Christmas Island Fly Fishing Vacation
Country Pleasures has been booking trips to Christmas Island since 1986 and we have been there many times. If you are interested in experiencing this very special place, contact the shop. We can give you first hand information about Christmas Island and its tremendous fishing. We would be happy to help you plan and book your fishing adventure to Christmas Island.
Christmas Island Fishing
On Christmas Eve, 1777, Captain James Cook discovered an island in the central Pacific Ocean a short distance north of the equator and some 1300 miles south of the Hawaiian Islands. Given the time of discovery, he named the island Christmas Island. When Captain Cook discovered the largest coral atoll in the world it was uninhabited and inhospitable. That has changed now.
In 1979 Christmas Island gained independence from England as part of a country called Kiribati (pronounced 'Kiriboss'). Shortly thereafter, word began to get out that the island had some serious potential for sport fishing for bonefish. Frontiers, a specialty travel agency in Wexford, Pennsylvania, sent Rick Ruoff, a famous Florida Keys guide, to Christmas to test the potential of the island as a destination for bonefishermen. After spending some time there, Captain Ruoff reported back that Christmas Island had some of the best bonefishing anywhere. Frontiers made an arrangement with the Kiribati government and began sending anglers to Christmas in the early 1980's. Today Christmas Island is recognized as one of the best bonefishing destinations in the world. The flats of Christmas are extraordinarily extensive, with bonefish of a huge variety of size, unlike virtually any other destination. All of the fishing at Christmas is done by wading, casting to sighted fish in the clear, shallow water. The flats are almost uniformly firm sand bottom and are easily waded. The bonefish are very numerous, with large fish being a relatively common occurrence.
Christmas Island Fishing Packages and Details
The week at Christmas Island begins on Monday morning with departure from Honolulu. On arrival at Christmas, all travelers clear Kiribati immigration and customs. Anglers at Christmas Island are accommodated in the Captain Cook Hotel. After clearing customs, all anglers and their luggage are transported from the airport to the hotel by van or truck. The hotel is located a short drive from the airport. The hotel consists of a main building - which contains guest rooms, the dining room and the bar - and a number of bungalows scattered down the beach facing the reef. The bungalows are small duplex units, each side of which can accommodate two anglers, complete with private bathroom and shower, twin beds and a small refrigerator. Upon arrival at the hotel, all guests check in, claim their luggage and go to their designated room to move in. After unpacking and assembling tackle, all guests meet in the dining room for a short orientation from the head guide, and then it is off to the flats for the afternoon's fishing. There is a large blackboard in the dining room that is used to display the angler/guide pairings for each day, as well as the transportation to be used for the day and the anticipated fishing venue.
Anglers are put into groups of four, with two designated guides assigned to the group. The designated guides are rotated around during the week, so each group of anglers will fish with a variety of guides. Each angler is entitled to four 'skiff' days and three 'shorefishing' days during the week. On skiff days the anglers go to flats inside the central lagoon by way of boats, departing from the village of London. On shorefishing days anglers are taken by trucks from the lodge to flats that can be accessed by road. The flats at Christmas are so extensive that it is unlikely that any angler will fish the same flats twice in the course of the week.
The day at Christmas usually starts early, with breakfast being served in the dining room starting at about 5:30 a.m. Breakfast is served either by order or by buffet, and consists of typical North American dishes like eggs, bacon, ham, pancakes, fruit, cereal and juices. Every morning there is also a buffet table laid with sandwich fixings, and each angler makes his own lunch from the buffet table. The lunches are then put into the cooler on the transport prior to departure for the fishing day. Each truck and boat also has a cooler with drinking water available to the anglers and guides.
The fishing day usually starts by 7:00 a.m. and extends until approximately 3:00 p.m. or a little later, with anglers being returned to the lodge by 5:00 p.m., giving everybody plenty of time for a drink, a shower and swapping some stories before dinner. During the day anglers will wade flats, hunting for bonefish and trevally. The guide will walk with the angler, helping to spot fish. Anglers will move from flat to flat during the day, either by truck or boat. Typically you will cover a great deal of area during each day's fishing.
On most days there is a 'happy hour' on the beach prior to dinner staring at about 6:30 p.m. Dinner is taken in the dining room on most evenings, with the fare typically being a buffet of various meats, fish, vegetables and salad. On one evening dinner is served in a luau style, complete with native dancing and singing following the meal.
* For package pricing fill out the form to the right or contact Country Pleasures at (403)271-1016 or email us.
Rates
Fishing at Christmas Island is booked by the week, Tuesday to Tuesday (as of October, 2005). The week's excursion is currently priced at $2936 (US), (as of November, 2005)based on double occupancy in the room and one guide for each two anglers. The package price includes all airfares from Honolulu to Christmas Island return, all accommodation and meals while on the island, all transfers on the island, and guiding services for six days fishing. The price is subject to change without notice.
Accomodations
Anglers at Christmas Island are accommodated in the Captain Cook Hotel.
Trip Dates
New dates to be announced soon...
Special Notes
For package pricing fill out the form to the right or contact Country Pleasures at (403)271-1016 or email us.
