
Christmas Island is undoubtedly the
best known international bonefishing destination on the planet;
what it’s not known for is the incredible diversity of angling
opportunities that abound in the largest coral atoll in the world,
from big bonefish to little bonefish, three species of trevally
-- golden, bluefin, and giant -- triggerfish, and myriad reeffish...even
wahoo, tuna and the occasional sailfish.
Christmas Island earned its
fame as one of -- if not the -- most prolific bonefish destinations
anywhere, and fly rodders have made this remote pacific atoll
a must-fish for saltwater fly fishing locales for decades. As the
world of international saltwater fly fishing destinations has exploded
in recent years, the Republic of Kiribati remains enamored in the
hearts of bonefish anglers everywhere - and it is still among the
best places anywhere to wade fish shallow sand and coral flats for
the mystic ghosts of the flats.
Christmas Island can be found
110 Miles north of the Equator and 1200 miles south of Hawaii.
It is a remote coral atoll where thousands of acres of white sand
flats are flooded by ankle-deep saltwater and covered with cruising
bonefish in the 2-6 pound range. Much of the magic and the attraction
for anglers at this South Pacific flyfisherman's Mecca is a result
of the combination of healthy and numerous populations of bonefish,
the chance for a trophy bonefish, easily waded flats and excellent
angling conditions nearly every day of the year...including the
winter months when many Caribbean bonefisheries are less productive.
Christmas Island stands untouched
in a world where commercial harvesting has cut deeply into
the quality of saltwater sport fishing. It's a maze of lagoons naturally
designed for flyrodding, with easily waded, shallow, white flats
offering near perfect visibility. It is a saltwater experience equally
alluring and rewarding to both the beginner and experienced fishermen
and is particularly easy for West Coast anglers.
Because Christmas Island is
so near the Equator, the weather patterns and angling are
reliable nearly all 365 days of the year. A trip to Christmas Island
is a must for flats fishermen and a welcome escape for snowbirds
searching for winter sun, fun and fish.

Bonefishing at Christmas Island
is done the way it should be: on foot. Fly fishers spend
the entire day stalking these wary fish, usually on solid, white-bottomed
flats that often stretch for as far as the eye can see. It is action-packed
angling by any standards, and experienced flats anglers recognize
that there is no place in the world that offers better bonefishing.
As an added bonus, there are
several other, less explored but equally appealing flats and bluewater
species available at Christmas Island. Not the least of these
is the infamous trevally. There are three different species of trevally
that can be targeted at Christmas Island: Golden Trevally, Bluefin
Trevally, and the notorious Giant Trevally. Golden Trevally are
rare and beautiful, can be caught on bonefish tackle - and quickly
remind anglers why having 300 yards of backing can be important!
Bluefin Trevally are some of the most beautiful flats species that
can be targeted on a fly, their iridescent blue color glowing with
an inexplicable electric quality that is refreshing after straining
your eyes for hours seeking to spot the nearly invisible bonefish.
And Giant Trevally are true monsters, growing up to 60 pounds or
more and ravaging every fish, fly, and un-prepared anglers they
come across, often appearing mystically on the deeper edges of the
flats and lagoons of Christmas Island. Anyone who is fortunate enough
for a chance encounter with a monstrous G.T. will not soon forget
it.
Another flats fish that has
been overlooked until recently is the Trigger fish. They
are powerful, fast and are found tailing on the flats. Their somewhat
comical look belies the fact that they are so game and will pull
line off of a reel until all one can see is backing stretched out
over the flats. But watch out; they have a nasty habit of diving
under coral and rock to break off.
In addition, there are daily
opportunities for a variety of different reeffish, including
sweetlips, grouper, parrotfish, and snapper. And adventurous anglers
have the option to go offshore and target milkfish, tuna, wahoo,
even sailfish.
Every fly fisherman should
make the pilgrimage to Christmas Island at least once. It
is one of those “life-list” destinations. Most will
want to return. The people of the island, its fish, and the quality
of the fishing casts a spell that will surely leave its mark on
you, as it has on hundreds of anglers.
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