As an angler (and guide) it is very easy to become focused solely on the end result; that being to land large numbers of fish or one specific trophy fish. The special moments shared between anglers, guides and their quarry are often overshadowed by this. Whether fly fishing is your pastime or your profession, no amount of fish or success can ever take away that one memory shared between friends as they enjoy what brought them together in the first place. These images illustrate some remarkable fish landed and venues fished, but more than that they are a glimpse of the moments that will be cherished forever by the people who were there.
An epic tussle!
The moment of truth. All anglers and guides dream of the moment when the trophy comes to hand.
Elation. It is clearly evident.
A little luck! Barracuda of this size are notoriously difficult to land at the best of times; never mind landing it without a wire bite leader.
Virgin territory. One of the first bonefish landed on St Brandon’s Atoll on FlyCastaway’s first exploratory…We were soon to realise there would be many, many, many more to come.
Anticipation. Providence Atoll…..one of the most remote and ‘insane’ fisheries in the Indian Ocean, sadly the piracy has put a hold on our operations here, for now …
Clouds of fish. Yes, that grey shadow is bonefish (and yes, it is St Brandon’s).
Team work makes the difference, not only in handling big fish, but also in spotting them (as can be seen here with one ecstatic angler and two very relieved guides)!
Take a break. Lunchtime in paradise. In between hectic fishing sessions, it’s healthy to take 30 min just to chill a bit.
Good friends. Well acquainted guide and client enjoying the teams’ first landed bumphead parrotfish on Farquhar Atoll.
“Location X.” Scanning the water for rolling tarpon at an infamous venue.
What a “poon”! Landing big tarpon on fly is an emotional experience.
Mission top secret. On the way to the honey hole, Sterkfontein Dam, South Africa.
After-hours. Two guides enjoying some deserved off-time at Sterkfontein Dam, South Africa.
Golden characins of South America. Not even the language barrier can ruin this moment.
Hooked! After years of waiting to hook into one’s first South Island brown, New Zealand.
