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 or two decades Christmas Island has been considered one of THE GREAT bonefishing destinations of the world, especially as far as catching sheer numbers of these great flats fish are concerned. The huge areas of flats of the inner lagoon offer many miles of warm, knee to ankle deep wadeable flats, with more bonefish than you can imagine. The numbers of shots you�ll get here in an average week far exceeds any other bonefish destination in the world. |
| I've wanted to go to Christmas island for a long time but for me the cost from Australia has always been prohibitive as you had to fly via Honolulu. In the last few months Air Pacific have started a new route flying Sydney - Nandi - Christmas island once a week. This has several obvious benefits, cost savings are one and the others are travelling time is reduced so fishing time is increased. |
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In 2006 I will be leading several groups through our winter months. There�s not really any prime season here. The island is a few degrees north of the equator, consequently the weather remains stable pretty much year round with variations coming only from prevailing weather patterns. It lies in the trade wind belt so expect it to be windy at times but it can also glass off. |
| There's a hell of a lot beyond just the bonefishing to like about this place. It�s very remoteness way out there in the mid Pacific appeals to anyone with even a little adventure in their soul. Its a large flat island surrounded by a reef shelf but without a surrounding lagoon, the lagoon is in the north west. On the reef shelf there�s some outstanding bonefishing with the Pacific surf crashing in front of you. |
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In the lagoon there are more flats than you could poke a rod at in a year, one of them is known as the "Nine Mile" and another massive flat is called "Goes Like Hell". All the fishing here is wading and a rod between a 6 and an 8 is advisable, loaded with a tropical floating line and tipped with a 12 foot tapered leader. Flies are pretty simple and sparse but you can purchase them on the island for $2.00 ea. as most of the guides tie them. |
| The guides are just terrific - very professional and very well trained by Florida flats guides from the US. Many of them can throw a line better than most of their clients but they are quietly humble about it and certainly don�t fish unless you invite them to. Their eyesight is phenomenal and they all speak English. |
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The accommodation is simple and cooled by a sea breeze at night, air-conditioned rooms are available - the beds are made daily and fresh towels are supplied. The food is good, there�s plenty of it, but its not a gourmet tour (until the night we have the traditional island feast). |
| Those who went with me in 2005 considered this trip to be the highlight of their fishing lives. In 6 fishing days we caught more than 800 bonefish - the best was up around 10lbs and 30+ fish days per angler were not uncommon, all caught wading and many of the guys wandered off and found their own fish while the guide was with the other angler. By the end of the week you want to be seeing your own fish and making the right cast retrieve etc. You share one guide between two anglers but for an extra fee (approximately $70 per day - it varies amongst the top guides, for example Moana Kofe is $110 US a day) you can have your own guide. The lagoon is accessed by boat and in your week of fishing (6 full days 2X half days) you spend 5 days fishing the lagoon by boat and the others fishing either the Korean Wreck (Oceanic flats) or the inner lagoon. |
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I will be returning in 2006 with several groups taking the new route via Nandi. Dates - Depart Sydney 13th June arrive CI 14th June 6am fish half day and 6 full days, after fishing the morning we depart CI afternoon of the 20th to overnight in Nandi and return to Sydney on the morning of the 21st. Trip 2 - Depart Sydney 11th July - same fishing details as above to return to Sydney on the 19th of July. |
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Total cost including air fares, ground transport, twin share accommodation, guiding, 3 meals per day, accommodation and transfers in Nandi - Au$ 3,990.00 I will be leading these groups in conjunction with Tobaraoi Travel, specialists in travel to the Republic of Kiribati.
For bookings contact Otila on otila@tobaraoi.com or ring on 02 92325511. Have your passport details ready to make a reservation. Or you can contact me for any further information. |
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