Anyone wanna go to Christmas island next winter?

Using the same bonefish fly/leader combo you can easily catch a dozen fish species on CXI. The trick is learning to recognize the fish species swimming into range, so you know how to present and strip the fly properly to entice an eat.
 
goinoregon said:
when you get a cloudy day with higher than avg wind, its much easier to see the triggers and go stalk them . in those conditions you and the guide cant see the bones
Click to expand...
Sounds like solid advise. I'm planning to bring at least 3 8 weights a 9wt and something for GTs
If I have room 2 9s and 2 10-12 weights. Just in case someone needs a spare
 
ifsteve said:
Do your due diligence. There are other locations that are about the same cost and have better fishing. And as others have said you need to really look at the entire cost picture. Its the flight from HI to Christmas that really ratchets up the cost. I have talked to many guys who have gone there and its still a pretty solid fishery. But its getting beat to death. There are now many groups that go and split it 50-50 with a guide and DIY trip. I really was considering going there next year as it would get me to HI, the only state I havent' been too, but after a lot of research chose a different location. Again, it may be the right choice for many. Just do your homework.
Click to expand...
Steve, curious what locations you are talking about....
 
Rob Allen said:
Sounds like solid advise. I'm planning to bring at least 3 8 weights a 9wt and something for GTs
If I have room 2 9s and 2 10-12 weights. Just in case someone needs a spare
Click to expand...
Just know that it isn't really practical bring more than 2 strung up rods out on the flats on any given day. The trucks and boats don't have room for more. Usually 4 guys to a truck/boat and they store the rods overhead. I thought I had a pic of the reel end but only found one of the tip end. This truck had room for 9. If you double up in a spot the reels crash into each other too much IMO. An 8 for bones and triggers and a 12 for GTs is pretty standard. I think if you plan to focus on triggers after getting bored with bones, replace the 8 with a 9.

Also don't be afraid to blind cast for bones if the weather sucks. We did it frequently and hooked a lot of fish.

CXI Day2 04.jpg
 
CanoeGuy said:
Just know that it isn't really practical bring more than 2 strung up rods out on the flats on any given day. The trucks and boats don't have room for more. Usually 4 guys to a truck/boat and they store the rods overhead. I thought I had a pic of the reel end but only found one of the tip end. This truck had room for 9. If you double up in a spot the reels crash into each other too much IMO. An 8 for bones and triggers and a 12 for GTs is pretty standard. I think if you plan to focus on triggers after getting bored with bones, replace the 8 with a 9.

Also don't be afraid to blind cast for bones if the weather sucks. We did it frequently and hooked a lot of fish.
Click to expand...
Excellent advice – I was thinking the same. I do take 3 on the boat though. And I leave a backup 8wt and 12 wt in their tubes at the lodge. I use an 8wt daily, plus a 9wt for triggers if it's handy but I often leave it in the boat if taking my third rod with me – a 12wt or now more frequently an 11wt.

I fish out of Ikari House so it's only a quick drive down to the beach and the guides simply hold any extra rods pointed of the back of the truck.

I broke an 8wt early in the day during my last week on CXI. Having the 9wt in the boat is definitely useful as bonefish backup. If I have a guide with me, I'll give him the other two rods as a 9wt is preferable for triggerfish.

I get over there a bit – I'll fish CXI four weeks over this year, and I've never wanted for anything else.

With the declining average size of GTs on Christmas, I've switched to an 11wt. I used to use an Epic 8'6" Boca Grande 12wt that was fantastic and forgiving (a great rod), more recently the Sage R8 Salt 12wt (since broken on a big Holbox m/tarpon).
 
Last edited:
CanoeGuy said:
Just know that it isn't really practical bring more than 2 strung up rods out on the flats on any given day. The trucks and boats don't have room for more. Usually 4 guys to a truck/boat and they store the rods overhead. I thought I had a pic of the reel end but only found one of the tip end. This truck had room for 9. If you double up in a spot the reels crash into each other too much IMO. An 8 for bones and triggers and a 12 for GTs is pretty standard. I think if you plan to focus on triggers after getting bored with bones, replace the 8 with a 9.

Also don't be afraid to blind cast for bones if the weather sucks. We did it frequently and hooked a lot of fish.

View attachment 189522
Click to expand...
I just meant bring them on the trip so there are spares if someone has an accident.
 
Love bones and gotta get a GT at some point. Unfortunately Xmas is not on my radar anytime soon.

That said, one thing I am curious about is if, or what, opportunities there might be to cast off the reef edge. Like is it even possible to stand on the reef and cast into open, deep water? What lives on the drop-off? Snapper? coral trout? dogtooth tuna? pelagics?.... Inquiring minds want to know!
 
SilverFly said:
Love bones and gotta get a GT at some point. Unfortunately Xmas is not on my radar anytime soon.

That said, one thing I am curious about is if, or what, opportunities there might be to cast off the reef edge. Like is it even possible to stand on the reef and cast into open, deep water? What lives on the drop-off? Snapper? coral trout? dogtooth tuna? pelagics?.... Inquiring minds want to know!
Click to expand...
I will find out.
 
SilverFly said:
That said, one thing I am curious about is if, or what, opportunities there might be to cast off the reef edge. Like is it even possible to stand on the reef and cast into open, deep water? What lives on the drop-off? Snapper? coral trout? dogtooth tuna? pelagics?.... Inquiring minds want to know!
Click to expand...

Yes. At Korean Wreck you can wade out to the blue water drop off edge of the reef during neap tides. The surf rages out there on the edge and the coral is extremely slippery with jagged troughs. You will see big GT, bluefin trevally, gray reef sharks, lemon sharks, blacktip reef sharks, adult milkfish, many snapper & grouper species, emperorfish, etc, etc. The largest most insane GT I've ever seen in my life was at Korean Wreck. Because you are at the blue water edge, yellowfin tuna and wahoo can occasionally be seen feeding. Once the surf gets too rough you can fish closer into the beach for green backed bonefish and smaller trevally. It is a great area to snipe nice bonefish feeding right at the beach line foam, insanely fun!
 
DimeBrite said:
Yes. At Korean Wreck you can wade out to the blue water drop off edge of the reef during neap tides. The surf rages out there on the edge and the coral is extremely slippery with jagged troughs. You will see big GT, bluefin trevally, gray reef sharks, lemon sharks, blacktip reef sharks, adult milkfish, many snapper & grouper species, emperorfish, etc, etc. The largest most insane GT I've ever seen in my life was at Korean Wreck. Because you are at the blue water edge, yellowfin tuna and wahoo can occasionally be seen feeding. Once the surf gets too rough you can fish closer into the beach for green backed bonefish and smaller trevally. It is a great area to snipe nice bonefish feeding right at the beach line foam, insanely fun!
Click to expand...
One of the largest bonefish I hooked on Christmas Island (November, 2009) was at the Korean Wreck. The fish shredded the coating on my fly line on a coral head.

@Rob Allen - you might pack a spare line or two ....
 
Buzzy said:
One of the largest bonefish I hooked on Christmas Island (November, 2009) was at the Korean Wreck. The fish shredded the coating on my fly line on a coral head.

@Rob Allen - you might pack a spare line or two ....
Click to expand...
Planned on it. Lines, reels, leaders flies.. it'll look like I planned to be there for a month.
 
SilverFly said:
Love bones and gotta get a GT at some point. Unfortunately Xmas is not on my radar anytime soon.

That said, one thing I am curious about is if, or what, opportunities there might be to cast off the reef edge. Like is it even possible to stand on the reef and cast into open, deep water? What lives on the drop-off? Snapper? coral trout? dogtooth tuna? pelagics?.... Inquiring minds want to know!
Click to expand...
We always shoot out and catch a yellowfin tuna, or a wahoo, often accidentally a GT or two on conventional gear that we immediately release, of course. Even better just over on Fanning Island, where you can pop outside the main passage on the way back to the lodge and catch a tuna or rainbow runner for dinner. An amazing place.
 
Rob Allen said:
Planned on it. Lines, reels, leaders flies.. it'll look like I planned to be there for a month.
Click to expand...
One suggestion, Rob, is to try chasing the bones on smaller tippet than is typically recommended by the outfitters, like 8lb fluoro. Your connection rate will double some days, and you will find that break-offs, given the average size bone on CXI nowadays, doesn't increase.

Also lightly dressed tan gotchas ... in varying sizes and weights, just seem to work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top