Fish Christmas Island
Christmas Island, also known as Kiritimati is in the Republic of Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean 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 truly 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 atolls and islands spread across 5 million square kilometers of ocean along the equator. The majority are very poor as the land are mostly coral and sand and grow crops poorly. Economic possibilities are few with government administration service, fishing and tourism being the only real opportunities both in the country and also on Christmas Island.
Most of the 5000 residents on the island have no or limited opportunity.
Fishing
Fishing tourism on Christmas Island is a major industry with a couple of thousand fishermen and women from around the world travelling to Christmas Island annually to indulge their fly fishing passion chasing bonefish. The island has a giant and shallow lagoon of almost 400 square klm and it’s home to healthy populations of big Bluefin, Golden and Giant Trevally with Wahoo, Sailfish, Marlin and Mahi Mahi found outside the lagoon
Bonefish Giant Trevally
As Christmas Island is virtually right on the equator the weather rarely changes much year round. Typical daily temperatures year round are near 30 with night times around 23. The area is a little rainfall year round with a little more rain from october through to december.
It is naturally the excellent Bonefishing that attracts fishers to Kiritimati with miles of shallow, warm waters to wade through typically less than 2 ft deep and huge and aggressive bonefish feeding in the upper tides. Best conditions are found in light winds, with clear skies, incoming tide just after or before a new or full moon. Fly fishing is the preferred method but Bonefish can also be caught with spin fishing outfits. Bonefish cruise around the flats eating on the bottom and can spook very simply so the plop of a lure or slice can spook them off. You will need to be well placed to cast well to 40 foot and carefully lay down a fly close to the fish. Most Bonefish caught are less than 5 lb but large ones of twice that size are often landed.
Guiding
It is often advisable to employ a local guide as their experience and knowledge will land you a lot more fish and when I was there I saw only half of the fish the guides saw. At approximately $50 a day it is easily worth it and they want the employment that this industry brings to the island. Most accommodation houses will arrange packages including a guide and a boat but you have to bring all of your own equipment as little is available for hire or sale.
Beach front lodge Lagoon boat
Lodging
Accommodation on Christmas Island is usually clean and comfortable but basic. Food will be plentiful although not fancy and there are few shopping facilities available. The Aussie dollar is the currency of use, power is 240v, water should often drunk from sealed containersand there aren’t any exotic diseases known.
Getting To Christmas Island
Air Pacific, The national carrier of Fiji is the one airline to fly to Christmas Islandand they do this only once a week from Nadi and Honolulu. All flights arrive on the island on Wednesdays.
Paul Collery runs Sports Fishing Adventures a company that focuses on all inclusive fishing travel. More information on Christmas Island fishing adventures can be discovered at Xmas Island Bonefish
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