If you love your saltwater fly fishing and fancy targeting larger species like the very aggressive, hard hitting tackle smashing Giant Trevally’s? Well read on, as all your Christmas’s may come at once.
Back in October 2010 I was as normal escorting a small elite group of anglers back to Christmas Island, although I had been there many times before, past trips had predominantly been with anglers who had preferred popper fishing for GT’S on the outside reefs protecting the main island with some fantastic results. Over these past trips it has become probably one of the best locations in the world to catch huge GT’S on surface poppers, along with other species like Sailfish, Tuna.
Peter Caira With A 100lb Plus GT.
Richard Foster With A 100lb Plus Wahoo.
Dennis Looking Happy With A Cracking Tuna... Not So Happy With His Smashed Rod! Note: Bottom Right Of The Picture!
Colin Belton With A Nice Sailfish Caught While Popper Fishing Just Out Side The Island. All These Fish Species, Go To Show Just How Prolific And Diverse Fishing On Christmas Island Can Be!
Over the last 2 trips with a good friend of mine Kevin Patterson we have explored the possibility of fishing for and catching these GT’S on the fly. First we started to tease them in, by casting teasers to the outside reef, exciting and teasing the fish towards the boat at which point you could swap the teaser for a cast fly. This method was great fun but the number of chances of casting a fly was not great, the simple reason is the GT’S on Christmas Island are a lot more aggressive than the heavier fished for GT’S like in the Seychelles. Therefore they do not tend to follow teasers to awaiting anglers, they just hit them so dam hard, great if you are popper fishing with hooks but not so when teasing. The fish tend to hit once so hard and sometimes come from the depths straight up, which unfortunately means that they do not follow, giving the fly angler enough time to present a fly. We then also explored the options of fishing the flats and channels that divide the miles and miles of stunning coral pancake flats. First we tried teasing fish on to the flats as pre-existing methods in the Seychelles, again the fish did not show too much interest. We also tried wadding the steeper sides of the flats with the best drop off in to the deep blue channels looking for GT’S patrolling the edge. All methods provided sport with some nice fish but nothing too much to write home about, then back in 2009 one of our guides suggested another method, which was chumming. Now I know some purists will turn there noses up at this, but fundamentally all it evolves is using chopped up fish in a bag that is beside you while you are fishing and instead of thrashing the surface with teasers to make a noise drawing fish into casting range you splash the chum bag on the surface creating sounds as if fish are chasing prey and releasing smell in to the water.
Kevin Patterson With His First Ever GT On The Fly, Caught Way Back In 2009.
Our trip in 2010 started as normal after a few days relaxing in Hawaii with the first days fishing the outside reef with popper rods to get some fish under our belts. The plan was to spend some days popper fishing and others concentrating on Fly fishing. There were only 4 of us, so we planned to fish 2 anglers per boat and 1 guide just like previous trips. (One point worth noting, there are now other operators offering cheaper trips to Christmas Island, however they have based it on 6 days fishing either 4 anglers and 2 guides per boat or accessing other areas by car. This is a crazy false sense of economy, why travel more than half way around the world, and then reduce your fishing ability and effectiveness for the sake of a few hundred pounds. Please believe me this is really not worth it, if the additional cost is too much consider going to an alternative location) Anyhow back to the story, as I said we had paired up and gone offshore for the first day and as normal good old Christmas Island did not disappoint. No huge fish just GT’s around the 25lb mark with some nice Tuna just under 30lb. Everyone returns with aching hands, arms, back and legs after using muscles that have not been worked for a longtime. However everyone also hits their bed that night with the memories of aggressive GT’S charging down their poppers in tropical deep blue water, sweet dreams for everyone.
As planned everyone was up extra early the next day completely kitted out and not a popper in sight. Both John and Malcolm who were both relatively new to saltwater fly fishing also had other things on their mind than GT’S that day, Bonefish. As they were both Bonefish virgins they could not come all this way and not fish for them (Christmas Island has been popular with Americans for Bonefish for many years due to the sheer numbers of them) for both me and Kevin there was only one thing on our mind, big silver GT’S. As our boats departed of in different directions (Benefits of separate boats) we wished each other good luck as we knew that due to the vastness of all the flats we would not set eyes on each other again until the end of the day.
Our boat pulled up on to one of our favorite flats to spend the day wading for hunting GT’S. Now as in any fishing, tide is everything; both we and our guides knew that looking for GT’S patrolling the edges of the flats is slow until you have the start of an incoming tide. As the water increases the GT’S patrol along the edges just waiting for enough water to allow them to hunt snappers, bluefish and bonefish, which brings them within casting range at the same time as being in a feeding mood. This is a great method but only being effective for a few hours each day, therefore we would spend the rest of our time with outgoing tides hunting bonefish, triggerfish and small bluefin trevally’s.
Our Boat Just Moored On The Edge On The Flats.
Do not get me wrong this is fantastic fishing, wading stunning coral flats in 68 degrees water surrounded by miles and miles of tropical blue water, plus wild birdlife the likes you would see on a David Attenborough program.
Absolutely Stunning Surroundings To Wade In!
But you know what it is like when something inside is burning and churning, its like an itch that just has to be scratched, our mind and our eyes were always getting drawn to deeper water along the edges just in hope even though we knew the tides was wrong. The morning produced for us several bonefish, a small Bluefin and some great sport with the crazy jumping queenfish.
Kevin With A Typical Queenfish, There Are Hundreds Of Them To Be Caught, If That Was What You Fancied.
By the time the tide had changed there were two anglers coiled up like springs with 12# fly rods, eager to slay all GT’S that would dare to show their face.. Ha well that was the plan, but you know what plans are like. Add two over excited anglers, coral that sticks to fly lines like Velcro, strong head wind and you produce……so many missed opportunities’, 2 lost fish and one small GT around 15lb to show.
Peter With A Small GT, A Welcome Start!
Never mind still a fun days fishing and lessons learnt (Until next time a GT appears in front of you again and you just go to pieces that is) The boat ride back to London, yes London which is the capital of Christmas Island seemed longer than normal, being a thinking anglers we both just felt that we were not getting and making enough out of the fishing opportunities, hell these GT’S had really got in to our heads. On beaching the boat we were greeted by both Malcolm and John and you just know by the look on someone’s faces that they have had a great day. No more bonefish virgins on our group then and some nice fish they had to, with John catching fish to 6.5lb not bad for your very first day bonefish fishing.
John With His First Ever Bonefish!
Malcolm With His First Ever Bonefish... Not A Monster But They All Count!
They both explained that as normal when you first experience bonefish fishing that they found it hard to spot the grey ghosts of the flats, plus they had missed many chances, lost plenty of fish and so the stories went on and on as we travelled on the back of the truck to the lodge.
Later on that evening it came as no surprise that both Malcolm and John had been so taken by their first experience of fly fishing they wanted to do the same for the next few days. Also as both me and Kevin looked at each other we both knew that we had unfinished business on the flats, the outside popper fishing was going to have to wait. As normal after dinner I would talk to the guides about the plan for the next days fishing for everyone, it was during this conversation when my guide mentioned about trying to chum GT’S on the fly. As he explained the method it sounded interesting and worth a try, it was not until we started to talk about it in more depth did he mention that it was most effective on an outgoing tide? And there it was just 2 simple words “outgoing tide” slowly my brain was off, my guide was continuing to talk but all I could hear was muffled tones, as my brain was putting the next days fishing together. There it was a hatched plan; surely this would give us more effective fishing hours for the GT’S.
The following day could not come quick enough, but sure enough we were all up well and truly before dawn, full of tea, coffee, breakfast and loaded on the back of the pick up for the short journey to the awaiting boats. We had planned our trip perfectly to coincide with a full moon giving us big spring tides, although the tide times would change slightly each day the daily plan was basically the same. First thing was spent going into the back shallow lagoons to net small bait fish that would be used to chum with while we were waiting for the tide to turn. Once the tide had turned it was off to explore and fish likely looking flats that had a good run off in to the deep channels, again once the tide changed to an incoming tide it was off to the normal flats wadding and fishing for Bonefish, Bluefin and Giant Trevally’s. So with the plan and trap set it was time to put things in to action, the first day we managed to catch bait very quickly so it was straight off to some flats, the first one was a small pancake flat about the size of a tennis court and covered in stag head corals, in front of a well know area called Paris, not the sort of flat that you would even look at twice to fish normally as far to difficult to wade. After landing and tying up the boat both me and Kevin as per our guides instructions spaced ourselves about 30 yards apart and around 20 yards from the edge / drop off in to the channel, now this was not shallow wading, the water was just below waist height. Both our guide and boatman started chopping up the fish and placed all the blood guts and gore in to a small net bag. About 10 very small pieces of fish were thrown in as they continued to full the chum bag, it was just then as I was saying to Kevin about standing waste deep in water chumming what about sharks, it was a strange feeling that took some getting used to. Just then at alarming speed 3 big GT’S just came right up between us charging on to the flat all fired up at either taste of sent of the fish. They were completely oblivious to us and came so so close and charged out just as quick. Hell that was quick we thought, our guide now joined us standing in between the two of us and said get ready, periodically he just dipped the bag in the water, shaking and thrashing it on the surface just like predators chasing and hunting down fish. Again these three fish appeared at the edge of the drop off, cast cast shouts our guide, he did not need to shout twice as two flies hit the water one in front and the other just to the side, strip strip now he screamed, don’t you just love it when the guide is just as excited as you. We striped both fly’s no more than a few inches when these fish just locked on and charged, so aggressively they push so much water the fly is lifted up on a small wave in front of their nose making it look like rising trout dry fly fishing, but on a much large scale. We both hooked up at which point you have to run right to the edge of the flat in to the deepest water you dare for the fish dive down in to the channels and if you line only touches the coral it was good night. Unfortunately one fish came off but the other was landed an nice GT that weighed went 44lb. That’s a nice start considering normally it is meant to be the worst tide (Outgoing) for GT fishing. I am convinced that if we had not been fishing these methods one we would never even seen these fish and two we would never even set foot on these types of small flats. So had we found the perfect mix and set up for a dedicated GT fly fishing holiday? Well the results speak for themselves, it was not always that quick, and often once a couple of fish had been caught we had to wait for others to come cruising around and pick up the scent trail. What about the popper fishing? None of us ever picked up a popper rod for the rest of our holiday as our fly fishing GT Christmas’s were all coming at once.
Results
GT’S (Popper) 6
GT’S (Fly) 39
Bonefish 49 (only fished for while looking for GT’S)
Tuna 3
Queenfish 34
Bluefin 11
Footnote:
Between the 4 anglers we got through 50 plus GT flys, metres and metres of 100lb tippet, 12 complete fly lines and smashed 1 12# rod. This trip will test both your tackle and stamina but will also fulfill all your Christmas wishes. If you like true adventure holidays, with everything as natural as possible, no big commercial airports, towns, fishing lodges, just back to grass roots but some of the most friendly people you would ever want to meet, surrounded in stunning un-spoilt wildlife, Christmas Island is defiantly for you.
If you fancy giving this trip a try, why not join me on my hosted group trip this December, for full details CLICK HERE or alternatively please contact me directly on 01603 407596
Regards
Peter Collingsworth
Operations Director
Picture Story Below:
Arrival On Christmas Island... Bit Different From Heathrow!
No Posh International Airport, Or Bus To Terminal Service!
The Locals Accomodation, No High Rise Buildings & Traffic, Just Hundreds Of Palm Trees And Golden Sands!
The A Team, Ready For The First Days Fishing, The GT's Wont Know Whats Hit Them! Notice The Van In The Background... This Is What Gets You Too The Boats Each Day.
The Accodation For Your Stay On The Island, 5 Star For Luxury And Comfort It's Not... 5 Star For Stunning Scenery & Tranquility It Is!
Netting Small Baitfish First Thing In The Morning To Use As Chum.
One Of Our Guides With The Chum Bag In Hand!
Kevin Pattersons Hand Tied Killer GT Flies, These Out Fished Everything We Hand In Our Boxes.
John Looking Well Happy With His First Ever Fly Caught GT!
Malcolm Hooked In To A Nice GT!
Not Bad For Your First GT On The Fly! No Wonder The Boys Didnt Want To Popper Fish Anymore!
Peter Collingworth Well & Truly Hooked Up!
Peter With The Fish Safely Landed!
The Last Thing Any Small Bait Fish See's!
The First Of Many Double Hook Ups!
Kevin With A Nice GT, Notice The Stag Coral In The Back Ground Exposed At Low Tide. Its No Wonder You Can Wreck So Many Fly Lines!
Peter Returning A Small GT!
Stunning! How Could You Ever Get Bored Of Catching These!
Another Stunning Brace Of GT's This Time A Little Bigger!
Kevin With Another, In Fly Fishermans Paradise!
Just Another Christmas Day...!
It's Not Always The Biggest Fish In The School That Grabs The Fly First!
This One Was Caught In Slightly Deeper Water.
The Guide Returning Another Nice GT, What A Great Picture!
A GT Caught Feeding Very Close To Where We Were Fishing, To Get Them This Close, It Just Goes To Show How Effective Chumming Can Be! Also How Camoflauge Is The Fish In The Water!
Last Night And They Really Did Put A Show On For Us...
Oh Yeah! And A Hog Roast!
Thanks for looking... If you would like any more information on the trip to Christmas Island please
CLICK HERE!
If All Your Christmas's Could Come At Once... Read Our Christmas Island Report!
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