Christmas Is. - Under the Southern Cross Part 2

[Tony Buzolich]

The next day we have Bita for our guide and he knows we would really like to find some bigger GT's. Nothing wrong with bones at all,,,, but if you had your choice. We arrive at a deep flat with strong moving water dropping into a channel. Perfect ambush spot for big fish to eat anything washed off the flat. Bita spots something and shouts to cast fast. Now! Strip, strip, strip. Too slow he says. Uugh, I hadn't even seen what he was pointing to and it's all I can do to stand up in this fast water.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/Christmas%20Island%202017/11%20IMG_0611_01_zpsdumnkhm2.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/Christmas%20Island%202017/11%20IMG_0611_01_zpsdumnkhm2.jpg.html)

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We move on and begin spotting all kinds of fish on the reef, Triggerfish, bones, small bluefin. Jim hooks up to a nice GT on his 8wt. that takes him into his backing. Really great fun on a light rod.

After lunch we move the boat to Paris flat, a beautiful piece of land with a shallow lagoon flanked by a point of crashing waves from open ocean water. Part of our group head toward the flats while Bita takes me toward the rougher water and the thought of some bigger trevally. Walking several hundred yards to get to the point was a hard trek with waves coming from two directions. Along the way Bita says to look over my shoulder and I see a large dorsal fin paralleling our path. A large black-tip shark of about six feet long was barely two rod lengths away cruising leisurely by us. As we reach the deeper part of the reef we see all kinds of new fish, blue parrot fish, triggerfish, lots of trevalley, and of course more sharks. Actually, there were lots of sharks here of all sizes, all leisurely cruising around us until we hooked something. Hooking trevally was almost immediate but Bita was quick to say “get them in quick before the sharks get them”. A bit un-nerving even in this beautiful place.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/Christmas%20Island%202017/14%20IMG_3583_01_zpsb9pnpleg.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/Christmas%20Island%202017/14%20IMG_3583_01_zpsb9pnpleg.jpg.html)

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The next day we decided to go offshore and try for some yellowfin or wahoo. Haile Hatcher, the teenage son of another member of our group came along as well. Haile hooks up first to another new fish, a Rainbow Runner that quickly comes aboard for dinner that night. I hook up next with a small skipjack. As we round the point near Poland town Haile hooks up again this time to a nice dusky GT. This fish wants to go deep like a tuna and Jim and I laugh teasing Haile about how his youthful strength is being pushed to the limits.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/Christmas%20Island%202017/17%20IMG_3625_01_zps00nkpahb.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/Christmas%20Island%202017/17%20IMG_3625_01_zps00nkpahb.jpg.html)

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Heading offshore farther we watch for feeding birds diving as yellowfin break the surface. Not long and we've got a double hook-up, then later even a triple hook-up. On the triple my fly was hit first and screamed away while Jim and Haile are both solid on their fish. My line goes slack and I reel in half of my fly. A wahoo must have bitten through the wire of my double hook.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/Christmas%20Island%202017/20%20IMG_3641_01_zpsuzyyu3wf.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/Christmas%20Island%202017/20%20IMG_3641_01_zpsuzyyu3wf.jpg.html)

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On the way back in I'm still dragging my half fly and I get another hook-up, this time to a barracuda and more food for the table. Our boatman quickly takes the 'cuda home for dinner.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/Christmas%20Island%202017/23%20GOPR0539_1486867635387_high_01_zpsppvf7mtb.jp g (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/Christmas%20Island%202017/23%20GOPR0539_1486867635387_high_01_zpsppvf7mtb.jp g.html)

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continued. . .

[Carl Blackledge]

Tony,

Thanks for that wonderful report.

Looks like you two had a wonderful trip.

Thanks for the advice on my Guatemala trip rip off.

Carl

[mems]

Carl what happened in Guatemala?

[Carl Blackledge]

Mems,

I bought a trip to Guatemala from Fishing International, Every aspect of my trip was misleading and completely misrepresented from FI, The minute we landed in Guatemala we sent them an email and started complaining about nothing was what they claimed it was, even the boat we bought wasn't there, they replaced the real pretty Red and White 35 foot Bertram with some ugly Black and White piece of crap that smoked so bad it was embarrassing to be seen on it, the crew didn't speak English and the Captain was brain dead, our private chef couldn't speak English either...After I returned home I lit into Bill @FI and he really didn't care, and currently hasn't offered any solutions or returned any money to us...Now I have a attorney and I guess I will ultimately sue him for some money back. If you ever deal with Bill @FI I would get everything in writing and pay for everything with a credit card, be very careful dealing with that outfit.

Carl Blackledge