Christmas Island Outfitters 

Christmas Island

The fact that virtually every flats fishing angler in North America has heard of Christmas Island is far from coincidence. Amidst the vast inventory of the world’s saltwater flats destinations, Christmas Island is a unique and natural masterpiece that magically combines all the elements critical to fly fishing success. Endless hard sand flats fishing, remarkable numbers of cruising bonefish and trevally, and consistent year-round weather await all who visit this unique atoll. Fly fishing guides at Christmas Island Outfitters have been handpicked for their overall level of experience and skill, calmness under pressure, and instructional abilities. Each day anglers will depart via truck or catamaran for the day’s flats fishing. Virtually all fly fishing entails sight casting to visible fish while wading in shallow water. Christmas Island’s plentiful bonefish average 2 to 4 pounds, though each week presents numerous opportunities for larger bonefish in the 5 to 10 pound class. The fly fishing guides at Christmas Island Outfitters are also among the atoll’s most skilled and passionate trevally hunters and love nothing more than to share with their guests the thrill of hooking these monsters. Excellent blue water fishing for tuna, wahoo, and trevally is also available.

Catering to groups of eight to twelve anglers per week, accommodations at Christmas Island Outfitters consist of seven private bungalows that sleep two anglers each. Rooms are simple, clean and spacious and have private baths, fans, screened windows, and refrigerators. The common meeting area features a friendly bar and a casual dining area where fresh, simple meals are served in the morning and evening hours. Flexible by design to ensure quality fishing, the daily schedule and meal times at Christmas Island Outfitters often vary slightly in order to take advantage of the best tides and fishing conditions.

Whether you are an experienced saltwater angler or a novice keen on honing your flats fishing skills, Christmas Island Outfitters offers the finest and most intimate angling experience the island has to offer.

Location:
Christmas Island (Kiribati) is located 1,200 miles south of Hawaii.

Fishing Program:
Christmas Island Outfitters head guide is Peter Kairaio. Peter is recognized as one of the Island’s top guides and he will be joined by a small group of hand-picked professionals who are amongst the islands most skilled and personable fly fishing guides. All have excellent eyes for spotting fish, calm temperaments under the pressure of sight fishing and are skilled instructors. By design, Christmas Island Bonefish Club has limited its program to no more than eight anglers per week. As a result the lodge boasts a highly flexible flats fishing program that can take full advantage of varying tides and fishing conditions. Each evening Peter will lead a discussion on the program for the following day’s fishing based on the conditions at hand. It is likely that your departure time from the lodge will vary each morning according to the tides and where you will be fishing.

Transportation to and from the vast flats of Christmas Island is via truck and outrigger. Both are equipped with bench seats, canopies, and rod holders. During 6 day fishing week each angler will reach the flats 2 days by truck and 4 days by outrigger. When the lodge is full the group is divided and alternate days on the truck and outrigger.

Fisheries:
Christmas Island is the world’s largest coral atoll and a virtual paradise for stalking bonefish. Having almost single-handedly brought the sport of fly-fishing for bonefish into the public consciousness, Christmas Island remains one of the best destinations in the world for both beginning and advanced saltwater anglers alike. The reasons for this are many. First, the Island’s vast hard sand flats enable anglers to wade fish all day in relative solitude. Second, the flats hold great numbers of bonefish that cruise in shallow water, providing anglers with constant opportunities or “shots” throughout their visit. And last, but certainly not least, the atoll’s proximity to the equator (less than 200 miles) has blessed Christmas Island with consistently good weather, which enables a quality fishing experience year round. While the majority of the island’s bonefish average 2-4 pounds, fish in the 5-10 pound class are always a real possibility as are several species of trevally.

Trip Report: by David Gunn                                                    2008 Island Update: by Brian Gies
 

Tides Explained:  By Moana                                            2011 Client Reports
 

Accommodations and Meals:
Christmas Island Outfitters is a small operation taking a maximum of eight anglers per week. The lodge is located halfway between the airport and London on a secluded section of beach. Accommodations consist of four private bungalows that sleep two anglers each. The bungalows are simple and clean with ample room. Each is equipped with linoleum tile floors, windows with screens, ceiling fans, bath and shower (tile floors can be slippery so watch your first step!), refrigerator, and table with chairs. Meals are a simple combination of island and western fare guaranteed to satisfy the appetite of hungry anglers.

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Honolulu and overnight.
Day 2 (Tuesday): In the morning fly from Honolulu to Christmas Island.
Days 3-8: Six full days of fishing.
Day 9 (Tuesday): Fly from Christmas Island to Honolulu and overnight.
Day 10: Fly home from Honolulu.

Typical Daily Schedule:
6:00AM: Wake
6:30AM: Breakfast
7:00AM: Depart for flats
8:00AM – 4:30PM: Fishing
5:30PM: Back at the lodge
7:00PM: Dinner
Please keep in mind that your daily schedule will vary in accordance with tides and your fishing desires.

Complete Trip Details

“Great trip was had by all of my group. Guides were very good in our opinions -- enjoyed them all. Tiim and Peter were very very pleasing to us. The Christmas Island facilities - extremely clean and comfortable. The food VERY good at all times. Your part in providing a most pleasing adventure was SUPERB…we will ALL be using you going forward. Our previous trips were not even close to FLY WATER TRAVEL when it came to their interest in making sure we were all satisfied and that everything as good as possible. THANKS – GREAT JOB!” M.L.,OR

 
Christmas Island Trip Report, Charlie Rosser

Christmas Island Tides Explained, by Moana Kofe