2024 Christmas Island Bonefish and GT Tips // Episode 1

[@richardfernand8488]

Love it! Met u on the plane back ( sailfish boy) I’m heading back in November ! That was a fat gt! Well done! Good tip staying back from the edge !

[@redsflyshop]

Thanks so much for watching, yes, pleasure to meet you on the plane. The next Episode we had better weather and tons of good action. Should be a good watch, might even stretch to (3) Episodes.

[@mikemcgeehan4321]

Great fish! Nice work. Very informative.

[@redsflyshop]

Thanks! That's the idea. Trying to help y'all make the most out of your personal trip.

[@christostemmet8532]

You guys do such a great job - Looking forward to Christmas in June with Reds!

[@redsflyshop]

Hey thanks I was just thinking of your trip today. I hope that tide you guys picked out is perfect! I know you guys put a lot of thought into that. Wishing you luck brotha!

[@christostemmet8532]

@@redsflyshop Thanks Joe, super excited! Big late afternoon incoming tides for the geets - right on magic hour!

[@moscaman559]

Geeeeeet ! That was a great fish along with those Bones….. cool tip about chucking the rod 😂😂

[@redsflyshop]

Thanks 👍I first did that when I hooked Jack from the boat years ago. It was shallow water so I thought "what the hell" threw the rod in the water, jumped out of the boat and ran it down. I've done that a few times over the years. Not sure I would do that on GT's near the edge though haha.

[@flyfishingnewbie1]

What a great video! I loved how you dropped the rod to handle that line getting wrapped around the rod. And that GT hookup... wow... super cool! Nicely done!!

[@redsflyshop]

Hey thanks, that tip about dropping the rod originated from hooking a Jack Crevalle out of the boat. It was shallow so I just dropped the rod in the water, jumped out of the boat, chased the rod down, untangled it and landed the fish! I've done that a few times since. Gotta be careful you aren't near the ledge haha! Appreciate you watching thanks so much.

[@jimcastillo8950]

Im jealous...... great for you...... good job.....

[@redsflyshop]

Ha thanks yes, working on Part II right now.

[@keng9064]

Finally lol. Great tips. Another awesome video.

[@redsflyshop]

More to come! Thanks Kenny!

[@tomt5176]

Rocking video Joe. The blowing rain segment just kept everything as real as being there. Love that you got a GT into the lineup. Great footage, big bones, a GT, all the stuff dreams are made of!

[@redsflyshop]

Thanks 👍The next few days the weather improved and we crushed it. Stay tuned and thanks for the good vibes! Weather is part of the adventure!

[@tomt5176]

@@redsflyshop Christmas Island, Patagonia… tough life to live Joe, but I guess someone has to do it, huh? Great stuff!

[@robertmyrick4233]

Your videos are so full of great info and tips. Thanks

[@redsflyshop]

Glad you like them! Much appreciated.

[@erichanson5628]

So exciting! Great Video!

[@redsflyshop]

Thanks so much!! The next couple of days really got good, really good!

[@erichanson5628]

Could you have a video where you go over exactly what you put on each reel. Down to knots, brand and weight of backing, flylines, etc... including if and when you left the fly line loops and or cut them? Also which rod and reel and species it was for?

[@redsflyshop]

Great suggestion, I'll cover some of this in the gear dump at the end but your suggestion on connections is a very good topic.

[@MrRourk]

Excellent flats tips

[@redsflyshop]

Glad you like them! More to come, days 3-6 were killer. Better weather windows.

[@oliverwhite30]

Awesome video. Informative

[@redsflyshop]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and the props

[@cachi-7878]

Joe- “Went fishing with a guy named Chad…” Nice video, Joe. Though I have to say, the weather sucked! 😂

[@redsflyshop]

Days 1-2 were rough, total anomaly. Days 3-6 were much better. Stay tuned!

[@ericmini2269]

Probably one of the best places for anyone starting their flats fishing experience. Where you can catch a boat load of bonefish and if you are lucky you might hook into a GT. But with no permit and tarpon makes it a place i won't visit again.

[@redsflyshop]

Fair enough!

[@tamasbacsai594]

Great video Joe very informative you have covered a lot again. What rod weight did you use on the Gt?

[@redsflyshop]

I used an 11 weight Sage R8, really like that rod. I used it quite a bit last year for both Tarpon and GT.

[@Conkee1711]

Headed to Christmas in 10 days! Where is the gear dump vid? Also, what are you doing for most of the filming? Go Pro on the head or chest? Do you have some sort of tri pod for the shots where you are kneeling and landing fish?

[@redsflyshop]

Man the gear dump video turned out horrible as far as quality goes, let me see if I have a link for you. I may have uploaded it but didn't make it public.

[@bradjp3]

ill tell ya how it showed up on camera. You're a bad ass.

[@redsflyshop]

hahaha, I try. Hoping some of the tips here help improve people's trip to CXI or on salt fish in general. Very kind of y you.

[@4492573]

Mr Joe, you do love that Thomas and Thomas Sextant, would you share what leader you were using for bonefish? 9’ -12# , 12’ -16# ? Rio ? SA ? Thank you.

[@redsflyshop]

Wading I like the 12' 16# SA FC leader, right here. For wading it's a bit long but I take a foot off each end if I'm wading. redsflyfishing.com/products/scientific-anglers-absolute-fluorocarbon-leader

[@Belbivdevoe]

Joe what tippet are you using?

[@redsflyshop]

Typically 16# for Bonefish, and 60# straight FC for GT.

[@KykyJyky]

Very cool video. One comment: Is it sustainable to stand on coral rocks? I usually try to go out of my way not to interact with coral. If it's dead rock that's one thing, but that one looks living. Just a thought.

[@redsflyshop]

I can't speak to that, I hear ya on that. I cringe when I step on a soft piece of coral.

[@cluelessjunk2808]

Do you tie knots together until a tippet or do you put straight 60lb line? And when you cast are you holding the line when you cast back then releasing when you cast forward? As you can tell I’m fresh into flying haha

[@redsflyshop]

Alright! Fly fishing is awesome. Ok for the big fish, GT's I run a straight piece of 60# no splices or knots. On the casting question, you can slip/shoot line into the backcast or the forward cast. Typically I'll release line with the wind whichever way its blowing (tailwind I'll shoot forward, headwind I'll shoot backwards).

[@cluelessjunk2808]

Ok, that’s interesting. Maybe I could try a single leader line for Florida game fish? Like snook, red, tarpon. It kind of gives me a headache figuring what pound test leaders to tie when targeting certain fish haha And that’s a good tip for the casting, I’ll definitely try it. I appreciate the advice, looking forward to future videos to learn and enjoy

[@Belbivdevoe]

Is the 60# your bite tippet?

[@redsflyshop]

Yes, I prefer 60#. I've caught some very nice GT's in year's past and have yet to have 60# fail.

[@leefritchman9643]

Always wondered why people don’t use nets for bones.

[@redsflyshop]

Probably because we aren't catching enough ha! Very reasonable observation. Maybe I'll pack one next time. I have a Fishpond Nomad that would fit fine in my suitcase.

[@leefritchman9643]

@@redsflyshop thanks for the reply. I just got home from the caymans. Had baby tarpon coming out of my ears. Couldn’t find a bone. Weather didn’t help

[@guygardiner1920]

@@redsflyshop it is easy to make a Moana fish release tool and the culture is turning very much to a no touch technique when landing bonefish Not so important with the other species

[@509_Duck]

Ayo! Were you with the Deschutes Angler gang??

[@redsflyshop]

No, this is one of our hosted trips. We do about 5 trips per year historically where we organize the group, guides, lodge, and prep for the trip as a unit.

[@509_Duck]

@@redsflyshop Gotcha! The people at the Deschutes Angler Fly shop also just got back so I was just curious. Looks like you had a blast! Thanks for the great content!

[@Pippooo736]

Where is the Christmas Island? When i serch witj google, it will find Kiribati

[@redsflyshop]

That's the spot.

[@springteen3743]

If I have to be guided by anyone to find a fish and land my fish and take me to the fish then you are an immature fly fisherman, to be independent in the water is the purpose. However as a beginner you might have an guide or instructor if you have the money or if you have the money to pay for a vacation trip and fantasize the experience then is also ok😅😅

[@redsflyshop]

Well the guide stopped the boat and told me where to go, that's pretty helpful in an unfamiliar ocean haha.

[@springteen3743]

@@redsflyshop thanks for the reply, not talking about you cause I know you are an excellent fly fisherman, I always watch your videos and learn about you, hope you keep bringing salt episode and instructions 🙏