In late September I led a group of 6 keen fly flingers to Aitutaki on a Bonefish mission.
We had a fantastic time landing plenty of Bonefish to 10.5 lbs. We found lots of ways to lose a heap as well. Broken fly lines, smashed leaders, straightened hooks, bust offs on coral 'bommies, hooked bonefish eaten by giant trevally.
All up, almost 40 bonefish boated, and a similar number of trevally, and around 3 times that hooked and lost.
A couple of lads took a morning charter trolling outside the reef and got a number of yellowfin tuna to 9kg (one of which became our dinner at a local restaurant that night) and some GT popper fishing action.
A highlight was a ginormous 35kg GT Mark K got inside the lagoon on his popper outfit.
Enjoy the pictures.
First morning. 6 keen punters, 2 flats boats, 3 local guides.
John Eichelsheim and Andy Sheppard with guide Itu Davey.
Andy Sheppard is no longer a bonefish virgin. First of many for the trip.
Mark Kitteridge and yours truly Brett Patterson opting to wade the flats.
John E with a 10 lb class bonefish.
Tia Davey spotting for me. Local guides made a huge difference to our success rate. They can spot fish and give you shots you just would not get alone.
Mark K with a quality bonefish.
Itu Davey, 'the best eyes on Aitutaki'
This guy is a first class guide, fish spotter, and casting coach.
John Eichelsheim in his 'happy place'
Bonefish are awesome once hooked. They can smoke 200m of line at times. Real little sticks of dynamite. They will find any weakness in your tackle.
Not a great pic. This was my best of the trip, 71cm and est. 10.5 lb.
Believe it or not, this fish is subject to a IGFA world record 'length catch and release' claim.
A meritorious fly rod caught GT for Simon Bleach-Wood.
Simon with another 9lb class bonefish.
Aitutaki fishing tip #1
When fly fishing the flats, always carry a great big popper outfit. Because 35 plus kg fish like this one Mark K caught, can swim past any time!
Is that tide coming in? Hope that boat comes to pick us up soon;-)
the beach behind our resort. We caught lots of small trevally here, and saw tailing bonefish.
Yep! Aitutaki is a beautiful place alright.
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