The fishing at Christmas Island is all wading. It is important that you have wading shoes and socks that are comfortable with good support, as you will be wearing them all day and every day.
Fly fishing on the equator is a far more harsh environment than say the Bahamas. Make sure all of your clothing has an SPF rating.
Bonefish - 9 foot 7 or 8 weight rod such as Sage Xi3, Winston, Loomis, Scott etc. You should bring a back up rod, whether you share one or have your own. If it is windy, anglers prefer an 8 weight rod. A floating line is all you will need. Suggested are the Rio Bonefish or Redfish lines, Scientific Angler Bonefish or Airflo Bonefish lines. It is always a good idea to bring a spare fly line and have it in the boat with you each day.
The smaller bluefin and golden trevally are usually fished with an 8 wt rod. A 9 foot 10 to 12 weight is a good size for most of the fish you will encounter. A good line for flats fishing for GT’s is a floating tarpon line or an intermediate tip line.
Reels
Christmas Island Packing List 2012
Fish Head Expeditions, LLC
www.fishheadexpeditions.com
Clothes
3 – 6 long sleeved shirts for fishing, Patagonia, Simms
3 – 6 short sleeved shirts and/or t-shirts for after fishing
1-2 pairs of quick drying long pants for fishing
2 -3 pairs of shorts for after fishing
4-7 pairs of underwear
Cotton socks for traveling
Traveling shoes
Traveling pants
Sandals to wear around the lodge
Light weight raincoat, Simms, Patagonia or others
Optional medium wt. fleece top for wet windy cool weather
Patagonia silk weight underwear, this is the best stuff for getting wet and drying quickly. Wearing soggy cotton underwear all day can lead to problems.
Wading
The fishing at Christmas Island is all wading. It is important that you have wading shoes and socks that are comfortable with good support, as you will be wearing them all day and every day.
Neoprene socks such as Simms
Flats wading shoes, such as Simms or Patagonia
Sun Protection
Fly fishing on the equator is a far more harsh environment than say the Bahamas. Make sure all of your clothing has an SPF rating.
Solar shirt by Simms or Patagonia, quite comfortable
Sungloves
1 or 2 Buffs, these really work!
Sun hat or baseball style hat with Buff
Sunscreen 30 – 50 SPF, apply 2 to 4 times per day.
Lip sunscreen
Rods and Lines
Bonefish - 9 foot 7 or 8 weight rod such as Sage Xi3, Winston, Loomis, Scott etc. You should bring a back up rod, whether you share one or have your own. If it is windy, anglers prefer an 8 weight rod. A floating line is all you will need. Suggested are the Rio Bonefish or Redfish lines, Scientific Angler Bonefish or Airflo Bonefish lines. It is always a good idea to bring a spare fly line and have it in the boat with you each day.
Giant Trevally – The smaller bluefin and golden trevally are usually fished with an 8 wt rod. A 9 foot 10 to 12 weight is a good size for most of the fish you will encounter. A good line for flats fishing for GT’s is a floating tarpon line or an intermediate tip line.
Reels
For Bonefish always fish a large arbor reel, with a saltwater sized drag and with the backing capacity of 150 yards. 30 lb backing is best as it is flatter and less likely to dig into itself under tension. Brands to look at are Nautilus, Tibor, Bauer, Abel and Sage. For Trevally a 10 to 12 wt. reel with 300 yds of 30 lb backing capacity.
Flies
>> Bonefish
- Christmas Island Special with small and medium brass bead chain. Sizes - 6 & 8, colors – pearl, orange, yellow and shell pink
- Tan pearl Charlie, size 4, 6 & 8
- Clouser Minnow, some with bead chain eyes and some with lead eyes, colors chart./white and tan/white 4 & 6
- Tan Turd size 8
- Tan mini puff sizes 4, 6 & 8
- Gotcha 2, 4 & 6
- GT snacks
- Comb’s Sea Habit Bucktail 2/0, 4/0
- Deceiver 2/0, red/yellow and black
- Assorted castable poppers if the fish are in the mood
C & F waterproof fly boxes will keep your flies dry and are recommended
For Bonefish always fish a large arbor reel, with a saltwater sized drag and with the backing capacity of 150 yards. 30 lb backing is best as it is flatter and less likely to dig into itself under tension. Brands to look at are Nautilus, Tibor, Bauer, Abel and Sage. For Trevally a 10 to 12 wt. reel with 300 yds of 30 lb backing capacity.
Leaders and Tippet
Bonefish leaders that are 9 to 12 feet long, made out of mono or fluorocarbon are best. Leader and tippet size should be 1x (.010), 0x (.011) and 01x (.012). Mostly you will use the smaller sizes with smaller flies in shallow water. Bring at least 6 leaders, one per day for fishing. Bring one of each size of tippet.
For bluefin and golden trevally use a leader that is typical for permit with a tippet of about .015 or one with 40lb shock tippet. They can be caught with a typical bonefish leader, but it does not have the abrasion resistance for consistently landing these fish.
For GT’s fluorocarbon tippet of 80 or 100 lb. is best. This can be an IGFA 20 lb class tarpon leader or one that you have tied yourself with a 60 lb fluoro butt. It is always good bring a spool of all the component fluoro tippets to be able to make leaders as needed.
To bring personal and fishing
- Passport plus back up copy
- Cash for extra guides, gratuities, water and beverages
- 2 copies of your flight and travel itinerary
- Personal toiletries
- Personal medicine (pack in you carry on)
- Plastic bag for wet wading shoes and dirty damp clothes on your way home
- Personal favorite liquor from Duty Free Store
- Book or two to read
Nippers
Pliers
Nail Knot tyer
Polarized Sunglasses, copper type colored lenses, Smith
Sunglass cleaner
Waist/hip pack for wade fishing, Fishpond, Sage, Simms etc
Hook hone
Mosquito repellent, not always needed but good to have
Forceps or mitten clamp for removing the hook from fish
A boat bag for everything you are bringing for each day of fishing, waterproof is best
More sunscreen
Camera with battery charger or batteries
