Bonefishing Christmas Island
Christmas Island, also known as Kiritimati is in the Republic of Kiribati in the Pacific not far away from the equator. It is about 3000 klm north east of Fiji and 1200 klm south of Hawaii. With the key island in the group being 3000 klm to the east, Christmas Island really is one of the most isolated places on earth.
Map of Xmas Island (Kiritimati)
There are just over 90 000 Kiribas people living on over 30 coral and sand atolls spread right across 5 million square kilometers of sea along the equatorial line Most are very poor as the islands and atolls are usually coral and sand and grow little crops. Employment possibilities are very very limited with government administration service, fishing and tourism being the primary opportunities both in the country and also on Christmas Island.
Most of the estimated 5000 inhabitants on the island have no or limited opportunity.
Fishing
Fishing tourism on Christmas Island is a major industry with a few thousand fishermen from across the world travelling to Christmas Island each year to indulge their fly fishing passion in bonefishing. The island has a large and shallow lagoon of about 400 square klm and it is home to healthy populations of large Bluefin, Golden and Giant Trevally with Wahoo, Sailfish, Marlin and Mahi Mahi found on the outer reefs and in blue water.
Bonefish Giant Trevally
As Christmas Island is just about right on the equator the weather does not change much year round. Median daily temperatures year round are approximately 30 with night times around 23. The area is a minimal rainfall year round with a touch more rain october to december.
It is naturally the wonderful Bonefishing that draws fishing travellers to Kiritimati with miles of shallow, warm lagoon to wade around often less than 2 ft deep and huge and hungry bonefish grazing in the top parts of the tide. Best conditions are found in light winds, with clear skies, incoming tide days after or before a new or full moon. Fly fishing is the most preferred strategy but Bonefish will also be caught with spin fishing outfits. Bonefish cruise through waters eating on the bottom and can spook very quickly so that the plop of a lure or slice can spook them off. Fishermen need to be well placed to cast exactingly to 40 foot and delicately lay down a fly next to the fish. Most Bonefish landed are less than 5 lb but large ones of twice that size are often landed.
Use of guides
It is very sensible to hire a local guide as their experience and understanding will catch you a lot more fish and when I was there I saw only 40% of the fish the guides saw. At about $50 a day it is well worth it and they need the work that fishing tourism brings to the island. Most accommodation lodges will arrange packages including a guide and lagoon boat but you have to bring all your own tackle as none’s available for hire or sale.
Beach front lodge Lagoon boat
Lodging
Accommodation on Christmas Island is in most cases clean and comfy but basic. Food will be abundant but not fancy and there are limited shopping facilities available. The Australian currency is the currency of use, power supply is 240v, water should often drunk from sealed containersand there aren’t any exotic sicknesses known.
Travel To Christmas Island
Air Pacific, The airline of Fiji is the one airline to fly to Christmas Islandand they do this only once a week from Nadi and Honolulu. All travel is on wednesdays only
Paul Collery runs Sports Fishing Adventures a company that focuses on all inclusive fishing travel. More info on Christmas Island fishing vacations can be located at Yuletide Island Bonefish
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