Ikari House, Christmas Island

Fishing at Christmas Island

Christmas Island (Kiritimati) offers fishing unlike any other saltwater destination on the planet. With nearly two dozen species, over 240 square miles of wadeable flats, and stable year-round conditions, this remote Pacific atoll is a true multi-species paradise.

The Flats

• Hard sand and coral pancake flats
• Legendary named flats: Orvis, Paris Texas, Nine Mile, Y Site
• Endless additional "pancake flats" (roundish shapes erupting from lagoon bottom)
• All fishing done wading (except blue water)
• Tidal changes create fishing scenarios near milkfish ponds

Target Species

Giant Trevally (Caranx ignobilis)
The stars of the show.

• Size Range: 15-100+ pounds
• Small GT Schools: Travel together, easy to fool with baitfish patterns
• Large Singles: Appear suddenly, require 11-12 weight rods and perfect casts
• Voracious eats and powerful runs guaranteed to get hearts pounding
• Backcountry: Large GTs, stealth-fishing scenarios near milkfish ponds

Bonefish (Albula vulpes)
Home to some of the best bonefishing in the world.

• Average Size: 3-6 pounds
• Numbers: Not uncommon to land 100 bonefish in a week
• Larger Fish: Up to 10 pounds (seen but seldom landed)

Triggerfish (Four Species)
Beautiful and challenging.

• Species: Titan triggerfish, yellow margin triggerfish, peach face triggerfish, Picasso triggerfish
• Challenge: Hook-crushing teeth make them tough to land
• Reward: One of the most beautiful fish on the flats

Other Flats Species

• Bluefin trevally
• Golden trevally (backcountry and flats)
• Bar jacks

Offshore Opportunities
When weather permits:

• Yellowfin tuna
• Wahoo
• Sailfish
• Giant trevally
• Morning offshore, afternoon flats

Ikari House

Located in the small community of London, Ikari House is a single-level lodge overlooking the water and facing the prevailing ocean breezes. While not an upscale lodge with pillow service and flat-screen TVs, it is a very comfortable base of operations for fishing this remote atoll. Front Range Anglers has visited all four existing Christmas Island operations and found Ikari House to be the nicest option on the island for overall accommodations, cleanliness, service, food quality, location, equipment, and guide team.

Accommodations
Rustic by global standards, 4-star by Christmas Island standards:

• Double occupancy cabins
• Air conditioning (ice-cold A/C units)
• Two comfortable single beds per cabin
• Private bathrooms with good water pressure
• Plenty of storage space for gear and tackle
• Rods, gear, and tackle kept safe day and night

Dining and Social Areas
All outdoors and covered:

• Take full advantage of cooler evenings
• Outdoor dining area
• Social spaces for evening gatherings

Dining
All meals prepared on-site:

Breakfast:

• Eggs
• Toast
• Side meat (sausage or bacon)

Lunch:

• Packed cooler-style
• Sandwich
• Chips
• Fruit
• Candy
• Cold beverages

Dinner:

• Mix of local cuisine and American dishes
• Seafood dishes
• Pork, chicken, pasta
• Vegetable dishes

Staff & Service
The staff and management are always accommodating and work hard to make your visit pleasant and relaxing.

LocationEasy access to the main marina and the fishery from the small community of London.

Travel to Christmas Island

Important: Christmas Island (Kiritimati) in the Republic of Kiribati is NOT the Christmas Island off the coast of Australia. This Christmas Island is located halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand.

International Flight
Honolulu International Airport (HNL), Hawaii

Flight to Christmas Island

• Cassidy International Airport (CXI), Christmas Island
• Fiji Airways only airline serving the island
• ONE FLIGHT PER WEEK: Departs Honolulu every Tuesday morning
• Flight time: 3.5 hours

Critical Timing:

• Must arrive Honolulu by Monday at latest
• Recommended: Arrive Honolulu on Sunday to allow for delays
• Only one weekly flight means missing it requires week-long wait

Arrival at Christmas Island

• Go through customs
• Purchase fishing license at airport: $250 USD (US or Australian dollars accepted)
• Head guide meets you outside customs
• Transfer to lodge: approximately 30 minutes

Departure

• Departure tax: $20+ payable at airport

Important Notes:

• No credit card facilities on island
• Single ATM at ANZ Bank in London village
• Advisable to carry cash

Required Documents:

• Valid passport (does not expire within 6 months of trip)
• At least two blank, unstamped pages in passport
• Passport must not be torn, de-laminated, or damaged

Front Range Anglers Assistance:FRA will assist with airline tickets, hotels, transfers, and all travel logistics. Contact 877-935-2975 or info@frontrangeanglers.com for airfare ticketing, travel services, and trip insurance.

Weekly Itinerary

Sunday – Travel Day

• Fly to Honolulu, Hawaii (HNL)
• Stay overnight in Honolulu (recommended to avoid missing Tuesday flight)

Monday – Honolulu

• Overnight in Honolulu
• Prepare for Tuesday morning Fiji Airways flight

Tuesday – Arrival

• Early morning Fiji Airways flight to Christmas Island (CXI)
• 3.5-hour flight
• Clear customs
• Purchase fishing license at airport ($250 USD)
• Meet head guide
• Transfer to Ikari House (30 minutes)
• Settle into cabin
• Trip orientation
• Dinner

Wednesday–Monday – Fishing Days

• Breakfast at lodge
• Depart for guided wading on the flats
• Fish legendary named flats or pancake flats
• Target giant trevally, bonefish, triggerfish, and other species
• Wade over 240 square miles of hard sand and coral flats
• Optional backcountry fishing for large GTs
• Optional offshore fishing (morning) when weather permits
• Packed cooler lunch on the flats
• Continue fishing through optimal tides
• Return to lodge
• Dinner featuring local and American cuisine

Tuesday – Departure

• Final breakfast
• Transfer to Cassidy International Airport
• Pay departure tax ($20+)
• Fiji Airways flight to Honolulu
• Connect to homeward flights

Package Rates

Hosted Trips: $5,300 per angler

Unhosted Trips: $4,450 per angler

Contact Front Range Anglers for current availability

What's Included:

• Seven (7) nights lodging in double occupancy cabin
• Guided wading fishing daily
• All meals (breakfast, packed lunch, dinner)
• Transfers from Cassidy International Airport to Ikari House

Not Included:

• International flights to Honolulu
• Fiji Airways flight Honolulu to Christmas Island
• Fishing license ($250 USD, payable at CXI airport)
• Departure tax ($20+, payable at CXI airport)
• Gratuities for guides and staff
• Personal items and incidentals
• Travel and medical evacuation insurance (highly recommended)

Reservation Policy

• At booking: 50% deposit due and payable
• 90 days before trip: Remainder plus VAT and taxes due

Cancellation Policy

• Cancellation 90+ days out: Full refund less $100 fee (if replacement found)
• Cancellation within 90 days: No refund unless qualified replacement provided
• No refunds for weather, acts of God, or airline/travel issues

Travel Insurance
FRA REQUIRES all anglers to have Medical Evacuation Insurance (Global Rescue recommended) and HIGHLY recommends Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.

For insurance questions contact: Jessica Minard | 617.210.8106 | jminard@globalrescue.com

Connect with Our Christmas Island Experts

Ready to fish the legendary flats of Christmas Island for giant trevally and multiple species? Our Adventure Travel team can answer all your questions about Ikari House, multi-species tactics, travel logistics, and what to expect on this remote Pacific atoll.

Rob Kolanda – Adventure Travel Manager
Rob is a Front Range Anglers guide, Sage Elite Pro, and has extensive saltwater experience. He can provide detailed insights on GT tactics, triggerfish strategies, and Christmas Island trip preparation.

John Brown – Adventure Travel Coordinator
John handles trip logistics and coordination, ensuring every detail of your Ikari House adventure is handled seamlessly from booking through complex travel to Christmas Island to departure.

What We Can Help With:

• Giant trevally fly selection (baitfish patterns, poppers)
• Multi-species tackle recommendations (8-12 weight rods)
• Triggerfish tactics and flies
• Backcountry GT strategies
• Travel logistics (Honolulu layover, weekly flights)
• What to expect at Ikari House
• Hosted vs. unhosted trip options
• Pairing you with compatible trip partners
• Pre-trip preparation and packing consultation

Contact Us:
Email: rob@frontrangeanglers.com
Phone: 877-935-2975
Visit: 2344 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302

Stop by our Boulder fly shop to see saltwater gear, test cast GT rods, and talk with our team about your Christmas Island adventure. We also stock the Hennessy Cognac Fly Series specifically for Christmas Island.

What to Bring to Christmas Island

Fishing Gear

Rods & Reels:

• 8-9 weight rod for bonefish and smaller species
• 10-11 weight rod for small/medium GTs
• 11-12 weight rod for large GTs (essential)
• Floating tropical saltwater lines
• Intermediate lines
• Large arbor reels with exceptional drags
• 300+ yards of backing for GTs

Leaders & Tippet:

• 9-12 foot leaders (variety of weights)
• Fluorocarbon tippet (10-16 lb bonefish, 20-40 lb GTs, 16-20 lb triggers)
• Wire or heavy shock tippet for GTs

Flies:

Giant Trevally:

• Baitfish patterns (Clousers, Deceivers, Surf Candies)
• Poppers (large, loud)
• Variety of sizes and colors
• Black, chartreuse, white, blue

Bonefish:

• Gotchas, Crazy Charlies (#6-8)
• Shrimp patterns

Triggerfish:

• Small crab patterns
• Specialized trigger flies

Wading Gear:

• Flats boots with good sole protection (coral)
• Wading booties

Clothing for Equatorial Weather

Sun Protection (Critical):

• Long-sleeve sun shirts (UPF-rated, multiple—you'll be wading all day)
• Long fishing pants (lightweight, quick-dry)
• Wide-brim sun hat
• Buff or neck gaiter
• Polarized sunglasses (bring backup pair—absolutely essential)
• Sunglasses retainer/strap
• Sunscreen (SPF 50+, reef-safe, reapply frequently)
• Lip balm with SPF

On-Water Clothing:

• Quick-dry pants (long, light color)
• Quick-dry shirts (long sleeve, multiple)
• Light rain jacket (packable)

Evening/Lodge Wear:

• Casual shorts and shirts
• Light pants
• Comfortable sandals or shoes

Essential Accessories:

• Waterproof bag/dry bag for gear
• Stripping basket
• Fishing pliers (heavy-duty for GTs)
• Wire cutters
• Nail clippers or nippers
• Small flashlight
• Insulated water bottle (stay hydrated in equatorial sun)

Personal Items

Documents:

• Valid passport (6 months validity, 2 blank pages)
• Return flight confirmation
• Cash (USD or Australian dollars for fishing license, departure tax, tips, incidentals)

Medications & First Aid:

• Personal medications
• Basic first aid items
• Toiletries and personal care items
• Coral cut treatment