How To Get There
Christmas Island is serviced by Fiji Airways once weekly from Honolulu, Hawaii (HNL) and Nadi, Fiji (NAN). The airport on Christmas Island is very small and easy to navigate. The airport code is CXI.
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Flights from Honolulu arrive at 3:20pm after a noon departure from Honolulu. These flights depart on Tuesdays, arriving on Wednesdays, one day later due to crossing the international date line. All Fiji Airways flights from Nadi leave every Tuesday at 11:50pm, arriving on Christmas Island (CXI) at 6:45am on Wednesday. When making your flight reservations with Fiji Airways, search for the departing flight on Tuesdays and the returning flight on Wednesdays from CXI.
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All travelers to Kiribati are required to posses a valid COVID vaccination card in order to enter the country. No pre-trip or post-arrival COVID testing is required.
After clearing immigration/customs, you'll be met by members of the Christmas Island Lodge staff and immediately transferred to the lodge. It’s approximately a ten-minute drive from the airport to our bungalows. You will then be dropped off at your private bungalow where you can settle in, relax and prepare for an exceptional week of angling adventure!
What is Included in the Cost
- Six days of guided fishing
- lodging
- three meals per day
- bottled water
- soda
- beer/wine
- fishing license
- internet
- departure tax
- laundry service
- all transportation to and from CXI airport
- transportation while on the island
- 12.5% VAT on your stay
What is Not Incluced
- guide/staff gratuities
- hard alcohol (best purchased in Honolulu)
- flights to and from Honolulu and Christmas Island
- fishing equipment (rods, reels, flies, leaders, etc.)
- overnight accommodations in Honolulu
- Evacuation/Emergency Medical Insurance required by GFS (avg. $150)
*Evacuation/Emergency Medical Insurance is required by Golden Fly Shop to partake in this trip due to the remoteness of the area. Only one flight arrives and departs Kiritimati every week and in the case of an emergency, prices for an emergency airlift can be costly. GFS staff do not want to be handling your money and/or making financial or potentially life altering decisions in the odd case of an emergency. Emergencies rarely ever occur on trips, with well trained hosts, guides, and lodge staff helping prevent accidents, but they are called accidents for a reason. We’d rather be safe than sorry. Upon purchasing your insurance plan for the week, please email a copy to Xavier Puls at xavier@goldenflyshop.com. Please have your plan purchased before March 1, 2025 so Xavier can have them organized and ready for the trip. Still bring your proof of insurance to Christmas Island just in case, but Xavier will bring a copy as a reserve.
What Is the Fishing Like
The fishing on Christmas Island is incredibly diverse and has something that appeals to everyone. Fortunately, Christmas Island Lodge is uniquely situated on the Island; we are able to access the inner lagoon in less than 10 minutes, we can be fishing at the famous Korean Wreck, Huff Dam and other backcountry lagoons within 75 to 90 minutes. Thanks to our private back-of-the-lagoon boat launch, guests of Christmas Island Lodge will be the first anglers on the island to access the inner lagoon every morning and the last to leave each afternoon.
The bonefishing on Christmas Island is incredible. In the inner lagoon when the tides are right, the flats are teeming with bonefish, eager to take a fly. Anglers will have numerous shots at fish averaging three pounds. Bonefish from five to seven pounds are common and patient anglers that wait for the right fish will have shots at fish up to ten pounds! Triggerfish have become a guest favorite with multiple shots at these colorful and hard fighting fish each day. Giant, bluefin, spotted, striped and golden trevally are common sights on the flats of Christmas Island. These fish will cruise the flats or hang right off the edges and greedily attack your fly.
Many anglers coming to Christmas Island are eager to target giant trevally (GTs). These supercharged and highly aggressive fish will leave any seasoned angler weak in the knees. Christmas Island Lodge does not chum, nor do we condone chumming for GTs on Christmas Island. If you want to catch a GT on the fly you need to commit your time and focus. Our guides will carry your 12wt rod rigged and ready in case any opportunity presents itself, however the best way to catch a GT is to target these fish exclusively. For those interested in targeting GTs, be prepared for long days hunting these apex predators. You might only get one shot a day but it will make you keep coming back for more!
What Gear Do I Need
In addition to the Gear Recommendations below, please make sure to pack these essentials:
- Wading shoes/boots (Simms Pursuit Shoes, Simms Flats Sneaker, or Patagonia River Salt Boot)
- Waterproof hip pack or backpack
- Polarized sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- At least 3 sun hoodies
- At least 3 pairs of pants and/or shorts/legging combo
- Sun/stripping gloves
- Raincoat
- Waterproof roll bag
- Saltwater pliers
- Nippers
- Hat(s)
- Sandals/flip flops
- Bug spray
- Reusable water bottle
- Chargers (US ports are used on Christmas Island)
- Toiletries
- Lens cloth
- Laundry bag for dirty clothes
- Garbage bag for wet boots
- Cash for 15-20% tip for guides and lodge staff
See our Gear Recommendations below.
