Skinny Waters Exploration Trip: Socotra

Skinny Waters has just returned from an exploratory trip to a small, remote island off the coast of Socotra. The focus of this expedition was fishing both from the beach and in the blue water. As with any truly remote destination, access wasn’t easy—but the experience more than justified the effort.

We spent the first few days exploring Socotra with our rods still packed away. The island is home to an extraordinary range of plants and insects found nowhere else on Earth, including the Bottle Tree and the iconic Dragon Blood Tree—both nearly worth the trip on their own.

After wrapping up our time beach camping on Socotra, we boarded a boat for a 12-hour crossing to the island where we would fish for the next nine days. Our beachside base camp was surprisingly comfortable, with large tents, cots, and small mattresses that made for excellent sleeping. A steady ocean breeze kept conditions pleasant without negatively affecting the fishing.

This fishery offers two primary approaches for fly anglers: walking the beaches or heading offshore in a panga to target pelagic species. Along the beaches, we encountered parrotfish, triggerfish, permit, bluefin trevally, bonefish, snapper, and a wide range of other species. Offshore, the blue water held giant trevally, king mackerel, amberjack, tuna, and grouper. Giant trevally were the primary target, and teasing proved extremely effective at drawing these fish up from deep water.

On multiple occasions, we found ourselves in the middle of feeding frenzies, with king mackerel launching clear of the water in every direction. In these moments, fly presentations resulted in constant action and solid hookups.

For anglers seeking legitimate opportunities at triple-digit giant trevally, this destination stands alone. Reach out for more information on this extraordinary fishery—a place that, for now, remains intentionally undisclosed.