Christmas Island Ikari House // May 20-27th, 2025 // Hosted by Eric Nickum

Overview

This was my second trip to Christmas Island, and it was a pleasure to return with such a fantastic group of anglers. Our guests spanned a broad range of experience levels — from CXI veterans to first-time flats anglers. Christmas Island’s expansive flats and species diversity truly make it a destination that offers something for everyone.

Pre-Trip – Overnight in Honolulu

As many know, there’s only one flight per week from Honolulu to Cassidy International Airport (CXI). That means an overnight stay in Honolulu is required. We’ve made a tradition of meeting up in Waikiki the night before for dinner and drinks — it’s a great opportunity to connect, share excitement, and swap fishing stories before the adventure begins.

Day 0 – Travel to Christmas Island

The group shared taxis to the airport and arrived early to navigate the check-in process. A quick tip for future guests: carry-on luggage weight enforcement is inconsistent, so it's smart to weigh your bags beforehand to avoid surprises.

The Fiji Airways flight was smooth and lightly booked — a relaxing start. Be sure to bring a pen for the Kiribati customs forms. Upon arrival, all bags arrived safely, and our head guide, Pedro, was waiting with a warm welcome.

One improvement this year: No more waiting in line to purchase a fishing license. Anglers sign a form upon arrival, and the license fee is added to the bar tab — a much more efficient process.

After a 40-minute drive, we arrived at the lodge, got settled into our rooms, and began rigging gear for the days ahead.

Day 1 – Inner Lagoon

Guides Daniel, Tim, Mark, and Kurt took us out for our first day on the water, and we focused on the Inner Lagoon. With 70% sun and a rising tide, we were into tailing bonefish immediately. Although the bite wasn’t red-hot, everyone landed solid fish and had good opportunities throughout the morning.

Triggerfish were active early, with lots of singles and pairs cruising the flats. One angler landed a beautiful peach-faced trigger on an orange CXI Special, size 4. The afternoon slowed down due to clouds, but we had a few GT sightings and another trigger eat. For bonefish, a pink CXI Special in size 8 with bead chain eyes was most productive.

Day 2 – Backcountry & GT Hunt

We stuck with the same guide crew and rotated anglers. The morning was mostly cloudy, though it eventually broke open into good light. A few nice bonefish came to hand, and one angler hooked a GT on a trigger rod rigged with 20-pound tippet — unsurprisingly, the fish won that battle.

In the afternoon, we pushed deep into the backcountry to focus on GT. One angler got a textbook shot at a shallow cruiser, its dorsal fin slicing the surface. The fish charged the fly but refused at the last second. Meanwhile, another angler hooked and landed a small GT blind casting off a pinch point — a great reminder that sometimes persistence pays off.

Day 3 – Korean Wreck & Backcountry

Kris and K2 joined the guide rotation, both long-standing favorites among returning anglers. We split into two groups, with one heading to the Korean Wreck and the other back to the inner flats.

The Korean Wreck delivered great variety and action. One guest landed an awesome sweetlips, another hooked into a five-foot reef shark, and there were solid bonefish numbers with multiple shots at GTs and large bluefin trevally. With bright sun for most of the day, the conditions couldn’t have been better.

Backcountry anglers reported a steady bonefish bite and one landed a respectable GT — a solid day all around.

Day 4 –Inner Lagoon

I fished with Toby, one of the younger guides who brings a calm, thoughtful approach to the flats. We started at the Y-site, one of the most visually stunning flats on the island, dotted with small islands and calm bays.

Bonefish were around, but selective. Smaller flies made the difference — CXI Specials and Gotchas were the most consistent producers. In the afternoon, we shifted focus to GT and had a few encounters, including one brief hookup from our other group.

Day 5 – Inner Lagoon

Kabuta and Toby guided us through the toughest weather of the week. The morning brought heavy cloud cover and rain, so we lowered expectations and focused on triggerfish on the Texas Flats. Plenty of triggers were present, but true to form, they were tricky to convert.

Fortunately, by midday, the skies unexpectedly cleared, and we enjoyed several hours of excellent sun. With a large tide in the afternoon, we turned our attention to GT. I had a close encounter with a trio, but landed the fly too close and spooked them. Another angler had a shot as well, keeping the adrenaline up through the final hours.

Day 6 – Inner Lagoon & Backcountry

The final day delivered everything we could have hoped for — bright sun, light wind, and phenomenal bonefish action. Some anglers opted to fish bones all day, while others stayed out late to target GT on the high tide.

The bonefish were feeding aggressively, and flies like bead chain Spawning Shrimp and classic Gotchas were absolutely dialed in. This was, without question, the most productive bonefish day of the trip.

We ended the evening with our traditional guide giveaway, a favorite moment for both guests and staff. Sharing a beer, passing along extra gear, and giving back to the local crew is a great way to wrap up a memorable week.

Day 7 – Travel Home

We left the lodge around 4:30 a.m. for the airport. A headlamp is handy for retrieving items from your carry-on during the drive. At the airport, a representative from the Republic of Kiribati conducted angler surveys — it’s encouraging to see this.

We swapped stories with anglers from other lodges and began the journey home. Most made their connections without issue, although I ended up with an extra night in Honolulu due to a flight cancellation.

Top Flies

Bonefish Buttah

X-Mas Island Stealth

Gotcha- Shallow Version

Trigger Flexo-Tan

Tips for CXI

•  Carry your essentials where they're accessible. I keep a puck of flies, 16# tippet, and a few lens wipes in my shirt. I don’t want to have to get into my pack just to change flies. The Skwala Sol Tactical hoody has plenty of storage for this.
•          Have quality low-light Sunglasses. There will be some cloudy conditions at times, and the right lens makes a big difference.
• Guides on CXI may not always tell you the plan for the day. Often, with some questions, they’ll explain why you're targeting a specific species at that time of day. If you want to know the name of a flat or landmark, just ask!   
• Be realistic with expectations for GT. These are a super trophy, but don’t put the success or failure of your trip on landing a mega GT
• Have Fun! I’ve found that the more I just enjoy being at the destination, meeting new people, and learning from the guides, the better the fishing is.