Christmas Island - Kiribati . . .Just Incredible! PART II

[Tony Buzolich]

Getting on in the week we really needed to hook one of those giant-size Giant Trevally that we’d heard so much about. Our guides told us the best way was with chum, and even then these big fish have become wise and are hard to hook.

The first order of the day then was to collect the chum ,,,,,,,, milkfish. The GT’s favorite food of choice. This required some time and team work stretching and dragging a net through shallow parts of the flat. In pouring rain, Jim and I jumped in to lend a hand. The most fun I’ve ever had getting wet and slimed at the same time.

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Moving the outrigger to small reef surrounded by deep water our guides begin cutting and tossing the chum. Immediately we are surrounded by fish of all kinds including some very large bonefish that have become conditioned to being fed.

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Our guides and host tell us to take off our 60# leader and change to 100# test as anything else won’t come close to stopping these fish as they take off over the sharp coral.

On my first cast I break my new TFO BVK 12 wt. on a back-cast. Large fly with lots of torque and SNAP goes the tip of the rod.

Kindly our host Rob Ramsey lends me his rod and off I go for another try. Moments later I get my first grab from a big GT. A hundred yards of line and backing speed off with the drag a full max, then nothing. It had come off. Try again.

The fish are wising up and the tide is slowing and the guides say to put on a piece of milkfish. Who am I to argue? And Jim and I both succumb to ,,,,, bait. Uugh.

But it works and Jim hooks up first with a nice GT of about 20 lbs.

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I’m next with a bigger fish in the 60#-80# range. Screaming drag this thing takes off easily peeling 300 plus yards of backing before even beginning slow. Maxing out the drag on an Abel BG-4 hardly phases it. To make matters worse, my borrowed rod is left handed ,,,,,, opposite what I’m used too. I try winding but feel spastic. I turn the rod up side down and begin winding with my right hand, and it works. I start to get him coming a little at a time. Then he runs again like no tomorrow. Back and forth we go before I feel the line drag in the coral. A couple more short tugs and it cuts through. Gone big fish number two. Uugh, again.

Not to be defeated, I take my reel off my newly broken rod and put it on Rob’s ruined line rod. Start over, and it’s right hand wind.

Next hook-up doesn’t take too long but thing one is bright silver and goes airborne. What the heck? Several guys yell “ barracuda ?” but are unsure. Several jumps later I get the largest Ladyfish in anyone has ever seen. Normally just a couple of pounds this is three times the size of a regular Ladyfish. Not a GT but I’m happy. Jim’s happy, and we had a fun day.

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A couple more days of chasing bones on the flats, other smaller Trevallys, and always on the look out for those big GT’s. It’s about time to come home.

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Our final evening at the lodge is luau party time and farewell to some of nicest people on earth I’ve ever met. To honor our group they roast a pig for us with more platters of sashimi and even more lobster.

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In the morning we board our FIJI Airways flight home and say goodbye to one incredible adventure no one who flyfishes should ever miss. I’ll be back. Soon.
Tony

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[mems]

Hey Tony, great report. Glad you guys had fun. How were the new rooms? I hope the screens kept the mosquitoes out. Looks like you had Michael as a guide. Those GT's are tough, glad Jim got a couple of them to hand. Those big ones will haunt you for a while. Biita does a great job. Congrats to Jim on the ono, they are so fast, and good eating. I can't wait to get back there in April, Don.

[Tony Buzolich]

That nice ocean breeze kept almost all the mosquitos at bay and Jim sleeps with the A/C on all night to so they weren't a problem. The rest of the lodges were mostly flooded in swamp like areas with no drainage because of the heavy rain. Even the road south toward the Korean Wreck was closed because of flooding. Didn't slow us down at all as we used a third outrigger for travel.

I'm thinking too, how soon can I do it again. Great place, Tony

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Everyone needs to put Christmas Island on their "Bucket List"......

In the 30+ years it has been a sport fishing destination I don't know anyone who has a bad trip......



I was very lucky to be able to go there 13 times with groups through the shop.

I was there during a drought cycle where the island dried out, even catching fire and the land crabs came into the lodge looking for something to eat.

Other times were had a wet cycle where the islands roads were all flooded.

.

[Darian]

Great report and what a trip!! Really like the photo's. I'll be going in March and can't wait to get down there. I'm looking forward to trying to catch all kinds of fish down there.

Tony, I notice you didn't wear a buff or long trousers. Did you get sunburned at all??? I'm wondering whether to worry much about sun damage....??

[Tony Buzolich]

Darian,

I brought two buffs with me and never used them. I gave them to the guides, Mike and Michael. I find them un necessary and just make me sweat a bit more. I prefer more air movement around my face and neck. Some people with fair skin should use all the protection they can along with plenty of sun screen.

As for shorts, same response. I brought two pair of long pants and never put them on except on the plane ride there. Fortunately, my Mediterranean heritage has left me more sun tolerant skin. I did used a good sun screen every day on my face, legs, and the back of my hands. That did help immensely.

I'm not downplaying the sun though. My cap and shirts were all SPF50.

One day out on Paris flats we lost our wind for a couple of hours and it got downright hot. It felt good to get a little air under my cap and shirt. But most days it was broken sky with clouds and rain and sun changing every few hours. It was never cold even in the rain but you definitely carried rain jacket with you every day.

[Baja Fly Fisher]

Damn, I'm pumped up. How fast can Mar 22nd come, not soon enough. I could make this a yearly thing or bi yearly. If you stop and check out the expense, it's a little cheaper than those big lodges in the Bahama's but not as top notched. I guess it's a toss up.
Since I like to stock permit on the flats, looks like I'll be going back to Turneffe Flats Lodge next year. My calendar in the later part of this year is booked with trips back to Baja in October and maybe a trip to NZ in the early part of Dec or maybe Jan. for some "king fish". I'm checking into AirB&B's on Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island which is north of Auckland.
Anyone one to go to New Zealand. This is not a hosted trip, kinda like an exploratory trip, then hosted trips in the future.

Thanks Tony for the great report, now I'll be dreaming about CI until March 22nd.

Jay

[Tony Buzolich]

Jay,

Anything I can help answer for you just PM mail me. I'm glad to help.
Tony

[Jim May]

Aloha Don,
We fished with 5 guides Michael, Mike, T.J. ,Biita and Matt all were great some of the best guides I have fished with! The hole trip was great .Took care of some of my bucket list, ono on a fly I tied and a GT other than the rain nothing to complain about. I hope to get back some day and get that big GT. I hope you all have great time on your upcoming trip!
Jim May

[Baja Fly Fisher]

Do you think 500 flies will be enough. I might have to leave some at home to make the 50lb weight limit.
Can you carry on two items and the checked bag. What's there opinion about bringing in food, like snacks, jerky
nuts, etc. Anything like Mexico.

[mems]

Hey Jim , glad you guys had a good time. Too bad Moana left, he is the best guide I have fished with. He knows all the fish by name. Biita is good fun and the other guys are awesome. So friendly and so low keyed. Congrats on the ono, aren't they crazy fast. Too bad you guys didn't get the big one that hit the teaser. Sorry about the rain and the rough bluewater. It is so much fun wading there because of the variety you can target, not just bones. When the rain hits, having big GT's on a pancacke flat is a great plan B. We will have to plan a trip together one of these days. Don

[Tony Buzolich]

Jay,

First off, I brought WAY too many flies. The average caster will loose two or three bonefish flies a day. If you're a poor caster then you might loose more. Also, the tippet makes a big difference. We started out using 12# test and did okay, but as we'd change days and guides we'd visit other flats and the guides would tell us to use 15# or maybe even 20# for some of the larger bones in deeper water. I only used one 15# leader the whole trip but did add tippet several times.

Each day you go out you will only need two rods. One rod for bones. An 8 wt. is perfect because of the wind. I brought a 7 wt. and a 9 wt. and didn't used either one. The 7 wt. was a little light for the wind, and the 9 wt. was over-kill for both the size of the fish and the wind as well.

The second rod will be your BIG rod. Most guys use a 12 wt. though a 10wt. or 11wt. will work most of the time. This rod you will not use near as much as you'd like as those big GTs are few and far between.

Leader for your big rod should be at least 6 ft. of 60# test fluorocarbon. This will NOT be enough if you should hook up a big GT near deeper water. All of those sandy looking flats are ringed in coral edges with coral rubble on top. If you should hook a big fish he will want to charge over the edge and take off before you can blink.

The day we fished "Hot Dog" we used chum. This little bump in the channel was always covered with water and was surrounded by deep water. As the guides tossed chum the bigger GTs would come up within castable range, grab your fly or bait, and then take off for God knows where. You HAD to stop them right away before they got deep. This is where our guides told us to switch to 100# leader. AND, tighten you drag down to MAX on the biggest reel you have. I lost two big fish using two different Abel #4's both with drags tightened to MAX stop. Those big GT;s pull like four Baja toro's all at the same time. No kidding or exaggeration! Both times I hooked up some one was holding on to my shoulder else I would have gotten pulled over and taken for a ride out to sea.

Now, getting back to flies, you don't loose too many BIG flies because you're not casting that much at BIG fish. The best fly pattern used there was something imitating a MILKFISH, or a MULLET at least 6" - 8" long on a 6/0 hook. Some of the guys used a "brush fly" in that size and did okay when they found big fish.

Take a look at the milkfish we caught in the nets that day for a pattern. Also, while we were anchored, one of our guys was catching small QUEENFISH of about a pound or two on his bonefish rod. A couple of these were given to one of the guys to use as live bait on his fly rod. Try casting one of these on a fly rod :)

So, with all of that said, take two rods each day, one for bones and one for something big. Your guide will happily carry whichever rod you're not using.

Sparsely tied #6 C.I. Specials or similar all work fine. My best fly I used a whole day only had a pair of gold bead chain eyes and a small tuft of tan wing material (craft fur). No body, no tail. It got chewed off previously:) They'll eat anything small. Use #6s and #8s. #4s were hardly ever used.

Hope this helps, Tony

[Baja Fly Fisher]

Good information for the guys going in March. I probably have 499 flies too many. But I'm taking all of them and will leave them with the guides. I'm going to tie up a few more wig hair patterns in my favorite purple & black. I'll be on the hunt for milk fish, possibly a few triggers and maybe a queennie or two. I loved those big queens in Australia. Bones will be fun, big GT's will probably not be on my agenda. I don't feel like water skiing across the coral reefs. I'm going in tomorrow morning to my orthopedic surgeon and have my casting shoulder checked out. I could barely cast to carp this morning. I hope a good shot of cortizone will do the trick.
I'll probably be over packed but it's better too have too much than not enough.

Looks like I'll be planning another trip next year in March 2017. Funny thing, March hasn't even arrived yet

Great report

Jay

[mems]

Hey Jay, I agree with Tony, size 6 flies work best. I would have flies that match the color of the bottom. On the white sand flats I liked a bunny gotcha or a pearl gotcha. Tan or orange on the broken coral. Only place you need heavy eyes is at paris flat where they school up. 15lb leader is best for bones. I would have a small crab for triggers. An unweighted olive wooly bugger for milkies. Bush pigs for GT's. Anything flashy with a stinger hook and 70lb tyger wire for ono. You should have some poppers if you get into some ahi offshore. For GT's on the flats 60lb leader with 80lb fluro bite guard. Straight 80 also works, don't try to stop them on the first run, just slow them down. If the break you off, they break you off. Have fun, Don

[Baja Fly Fisher]

thanks for the info. I have lot's of bone fish in a variety of colors. I'll have to tie up some olive wooly buggers. I'm assuming not on trout hooks :-) I guess a Dai Ichi 2546 should work.

[mems]

Hey Jay, long shank black hooks work best, they have incredible eyesight. I am convinced that they eat fish eggs that flow out of the lagoon. If you see them stacked up on a falling tide, they are there in the hundreds just slurping the water. I think you can get them on fish egg type patterns. Problem is the hook would be really small. I think and unwieghted san juan worm would also get sucked up by the fish. The mouth is soft, no teeth and the hook pulls easily when they jump. I can target them just about any day in Hilo, so I am kinda over them, but if you want shots at them by the hundreds, then the lagoon at CI is the place to be. Good luck, Don

[Tony Buzolich]

Jay,

I forgot, you also asked about "snacks. YES, by all means bring plenty of snack. Each person should carry several with them each day, and electrolytes. Add the electrolytes to your water bottle each day out. The boat will carry large bottles of water for each person each day. Back at the room water is $2.00 each for a small bottle, sodas are $2.00, and beer is $4.00. But out on the boat water is free. Be sure to bring it back with you at the end of each day and put it in the frig.

As for snacks and lunch, we were very fortunate as one of our guys had been here several times before. Lunches on the boat are minimal at best, something like peanut butter sandwiches or milkfish salad sandwiches or something similar. This year Joel Biocchi (brother of forum's John Biocchi) bought a couple of hundred dollars worth of lunch meat, lettuce and tomato and mayo at Costco Honolulu before departing and brought it the lodge JUST FOR LUNCHES. :) What a guy. We all chipped in to pay him back for having great sandwichs for lunch all week.

We still took snack crackers, jerky, granola and protein bars, as well for nibbles throughout the day.

[Baja Fly Fisher]

Mems,
I've caught a few in Australia and one in Baja. Yes they are picky eaters. I've tried black, red, green and blue hooks but black is the player. I have some small Gamakatsu bone fish hooks I can tie up a couple san juan worms, I'll make a couple egg patterns (steelhead style) and some olive wooly buggers on a Dai Ichi 2461.
Tony, how did he keep the meat cold on the plane. Apparently they don't care if you bring in produce and meats.. I was thinking about buying a couple loaves of bread and PB&J. My main lunch diet in Baja. Heck, I might even lose a few pounds in the week.

Jay

[Tony Buzolich]

Jay,

Don't worry about bread. They make their own bread there every day with coconut flour, and it's good. For breakfasts every day we had two eggs scrambled, one day fried, with two pieces of bacon. But the best part was the toast. With lots of peanut butter and jam. Butter was in short supply and they rationed that. No drawn butter for the lobster either :(

Transporting the meats and produce, I believe Joel just bought a cheap ice chest and checked it as extra baggage. Didn't seem to be a problem.

[dynaflow]

That report about chumming on C.I.left me absolutely disgusted and frankly you ought to be ashamed.There's no place for it and many have worked for some time to get it banned in the lagoon.However there's two serial Lodge offenders who simply won't be told.I'm there next week and will consulting (again) with the local MP.My 20c.