The last edition I closed with an optimistic outlook at this now past month of March, but it all went to pieces by the situation in the Near East. With around 60% of flight seats to Seychelles funneling through the `sandbox´ the impact on our tourism industry is massive, and that half of the remaining capacity will dry up soon as several airlines stop flying here after Easter as every year doesn`t help either. The rest of the seats are through Kenya or Ethiopia, so not an attractive option for may travellers looking forward to a seamless and relaxing holiday trip. On top these few flight options have become very expensive, and the sort of desperate activity of Air Seychelles to fly tourists in and out in their smaller planes with stopovers in Egypt for refueling and with a plane from Etihad to Paris seem a drop on the hot stone. So tourism here, from hotels to car hires, boat charters and all else, was and is suffering an endless stream of cancellations right during one of the busiest periods of the year. Very bad for a place so dependent on tourism obviously, and quite depressing. But the trouble doesn`t stop here as also most of our imports from foods to energy usually come from the gulf region. Once more it shows how vulnerable this amazing little country is to external developments beyond it`s control. To the fishing side of things which was also heavily impacted: along the early days of March we were pleased to see David back who had fished here with regular Armin before. For his first trip on the 3rd he brought his wife along and with Mervin they went to the Drop Off. Strong current made fishing difficult and the weather was such that his company refrained from having that again.

For the following two days Mervin paired him with Oren, who had been his guest along a couple of days before. The weather was no better on the 4th, but catches were by numbers. They also even found a few more, small though, Tuna.

The day after I came along an that was a good move as the weather had gotten much friendlier, and on top the fishing was decent: about all fish were presentable quality, and the Sharks were not too much of a headache. This was a really nice and enjoyable trip.

From then on it got very quiet for Mervin, and also from what I could see and hear for about all the other boats. Only Greg had several more trips. Some of them with German first timer Jan, who got a decent GT among other fish, and described himself as totally infected. That`s what we like.

Less lucky was returner Matthias on the 11th. Same as last year the activity was very low all morning. But the very last cast produced him this Bluefin Trevally at least and saved the day.

Totally different fortune for Julien who I also had set up for a half day popping with Greg. Catching 3 of those Bluefin Trevallies and on top 2 GTs he was simply over the moon.

Mervin had a couple more trips towards the end of the month and sent these pics.

And again Greg had his annual group of Germans. Fishing around the islands they got some stuff, and as the weather had turned really nice meantime, they also fished the Drop Off. Current was strong, but the bite was good. Just wherever they went the Sharks were right on their heels, so about all better jigging fish that could not just be winched up from the depths were taken, and the number of jigs lost subsequently crazy. But that Sailfish came on jig near the surface and topwater casting worked nicely for those Dorados, so not all was bad.

Sunday then they went with an American family, also new in this kind of fishing. As it goes, two Sailfish came same time and were successfully released, the angler`s next dream of a Wahoo came true, and also the wish for a dinner Dorado was fulfilled. Pitch perfect.

So no lack of fish here as usually. But if reason does not prevail in that sandbox the sooner the better, it looks we will eventually be happy to have these to eat.

For the preceeding reports check the archive.