The Captain Cook Lodge has the best location on the island in terms of view, fishing variety, and access.
Located in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, Christmas Island represents some of the finest bonefishing found anywhere on the globe. It is one of the few places where anglers can wade miles upon miles of clean, hard, white sand flats, stalking bonefish (and a variety of other exciting fish species) on foot in ankle-deep water.
Bonefish are the biggest draw to Christmas Island, and with good reason as the atoll has perhaps the largest population of these “ghosts of the flats” found anywhere. At times it seems like these fish are everywhere! Most of the bonefish you’ll find here are in the 2-4 pound range. These plentiful “mid-sized” fish will easily stretch a 7 or 8 weight rod into the backing. At the same time, Christmas Island offers plenty of opportunities to chase even bigger bonefish, and we regularly encounter hefty fish up to 10 pounds.
Christmas Island is also famous for fish diversity. For folks who want a bit more variety, the fishery also includes triggerfish, sweetlips, parrotfish, milkfish, and several species of trevally such as the beautiful Bluefin trevally, finicky golden trevally, and the notorious Giant Trevally. When the seas are calm, offshore fishing opportunities open up to target powerful pelagics such as tuna, sailfish, and wahoo.
Christmas Island has a long and famous history with fly anglers. The Captain Cook was the place that started it all. The original Captain Cook Hotel opened in the early 1980s, and for nearly 3 decades it was the place to be on Christmas Island. Sadly, mismanagement slowly lead to the hotel’s steady decline.
The good news is this: the Captain Cook is back! We are thrilled that the Captain Cook has come under new management, now benefitting from a fantastic combination of local and international fly fishing expertise. The Captain is now by far the island’s premier location with outstanding accommodations, service, and food. It’s a fantastic mix of just enough comfort, traditional Pacific Island hospitality, and a whole lot of serious fishing. The Fly Shop is thrilled to represent this operation and highly recommends it. This is the new era in fly fishing on Christmas Island!
The Captain has always represented the traditions and values of this unique Pacific Island fishery. We are so excited to have it back and to be able to offer this incredible location to our angling guests. The fishing on Christmas Island has always been great; now guests staying at the new Captain Cook Lodge can finally combine great fishing with comfortable accommodations on a secluded private beach, fantastic meals, and great service.
Reservations & Rates
The cost of the 7 night/6 day Captain Cook Lodge package is $2,995.00 USD per person (single occupancy - 1:1 guide ratio).
• Non-angler packages are available upon request
Inclusions
Your angling package at Captain Cook Lodge includes Christmas Island Airport/lodge transfers, all meals, beverages, lodging, daily guided fishing, transportation to/from fishing each day.
Non-Inclusions
Not included in your Captain Cook Lodge package are personal tackle and equipment, Kiribati Fishing license ($50.00, purchased on arrival), gratuities, travel expenses between your home and Christmas Island, items of personal nature and any lodging or meals not provided at the Captain Cook Lodge.
Travel Insurance
The Fly Shop® is not in the insurance business, but we recommend Travel Guard coverage as a service with a desire to see your best interests protected. It is impossible to know when an unfortunate situation (loss of luggage, fly rods, illness in the family, or an accident) may occur. However, such things can and do happen, and this insurance can provide a means of recourse against non-refundable financial losses.
• Travel Insurance Information
Seasons at Captain Cook
The best time of year to fish Christmas Island is whenever you can be there! This may be the most reliable, year round fishery on Planet Earth. Christmas Island is located 1200 miles south of Hawaii and only 110 miles north of the Equator. Its proximity to the equator guarantees consistent conditions throughout the year, making it one of the few fishing destinations in the world that provides great opportunities nearly every day of the year. Moreover, this part of the Pacific Ocean has never been hit by a hurricane or cyclone!
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There is no bad time of year to fish Christmas Island. We have found that some of the most popular months are in the late winter and early spring (January through May) when many other international destinations are cold and negatively impacted by winter weather conditions. Australian anglers tend to visit in August and September (during their winter months). So if you intend to fish during these months, you will want to make your reservations early. The rest of the year remains great from a conditions standpoint, and you will also have better last minute availability and less pressure on the flats.
The temperature is about the same throughout every month of the year, with the hottest days in the upper 80 degrees and the coolest in the lower 80 degrees (Fahrenheit). The sea temperatures in the lagoons vary between 68 degrees and 80 degrees. Bonefish feed best when the temperature is about 78 degrees. Trevally species (both Giant Trevally and Bluefin Trevally) roam the flats at high tides in the early mornings and late in the afternoons.
The Neap tides (associated closest to the quarter moons) present the most consistent conditions on the flats, especially for bonefish. The water on the flats is not too high and not too low. You can fish the whole day, because there is always water on most of the flats. Also during the Neap tides, fishing the Ocean reef flats (such as the Korean Wreck area) for bonefish and small trevally is ideal.
The bigger tides associated with the Spring Tides (either full or new moon) means more water moving over the flats. For bonefish, this means there are times when the flats are too shallow or too deep, but also more active “feeding frenzies” on the incoming and outgoing tides. For Trevally, the bigger tidal movements often brings more big fish onto the flats hunting small bonefish and milkfish.
Getting to Captain Cook
Fiji Airways flies every Tuesday between Honolulu and Christmas Island. You cross the International Date Line, so on Hawaii time you fly Tuesday to Tuesday, while on Christmas Island it is actually Wednesday to Wednesday. The flight to Christmas Island departs Honolulu Tuesday at 12:00 PM, arriving Christmas Island at 3:00 PM on Wednesday. The following Tuesday (Wednesday in Christmas Island), the return flight from the island typically leaves about 7:00 AM and arrives in Honolulu at 10:30 AM.
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Most guests heading to Christmas Island plan on arriving in Honolulu on either Sunday or Monday. There are many excellent options for hotels on Oahu for those extending their time in Hawaii. Anglers focusing their travel on fishing at Christmas Island typically opt to stay at the The Honolulu Airport Inn (also sometimes called the Ohana Honolulu Airport Hotel), which is convenient and located near the terminal and has a complimentary shuttle van to the airport.
We strongly recommend using the services of our professional travel agent in Honolulu: Renee Mahler. She is the best resource for reservations between Honolulu and Christmas Island (Cassidy International Airport, code CXI). She is very familiar with this flight and will take good care of you. Moreover, if there are ever any travel delays related to either the charter flight to Fanning or the commercial flight on Fiji Airways to/from Hawaii (or Fiji), she will be able to assist you in any rebookings needed to get you home. While these sorts of delays are rare, they do happen. This is also another very good reason to purchase Travel Insurance for this trip.
Renee can be reached 1-808-949-8100 (ext 103#) or renee@ultimatevacations.us. Tell her that you are with The Fly Shop, and she’ll take extra special care of you.
The round trip via Fiji Airways flight between Christmas Island (or Fiji) and Honolulu costs approximately US$1140. Fiji Airways is a well-operated airline and provides good service; Renee can almost always get our guests great seats; wine and beer are complimentary; and a small meal is provided.
Renee can also make flight reservations from the mainland for you as well as make hotel arrangements in Hawaii, or Fiji. Most of our guests choose to stay at the Airport Honolulu Hotel (formerly known as the Ohana), particularly if spending only one night. The hotel restaurant has a decent breakfast. Dinners there are decent, and there are several good restaurants within walking distance. It is often worth the $30 cab ride (one way) to Waikiki for better dining options (Duke’s is one of our favorite restaurants, right on Waikiki Beach). The Pearl Ridge Shopping Center is nearby and reachable by taxi if you need any last-minute items.
NOTE: Passports are required, no exceptions, and must be valid for at least six months after your planned return date. Visas are no longer required of US citizens.
Getting to Christmas Island from the United States:
Travel to Honolulu on Sunday or Monday: Preceding your scheduled week at Christmas Island that runs from Tuesday to Tuesday (Hawaii Time)/Wednesday to Wednesday (Kiribati-Time), we recommend flying to Honolulu on Sunday or Monday and spending a night or two to give yourself plenty of rest and to allow for delays or lost baggage.
The Honolulu Airport Inn (also named Ohana Honolulu Airport Hotel) is convenient and located near the terminal. They also have a complimentary transfer van to get you to/from the airport; their phone is 808-836-0661. There are of course literally hundreds of other hotels on Oahu including some very nice resorts near the Waikiki Beach area if you are considering an extended stay in Hawaii.
Getting to Christmas Island from Fiji:
Travel to Nadi, Fiji, on Monday or Tuesday: Preceding your scheduled week at Christmas Island that runs from Wednesday to Wednesday (Kiribati/Fiji-Time), we recommend flying to Fiji (Nadi International Airport, code NAN) on Monday or Tuesday. The flight from Nadi to Kiritimati (pronounced “Christmas”) departs at 11:55 pm on Tuesday night, so you can arrive earlier in the day on Tuesday and still make the connecting flight. We do typically recommend arriving a day early (Monday), however, in order to give yourself plenty of rest and to allow for delays or lost baggage.
If you plan on spending a night or two in Fiji, there are quite a few hotels near Nadi International Airport, most of which also have complimentary shuttles or can be reached by an inexpensive taxi ride. One of the most highly recommended is the Tokatoka Resort Hotel (http://warwickhotels.com/tokatoka-resort/). If you are considering an extended stay in Fiji, we recommend getting out of Nadi and spending time at one of the nicer beach resorts a 1-2 hour drive away from the city.
Please note, when coming from Fiji “Christmas” Island will usually be described as “Kiritimati”, not “Christmas”. The pronunciation is the same, but very different spellings!
Day of Arrival: (Tuesday in the US/Wednesday in Fiji/Kiribati):
Travelers arriving from the US in Hawaii will want to check in at Fiji Airways counter in the International Terminal at the Honolulu airport at least 2 hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. Most recently the flights have been departing Honolulu about 12:00 pm (noon). Remember, Kiribati (pronounced “Kee-Ree-Boss”) is one day ahead of US time, so you’ll be arriving on Wednesday even though you are departing on Tuesday. The flight from Hawaii to Christmas Island takes 3 hours, 10 minutes.
Travelers arriving from Fiji will want to check in at Fiji Airways counter at the Nadi International Airport Terminal at least 3 hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. Most recently the flights have been departing Nadi about midnight (11:55 pm). The flight from Nadi to Kiritimati takes about 4 hours 35 minutes, arriving at 6:30 am at Cassidy International Airport (CXI).
Upon arrival on Christmas Island you will disembark the Fiji Airways flight and clear customs and immigration in the small, one-room “terminal”. You will need to fill out a customs form (the flight crew will probably give you this form on the plane before you land). On it is a place to fill out where you’ll be staying: you will want to write: “Captain Cook”.
In the terminal, there will be an officer from the Kiribati Minister of Fisheries, who will collect the $50 Fishing License Fee.
Once you have cleared immigrations and customs and obtained your fishing license, you will want to exit the terminal. There will be a lot of commotion with the various lodges on Christmas Island meeting their anglers and loading luggage into the backs of trucks; keep track of your luggage, and make sure it stays with you!
You will be met by a representative from the Captain Cook, who will help you with your luggage and load all of the guests and their gear onto trucks for the approximately 5 minute drive to the lodge.
Once at the lodge you will be greeted by the wonderful, smiling staff and shown to your single-occupancy bungalow. You’ll have a chance to get settled into your room, then the head guide will meet with everyone and he will walk you through the fishing program and your lodge stay. You’ll have plenty of time to prepare all of your gear before appetizers and dinner.
NOTE: if you are arriving from Fiji, you will have most of the day on Christmas. You will be able to relax, walk to beach, and enjoy the area. If you’d like to schedule an extra day of fishing, be sure to let us know in advance and this can often be coordinated with the lodge for an extra fee: the single guide rate of $100 per day and the boat cost of $250 per day (total $350).
Each angler at the new Captain Cook Lodge enjoys private, single-occupancy accommodations in their South Pacific style bungalows that integrate reef stone walls and thatched roofs. Each bungalow has two suites each with private baths and terraces. The spacious rooms have air-conditioning, a small refrigerator, writing table, plenty of places to hang your gear, and en suite bathroom with plenty of hot/cold water.
The new lodge has a beachside, traditional open air maneaba (local gathering place). This is where anglers meet every evening for cocktails, appetizers, and tall tales from the day’s fishing exploits. The all-inclusive package covers meals, beverages, beer, wine, and cocktails.
Meals at the Captain Cook are a relaxed and delicious affair. The food is always tasty and fulfilling, but please don’t expect gourmet meals. Christmas Island is one of the most remote islands in the entire Pacific Ocean. Most food is either caught on island or brought in on air cargo. Breakfasts are very hearty. Lunches are served out on the water or on one of the many islets. Dinner features a collection of fresh seafood, traditional island food, and a few classic western favorites. And there are always fresh coconuts!
Day of Departure: Tuesday in the US – (Wednesday in Kiribati/Fiji)
If you are traveling back to the US, the Fiji Airways Flight departs early in the morning (7:30 am). You will want to be at Cassidy International Airport by 5:30 am, so it is a very early wakeup. The lodge will set out a light continental breakfast to go and coffee, and breakfast is served on the plane as well. The flight lasts 3 hours, 15 minutes, landing in Honolulu at 10:45 am. You will clear US Immigrations and Customs here, and have plenty of time to catch connecting flights home. We recommend allowing a minimum of 3 hours before your connecting flight, so try to make arrangements for flights after 2:00 pm.
If you are traveling back to Fiji, the Fiji Airways Flight departs in the afternoon (4:05 pm), so you will have a leisurely day, sleeping in, enjoying breakfast and a light lunch, and relaxing until you need to head to the airport around 2:00 pm, 2 hours prior to departure. The flight lasts 5 hours, 20 minutes before landing at Nadi International Airport in Fiji. You will clear Fiji Immigration and Customs, and continue on to your extended stay in Fiji or travel the rest of the way home (we recommend a minimum of 4 hours between connections in Fiji if you are continuing on another International Flight).
Lodging at Captain Cook
The original Captain Cook Hotel was named after the famous explorer who discovered Christmas Island in 1777 (on Christmas Eve). It originally served as the Base for the British Army during and after World War II. The Captain was the first hotel established on the island, and the historic home for fly rodders heading to the famous flats of Christmas Island. The location is ideal, just minutes from the airport and perched on the shores of a pristine private beach. The gentle, reliable trade winds keep the temperature comfortable, and the roar of the ocean crashing on the reef
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mere feet from the bungalows will sooth you to sleep at night. The place is quiet and peaceful, offering a sense of island life as it should be, without the noise, trash, and pesky insects often found in the villages elsewhere on the island.
Each angler at the new Captain Cook Lodge enjoys private, single-occupancy accommodations in their South Pacific style bungalows that integrate reef stone walls and thatched roofs. Each bungalow has two suites each with private baths and terraces. The spacious rooms have air-conditioning, a small refrigerator, writing table, plenty of places to hang your gear, and en suite bathroom with plenty of hot/cold water.
The new lodge has a beachside, traditional open air maneaba (local gathering place). This is where anglers meet every evening for cocktails, appetizers, and tall tales from the day’s fishing exploits. The all-inclusive package covers meals, beverages, beer, wine, and cocktails.
Meals at the Captain Cook are a relaxed and delicious affair. The food is always tasty and fulfilling, but please don’t expect gourmet meals. Christmas Island is one of the most remote islands in the entire Pacific Ocean. Most food is either caught on island or brought in on air cargo. Breakfasts are very hearty. Lunches are served out on the water or on one of the many islets. Dinner features a collection of fresh seafood, traditional island food, and a few classic western favorites. And there are always fresh coconuts!
Fishing at Captain Cook
Christmas Island remains perhaps the most prolific bonefish destination on the planet. It is the world’s largest coral atoll, and the seemingly endless flats inside the vast lagoon are simply teeming with bonefish. Fishing is done primarily on foot, wading the hard sand flats of the lagoon or walking the reef edges and beaches of the “back country” and outside. In addition to the numerous bonefish, daily opportunities abound to target a plethora of other species, including (but certainly not limited to) triggerfish, sweetlips, and three different species of trevally.
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Trevally fishing on Christmas Island has received a lot of press in recent years. It is indeed exciting, as these fish are some of the meanest, most powerful fish that can be targeted on the flats with a fly rod. Anglers frequently carry an extra rod (10 or 12 weight), as Trevally can show up on the flats at any point in time.
Anglers fishing from the Captain Cook enjoy a diverse and dynamic fishing program. All anglers benefit from a 1:1 guide ratio. This is a huge advantage for both experienced anglers and those new to the flats, as the guide allows both an extra set of well-trained eyes for spotting fish, and someone to hold your second rod ready in case a big trevally comes cruising up onto the flats. Guides are rotated throughout the week, so everyone has a chance to mingle and gain from this highly experienced crew.
The Captain Cook Lodge has the best location on the island in terms of view, fishing variety, and access. From the lodge, anglers have a broad array of flats they can access using either flatbed trucks or traditional island-style boats. It’s a 10 minute drive from the lodge to the Boating Lagoon, situated in the heart of the lagoon and a short boat ride to best of the inner lagoon fishing areas. In addition, the lodge utilizes flatbed trucks to access countless backcountry flats that are too far for the other lodges to reach, as well as the closest of the lodges to the famous Korean Wreck and other outside reef and beach flats.
The dynamic fishing program is tailored precisely to fit desires of the individual angler and potential variables in weather and fishing conditions. The guides and managers at the Captain Cook will do the extra bit every single time to ensure you have an amazing adventure.