COSMOLEDO FISHING REPORT
The festive period on Cosmoledo delivered an exceptional blend of prime conditions, dynamic tides, and unforgettable fishing and diving experiences. From full-moon spring tides that dried the flats completely to calm neap tides offering prolonged access to lagoon systems and reef edges, the atoll showcased its full range of exceptional experiences and magic. Across December, guests experienced explosive giant trevally action, challenging triggerfish encounters, rare permit moments, and world-class diving, all set against some of the best weather Cosmoledo sees all year.
Giant trevally were the undisputed stars of the festive period on Cosmoledo. Across the four weeks, an extraordinary number of fish were landed in a wide range of environments, from shallow surf zones, skinny flats, lagoon edges and deep outer reef drop-offs. A total of 82 GT’s were landed over the period. Father-and-son pair Laurent and Joseph D both landed GTs on their first day in the surf, while Joseph added multiple triggerfish to his tally. Michael R landed his first GT on fly, opening the door to several more as the week progressed. Ethan C closed the week in style with a 104 cm GT on the final day.
Ralph E-C took full advantage of having the flats largely to himself, landing several GTs despite windier conditions. Anne-Marie C also crossed over into fly fishing, landing her first-ever GT on fly, a special festive milestone. Chris and Henrick, no strangers to the outer islands, focused on targeting larger fish during spring tides, landing a solid number of GTs across the week. Offshore bait balls added another layer of excitement as GTs fed aggressively alongside tuna. Henrick’s persistence was rewarded with two metre-plus fish on his final day of 113 cm and 115 cm, respectively. Chris landed a hefty 98 cm fish and rounding out an exceptional end to the year.
Triggerfish featured strongly early in the festive period, rewarding patience and precision on the flats and surf edges. Joseph D enjoyed a standout week, landing 2 moustache triggers and his first yellow-margin trigger measuring 54 cm. Laurent D also landed his first yellow-margin trigger, while Michael R and Andrew D both celebrated their first moustache triggers.
Permit remained elusive, as expected on Cosmoledo, but persistence paid off for a select few during the festive stretch. Ian H dedicated a significant amount of time to permit fishing during his time on Cosmo. After multiple sightings and close calls, he successfully landed a 65 cm Indo-Pacific permit, only to later add another one to his tally on the same day the previous year, closing both the week and the year with one of fly fishing’s most prized species. The ever-present plus-sized bonefish kept our anglers very busy during quieter periods on the flats.
Offshore and reef fishing added depth and diversity to the festive experience on Cosmoledo. Henrick J landed a memorable dogtooth tuna on a fly, a rare and highly prized catch, particularly on a fly! Michael R landed a striking Napoleon wrasse, while Andrew D and others encountered a variety of reef species that highlighted Cosmoledo’ s extraordinary biodiversity. Henrick also added a powerful 130 cm barracuda to his tally.
Diving played a major role throughout the festive period. Coralyn G completed an impressive 16 dives in a week alone, while Oliver and Carole each logged 12 dives throughout their stay. Guests encountered manta rays, tiger sharks, reef sharks, potato bass, dogtooth tuna, and countless reef species across pristine dive sites. Snorkelling, island walks, birding excursions, and beach clean-ups added to the holistic Cosmoledo experience, reinforcing the atoll’s balance of adventure, discovery, and conservation. Highlights included encounters with red-footed boobies, mangrove ecosystems alive with sharks and turtles, and unforgettable dune sundowners overlooking the lagoon.
From explosive GT fishing and rare permit successes to trophy triggerfish, deep-water battles, and exceptional diving, Cosmoledo delivered a festive season that perfectly captured the essence of this remote atoll. Stable weather, productive tides, and low guest numbers allowed for deeply personal and enriching experiences across both fishing and leisure activities. December on Cosmoledo once again proved why this atoll stands among the world’s most remarkable wilderness destinations, a fitting and unforgettable way to close out the year in the outer islands.
