Christmas Island 2006

Christmas Island is Taylor Creek's annual hosted trip and has been since our initilial visit in 1983. Since then we have developed an intimate relationship with this special bonefish paradise. Over the past twenty years our knowledge of the island and the friendships developed with the guides and staff of the Captain Cook Hotel enables us to truly enhance a trip to this South Pacific bonefish mecca. This is indeed one of the worlds finest bonefish destinations as the sheer numbers of fish found here in combination with the vast expanse of flats and amazingly consistant weather all contribute to incredible fishing. Beyond the fishing, snorkling,diving, birding and just exploring this south pacific atoll will leave a lasting impression that is sure to bring you back. Over the years, most all of our guests accompany us many more times than just once and as we explain, the only persons more excited than the first time Christmas visitors are those on the plane going back for a repeat experience!

What makes Christmas Island so special? Lying 1300 miles south of Hawaii and roughly 200 miles north of the equator, the weather at Christmas Island is relatively the same on Christmas day as it is on July 4th. This exceptional year round climate prevents the chance that adverse weather will ruin your trip. Weather has soured many a trip to the Bahammas, Belize and other popular destinations where tropical storms can adversely affect flats fishing. Over twenty years we have never not had an exceptional week of weather and even better fishing! Christmas is also the World's largest coral atoll and as a result offers one of the greatest expanse of wadable flats anywhere. Unique in the fact that these flats are located within a lagoon providing a sheltered environment from ocean winds and ... These seemingly endless sand and coral flats allow anglers to wade all day without ever returning to the same areas during a week of fishing. As you would imagine with all these positive habitat features, the island is home to one of the largest bonefish populations in the world. The sheer numbers of bonefish provide opportunities all day. Great for beginning anglers to hook good numbers of fish, even attaining double digit days and it is not uncommon for experienced anglers to land 20 to 30 fish a day.

Besides the bonefish, several species of Trevally are present. Members of the jack family, these aggresive fish are also encountered on the flats. Blue Fin and Golden trevally average 5-10 pounds with larger specimens of 15lbs to 20lbs common sights. The largest are the Giant Trevally which reach 80lbs to 100lbs! These massive fish are also encountered on the flats often with their backs out of the water and tails slicing thru water half as deep as their body! These opportunities leave most anglers shaking in their flats booties. Average sized trevally are easily handled on 8 weights and often times they will readily take bonefish flies. However, having a 10wt or larger rod with an assortment of large poppers and streamers are required if one hopes or wishes to target GT's.

In addition to the flats fishing for Bones and Trevally there are also some offshore fishing opportunitities. These may be combined into a half day of offshore and a half day of flats fishing or a full day off shore. This can be an exciting addition for the angler who wishes to mix up fishing opportunities or for the repeat traveller to Christmas who already has numerous days on the flats! A mix of trolling, chuming and casting with both fly and conventional equipment allows one to pursue some larger ocean bound critters! You can expect to encounter yellowfin tuna, wahoo and trevally. Yellowfin tuna makes a great addition to end of the day appetizers as the kitchen staff of the captian cook will gladly prepare some fresh sashimi!

As amazing as the fishery is there are a great many other attributes that have captured our interest and fasination which has continually drawn us back every year, sometimes even twice a year! Our annual trip is during the fall as we prefer the tides during that time of year and it is more or less the very beginning of the "season". You can go any time, but many saltwater anglers travel during our wintery season, thus by going in the fall we get on the flats after they have been well rested, not many anglers head to Christmas during July, August or September. Thus, October and November with previously light pressure and ideal "Neap" tides are what we look for! Our dates have been set for October 25- November 1st 2004. If you would like to join us at this time or have any questions about this trip at other times of the year just let us know. We are more than happy to help arrange a trip to this great island paradise!