Fishing Frenzy

Christmas Island, AKA Kiritimati is in the Republic of Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean not very far from the equator. It is about 3000 klm north east of Fiji and 1200 klm south of Hawaii. With the primary island in the group being 3000 klm to the east, Christmas Island truly is one of the most isolated places on earth.





Map of Yuletide 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.

The majority of the 5000 odd residents on the island have no or limited employment.





Fishing

Fishing tourism on Christmas Island is a major industry with several thousand fishing enthuiasts from around the world travelling to Christmas Island every year to indulge their fishing passion chasing bonefish. The island has an enormous and shallow lagoon of around 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 offshore





Bonefish Giant Trevally



As Christmas Island is almost right on the equator the weather does'nt change much year round. Average daily temperatures year round are near 30 with night times around 23. The area is a little rainfall year round with slightly more rain from october through to december.



It is of course the excellent Bonefishing that attracts fishermen to Kiritimati with miles of shallow, warm waters to wade through typically less than knee deep and giant and aggressive bonefish feeding in the higher parts of the tide. Best conditions are found in light winds, with clear skies, in going tide just after or before a new or full moon. Fly fishing is the preferred technique but Bonefish can also be caught with spin fishing outfits. Bonefish cruise round the lagoon dining on the bottom and can spook awfully easily so the plop of a lure or slice can frighten them off. You will need to be able to cast well to 40 foot and gently lay down a fly near to the fish. Most Bonefish caught are less than 5 lb but monsters of twice that size are usually 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 ship



Lodging

Accommodation on Christmas Island is usually clean and adequate but basic. Food will be good though not fancy and there are very few shopping facilities available. The Aussie dollar is the currency of use, power is 240v, water should only be drunk from sealed containersand there aren't any exotic diseases 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