Thanks to subscriber Gary Kemsley for a great report on fishing Aitutaki. I have not fished the area but from those I talk to, it’s a destination to try if you want a shot at large fish. It’s not a typical DIY adventure, but an adventure all the same. I have talked with several people that say there is some walk and wade fishing available on your own and best to combine DIY with a few guide days to fill out a week. “Aitutaki is the most stunning of all the tropical Islands I have visited. The coral reef contains a vast lagoon with one main Island and a few smaller ones. The water is crystal clear over white coral sand with coral bommies and sand islands. From New Zealand we access Aitutaki through Rarotanga which is 40 mins flying time south of Aitutaki. Accomodations are varied and plenty. We stay near the end of the airport where the bonefish flats run right to the beach. We can see bonefish tailing as we eat breakfast. That tells you that there is plenty of walk and wade fishing available as well as flats on the other side of the island if the wind is annoying. The best flats fishing though is at the other end of the lagoon and only accessible by boat. Guides are available and well worth employing to get access to the distant ( 20 mins) flats and to get the feel of the area if you are on your first trip. E2’s Way are the guides I have fished with six awesome guides that have eagle eyes. Bonefish on the flats are finicky and refusals are common. They seem to like orange hued flies in smaller sizes. We regularly catch 6 to 8lb bonefish with a few over ten pounds most trips. There are planty of flats to wade over a week of fishing and some always produce. As well as the flats there is plenty of opportunity for drop off blind fishing for bones as they stack up prior to going on the flats. Add to this the unique “Fishing in the milk” and you have all the bonefish fun you could ask for. In the milk we drift in long boats and follow the bonefish and trevally that are creating the “milks” as they grub on the bottom. There we use sinking lines and bigger flies. The bonefish in the milk tend to be bigger, 8lb to 10lb with a few smaller ones and a few bigger ones. As well as the bones there is wonderful fly and spin fishing for Giant Trevally (GT’s) These run up to 100lb and more and are a sight to behold on the flats and along the drop offs. Smaller ones are great on the fly rod and are easily hooked when they are rounding up bait. You can chase these from shore or boat. Yellow and white Clousers are good but top water poppers offer some spectacular fishing too. The old story of a few days with a guide and then look after yourself works well here and that is how we structure our trips. This is new water. Of recent years the locals have realised how the bonefish are worth a lot more to them on the flats than they are in their nets. The shallow water flats fishing both wading and poling is getting better all the time. There are signs of a population increase for the bonefish too. It’s all looking good for visiting fishers. Currency is NZD New Zealand dollars and prices are still pretty low. That may change as more visitors turn up. In a week on the flats and cruising the lagoon the only fishers you will see are the other members of your group.” Thanks Gary, guess I better book a trip.
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