Fishing in the Cook Islands (South Pacific)

[Salmon]

Hi,

My wife and I are heading to Rarotonga and Aitutaki (Cook Islands) in April and I am trying to get some more info about fishing there. According to some tourism websites there appears to be lots of good fishing including bonefish and blue water species. Anyone fished in this general area? I hope to spend much of the time kayak fishing or beach wading but will probably hire a guide for a couple of days of blue water fishing. I was going to bring my 8 wt and 10 wt fly rods and leave my bait casting gear behind. Any info or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Salmon

[Jacob K.]

bring a bait caster. at a lot of these islands it is not unusual to find marlin, sail fish, dorado and LARGE grouper within short distance of land.Hi,

My wife and I are heading to Rarotonga and Aitutaki (Cook Islands) in April and I am trying to get some more info about fishing there. According to some tourism websites there appears to be lots of good fishing including bonefish and blue water species. Anyone fished in this general area? I hope to spend much of the time kayak fishing or beach wading but will probably hire a guide for a couple of days of blue water fishing. I was going to bring my 8 wt and 10 wt fly rods and leave my bait casting gear behind. Any info or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Salmon

[chris_l]

I'm also trying to get info on fishing the Cooks. Mainly interested in Bones, and desperate to get out to Penrhyn, although flight costs seem a bit prohibitive at this stage.

Has anyone fished much on Aitutaki and is it a good bonefishery?

cheers
Chris

[MDF]

Chris,

We went to Aitutaki last year. It is a great place to visit (I had wife and 3 year old with me). We stayed on a little motu across the lagoon, as idyllic a holiday destination as you could ever imagine. Even with mosquitos.

Fishing: I was told before we left (Australia) that yes there are bonefish but there are better bonefisheries to go to if that is what you want to do principally. That assessment was and is correct. The locals net fish and they net bonefish. The markets at Aitutaki sell out of fish very early and my general impression is that the fishery is pretty hammered. Reports I have read on travel websites by people who have been there years ago and recently confirm the decline. If the locals banned netting of bonefish the fishery would respond well.

There are guides, but I thought they were pretty expensive for what you get. This is not a money thing, and I am open to getting a guide, but my personal preference is to explore by myself. One guide was in the US at the time and but for that I would have hired him. As it turned out I hired a local for a couple of half days to motor around with me which was the best way to do it. He didn't guide, but still pointed helpfully in the right direction. Getting a boat can be a problem, and you will need one.

In general I was a little disappointed with the fishing. I expected greater numbers of fish (I am a trout person mainly and only get into salt occassionally, so my comments may reflect moderate skill level, but I have experienced better saltwater fishing in more accessible locations such as North Queensland). Not that the fishing was bad: caught fish of course including a very good bluefin trevally which was a highlight and probably the most heart pumping moment I have had on fly.

The holiday overall was fabulous. The people were fantastic. The accomodation owners we used were both reputable and reliable (can be a bit hit and miss there). If you mix fishing with family, with the inevitable compromises, it will be great. If you want to relax on a beach and do some fishing, it will be great. If you want to fish per se, think twice about Aitutaki. If you want to fish for bonefish, keep going to Penrhyn, it will be worth the extra money.

I would like to go to the northern group, and intend to do so in the near fututre. If you are interested, I will post the results.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

[chris_l]

Great info there, thanks MDF!

Yes I'd love to hear about your impending trip. If it's easier, would love to hear from you by email; chris_lemess@hotmail.com .

Aitutaki still sounds like a brilliant location. I'm glad there is the opportunity to just walk the islands and fish - I like that sort of freedom. I'm guessing you hired a boat to get to other ends of the lagoon rather than to fish out of. Did you pay guiding prices or was it just a local dropping you off (I'd be more than happy with that).

As for getting out to Penrhyn / Manihiki - I'd love to; I'm still working on a cheaper way than flying! Will be interesting to see how you go on the outer islands!

cheers
Chris

[MDF]

Stayed on a little motu called Akaiami. Could fish all around the motu. The caretaker had a runabout and I hired him a couple times to take me to other locations. He went off and did whatever he wanted to. I fished. Not expensive, maybe $30NZ inclusive of fuel. Can't remember now.