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Paris Flats

The blackboard assignments send some anglers to flats accessed by way of pickup trucks and wading while others go by skiff into the main lagoon. It is an on-going debate as to which is most preferable: skiff or truck. All of the fishing is done while wading, with the skiff or truck nothing more than a means of transportation. I see no particular advantage offered by the skiffs, but all anglers do not share that view. In fact, some become downright belligerent if they feel that their rightful number of skiff days are not forthcoming during the week. In my experience, the fishing accessed by truck is often more interesting, but the distances walked during the day are considerably greater.

One exception to this general statement is Paris Flats, which Paris can only be accessed by skiff. Large bonefish come into the Chistmas Island lagoon to spawn near Paris Flats on every full moon. After the spawning dance, the bonefish loll around for a couple of days, then aggressively feed for a day or two before exiting the lagoon. Paris Flats fish are on average larger than elsewhere at Christmas Island and they school up during the full moon time.

Some Christmas Island flats are walk-and-wade flats accessed by pickup truck. Other flats such as Paris Flats (above) are only accessible by skiff. The morning fishing assignments determine whether you are in a boat or truck for the day.

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On my recent trip, I went to Paris Flats with Eketi and hooked six large fish in one morning. The first fish, perhaps the largest, ate the fly presented, and then unceremoniously left the flat for parts unknown, in the process stretching my line and a great deal of backing over the landscape. Fish such as these are not easily landed. They make extraordinarily long runs at high speed, moving with a distinctive authority that bespeaks exceptional bonefish. They also use the local coral effectively to separate your fly from the leader.

That morning I landed four of six fish and I considered myself fortunate. If you can get to Paris Flats at the proper time on the proper tide, there are impressive bonefish. The bonefishing at Christmas is good any time, and anywhere, so I would not necessarily plan my trip to the island with a view to being there only during the full moon phase. If it works out that way, fishing at Paris might be a bonus, but there is enough going on otherwise that the moon phase would not be the single determining factor in my planning.

Paris Flats during the full moon phase produces some of the island's largest bonefish.

As earlier mentioned, the skiffs at Christmas Island are used to access flats inside the lagoon that can only be reached by boat. When I first visited the island in the mid-1980s the boats were wide-beamed, slow, uncomfortable, and not terribly seaworthy. Over the years they were replaced with more graceful skiffs bearing the names of local fish but even these now are wearing out. The fleet of trucks at Christmas is constantly in a state of flux. New trucks seem to appear each year, replacing those exhausted by hard use. Vehicle maintenance is a nightmare in this environment.

Neil Jennings is author of Trout Flies of Alberta and Southeastern British Columbia ISBN 0-9735076-0-8. Click here to see his tying instructions for Del Brown's bonefish and permit crab pattern--the Merkin.

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