CI part 3

[mems]

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/266_zpsxfbjckks.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/266_zpsxfbjckks.jpg.html)
We were good sports and let our guides fish. Matt got this nice surgeon fish and I asked him how much he would pay me if I caught one, he said $50.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/271_zpsez1xe9vj.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/271_zpsez1xe9vj.jpg.html)
Well here is my $50 dollar fish. He didn't know I catch them all the time in hawaii. I got an even larger one after that. I think Matt realized he got hustled. I told him he didn't have to pay me. He was a great guide as they all are.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/224_zpsctohzktk.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/224_zpsctohzktk.jpg.html)
Biita got into the act and got a nice barred jack. We tried a couple of times for goldens but no love. That is why they are golden, tough fish to catch there.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/264_zpsf3zt2tgf.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/264_zpsf3zt2tgf.jpg.html)
The guides caught this huge mantis and we had it for a pupuu one night they are delicious.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/232_zpsfa33vzqf.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/232_zpsfa33vzqf.jpg.html)
Jesse with another nice bone.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/081_zpsf6lpyi1s.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/081_zpsf6lpyi1s.jpg.html)
Here is Craig out at korean wreck. The variety of fishing environments form blue water to white flats is stunning.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/270_zps9f5jwnrp.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/270_zps9f5jwnrp.jpg.html)
Here is my last bone. I had about 100 in between. It was sick seeing how much I could piss them off to chase the fly. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/274_zpsitabryno.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/274_zpsitabryno.jpg.html)
It was a reel good time with good friends and great memories were made.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/281_zpsweson6jv.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/281_zpsweson6jv.jpg.html)
The people are warming and generous, this picture sums up what rules mean in CI, you make your own.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/111_zps2f1jgu8z.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/111_zps2f1jgu8z.jpg.html)
Aloha for now, I will be back, I still have to catch a dam sailfish! Mems.

[Jim May]

Aloha Don,
Glad you had a great trip! If you like bonefish you gota love C.I. and all the other fish are great fun
too you never know what you'll cast to next! They had the best lobster I've ever tasted.
Jim May

[Baja Fly Fisher]

Mems,
Looks like you guys had a good week. Did it rain or was the weather clear or partly cloudy on most days. I can't wait to go back there. Next year, I'm staying two weeks. I have the first two weeks in April reserved. I already have 3 guys who plan on doing the two weeks. I've also been thinking about taking a quick trip to the Cooks Island.
Do your group use all the guides at the lodge. I really liked Michael, Matt, Biita... Oh hell, I liked all of them. Michael was suppose to give me one of his broken TFO rods to bring back but I didn't get a chance to see him. He also wanted some fly tying materials, so when I go back next year, I'll take him a good supply of materials. Or maybe send it to Fly Water Travel and they can give it to a client who's going there.
Anyway, I'm glad you had a good time. Now I'm off to Mexico in a couple days. The bait is small but there are some roosters eating. Some big roosters at that. I'm tying a whole bunch of small surf candies. I'll post photo's to my FB page and also on this site

Aloha

[Tony Buzolich]

Well, it's about time we heard some good story coming from Christmas Island.

Don, you guys look like you had a great trip with a great mix of fish variety. Knowing you've been there before, do you think the later date of your trip has anything to do with your success rate?

I can't wait to get back. My first trip there a couple of months ago sure whet my appetite for more of the same. We never got to see the lower part of the island because of the flooded roads. Maybe next trip we'll get to the Korean Wreck too.

Jay, when you get some dates down for going to the Cook Islands, count me in.
Tony

Jay,

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I highly recommend you put Christmas Island on your Bucket List......

[mems]

Thanks guys for all the nice comments. Jay it did rain on arrival but it cleared up the next day and we avoided the showers when we could. Tony we fished the 1/4 moon and that meant more of an incoming tide for flats fishing. Offshore was awesome because no tuna boats in the harbor. The ono are normally around in April, the sails were a bonus. The milkies were on the chew when we went out for them. Other days guys had to work their ass off just to come tight. I have caught a bunch here in Hawaii so I knew what to do, but god has to be on your side for those fish. We had 12 anglers fishing. These are just shots from the groups I fished with. Others got some great fish as well. I will put a you tube together of the under water action on the sail and the milkies. Let you guys know when I get it posted. Jay good luck next year, two weeks would be insane. Don

[DLJeff]

Hey Don - three questions for you,
Can you describe the flies you used for the milkies? I'm headed there in November and if they're around want to give them a shot.

Were you able to fish for GT's without chumming or tossing a teaser, ie. by sight fishing them?

Last, what size flies did you bring for the GT's? I may need to order some larger hooks as my local fly shop doesn't carry very large hooks.
Thanks,
Doug

[mems]

Hey Doug, milkies eat limu, seaweed. Try a bushy green fly tied on a size 6 octopus hook behind a small black float. I think they eat fish eggs so I brought some yellow fish eggs on a size 6 red octopus hook. Put the eggs on with crazy glue and then seal them with some softex or similar product. I got mine on a tan weightless wooly bugger that looked like a worm that was hatching there.
GT's were caught trolling flies and chumming. We threw at them a number of times on the flats but could not seal the deal. I fished a size 4/0 Rainy's bush pig, That is my favorite GT fly. Good luck, you have lots of time to plan. Don.

[Sheepdog8404]

What an awesome trip, Don! That sure does make me want to start saving up for that trip. Maybe one day I'll be able to go... Question for you; How did that ULDD hold up in the salt? Didn't think those reels were suitable for extensive saltwater fishing.

[DLJeff]

Thanks for that info, Don. We fished milkies in the Seychelles with little green algae flies too. Didn't try any egg flies tho.



Hey Doug, milkies eat limu, seaweed. Try a bushy green fly tied on a size 6 octopus hook behind a small black float. I think they eat fish eggs so I brought some yellow fish eggs on a size 6 red octopus hook. Put the eggs on with crazy glue and then seal them with some softex or similar product. I got mine on a tan weightless wooly bugger that looked like a worm that was hatching there.
GT's were caught trolling flies and chumming. We threw at them a number of times on the flats but could not seal the deal. I fished a size 4/0 Rainy's bush pig, That is my favorite GT fly. Good luck, you have lots of time to plan. Don.

[dynaflow]

Thanks for that info, Don. We fished milkies in the Seychelles with little green algae flies too. Didn't try any egg flies tho.
Try Arno's Milky Dream fly tied on size 2 Gama SL12S for C.I.Milkfish,and my only other comment is that chumming for GTs in the lagoon is a no-no and a practice that most of us are trying to get banned as it simply leads to aquarium fishing if you get my drift.Unfortunately there are a couple of lodges that are serial offenders.Well done on the Surgeon fish btw as they normally won't take a fly,
Cheers

[Baja Fly Fisher]

One of my guys caught a surgeon fish on Pancake. And he found out why it's called a surgeon. He had to get stitches at the local medical facility. They didn't charge a dime. I gave them $20.00. Would've cost a hell of a lot more in the states.

[dynaflow]

One of my guys caught a surgeon fish on Pancake. And he found out why it's called a surgeon. He had to get stitches at the local medical facility. They didn't charge a dime. I gave them $20.00. Would've cost a hell of a lot more in the states.

Ouch! Like the guy some time back who put his hand down a hole to pull his Trigger fish out by the leader and promptly lost the top of his finger.

[mems]

Best to be careful with saltwater fish, they usually have some kind of defense. Palani, surgeon fish will cut you even when you try and remove the hook. Queen fish, lai have three stinger spines on the top and bottom of the fish that hurt like hell. Triggers, hagi will chomp your finger off just like a puffer. I know the puffers look innocent. Moana's tool to release fish should be given to each client who wants to release his own fish. Bones only have speed so they are pretty safe. It is a good idea to keep a glove in your pocket just to be safe. Mems.

[Darian]

Aloha Don,.... As usual, you guys really had a good trip. I saw a bunch of fish, other than bones/GT's but couldn't trick them into taking the fly. Surgeon fish are really a pretty fish.

Having grown up around and fished for saltwater fish most of my life, I can sure agree with being cautious handling salty fish. I've been spiked by fish in the Gulf of Mexico, the pacific off SoCal, around La Paz but avoided it at CXI. I caught a small Queenfish and was cautioned on how to handle it by the guide. Clean release. :cool: