Alphonse Island

Alphonse sits some four hundred kilometres southwest of Mahé at the northern end of a group that includes the vast St François lagoon, and the flats around it have made it one of the better known saltwater fly fishing destinations anywhere, for bonefish, giant trevally, triggerfish and milkfish across sand flats that dry at low water. One lodge operates on a weekly cycle tied to the tides and the charter flight.

History

Portuguese charts of 1562 named the whole group San Francisco, and Chevalier Alphonse de Pontevez of the French frigate Le Lys visited on 27 June 1730 and gave the island his own name, naming St. François the next day. The island's hotel was sold in 2013 to Alphonse Island Lodge and renovated in 2014 (Wikipedia, Alphonse Atoll).

What you'll find

• The St François flats - vast sand flats drying at low water beside the island.
• The fly fishing - bonefish, trevally and triggerfish across the flats.
• The atoll setting - a remote island four hundred kilometres from the capital.
• The reef - diving and snorkelling on the drop-off around the island.

When to go

October to May is the fishing season with the best weather. The lodge runs weekly cycles tied to the charter flight. It closes in the roughest months.

Practical notes

This is effectively a fishing lodge and costs run to many thousands per week. Access is by charter only on a fixed weekly cycle. Non-fishing visitors find little else organised.

Nearby

Desroches Island is north, and Mahé is northeast.

Key facts