Cocos Keeling Island is one of Australia’s most remote and untouched fly fishing destinations. 

THE ENVIRONMENT

The island itself is picturesque, with a tropical feel and a "wallpaper" look, you'll find a trip is a mix between remote tropical fishing and a relaxed holiday, We aim to provide you the creature comforts of home in tandem with some of the best fly fishing in the world.

To ensure that the fish, crustaceans and shellfish stocks at the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are managed sustainably, the Department has developed a set of island-specific recreational fishing management arrangements. These management arrangements have been developed following consultation with on-island community members over several years and recognize community views as well as concerns for the sustainability of fish, crustacean and shellfish stocks.

THE FISHING

The fishing on Cocos Keeling is second to none, with the remote location making it the best fishery in Australia for species such as Bonefish, Trigger Fish, GT's and many more! The fishing spots are made up of inner reef flats and large sand flats on the inner side of the islands with a large population of XL bonefish. The Bonefish on CKI are bigger than your normal size bonefish average 65cm-80cm and 6-10lb with plenty of trophy fish getting around on the flats.

Other target species are; Bluefin Trevally, Bump-head Parrotfish, Permit, Coral Trout, Barracuda, Red Bass, Emperor, Milk Fish, Cod, Maori Wrasse and Potentially Dogtooth Tuna.

Fishing options include the wading flats in water up to hip height with the option to cast into deep blue holes and or coral reef ledges. It's always a good practice to have your 12wt rigged and ready on you for when you see that monster fish coming into range. 

BONE FISH

Finding bonefish is relatively easy on Cocos Keeling, made effective with a great pair of polarised lenses. Our guides look for shallow banks that dry up at low tide and contain lots of bait which include things like crabs, prawns and other crustaceans. Bonefish move to these areas at high tide, feeding on crustaceans that come out of their burrows in the sand as the water moves. They will flood a bank and cover ground slowly. mooching and grazing on food as they go. Stealth with this species is key. This style of fishing is so visual that the lure usually disappears or the fish is perpendicular to it, so you know when the fish will take the lure from its attitude towards it. They have a lot of bone in their mouth and it is not uncommon for the hook not to stick properly, so if you feel the weight and set the hook correctly. 

GIANT TREVALLY

This species is common on the flats and reef edges, known as the bully of the reef. You'll often see them herding bait into shallow areas, sometimes even too quick to see the GT's! They tend to hunt in packs and will eat anything you put in front of them, gloves are necessary for this species as your knuckles will be torn to bits! They can show up at any time, even when chasing bonefish, we suggest carrying a 12 weight with you ready for any situation, you don't want to miss an opportunity at an 80lb GT on the flats! We recommend using Cortland Lines, they are a high-quality line and the welded rings will hold up to these brutes of a fish. Matching your fly line with at least 300-400metres of backing is essential, we suggest using braid as a backing as it's thinner in diameter and stronger than your more conventional backing materials, especially for this species. 

BUMP HEAD PARROT FISH

If there's one thing a Bumpy doesn't have on its side when chasing one it's the psychical size of one in the water, these things are tanks and schools can be sometimes spotted from 100 metres away. But yet they are still one of the hardest fish to chase on Cocos Keeling, their sheer power, hammer jaw and ability to shred line faster than you can strip is insane. They go from this slow-moving gentle creature to sheer terror in a matter of seconds. That's what makes them so addictive to chase, snapped hooks, shredded fingers and broken fly lines are always possible with a Bumpy. Having a good position on these fish is essential, being ahead of a tailing, feeding school is where you will find most eats will come from. Stay still and wait for the connection, if you have a miss. Wait until the school has moved on some distance before readjusting your cast. You want to land your fly directly in front of the flight path of a bumpy, 30cm can make a difference with this species, making sure your fly is still in the process. These fish pull like a tank and will give you a workout on the heaviest of setups, we prefer using a 10 weight for this fish as they can sometimes be tricky and are fussy eaters. 

It's not just these 3 species the island has to offer as listed above, the sky is the limit here.

Travel insurance is compulsory for any of our all-inclusive fly fishing trips. Please get in contact for any more questions, either via the contact tab at the top of the website or direct to our email - hellobacking@gmail.com