Four weeks on a remarkable atoll, countless lessons, and a fishery few have ever exerperienced
After four weeks of guiding on the flats of French Polynesia, it’s good to be home. This season marked our first client trips to an atoll that has seen remarkably little fly fishing. Having the opportunity to be among the first to present flies to these fish was an absolute privilege, and an experience we’ll never forget.
The beauty of the atoll was simply incredible, while the sheer numbers of moustache and yellowmargin triggerfish patrolling the flats were unlike anything I’ve experienced before.
Landing six triggerfish in a single day became a genuine possibility—something that still surprises me when I think back. I’ve never seen a fishery quite like it.
It wasn’t without its challenges, though.
We quickly found ourselves stepping up to 30lb fluorocarbon to stand any chance of keeping fish away from the coral. It was another reminder that every fishery has its own technical lessons to teach.
The diversity of species went well beyond triggerfish. In fact, if you left your fly in the water for more than a few moments while waiting for the next shot, something was likely to eat it—from groupers to flounders. Yes, flounders on tropical flats. It was a first for all of us.
Perhaps the fish of the trip, however, was the incredible Napoleon wrasse that Len managed to pull clear of a cut in the reef. The fish engulfed a red-and-yellow Beast Fly tied on an Ahrex hook, and Len did an outstanding job applying maximum pressure from the outset, keeping it clear of the coral before it had the chance to reef him.
Yellowmargin triggerfish—my favourite flats species anywhere in the world—were also in incredible numbers. Despite almost certainly having seen very few, if any, fly anglers before, they were every bit as cautious and challenging as expected.
Patience, accurate presentations and a little persistence paid off, though, and we managed to fool several fish, bringing a couple of beautiful yellowmargins to hand.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the trip was the bonefishing. In my opinion, it offers some of the most exciting bonefishing I’ve ever experienced. We encountered fish from around 5lb into double figures, travelling as singles or pairs across coral-studded flats, often with sharks cruising nearby.
It feels like true hunting – spotting individual fish, planning your approach and making every shot count. The adrenaline is hard to beat, and the added bonus is that you’re sharing the same flats with yellowmargin triggerfish, so every opportunity could present a completely different challenge.
Bluefin trevally were everywhere, often sharing the flats with barred trevally and species we hadn’t encountered before, including the fascinating thicklip trevally—essentially a bluefin trevally with the unmistakably oversized lips of a golden trevally.
Giant trevally were also present, although not in huge numbers. Like any new atoll, they take time to understand, and unlocking their behaviour is all part of the process. We’re looking forward to spending more time on the fishery next season and learning even more about these incredible predators.
Availability Update
- French Polynesia 2027 is about to be fully booked, we will let you know about cancellations
- Galapagos Mar/Apr 27 is almost full
- One open week for Kenya Sailfish this Ocotober
- One rod on a shared week with 2 other anglers for Kenya Sailfish in Nov
- One Source to Sea Fly Fishing Safari in Kenya remains for Feb 2027
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