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.