Atiu - Cook Islands
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Destinations
Forum Name: Rarotonga/Aitutaki
Forum Description: Rarotonga/Aitutaki destination and travel info, advice and trip reports here
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=67690
Printed Date: 04 Feb 2026 at 6:46pm
Topic: Atiu - Cook Islands
Posted By: alan syme
Subject: Atiu - Cook Islands
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2011 at 7:06pm
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a trip i took to atiu island in the cook islands. a small island that is 40 mins flight from rarotonga. beautiful jungle covered with a population of about 400, clay and mud roads mainly in the jungle. awesome people, a few real legends there! and some good fishing for usual tropical species, with some massive gts around the place. the pig hunting is unreal, the place is absolutely riddled with pigs and it is crawling with them. crayfish on the reef at night, caught spotlighting and wading on the reef in the shallows. coconut crabs in season. amazing cave systems also, burial caves, swimming caves and bird caves. bush beer huts (tumunu) with homemade bush beer that is deadly strong. no nightlife, pubs, cafes, (not what the place is about) only a few small general stores and a few small accomodation places. unreal outdoors. enough talking, here is some photos. for more info: google search atiu or have a nosey at the latest coast to coast magazine, issue 62, page 36 or www.atiu.com www.atiuvillas.com www.airraro.com www.atiutourism.com              |
Replies:
Posted By: ET487
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2011 at 7:14pm
| Damn you lucky.Only domestic pigs where i am. |
Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2011 at 7:20pm
Fantastic pics and report Alan... top stuff
Maybe you should get this transferred to the Destinations thread  ------------- "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau |
Posted By: Falco
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2011 at 7:22pm
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Ha sweet,thats a good looking pig for an island one all the ones I have seen are sick looking. Mean GT off the shore,Solid boar - mean trip!  ------------- as dead as dead is |
Posted By: snellie
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2011 at 9:31pm
| Looks fantastic- only been to Raro and Aitutaki so must include Atiu next time. Great report |
Posted By: Shark-Bait
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2011 at 9:26am
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WOW those Coconut Crabs look YUMMY. Living the dream, good on ya mate. Wish i was there with ya. SB  ------------- Life is short so make the most of every day. www.oceanangler.co.nz www.fullonfishing.co.nz |
Posted By: Tonto2
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2011 at 3:05pm
looks like heaven on earth ------------- slowly going where everyone else has already been |
Posted By: Seamower
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2011 at 3:46pm
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Awesome! I'm headed to Aitutaki in August. Would you recommend I charter a local operator, or take some gear with me and just fish from the beach? Chur! ------------- JetSkiFisho & all round dumbass |
Posted By: Landlocked
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2011 at 5:43pm
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Great looking spot that! Out of interest, what happens to the coconut crabs out of season??? Do they have a soft shell period like crayswhere they're no-go for taking, or does something else happen to them like burrowing underground?? |
Posted By: alan syme
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2011 at 7:32pm
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cheers guys, yep atiu is a good place, i have been there twice already and i am going to go back. not for everyone but it is a place that i really enjoy and cannot get enough of. seamower, do both i reckon. fish off the shore, some good fish to be had there in aitutaki in the lagoon and off the reef edge, big gts and blue fin trevally. also go on a charter, lots of options, plenty of different fishing also like trolling for tuna, wahoo etc, jigging for dogs or casting lures for gts. google search a few options like aitutaki charters, black pearl charters, baxter fishing etc. all charter boats have game gear, not many if any have quality jigging/casting gear so take your own. one of the best things you can take is a softbait set, unreal fishing for all sorts in the lagoon, the blue trevally pull string really hard and are great fun, also good for the smaller mahimahi at fads on occasion. landlocked, yes you are correct on the second one, the coconut crabs burrow deep underground and sort of hibernate in the winter months, some guys dig them out, lots of effort and often they are in poor shape/condition at that time of year. locals are not known for their "no taking", more a case of if it is alive, eat it!!!!
 (all in good nature) |
Posted By: Damo
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2011 at 9:43pm
whats the night life like
------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">  www.charterconnection.co.nz Facebook: Diversity-Fishing |
Posted By: Booooooom!
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2011 at 10:08pm
| Bro i remember seeing soMe pics on a fishing mag i think? Hahha |
Posted By: mikehunt
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2011 at 11:29am
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GREAT REPORT..think i read about this in the coast to coast mag. classic pig hunting with the dogs on the bike
------------- girls fishing beer in that order |
Posted By: skidder
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2011 at 11:47am
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Sweet report Alan...are the women friendly or are they all bushpigs???? ------------- Knockers - need I say more..... |
Posted By: alan syme
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2011 at 8:06pm
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women are friendly, they welcome fresh genetics!! night life is either go to sleep early or drink at the tumunu (bush beer hut) and then go to sleep early.
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