My Christmas Island report
Although it has been a couple weeks since I returned, I am still reveling in my wonderful first time experience at CI. I went there with a certain amount of apprehension since I have never fished on flats before. I had also never caught a bonefish. Well, I certainly did fish lots and lots of flats and caught lots of bonefish. What powerful swimmers!
My first day was pretty much casting where the guide told me to. I could see the fish when they were headed at me or headed away, but when they turned sideways... they disappeared. By the end of the day, I was able to spot, successfully cast to, and catch a couple bones on my own.
The wind is almost always there. The 20 mph winds were a bit difficult at times, but one gets used to using the rod tip to do the casting, which is usually less than 30 feet. I eliminated false casting as much as possible. This helps in keeping the hands-of-the-wind somewhat under control. One morning there was very small winds; fish seemed spooky at those times. I ended up preferring times when the wind was 10-12 mph. The fish seemed not as spooky. Sometimes bones would swim to within a few feet of me... crazy.
We did get rained on a few times. One day, I was on a flat that was in direct alignment with the rain clouds. That was frustrating, but eventually the sun came out and all was right with the world.
For the week, I did pretty good with the bones. I caught one triggerfish (Picasso), a golden trevally, a barred trevally, bluefin trevally, giant trevally, goatfish, yellow snappers and a yellowfin tuna (when we fished the blue water).
This trip was a retirement gift from my wife. It was the most fun I have had on any trip. Guides, fellow fishermen, and lodge staff were all wonderful. This island, it's people, the bird life are all beautifully fantastic. It was an honor to have fished Christmas Island. I am definitely going back (birthday gift?).
John
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