Discover
The Drop-Off
Welcome to the most competitive and
versatile fishing grounds in the Indian Ocean.
Denis Private Island lies about 95 kilometres (60 miles) north of Mahé, at the edge of the Mahé plateau – an underwater plateau that plunges down from an average depth of 60 m around the granitic inner islands, to about 2000 metres into the depths of the Indian Ocean. This abrupt change of depth is known as “The Drop Off” and is just 15 minutes travel time from Denis Island.
The marine topography surrounding Denis Island is richly structured, with many reefs and elevations attracting bottom fish, trevallies and schools of juvenile fish – which, in turn, draw in pelagic predators such as sailfish, tuna and black marlin.
The dramatic change in the ocean bed at the nearby Drop Off will take you out over the blue water and into the feeding grounds. This dynamic marine environment produces abundant and often record-breaking game fishing. Trolling along this oceanic ledge you can expect to find some of the best fishing worldwide, with frequent catches of pelagic species such as sailfish, tuna, dorado and marlin.
This multitude of submarine environments means that our team of skippers and anglers are some of the most skilled in the region, and are highly familiar with the best performance conditions in any given season. Taken into consideration with our world-class boats and fishing equipment, it is clear that Denis Private Island offers ideal conditions for an amazing variety of fishing experiences, making this island destination a paradise for both the versatile and the specialised angler.
The fishing near Denis Private Island is credited as being one of the best locations in the world to target back marlin.
Few places on earth can offer anglers as good a shot at hooking a black marlin and thus completing the coveted IGFA Royal Slam (catching all species of billfish in the world).
“It’s hard to beat the fishing off this ultra-exclusive Indian Ocean resort.”
– MARLIN MAGAZINE
IGFA OFFSHORE SUPER GRAND SLAM
The waters surrounding Denis Island offer your best opportunity to land an IGFA Offshore Super Grand Slam: hook a billfish, a yellowfin tuna, a dorado and a Wahoo – all in one day!
World-Class Fishing Pedigree
No Grueling Travel Itineraries: Fishing from the inner islands of Mahé and Praslin may take over an hour to reach the Drop Off. Denis Private Island is just 10 minutes from one of the most abundant marine eco-systems on earth.
The Lure of Variety: Discover the subtleties of a range of different fishing styles – trolling for big game is far from the only type of fishing offered. Jigging, popping or bottom-fishing can be an exhilarating challenge in these waters. For a unique historical experience, a traditional Seychelles hand-line is one of the most satisfying ways to fish, in the very manner that was practised from the days of old.
On the Fly: Fly-fishing can also be enjoyed, but guests are requested to bring their own equipment. Fly-fishing can be practiced from shore on certain points of the island where bonefish can be targeted, whereas blue-water fly-fishing from a big game vessel is also an interesting venture to try.
Inclusive: Our experienced skippers can accommodate all levels of experience and reduced travel-time at sea means that holidays for fishing, romance and family don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Top 12 Species to target at Denis Island:
1. Blue, Black & Striped Marlin
2. Sailfish
3. Yellowfin Tuna
4. Wahoo
5. Dorado
6. Dogtooth Tuna
7. Barracuda
8. Grouper
9. Snapper
10. Giant Trevally
11. Bonefish
12. Indo Pacific Permit
When is the Best Time to Fish?
Fishing is a year-round endeavour on Denis Private Island and one fishing variety or another is guaranteed to be available for you to try, no matter the season.
Sea conditions may be choppy between the end of May and end of September, but this also makes it the best period to troll for marlin and sailfish.
Black marlin, blue marlin, as well many other pelagics, can be caught all year-round, including during the notably calm periods in March/April and October/November, for a much more comfortable trolling experience for beginners.
Bottom-fishing also tends to be a more pleasant experience during these months, but can be enjoyed virtually any time from September to May.
The management of Denis Island Private and its fishing teams strictly abide by a catch-and-release policy for all billfish. Our team has received the most conservation Tag & Release awards from TBF (The Billfish Foundation) of any resort in the Indian Ocean.
Certain zones immediately surrounding Denis have been granted protected status and fishing is strictly prohibited in these waters. These areas have been identified as important and their protection contributes to the future health of fish populations. Please contact our staff to learn more about regulations concerning these areas.
Sea turtles have been granted official protection under Seychelles law and should not be caught or molested irrespective of their location.
Spear fishing is not allowed in Seychelles in order to protect the integrity of sea corals.
Sustainable Seafood: Ocean-to-Table
The restaurant at Denis Private Island is well known for it’s commitment to sustainable farm-to-table dining, which sources most fresh ingredients from the island’s own working farm. However, not to be overlooked is the bounty of impressive specimens of pelagic and reef fish yielded by guests or our angling team in the waters surrounding Denis Island.
This oceanic harvest is typically celebrated each week at our eagerly anticipated Japanese night, which showcases the head chef’s sea-to-table philosophy with a splendid display of ocean-fresh sushi and sashimi that never fails to delight.
Your catch-of-the-day may become our seafood-special-of-the-day, as our chefs frequently make use of guests’ latest catch to prevent wastage. If you have any special requests for how you would like your catch prepared, please let us know – or else allow the kitchen team to surprise you with delicately balanced fusion dishes prepared in European or traditional Seychellois style.
Contact us for more information:
Tel : + 248 4288963 – Email: info@localhost
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