These toothy fish are tough on lures. Christmas Island has become a hotspot for triggerfish. Both fly and conventional anglers are welcome.
Christmas Island has three species of triggerfish – the Moustache, the Peachface, and the Picasso. If you catch all three species in a week, you have completed the Christmas Island Slam. At Christmas Island, triggerfishing is consistently good year round due to the Island's location, 110 miles north of the equator in the center of the Pacific Ocean. (See below for How to Catch Triggerfish Tips.)
Triggerfish can be elusive and challenging to hook. They are strong with large crushing teeth that can easily crush the bend of your hook or even bite it in half. Your goal in trying to catch them is to hook them in the lip. Otherwise, you risk ending up with a destroyed hook or a severed tippet. To improve your chances of successfully landing a triggerfish, it is advisable to use a tippet in the 20- to 30-pound range. This will improve your chances of steering them away from the coral.
The best flies for targeting triggerfish are the Flexo Crab in sizes 4 and 6, the Spawning Shrimp in sizes 4-2, and the Christmas Island Special. It's worth noting that triggerfish have the unique ability to swim both forward and backward, making them strong fighters that pull like a truck.
Triggerfish can be quite challenging to hook because they are very aware of their surroundings. Factors such as the shadow cast by your fly rod, the line in the air, or your own movements while wading can easily scare them away. When you spot a triggerfish, it's important to confirm that it is in feeding mode, which typically means its head is down. If the fish is simply swimming around and you make a good cast, it will likely become startled and swim away quickly.
The ideal cast is about five feet beyond and five feet in front of the trigger. Make sure the current and wind will push your fly towards your target. Usually, you'll want to take short, hard strips of just a few inches to avoid spooking them. If you are lucky enough to hook a triggerfish without its teeth destroying the hook or tippet, then hang on as the fun begins!
Fishing Equipment: The Lodge does not provide fishing equipment. A list of what to bring is included in our confirmation packet.
Fly Fishing: For triggerfish, the ticket is an 8-10 weight fly rod with a floating line and a crab pattern.
Spin Fishing: You’ll want a 7 to 8-foot medium/light action spinning rod with 10-lb. test for flats bonefish.
Guided Fishing: At The Villages, each angler has their own guide. An extra pair of eyes really helps with bonefishing. The Villages is the only lodge on the Island that offers this.
Guides: The fishing guides are local Islanders who speak English.