Christmas Island Fly List

Build the Ultimate Fly Box for Christmas Island

If you're headed to Christmas Island, this fly list is designed to help you assemble a complete, confidence-inspiring selection of flies for one of the world's most unique saltwater fisheries. Built from years of guide recommendations and angler experience, this collection covers the four primary targets you'll encounter on the flats: Bonefish, Triggerfish, Bluefin Trevally, and Giant Trevally.

While every angler approaches packing differently, our recommendation is to treat this list as a foundation for building a complete kit rather than selecting only a few individual patterns. Christmas Island offers incredible variety, and having the right fly in the right size, weight, and color can make all the difference.

Bonefish Flies

Bonefish are the primary target for most anglers visiting Christmas Island, and they deserve the largest allocation of space in your fly box. We recommend a bare minimum of 24 bonefish flies carried in a variety of sizes, colors, and sink rates. Most presentations occur over shallow coral flats where bead chain eyed patterns shine, so emphasize those flies when building your selection. Having a mix of tan, pink, cream, olive, and spawning shrimp styles will prepare you for changing light conditions and bottom colors throughout the week.

Triggerfish Flies

Triggerfish are one of the most exciting and challenging species available on Christmas Island. Their diet revolves heavily around crabs, and success often depends on presenting durable crab patterns with confidence. We recommend carrying at least 6 dedicated triggerfish crab patterns, though many experienced anglers choose to carry more.

Giant Trevally Flies

If you're bringing a 10, 11, or 12 weight rod for Giant Trevally, don't overlook your fly selection. GT opportunities can appear without warning, and being prepared is critical. We suggest carrying a minimum of 8 GT flies that offer a mix of baitfish profiles, colors, and water-pushing characteristics.

The Two-of-Each Rule

One of the most common mistakes traveling anglers make is bringing only a single example of their favorite fly. Fish are lost, flies are damaged, and successful patterns often become the only thing you want to fish for an entire afternoon.

Our recommendation is simple:

Bring at least two of every pattern you expect to fish.

The best-prepared anglers usually order most, if not all, of the flies on this list, then double up on the patterns they have the most confidence in.

Our Advice

Have fun building your fly box. Christmas Island is one of the greatest saltwater fly fishing destinations on earth, and the right assortment of flies will allow you to focus on spotting fish, making good presentations, and enjoying the experience.

Build a great box, carry backups of your favorites, and you'll be exceptionally well-equipped for an unforgettable week on Christmas Island.