Christmas Island is to the North West of Australia and the south of Indonesia. Christmas Island is only 135 square km in size and has a population of about 1400 people.
Having been given its name by British explorer Captain William Mynors, who discovered the island on Christmas day. Chrismas island is known for its coral pancake flats inside its sea shell-lined beaches.
Whether you are an experienced saltwater angler or not, and if wondering the Pacific Ocean flats with a fly rod in hand excites you, then you will be blown away by Christmas Island fly fishing. See also our post here on when is the best time for saltwater fishing.
Chrismas Island
So what’s so special about Chrismas island? Well, it’s one of the best saltwater destinations in the world!
The endless hard sand flats, where experienced saltwater anglers can have great fishing conditions year-round, separate it from any other saltwater destination.
Know for its excellent bonefish and giant trevally fishing, it has an array of other species, yellow margin triggerfish and golden trevally, to name a few.
For front-range anglers hooking into yellowfin tuna or massive bonefish, Christmas island is somewhat a fly fishing nirvana with rewarding fish being a regular occurrence.
Whether chasing bonefish in extremely shallow water or you are running through the endless flats after a 100cm Giant Trevally that’s chasing baitfish, Christmas Island offers all the fishing you will need.
Christmas Island has one of the world’s largest coral atolls, making for a fantastic flats fishing experience. So don’t bother bringing your backcountry fly fishing gear because, there is no backcountry fishing here!
Christmas Island fly fishing will fulfill your wildest dreams and make lasting memories.
How to get to Christmas Island
Suppose you are an experienced saltwater angler returning to Christmas island. In that case, you know the drill and routes to take, and you will also be familiar with the Christmas island travel rule and regulations.
Christmas Island airport receives two international flights a week from Perth, Australia, and Jakarta, Indonesia. With a limited amount of airtime, pre-trip information and planning is a must.
Chrismas Island has all the necessities needed for a great fly fishing trip, and your fishing license can also be purchased on the island.
Be sure to allow a few days spare as the weather patterns can cause troubles with travel plans. Who will complain about an extra day’s fly fishing on Christmas Island?
Best time to fish Christmas Island
Fishing Christmas island can be tricky, and it is best to use the Christmas island outfitters. These guides know the waters like the back of their hand, and this will give you the best opportunity to catch some memorable fish.
The standard Christmas Island season is from January through to mid-April; this is when Christmas Island outfitters have back-to-back trips and guide many a fly fisher out on the flats.
Although the’ Season’ on Christmas Island may be the warmest time of the year, it isn’t the best time to fish, according to Camille Egdorf.
Camille Egdorf is a guide who is rather well known for her hosted trips to these types of destinations
.What makes ‘Season’ for Christmas Island such a popular time to travel to it is that most travelers are coming out of winter and NEED to get out on the water and catch some fish.
But as Camille mentions, the summer months are also the rainy season, so the chances of having afternoon thunderstorms are very high. The clouds build up daily along with the rains, making it extremely difficult to spot fish on the flats, leading to exciting stealth fishing scenarios.
Camille’s best time of year is on the shoulder of fall, the weather is still great, and there is a lot less fishing pressure. The clouds clear in the afternoon at this time of the year, making for plentiful bonefish and gt fishing. This is arguably the best fishing on Christmas Island.
Guided fishing is better. Though the flats can be productive, it makes a world of difference with two anglers.
Many of the flats have names from previous anglers- Orvis, Paris Texas, Nine mile, etc., be sure to research which apartments are best to fish over your chosen time on Christmas Island.
Best flies to use on Christmas Island
Targeting bonefish with flashier bonefish patterns seem to work well.
Below are some of the most productive patterns for the island.
Christmas Island Special
It is a fly that works well for bonefish year-round. It’s most effective in the fall when the sky is clearer and the brighter colors are visible from a distance.
The most popular colors are orange and pink in sizes #6-#8. This Chrismas Island special is a shrimp pattern designed to target bonefish, but triggerfish and smaller trevally will also eat this fly with vigor.
CXI Worm
A must in every fly box heading to Christmas Island. Best used on the sand flats where the worms can be found burrowing into the sand. Bonefish live this fly but don’t hesitate to cast it to tailing triggerfish. The smaller fish with devour it, and their hook crushing teeth will make short work of it.
Make sure you carry a few of these patterns in green, red, and UV tan color combos.
Mantis Shrimp
They are used to target larger bonefish and triggers. This larger shrimp pattern imitates the most prominent shrimp in the surrounding waters. Carry a few for when you saltwater fly fishing and see those big bones passing.
FAQs
Is Christmas Island open for fly fishing?
No, Christmas Island is not open for fly fishing. The island is a National Park and the Australian government does not allow recreational fishing in the waters around the island.
What fish do you catch at Christmas Island?
The waters around Christmas Island are home to a wide array of marine life, including various species of tuna, barracuda, triggerfish, mackerel, and many others.
Are there snakes on Christmas Island?
Yes, there are two species of snake on Christmas Island: the wolf snake and the golden tree snake. Both species are non-venomous and pose no threat to humans.
Is Christmas Island worth fly fishing?
No, Christmas Island is not open for fly fishing. The island is a National Park and the Australian government does not allow recreational fishing in the waters around the island.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that Christmas island is a fantastic fishery, and when you have stable weather, tremendous fun will be had. Whether blind casting poppers to massive cruising gets or testing your saltwater flats fly fishing skills, it’s a fishery that won’t disappoint.
So do things differently next time, choose to spend Christmas on Christmas Island, and you won’t be disappointed. You may just be gifted the best Christmas present ever!
Tight lines!
