North 40 Fly Shop eMagazine February 2015 | Page 21

T his year North 40 Fly Shop went back to Christmas Island with long-time friends, Justin Crump and Kate Taylor, both with Frigate Adventure Travel. We had a full lodge at the Ikari House with 16 guests. The weather was looking good for our week, and expectations were high. The average size of bonefish on Christmas Island has been increasing over the last 6 years due to strict catch and release practices by locals and traveling fishermen. This year we cast to several double digit bonefish and saw some giants that made us grab our trevally rods then scramble back to our bonefish rods. When traveling to Christmas Island, it is important to factor in how truly remote the island is. Located about 144 miles north of the equator, it takes 3 hours from Honolulu on a weekly flight on Fiji Airways. Christmas Island has a population of around 5,500 people and fishing guides are some of the highest paid people on the island. Most of the island inhabitants live in small, windowless, homes that either have thatched or tin shed type roofs. Weather on Christmas Island is very consistent due to its proximity to the equator. This island is made up of coral and sand. There is very little dirt, making gardens, fresh fruit, and vegetables very scarce unless flown in weekly. For fishing trips, it is necessary to bring all your own fishing gear. Very little gear is on the island and most guides don’t have flies or tippet. What you bring is what you’ll have for your short stay on the island. Beginning on our descent, expectations turned into excitement as we made our way towards Cassidy International Airport on Christmas Island. Getting close to landing we found ourselves doing a few loops around the lagoon in the lumbering 737. The view of the lagoon was spectacular. Blues, greens, & tans of every shade popped up at us through the tiny window of the plane. Images of large bonefish and giant trevally (GT’s) started to haunt our thoughts.