Pro Angler - Fishing Tackle Direct

Fishing in the Whitsunday Islands you can expect to catch Trevally, Queenfish, Mangrove Jac, Coral Trout, Cod, Parrot fish, Barracuda, Barramundi, Tuna, Indo Pacific Permit, etc.

Andy's Fly-Fishing & Guided Tours

Whitsunday Islands & Peter Faust Dam
Andy Thomsen
Phone: 0409 466 336

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In Peter Faust Dam, Barramundi over 20kg are common. The average size of fish is around 5-10kg.

Situated in the heart of the Whitsunday's you can experience your own personally tailored fishing adventure with us.

If you have the family with you, they can spend the day at the Airlie Beach Lagoon and Shops while you're out battling meter long Barramundi at pristine Peter Faust Dam.

The choice is yours, all trips are tailored to suit you.

Lure Fishing: Even if you have never used a bait-caster before Andy can teach you how. Spin rods are also available.

Fly Fishing: All grades are catered for, beginner to expert.  Lessons can also be part of your personal package.

Peter Faust Dam: Battle a Big Barra or snaffle a few Sooty's.  The Barramundi in our dam are exceptionally fast growing and hard fighting, fish over a meter are to be expected. Both Fly (Barra Boofer) and Lure are successful.

Inshore Sport Fishing: Creeks, flats, reefs, points, beaches the option is yours.  The number of species caught on a single trip is often 15 or more.

Pelagic Sport Fishing: Mackerel, Queenfish, Tuna and Trevalley are abundant. (Depending on the time of year)

Fishing Equipment: All fishing gear is supplied.  On a replace if broken or lost basis.  You are welcome to bring your own and try ours.

I called Gavin from Pro-Angler and asked about the best gear to use on these shallow water torpedos! We settled on the new Stalker Guide Series 8wt rod, one the large arbor reels, and a good tropical Stalker Saltwater line.

Without trying to sound too promotional, the gear was simply brilliant. Casting into the wind, steering fish, even the lines shooting ability and accuracy was superb and just made the whole experience even better, and am looking forward to bending the rod on a few barra as well on my favourite dams back home.

I had tied quite a few crazy charlie’s, baited breaths, general clousers, deceivers, and plenty of tippets, so we thought we should have everything covered. One tip, take what you need, even what you don’t need, as you simply won’t be able to buy it over there!

We had no idea what to expect. Once we arrived on the Island, we weren't even sure if we would be picked up at the airport!  The problem with Christmas Island is it’s location and isolation, just to make a phone call to the Island is a major undertaking.  

Soon after arriving we realized that the hotel was about 3km and 40 minutes walk from the nearest flat! No worries for a couple of “fruit loops” from Queensland who hadn't had a wink of sleep in 2 days and just traveled 6500km to catch Bonefish…we headed off on foot straight for the water!

I was a little nervous as we approached the water, wondering if we had indeed made a mistake.  We had brought enough cash to take guides each day, but now that we were here, both Rodney and I thought we should at least fish two days to see if we could work the place out on our own. I think it’s called “male mentality!”

I'll give Rodney the credit he deserves, while I was mucking around with the video, capturing the moment, he spotted the first Bone of the trip. We had been on the beach all of 5 minutes and spotted our first fish. After 15 minutes Rodney had already landed, if only small, a magnificent Pacific Bonefish. I was only 10 minutes behind him with a slightly larger fish.

From then on we both went from strength to strength. On our first day we landed 24 Bonefish between us. That evening we met our fishing friends for the week, Bob, Bob, Eric and Joseph.  The second day saw us increase our daily total with hundreds of fish spotted, many cast to and 37 landed.

That night we exchanged fishing stories, and surprised the American and Canadian fishermen with our success. The “two Bobs” had both fished Christmas Island before and both resided in America.  Eric was fishing with his father Joseph and they hailed from Canada. Over a week of fishing we all became friends and shared countless stories over beer and wine in the evenings.

The third day was a bit of a learning curve for Rodney and Myself.  Heading out like we did every day, except with transport arranged for this day, we both got a rude shock.  The flats that had been so kind to us the previous day hid their fish well. 

We found the going tough as we pushed into a constant 15-knot wind, which I might add, is the norm for the island.  It just so happened that combined with the wind and fishing the flats in the reverse order proved much more difficult than the previous day.  Only 21 fish landed brought our thoughts of grandeur to a bit of a screech.  You see, after the second day Rodney made the comment 'Lets each catch 100 Bonefish for the week!’ Quite achievable after the first two days fishing, we were certain that we could catch more fish as we became accustomed at spotting, stalking and casting to these wary critters.

Day 4 saw our totals on the increase again with 35 fish landed, and myself at 59 fish for the 4 days and Rodney with 58.  The goal was back in our sights.

Day 5 and we managed a record 45 bones, 22 for me and 23 for Rodney.  I also scored the best fish of the trip this day. 
While walking a shallow flat I spotted a big fish about 20 meters behind a couple of 'nice fish'.  I resisted the extremely strong urge for the numbers game and wait for a shot at the big one.  A good cast and a couple of missed lunges by the big girl had me sweating.  On the 4th tailing I felt the line come up tight, I cleared the excess and I was on.   "Woooooo Hooooooo!"  I hollered to Rodney some 100m away.  'Get the video' I yelled as I waded towards him with a huge grin on my face.  The fish was out 50m, then 60, then 90 and still going.  I don't know if I was coherent when Rodney pulled the video from my backpack, but I do remember feeling mighty happy with myself.  Seven minutes of filming and smiling had Rodney taking pictures of a 7 pound, 26.25 inch Bonefish, my best Bonefish to date.

On day six we arranged to get a lift to the Korean wreck with Bob one of the American anglers.  Rodney and I were dropped of two kilometers south of the wreck, to meet up with the driver, Bob and his guide for lunch.  This is truly an amazing fishing location.  Not only were the fish bigger but the water was the clearest for the whole trip.  I can’t even begin to explain the contrasting colors of the deep pacific ocean breaking in 10 foot surf over the mosaic of coral, the contrasting color of the most vividly colored parrot fish I’ve ever seen and the sound and smell of the surf crashing onto the rocks meters from where we fished.  This combined with huge numbers of schooling fish and many other species made this a very special day.  Rodney had a cracker, he caught 30 fish before lunch and cracked his 100 Bones for the trip. 

Each night at camp when the other fishermen asked him how his day was, his reply was always the same, 'Today was my best day yet...'

I cracked my 100th fish on the 7th day.  For the whole trip we scored a total of 260 Bonefish and 6 new species.  This is a trip both Rodney and I will talk about for the rest of our lives, it truly was the best fishing trip we have both ever had.

You may have heard that Christmas Island has only small Bonefish, we found that most fish are on the small side, but each day we fished we encountered fish in the 10-12 pound bracket.  Some of my fondest memories for the trip are of stalking 10 pounders in inches of water.  Fishing here should be a once in a lifetime experience for every fly fisherman, but I bet after your first trip you will want to go back, as I know I am!

Now I am happy to offer you the opportunity to join me on a semi-guided Bonefish Trip to Christmas Island. 
By semi-guided I mean you have the option to fish with the guide or alone.  Groups of anglers will be limited to 8 fisherman with 2 guides between them. 
I will personally accompany each trip to make sure the guides are doing their job correctly and we fish the best locations on each day. 

The cost of the trip will be from $3695 Aus.  Ex-Brisbane

This trip will include;
• Flights from Brisbane-Nadi-Christmas Island (Departure Syd & Melb will need to be checked)
• 7 nights Accommodation (Twin share)
• Fishing for 8 days (6 complete days, 2 part days)
• All transports on the Island (Inc. Airport & Fishing)
• Land based wading for Bonefish only (Which I found to be more productive).
• There will be guides on a 1 guide / 4 angler ratio.
• All meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
• Fishing license.
• Advice on gear to take, rods, reels, lines, flies, clothes etc.
• There is the option to hire guides for Big GT fishing.
• Does not include Alcohol.  (Duty free is a good option 'scotch, rum, bourbon, and Australian Dollars are used for currency on the island if you buy drinks there, they are quite reasonable).
• Does not include Airport Tax leaving Christmas Island (Approx $20).