Christmas Island - August 2013

Back in April 2012, discussion started on the saltwaterflyfishing forum about a forum trip. After a brief discussion the destination was agreed upon - Christmas Island. Since Air Pacific (Fiji Airways) started flying there once a week this has become a favourite destination for Aussie flyfishermen. Given the numbers of forumites that put their hands up, a week at The Villages was locked in, and additional rooms secured at Ikari House. Both these lodges had a good reputation as far as lodging, food and most importantly guides, and very quickly there were 20 people signed up. The week was the 1st week of August, 2013, leading up to the new moon, optimal tides according to Andy, who has been there countless times. I managed to book my flight (Brisbane-Sydney-Nadi-CXI/CXI-Nadi-Brisbane) using Qantas frequent flyer points, a total of 60,000. Then all I had to do was wait 12 months, tie a few flys, and get some gear ready.

On the 30th of July 2013 I boarded the BNE-SYD flight, and in Sydney met up with part of the group. We then flew on to Nadi, and after a 4 hour stopover we boarded the Fiji Airways 737 to Kiritimati, together with all the other guys. The overnight flight was uneventful and at 6:30 am on the 31st July we landed at Cassidy International Airport, Kiritimati Island. It was a rather rundown shed.

 
After collecting our bags and paying the US$50 fishing license we boarded the bus to the Villages.

Nial was there waiting for us and gave us a quick briefing, then after a quick breakfast we were off fishing.

My guide for the day was TK and he was very good, shook off the cobwebs and caught plenty of bonefish, a few goatfish (new species) and lost a number of triggerfish. 

We finished the day chasing triggers and GTs and I managed to catch a Titan trigger after pulling it out of it's hole:

Shortly after there was a phenomenal bust-up on the flats about 100m from where we were, by the time we got there it was all over, all that remained was an oily slick. There were still a few GTs around and one swam into view and smashed the fly -  shame about the water on the lens.

Great first day, and back to the lodge for yellowfin tuna sashimi and cold Heineken beer.

Next day Ieru and I walked from 8:30 until pickup at 16:30, starting at Y-site and ending at Nine Mile - Moana's walk. We were pestered by boobies, caught plenty of bones and had 5 shots at big GTs, cracking day:

Next day it Eketi and I walked to Huff dam via London channel, another great walk with heaps of bones and more shots at cruising GTs, some in the 80lbs class

The days that followed went by in a blur, a different guide every day. I got taken to new flats every day, some shallow, some deep, some coral edges in the backcountry and some lagoon pancakes.

Every evening the pre and post dinner banter was great, and we also managed to catch up with the guys staying at Ikari House a few times. They were having a ball as well.

The last day dawned and I was fishing with Tetaua again. Plan for the day was big bones and hopefully a GT or two. Well he managed to deliver on the bonefish:

We ended up at Huff dam late in the afternoon, and on approach we could see that there was some action happening, massive explosions in the water. As we got there the first thing I saw was a panic stricken milkfish leaping out of the water with a big GT hot on it's tail - Game On!!!

At the dam Warren was already in position, keeping as low a profile as possible. Rick and I took our spots and waited. Sure enough the GTs announced their approach with a series of massive bust-ups, and then a squadron came racing through close to the dam. We all put our casts out, I gave my fly a quick retrieve to get it to sink, and as the bow waves approached I started the retrieve. Then it happened, a huge mouth engulfed the fly and next thing the 12 weight was bent double, the flyline gone, and backing streaming out under a fully locked up drag on the Abel Super 11/12N. After 8 minutes of bare knuckle fight the big GT was in hand - well over 50lbs.

It was very docile while we took pictures and after a brief revive swam away

 

Tetaua managed to film half the fight:

What a great end to the trip, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face on the ride back. Back at the lodge the news was that our plane the next day wasn't coming, and no-one knew when. We were stuck on the island, and later that evening we heard we might fly out the Friday or the Saturday... What do do - go fishing!

The next 3 bonus fishing days proved fantastic, once we heard that we were going to be flying out on the Saturday. I took them as they came, no pressure, no expectations, and managed to catch plenty more bones including a lovely 8lber, plus more triggerfish. 

The last afternoon was full of missed opportunities, Beia took me to a spot I named Trevally Alley - the current pouring over off a flat proved a magnet, and I had a total of 8 shots at GTs to 80lbs, and between fluffed casts, spooked fish, changes of direction and outright misses by the fish it didn't come together, but what a way to finish off.

 And then it was time to leave - the last day was spent packing up and relaxing, everyone was fished out and had no interest in fishing that morning. Then off to the airport and goodbye Kiritimati

Great week, great fishing (150+ bonefish, 2 types of triggerfish, big GT, and 9 new species), great company, and 3 bonus fishing days!!! Even though it was windy all week (15-20knots most days, stronger occasionally), we were still able to fish well, but we didn't make it offshore or to the Korean Wreck. Apparently the sailfish were on the bite, guess that's a good enough reason to return!

Gear and Flies

• I took 4 rods and used 3, a Sage TCR #6, Sage Xi3 #7, and a prototype Sage #12. The TCR #6 with a Scientific Anglers Redfish WF6F was outstanding, and the clear Monic WF12F helped with the GT, allowing me to use a shorter leader to turn over the bulky fly
• Reels were an Abel S6 (outstanding), Sage 4280 (excellent), and an Abel S11/12N (outstanding)
• I could easily have just used 4 types of fly for the week, here they are in order of preference and success:

 

 

The fly that did the damage on the GTs was my version of the "Chook on a Hook":