Cook Islands - Aitutaki Trip.

[Tony Buzolich]

Last year I went to Aitutaki for the first time and can't wait to go back, so I'm putting it out there,,,,,,,, If anyone wants to go or needs a partner I'm ready NOW.

Jay, as to your first question below I did the whole thing on my own and it came out cheaper than going to Christmas Island.

Here are some of the details I'll make public to ease the planning and keep the prices down. I like to say I'm NOT cheap, I'm frugal and I always look for the best deals.

First off fly Air New Zealand out of Los Angeles. They have a weekly direct flight to Raratonga, the hub and capitol of the Cook Islands. Todays price is $868.00 round trip economy seating. The plane leaves at almost midnight from LAX. You sleep (or try to) the whole way. The Air NZ service was wonderful but it's still a long ride.

You arrive at Avarua, Raratonga in the morning and you can begin to relax. You now have a choice of either spending a little time on Raro as we did, or you can get right on another flight that will take you to Aitutaki. Air Raratonga has beautiful turbo-props that fly there 5 or 6 times a day. As I remember it, it was only about $350 RT in NZD which was about $265 USD.

I had already booked my lodging and fishing package with Popoara Villas and the Boat Shed restaurant for 6 nights and 6 days of fishing, including all meals and drinks for the week. The owner is an expat Aussie named Alan Mills and the most wonderful host you could ever imagine.

We arrived on a later flight at Aitutaki than I wanted but Alan was still ready to take us out fishing. We declined after the long flights getting here. So we spent 6 nights and 5 days fishing the most beautiful place in the world I've ever seen.

Now here's the good part, we stayed and fished the whole last day, had dinner at the Boat Shed, and Alan let us use the room to shower before taking our late flight back to Raratonga and then home. The price was $2850.00? NZD. Repeat this NZD converts to USD at an exchange rate $.74 / USD. When I got my Visa bill at home the charge was $1750.00 USD.

Now add those costs up, $868.00 Air NZ +$265.00 Air Raro plus the lodge at $1750.00 all inclusive, totals to approximately $2883,00 USD.

I didn't add the flight from Sacramento to LAX as most folks have travel credits on their credit card they can use.

Another thing, I asked Alan about tipping the guides for the boat, and he said they DON'T usually do that around here. Can you believe that?

I'm sure there are lots of questions you'd like to ask, and I'm glad to answer. Call of e-mail
Tony
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[Darian]

Beautiful photos. That Bonefish is a beauty!! Not bad GT's, either. ;) The flats look to be deep. Are they wadable or is the bonefishing done mainly from a boat??

[Baja Fly Fisher]

I'm working on a trip right now. Planning on a fall trip. Air New Zealand prices are a little higher than you quoted but not that much.
I was planning on DIY but couldn't get any answers. I'm waiting for some answers from the people who run the condo's, maybe it's Alan I'm waiting to hear back from.
If you go to Pleasanton, I'll talk you more about this.

[Tony Buzolich]

Darian,

Both, there are flats everywhere and each motu has wadeable shoreline as well. Fifty feet from where we had breakfast every morning was a very big flat that we fished each day called Ootu beach. People from other lodges would wade and fish here on their own without guides.

Here's Jim Cramer holding a nice bone with Butch Leone our guide taken only a few yards from our breakfast table.

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The best fishing for me was in a boat the last couple of days with two of the Davey brothers, Itu's younger brothers.. With the boat you were able to see a lot better and some of the water was a bit deeper than you'd normally wade.

Here's a link you'll love about Aitutaki's fly fishing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28M_LrJwHrg

There are a couple more YouTube videos about Itu put on by Simms who got him started fly fishing. If these videos don't get you pumped about going nothing will.
Tony

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I guess Nor Cal guide Ron Rabun has been going there for many years and is an expert on the area.

I think it sounds like a great adventure......thanks Tony.


PS: How are the bugs there?

[Tony Buzolich]

Bill,

I don't remember there being ANY bugs there except when we'd come in from fishing there'd be a few mosquitos around the faucet when we'd wash the salt off.

Here's another even better video on YouTube about the fishing there. It's taken from an Australian's TV show called IFISH by Paul Worsteling. I have to add that we did NOT fish deep water with Rattle Traps, nor did we go offshore for pelagics. Maybe next time.

Here's the link to this show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnEHXEUIFoY

Jay,
The price I quoted for the Air New Zealand leg of the trip was exact. They do have specials often and that was only a day ago.
See you at the Pleasanton Show or give me a call.
Tony

[Baja Fly Fisher]

As soon as I get the final details from Alan, book the flight and let's wait until November. Right now we have 3 and if Jim wants to go that will be 4. Damn, I can't wait.
Hey people, my saying.... "Do it while you can, don't wait until you're too old or can't fish and wish you'd had gone on a trip"
I'll have a report when I return as I'm sure Tony will too.

jay

[gitt]

Jay,

Travelzoo had a special on Figi Air out of SFO and LAX late last year (October-November time frame) promoting a 50% discount on their flights. That special ran less than a week and then they popped back up.

Tony,

When you say deeper water for bonefish, were these flats of 3' feet of water with soft bottoms or 6-10' deep with pods of bones requiring a sinking line? Curious if these were tailing bones or mudding schools of bones. I notice the clouds in Jim's bonefish photo. Did this have any effect on spotting your quarry or was this blind casting for the most part? The rest of your photos have fairly clear skies. The price is right. Thanks for posting as always and getting the information out there.

[mems]

Aloha Boys, I would go, but no direct flight from Hawaii. I hope you all have a great time, big bones and bigger GT's. Mems.

[Tony Buzolich]

We're on our way. I just finished purchasing my plane tickets for Air New Zealand and Air Rarotonga .

Now comes the long wait between now and October when we go.

Kia Orana, Don,
Hawaiian Airlines shows they go from HNL to Rarotonga, then it's just a hop skip to Aitutaki .

Ka Kati, Tony (that's Cook Is. talk)
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[mems]

Hey Tony, I just looked at Hawaiian air and they go to tahitii and american samoa. I would have to fly to LA and then go back across the ocean. I will start saving my miles. Don.

[Baja Fly Fisher]

Just got every thing all together for the trip to Aitutaki. We're looking for one more person to make it an even number, so the odd man/woman doesn't end up paying more. ONE MORE PERSON. Tony, make sure Jim doesn't want to go, before the spot fills up.
Interested? Give me a call or send me an email. Phone 831 809-4221 cell jaysflies@me.com . email

[Cujo]

Tony,

Nice Pictures! What a beautiful place.

What rods and fly lines did you bring down with you? Were there any items that you might have overlooked this go around that you’ll pack for your next trip?

[Tony Buzolich]

Cujo,

That's a good question and I've been going over it with all my buddys that are going. We do have six going as of now, two per room.

First off, Take a #9 wt. rod. An #8 wt. will work but most of the bones we saw and took were not small. On Christmas Island a #7 wt or #8 wt. would be fine but these fish really put a bend in my rod and I'll start with my #9 again.

The one thing I've been pondering is the line. I used a standard WF floater and it worked okay. But sometimes we got into deeper water and I wanted my line and fly to get down faster before the bone scooted off. I've been thinking of trying either a sink-tip or possibly a full intermediate line this time.

On my big rod (#11 +#12) I used a Full Floating line and this was perfect the whole trip,,,,, except once. We stopped on the way back to the lodge at a spot they called the GT Hole in deep water. Our guide said to let it sink, let it sink more, and then strip like crazy. That floating line just didn't want to sink and I was forced to turn to the dark side and use a spinning rod they had on board.
One cast with a heavy chrome jig and WHAM! I got hit hard. This one turned out to be a nice Big Eye Jack of about twenty pounds.

So, at this one spot I would have liked a full sink line of about 600 grains with straight 100 lb. leader.

If we go offshore this trip trolling with a fly I'd still use a inking line and hopefully find some wahoo or yellowfin tuna. If there's dorado around then you've got to change to a floater. Uugh, how fast can you change reels and lines while fish are busting around your boat?

There's always something you wish you had brought and forgot, but above all else bring a good camera. This place is like a post card you can't get enough of.
Tony
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[Cujo]

Thank you, Tony!

That was really informative so thanks again for taking the time to write. That is a gorgeous picture! Incredible.

[Baja Fly Fisher]

At 23kg weight limit, I can only bring a number of rods, reels and lines. I'm taking all my bone fish flies out of the plastic fly boxes and putting them in zip lock bags. Taking only one change of clothes since they have laundry service. I think my heaviest thing will be my Simms flats sneekers. My carry-on will probably be right at the 4.2kg weight limit. I'm bringing most of my camera equipment. My DSLR Canon 70D for videos and some photo's. Olympus T-4, which can shoot underwater photo's/video's.
Do you know if I need an electrical adapter, like you do at CI.
Gotta tie up a few more GT flies an some larger bone fish patterns
Am I excited????? Hell ya!!!!!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

There are tons of us who have been to places Baja, Florida, Belize, and Christmas Island.

I think going to a new place in the tropics is a great idea.

Doesn't sound like numbers of Bonefish but they seem like they are bigger.



Christmas Island is still the best place to go first though...lots of small and medium Bonefish plus some big ones.

Most wading there is knee deep or less on firm, light colored flats.



Here is my basic info on going for Bonefish:

http://www.billkiene.com/fishing/fly-fishing-for-bonefish/

.

[Tony Buzolich]

Jay,

If you're flying Air New Zealand and got the Premium Economy seating your regular checked baggage is 50 lbs. plus you're allowed TWO carry-ons up to 30 lbs. combined ( one of which can be 22 lbs.) plus a handbag or a laptop.

If you got the regular economy seat, checked baggage is the same but you're only allowed one carry-on up to 15 lbs.
Tony

[Darian]

Tony,.... If I understood the weight limitations for luggage on Air Rarotonga, they're considerably less than that allowed on New Zealand Air. I was considering packing the same weight for the entire trip but after reading your post, I'm wondering how much weight you packed and if you exceeded the limit how you handled it??? :confused:

[Tony Buzolich]

Geez, Darian

I didn't think about Air Rarotonga being the determiner of how much you can take, but you're right. They (Air Raro) spell it out plain and simple. 158 cubic centimeters is 62 inches in size. And 23 Kgs is 50.7 pounds. Those little turbo-props ARE a lot smaller than Air New Zealand's jets.

I never thought about it last trip and like usual I always take too much stuff I never need. But it all adds up and I'm trying to think about what was the heaviest things I took AND needed. Wading boots, definitely the heaviest and gotta have 'um. Two cameras. One DSLR and one water-proof pocket camera. Used them both a lot. Clothes ? didn't need half of what I brought. Flies and fly boxes ? Again, brought way too many. Bonefish flies, didn't loose hardly any. But, when we were targeting trevally around the coral heads and rocks we lost several I would liked to have had back.

The trevally all seemed to go crazy around the coral and liked to dive into the deepest cracks they could find. 20 lb. leader was gone in a blink when targeting them, and you never knew when a real GT would show up and then 80# or 100# was standard.

Hmmmm? I guess if I was struggling with baggage allowance, you could pack your flip-flops and WEAR your wading boots on the plane. :)
Tony

[Baja Fly Fisher]

I thought about wearing my wading boots but I don't think I'll be close to 50lbs. Five rods, reels, lines, flies, a few clothes (they have laundry service) plus a 11lb roller bag. I'm usually around 38 to 42lbs, even when I go to Baja and that's for 7 to 9 weeks.

[dynaflow]

OK..let's get your luggage weight down.Firstly,you don't need Boots to wade the Aitutaki lagoon.You can wear Crocs or Simms flips,or even those Dive bootie things if you must.These are also fine for casting off the bow off your Guides skiff.In fact you don't need much of anything,as like C.I.you just walk into the shower with your daily fishing clothes on,and surely one Bonefish fly box is enough for a week,plus a few GT flies...and why five rods? IMHO a couple of Bonefish rods and a GT rod is enough.You're also handicapped from the start with a 5kg.bag.

[Tony Buzolich]

Dyna ? Real Name ?

I have to agree with most of what you say, but there are areas that I'm glad I had my regular boots on. We hiked almost to the outer reef at Arutanga and that was a bitch stepping between soft sand and coral lined pockets. The outer reef area anywhere is hard and sharp if you're chasing trevally around those bromies, you'll want good boots.

Staying inside the lagoon or on the boat would be fine for a softer lighter shoe or boot. But over on the other side they had warnings about stepping on stonefish around the coral and sand cobble.
Tony

[Darian]

Tony,.... I'm assuming that Stonefish fins/spines are venomous. Is that correct??

Jay, I'm not sure I'd want to wear wading boots on the way over as they'd be wet/very uncomfortable on the return flight.

[Baja Fly Fisher]

Darian, they might even stink a little.
I'm taking the boots, not worried about making the weight. My carry on might be a different story.

[Tony Buzolich]

I use a Simms Wet/Dry bag for any trip where I'm wading. On your last day of fishing rise your boots and socks and put them into the bag. The whole bag is then put into your suit case and no harm is done to your other clothes or gear. When you get home I rinse again and air dry, then wash your regular clothes as usual.
Tony

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[winxp_man]

Tony that bone fish looks real big!! Awesome report to!!! Thanks for sharing!

[dynaflow]

Hi Tony,I was referring to the lagoon proper of course,and I'm not aware of Stonefish in there.They seem to prefer more broken/rocky terrain.In town and the outer reefs are an entirely different proposition.Besides,when you wade any salt water flat you should always walk slowly in a shuffle fashion as this alerts any Rays or other nasties underfoot or in the vicinity.I always take a couple of large Ziplock bags for wet Boots (one spare)....this cuts weight down considerably.
Best
Peter Prideaux

[Darian]

Peter,.... Will the same flies/sizes used at Christmas Island work at Aitutaki?? How about the Wabnitz Worm fly???

[Tony Buzolich]

Kia Orana Peter,

You're absolutely right about shuffling your feet. We saw numerous rays. The area around town and the hotels definitely had more of a rocky rubble bottom and it would be impossible to see a stonefish just sitting there.

Hope to see you over there some time, Tony

[dynaflow]

Hi Darian...in short,yes mate.The Aitutaki fish are fewer but bigger and a different species to C.I...generally the patterns are the same though(C.I.Specials,Gotchas,Clousers) but your hooks need to be bigger and with more weight,as apart from some inshore wading in the lagoon,you'll be fishing deeper water out of a skiff.Silver Gamakatsu SL11-3H in #6 and #4 should get the job done and no lighter dumbbell eyes than 5/32.I like Harelines double pupil fluoro Brass eyes in 4mm.(Small) and 4.8mm.(Med.).Note Hareline uses a different sizing to the regular.The big Bonefish like rubber legs too,especially on Gotchas.Check out a mates site for the flies that will do the job.."Untamed Tackle"(Darren Asquith)...and I'd definitely take some Of George's Wabnitz Worms!
Cheers

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Hi Darian...in short,yes mate.The Aitutaki fish are fewer but bigger and a different species to C.I...generally the patterns are the same though(C.I.Specials,Gotchas,Clousers) but your hooks need to be bigger and with more weight,as apart from some inshore wading in the lagoon,you'll be fishing deeper water out of a skiff.Silver Gamakatsu SL11-3H in #6 and #4 should get the job done and no lighter dumbbell eyes than 5/32.I like Harelines double pupil fluoro Brass eyes in 4mm.(Small) and 4.8mm.(Med.).Note Hareline uses a different sizing to the regular.The big Bonefish like rubber legs too,especially on Gotchas.Check out a mates site for the flies that will do the job.."Untamed Tackle"(Darren Asquith)...and I'd definitely take some Of George's Wabnitz Worms!
Cheers


This is very good and important advise......


This would not be the best "first flats trip" unless you are an extremely competent fly fishing.

This would be a great trip for a person who has done quit a bit of salt water fly fishing.

Most larger Bonefish are found in a little deeper water so a longer, heavier leader is good.

A larger heavier fly is needed to attract them and also get to the bottom.

Maybe considering a 9 eight rod would be in order.

I would take some #8 and #9 outfits for Bonefish.

For wading for Trevally most like a light weight #10 outfit.

Out of a skiff you might use something bigger like an 11 or 12.


I would go to Christmas Island for your first flats trip.

[dynaflow]

Thanks Bill,especially about bringing your A game to Aitutaki as you won't get those multiple shots at fish like you're occasionally able to have on C.I....my best Aitutaki fish were in metre deep water.An Intermediate line might be handy though as there's a place in the middle of the lagoon they call the Milk where you can dredge for big fish...for what it's worth.Personally the only fly caught fish is one that's sight cast.

[Darian]

Peter,.... Thanks for the tip about Untamed Flies. It's an interesting site:

https://www.untamedfliesandtackle.com.au/aitutaki-flies.html

Lots of good fly patterns shown for Aitutaki. The link is to the flies section of the website but there's so much more available. Thanks again.... :cool:

[Darian]

One of the flies that I've read about for CXI is the George Bush fly. I finally saw it on Untamed Flies & Tackle website. It's a brightly colored, yellow crystal flash/tail/wing fly. Easy to tie. Made me wonder what a fly named for Donald Trump might look like.... ;)

[Baja Fly Fisher]

Darian,

I tied one for CI called Hanging Balls. Very sparse and short. Made with a Gamakatsu black hook, lead eyes or bead chain and a few wraps of orange bow string.

[Darian]

OK,.... One last question. Why tie Bonefish flies on a hook that has a black finish?? One of the comments made by Itu in the video was that if the Bonefish saw a hook point uncovered, they would not bite. Yet, he ties on a flashy, stainless hook....(???) It seems to me that a black hook will show thru tying materials, also, but not flash in sunlight. :confused:

[mems]

Hey Darian, you should try one of my Oama flies.
http://www.rainysflies.com/saltwater/dons-oama-fly

I would get size 02. That is what big bones and trevally love to eat. You should also tie up some big borski sliders. They eat lizzard fish as well. My favorite big bone fly is a mantis shrimp, or a small crab. They also eat baby sea cucumbers, that is why curly tails work. Good luck, should be a good trip, Don.

[dynaflow]

Hi Darian,I'll answer your questions one at a time,but first some history and a story about the George Bush fly.It wasn't named for the former U.S.President but after a long-time American C.I.fisherman by the same name.....sadly now deceased.George had a prosthetic leg,and one time they were chasing GT's down the back country and the Guides had set George up on a white plastic chair on that little sand spit on the other side of Huff Dam.He soon hooked a nice fish which promptly pulled him into the water....when the Guides finished pissing themselves laughing at George's misfortune they fetched him out spluttering and wringing wet.This sparse fly is tied on small hooks like the black #6 and #8 SL45 (now called the "Panfish" hook) and I prefer to use this fly sparingly,like the "middle of the day" Gold fly.It's a go-to when the fish are fussy,like the Wabnitz Worm.Many years ago I took both Green and Black SL45's to the island and caught fish on them,despite the Guides' turning their noses up at the new colours.As for hook colour,I prefer Silver, and in fact only use Black for the George Bush and the odd Trigger Fish fly.Hi Baja Fly Fisher...I like that "Hanging Balls" fly mate...lol.A bloke I know once tied and caught Bonefish on what he called the "the Naked Charlie"...it was a bare hook with Gold dumbbell eyes (yes,that's all).Hi Mems,yes the big Bonefish like a Clouser alright,and they're favoured by long-term C.I.Guides like English,Teanaaki and Moana (RIP the last two gentlemen).I tie mine on #2 SL12S.Another C.I.pattern worth trying on the same size hook is the "90 percenter" weighted with either 5/32 or 3/16 Black Brass dumbbell eyes.Fish this pattern statically,that is you cast it ahead of a big fish and leave it sit.It's heavily dressed light tan Finn Racoon wing provides enough natural movement to attract Mr.Bigbone...perhaps a short twitch if you ascertain he hasn't seen it...again like the Wabnitz worm really.Good luck.