Fly Fishing off the beach in Raro
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=78657
Printed Date: 28 Jan 2026 at 9:19pm
Topic: Fly Fishing off the beach in Raro
Posted By: hutchy1379
Subject: Fly Fishing off the beach in Raro
Date Posted: 12 May 2012 at 6:01am
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Hi I'll be travelling to rarotonga from Northern Ireland on 2nd-7th July this year and I'll have the fly rod with me. Could someone tell me the best times of the day to fish? and the methods/lines/flies to use? I have a floating line, so im thinking some sort of sink tip? All other tips appreciated. Have looked through the threads - ill be staying at Muri beach - any particular good spots? Cheers! Connor |
Replies:
Posted By: alan syme
Date Posted: 13 May 2012 at 7:49pm
| high tide or incoming, mornings are best or dusk is the next best. popper flies. no need for sink tip in the lagoon. |
Posted By: chapy
Date Posted: 13 May 2012 at 10:40pm
| id be keen to see how ya go mate as i will be going there later on in the year and plan on doing the same sort of thing!!! |
Posted By: Mike.Thomas
Date Posted: 14 May 2012 at 6:30am
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I have fly fished Raro and Aitutaki a few times and will going back to Raro again in August. I have found you will catch plenty of fish of all kinds (but mostly small) using a smallish clouser and a twitchy retrieve cast close to just about any patch of coral, the main chanels leading in and out of the lagoon, like the one at Muri and the one right in front of Trader Jacks can give up the odd bigger fish using bigger flys and poppers and should give you a shot at some good Bluefin Trevally.
You will see lots of very large mullet cruising around in the lagoon, they are very hard to hook, but if you do manage to hook one they fight very very well! I used a very small shrimp pattern to hook the only one I managed to fool, but the same fly sent some other mullet fleeing in panic!
Some of the reef fish you are likely to hook are Picasso fish, Yellow Tail Goat Fish, Flounder, Cornet fish, Box fish, Bluefin Trevaly, Emperor Grouper, Flame tail snapper and many many more.
All the best.
Mike
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Posted By: hutchy1379
Date Posted: 14 May 2012 at 7:17am
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thanks - looking forward to it. Mike- would like likes of a size 6 clouser do the business? Going to get onto the vice this week and get the box ready! PS: what tippet/leader do you need?
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Posted By: Mike.Thomas
Date Posted: 14 May 2012 at 8:46am
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Hi Hutchy, most of my clousers are 6 or 8's and I use a few crazy charlies in smaller sizes as well. Mostly in tan and white or yellow and white, but for the larger flies I like to add a bit of colour to the mix, maybe if fishing the entrances go for a big bright fly to get some attention.
As for leaders I use straight nylon or flouro, anything from 12 to 20lb, mostly to give some protection from the coral. Inside the reef I use a floating line with an intermediate tip and in the entrances I use a floating shooting head. If you fish the chanel in front of trader Jacks you may need to speed up your retrieve to avoid hooking a cornet fish on every cast. Like this one
 All the best.
Mike
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