Bone fishing Christmas Island

[River Teeth]

I am trying to plan to go to Christmas Island to bone fish this winter. I have never gone bone fishing or been to Christmas Island before. Does anyone have any advice for planning a trip like this. Does anyone have any good or bad experiences they can share. Essential gear to bring, where to stay... etc.
Thanks in advance

[camA]

one place i hear is really good is the sachelle islands. sorry, i dont know how to spell it right. not sure how it is during the winter tho

[gerberman]

Call Chris at the Caddis Fly shop in Eugene, he has been there a number of times, he really helped me when I went to Belize this last Jan. He fishes the warm water a lot. Gerberman

[AndyK]

Originally Posted by River Teeth

Does anyone have any advice for planning a trip like this. Does anyone have any good or bad experiences they can share. Essential gear to bring, where to stay... etc.

Been there: http://karamanos.net/christmas2007/index.html

Eight weight rods for bonefish; twelve weight for Giant Trevally. I took two eight weight rods and two reels. There are no fly shops on Christmas Island and if you have equipment failure, you are in trouble. Your reel should be able to hold a tropical floating line and 200 yds backing.

The only fly you need for bonefish is the Christmas Island Special. But tie them in different sizes and colors. I needed some heavier flies for deeper water that I didn't have. And tie them sparse; my guides had to trim the flies when they were too "bulky".

Take a couple pair of polarized sun glasses; if you lose or break one, you will need a spare.

Take and use sun screen. My wife and I applied spf 30 sunscreen in the morning before we left the resort and a second time at noon. In six full days of wading the tropical flats, we didn't even get a tan! But be aware that getting sunscreen on your flies will ruin them; the bonefish will shy away from them. So wipe or wash your hands after applying the sunscreen.

There is only one flight per week in and out of Christmas (from Honolulu). If you miss the flight, there is no backup except to hire a private charter!

There are several places with whom you can book/plan a trip. Usually the package includes the airfare from Honolulu to Christmas; you need to book your own reservations to and from Honolulu.

If you are new to bonefish, I suggest the book Bonefishing! by Randall Kaufmann and Fly Fishing for Bonefish by Dick Brown. The Dick Brown book has good information on tying bonefish flies.

[River Teeth]

Originally Posted by AndyK

Been there: http://karamanos.net/christmas2007/index.html

Eight weight rods for bonefish; twelve weight for Giant Trevally. I took two eight weight rods and two reels. There are no fly shops on Christmas Island and if you have equipment failure, you are in trouble. Your reel should be able to hold a tropical floating line and 200 yds backing.

The only fly you need for bonefish is the Christmas Island Special. But tie them in different sizes and colors. I needed some heavier flies for deeper water that I didn't have. And tie them sparse; my guides had to trim the flies when they were too "bulky".

Take a couple pair of polarized sun glasses; if you lose or break one, you will need a spare.

Take and use sun screen. My wife and I applied spf 30 sunscreen in the morning before we left the resort and a second time at noon. In six full days of wading the tropical flats, we didn't even get a tan! But be aware that getting sunscreen on your flies will ruin them; the bonefish will shy away from them. So wipe or wash your hands after applying the sunscreen.

There is only one flight per week in and out of Christmas (from Honolulu). If you miss the flight, there is no backup except to hire a private charter!

There are several places with whom you can book/plan a trip. Usually the package includes the airfare from Honolulu to Christmas; you need to book your own reservations to and from Honolulu.

If you are new to bonefish, I suggest the book Bonefishing! by Randall Kaufmann and Fly Fishing for Bonefish by Dick Brown. The Dick Brown book has good information on tying bonefish flies.

[River Teeth]

Thanks so much AndyK. I appreciate your response very much!!

[LurkerDave]

Its a great place to get started on bonefish and the birds and other fish watching are very cool too. Lots of bones and even some big ones. Catching a bigger bone is like hooking a rocket! And casting at a Giant You're going to have a great time and be hooked on bonefishing for life.

Most of the Christmas Island Specials, Gotchas, or other flies my guides wanted me to use were leaded eye types in orange, pink, tan, yellow and white but it seemed like they really liked the orange in particular. Did not use many light bead chain eye type flies.

In addition to the glasses and sunscreen as mentioned, also have a light rain coat just in case, a sun hat, and I really prefer zip off pants and long-sleeve fishing shirts that you can roll up the sleeves (here's a tip, if you cruise the large Goodwills every couple weeks you will find some ExOfficio and Columbia type fishing shirts that are regularly $60+ for about $8. I sometimes leave them with the guides). The sun can be brutal for us pale Oregonians so its better to be prepared.

The guys at Kaufmann's Streamborn in Tigard have been very helpful to us.

Make sure you try eating a mantis shrimp, they're better than the lobsters.