On another post, I cannot remember which one (doh!) someone asked for an update after my recent trip to Christmas Island.
We caught what seemed like an endless number of bones, catching up to 30 in a half day period. For those who know it Paris Flats was the place to be, as the bones were schooling up, and we had fish to around 8lb.
Also had a number of small GTs and Blue Trevally in the 3-6lb range on the clousers whilst fishing for the bones. They made the bones seem tame!
Unfortunately not so many GTs, I had 3 but saw only a few on the flats.
Hope this helps!
ps saw more anglers this time than in any of my previous trips. A number were Aussies.

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The Air Pacific flight started up again last year which means the Aussies can get there easily and cheaply compared to a few years ago.

Did you have a full moon when you were out there as that is when the Bones go to Paris flats to spawn

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Yes Chris there was a full moon

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Hi,

Thanks for the update. Did you set aside any days specifically for GT hunting or were you just on the lookout when bonefishing? What size were the ones you got? How was the weather? Are you posting any pics?

Cheers, James

Hi James
I'm glad you saw this...as I said I couldn't remember the post.
We did hunt for GTs on certain days but the guides felt that our best shot was a rising tide so, with the way our week worked, we only really got to fish for them first thing in the morning. Added to that we shared a boat and people wanted to get to Paris flat, in truth we were probably more limited by that. The last day we had all morning and saw, and cast to, a number of GTs on 9 mile flat.
We also fished Hoff Dam, in the reserve. Saw a number of big GTs there but they were preoccupied on 1lb+ milkfish.
Haven't yet had my pics from the guy I went with but will try to post when they come.
Chris, in his post above, is right. The bones were only at Paris Flats in numbers because there was a full moon. If you are interested in catching bigger bones, and there is a full moon during your time there, you must fish there. However, you need really heavy clousers to get down quickly to the fish, unlike other flats you are generally fishing in waist deep water.
Hope this helps!
John
ps where are you staying? I was at The Villages

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Hi John,

Last year when we were there we had the full moon, so we did the Paris flats thing (interestingly the bones were a couple of days late which the guides didn't understand - however the weather was odd, an el nino year). This time we don't have the full moon. You're right though, Paris is a fair distance from the better GT areas.

This November we're hoping to mostly go GT hunting - although, as with you, that somewhat depends on who you're sharing the boat with. Maybe I can persuade however we're with that they'll see bigger bones on the deeper, rougher flats (albeit less of them).

We're staying at the villages because we like a bit of luxury . Plus they do sashimi and fried breadfruit for when you get back.

Was it windy when you were there?

All the best, James

Sorry James..you asked about the weather
It wasn't too windy and most days the cloud was burnt off by mid-morning.
So...spent most of the day with blue skies wandering round in bathwater temperature water!
No rain at all, which we did experience on our trip the same time last year
John

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You've both hit one of the problems on the head. If you are sharing a boat then you are severely limited in your ability to chase GTs as you need to hit different flats.
Both times I've been to Christmas Island I've had my own guide and boat and it really does make a difference in being able to chase GTs - if you can dedicate the time to them then you will catch them. If you chase Bones and hope to see a GT then you're going to miss the chance.

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I agree Chris..I would have been happy to do just as you do but there were insufficent boats as the lodge was full and only had 3 working boats, no others being available for hire.
I'm back in April but this time as part of a party of 8 all of whom want to fish for the GTs so pretty confident we will do just that
I notice you stayed at Captain Cooks. I know Sharks place guides do it but do the guides at Captain Cook chum for the GTs?

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Okay it's official. Christmas islands is on my list

Burhan

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I could fish deep into the night
Well past the light
But at the end of the day
It's the end of the day

Burhan

mc_death187@yahoo.com