers. Prior to this I had only made a dozen trip for some local steelhead.
From 1998 to 2012, I was averaging 60 – 80 days a year chasing Salmon and steelhead all over Washington and Oregon. Working in a very stressful environment, this was my way of relaxing. Until the joy became a chore and a headache not worth doing.
So I decided to take a break from fishing because it was not fun anymore. Every spot I visited got more and more crowded and saw less of the friendly faces.
Ran in to more unethical fisherman snagging and poaching but had the balls to sit there and dish out crap about how commercial guys were running the fisheries. Trips to the river was becoming more and more cumbersome and the fear of coming back to find my vehicle vandalized for what, a couple of dollars and some mints. So I now had to carry a gun for protection from people and no longer animals.
Got rid of the boat and a half of my reels and rods along with other fishing gear.
Really never fished for food and gave away most of the catch or released; also had a steady supply of seafood from a very generous employer who allowed us to sample fish and crab from all corners of the world.
October 3, 2018.
I received an email from my former boss who I have not really spoken with in the past three years since he sold his company and retired. The header on the email said I need a wingman to join him in a trip to the Seychelles and needed an answer soon so he can make the reservation and by the way the trip will cost you nothing.
My initial response was thanks but can’t, have too much to do at work and have huge audits coming up. He said the trip is not until March of 2019, so you have 6 months to get ready.
With all the planning and the money, he spent for the two of us to take this trip it ended up to be a disappointment for him because he got sick on another trip and was not able to make this one. It was a life threatening illness. We tried to find a backup and was very unsuccessful with only 10 days left before we had to leave. Night before catching my flight to Dubai, he found a guy to take the trip.
What this trip ended up to be was a reflection. It brought me back into fishing, meet a new friend and removed the negativity of this sport I had witnessed prior to hanging it up. This is also a thank you to the person who gave me this trip and my new outlook on what fishing was about; Thank you.
7 nights/days of guided trip on a remote island with 5-star service in lodging and fishing.
Itinerary
Day 1: Leave Seattle for Dubai (16.5 hrs)
Day 2: Arrive in Dubai with 6-hour layover to catch a flight to Mahe, Seychelles (4 hours)
Day 3: Spend the day/night exploring Mahe
Day 4: Catching a charter flight from Mahe to Farquhar (2.5 hours)
Meet guides and have them inspect all the gear to make sure they will stand up to the beatings from the GT’s. Followed by free DIY fishing on the island.
Day 5-10: 7:30 leave the lodge to fish the flats, and return at 5:00 PM for cleanup and dinner with other guest. (max of 10 fishermen 1 guide for 2 fishermen).
Day 11: Pack and leave for the airport (1/2-mile tractor ride to the landing strip) About 8 hours of free time in Mahe/ Victoria to shop and explore before catching our flight back to Dubai.
Day 12: Arrive in Dubai with 4-hour layover.
Day 13: Leave Dubai for Seattle
Day 14: Arrive in Seattle
Enjoy the pics.
Landing in Mahe
Charter flight to Farquhar
Getting close
Farquhar on the left
Google Map of Farquhar
The plane has landed
Our guides waiting for our arrival
Pilot first
Farquhar airport and our transportation.
Our guides.
Super friendly and very knowledgeable.
Drone shots of
Kitchen / dining room
Our lodge (2 man room with tons of storage and 2 showers, one inside and one outside.
Boat launch
The lodges pet GT's
Our boat (blue one is for staff catching dinner)
View from room
Drone shot of property
Bluefin Trevally
Joes 1st GT
Why you need a heavy duty flats boots
Joes 2nd GT
Joes 1 meter GT
1st YF Tuna on a fly
First Bonefish
Litter even makes it to paradise
No shortage of coral
Following the ray for GT's
No shortage of turtles either. From small disc to small vw bug size.
Heading back i nafter a day of fun i nthe sun
The pets.
They know where the food is
Back on the limo to the airport
Victoria
The last time I went fishing was in December of 2017. We went to Ft Lauderdale and Miami to visit a friend and ended up getting a charter for the day and had fun catching groupers. Prior to this I had only made a dozen trip for some local steelhead.
From 1998 to 2012, I was averaging 60 – 80 days a year chasing Salmon and steelhead all over Washington and Oregon. Working in a very stressful environment, this was my way of relaxing. Until the joy became a chore and a headache not worth doing.
So I decided to take a break from fishing because it was not fun anymore. Every spot I visited got more and more crowded and saw less of the friendly faces.
Ran in to more unethical fisherman snagging and poaching but had the balls to sit there and dish out crap about how commercial guys were running the fisheries. Trips to the river was becoming more and more cumbersome and the fear of coming back to find my vehicle vandalized for what, a couple of dollars and some mints. So I now had to carry a gun for protection from people and no longer animals.
Got rid of the boat and a half of my reels and rods along with other fishing gear.
Really never fished for food and gave away most of the catch or released; also had a steady supply of seafood from a very generous employer who allowed us to sample fish and crab from all corners of the world.
October 3, 2018.
I received an email from my former boss who I have not really spoken with in the past three years since he sold his company and retired. The header on the email said I need a wingman to join him in a trip to the Seychelles and needed an answer soon so he can make the reservation and by the way the trip will cost you nothing.
My initial response was thanks but can’t, have too much to do at work and have huge audits coming up. He said the trip is not until March of 2019, so you have 6 months to get ready.
With all the planning and the money, he spent for the two of us to take this trip it ended up to be a disappointment for him because he got sick on another trip and was not able to make this one. It was a life threatening illness. We tried to find a backup and was very unsuccessful with only 10 days left before we had to leave. Night before catching my flight to Dubai, he found a guy to take the trip.
What this trip ended up to be was a reflection. It brought me back into fishing, meet a new friend and removed the negativity of this sport I had witnessed prior to hanging it up. This is also a thank you to the person who gave me this trip and my new outlook on what fishing was about; Thank you.
7 nights/days of guided trip on a remote island with 5-star service in lodging and fishing.
Itinerary
Day 1: Leave Seattle for Dubai (16.5 hrs)
Day 2: Arrive in Dubai with 6-hour layover to catch a flight to Mahe, Seychelles (4 hours)
Day 3: Spend the day/night exploring Mahe
Day 4: Catching a charter flight from Mahe to Farquhar (2.5 hours)
Meet guides and have them inspect all the gear to make sure they will stand up to the beatings from the GT’s. Followed by free DIY fishing on the island.
Day 5-10: 7:30 leave the lodge to fish the flats, and return at 5:00 PM for cleanup and dinner with other guest. (max of 10 fishermen 1 guide for 2 fishermen).
Day 11: Pack and leave for the airport (1/2-mile tractor ride to the landing strip) About 8 hours of free time in Mahe/ Victoria to shop and explore before catching our flight back to Dubai.
Day 12: Arrive in Dubai with 4-hour layover.
Day 13: Leave Dubai for Seattle
Day 14: Arrive in Seattle
Enjoy the pics.
Landing in Mahe
Charter flight to Farquhar
Getting close
Farquhar on the left
Google Map of Farquhar
The plane has landed
Our guides waiting for our arrival
Pilot first
Farquhar airport and our transportation.
Our guides.
Super friendly and very knowledgeable.
Drone shots of
Kitchen / dining room
Our lodge (2 man room with tons of storage and 2 showers, one inside and one outside.
Boat launch
The lodges pet GT's
Our boat (blue one is for staff catching dinner)
View from room
Drone shot of property
Bluefin Trevally
Joes 1st GT
Why you need a heavy duty flats boots
Joes 2nd GT
Joes 1 meter GT
1st YF Tuna on a fly
First Bonefish
Litter even makes it to paradise
No shortage of coral
Following the ray for GT's
No shortage of turtles either. From small disc to small vw bug size.
Heading back i nafter a day of fun i nthe sun
The pets.
They know where the food is
Back on the limo to the airport
Victoria
