Room with a View: Fanning Island
Chase MASSIVE GT’S & BIG Bonefish AT Fanning Island LODGE
FANNING ISLAND LODGE
Not much bigger than 40 square miles, and with a maximum elevation of only 3 meters above sea level, Fanning Island in the equatorial Pacific Ocean is not a place for the faint-hearted. Fanning Island Lodge is primitive living with little cooking resources, basic thatched hut accommodation, solar power driving the Starlink and powering the plumbing. Limited weekly access by plane from Christmas Island.
But it does have a new meeting house for communal dinners, new toilet and shower block, new huts and new water supply. Most of all, it’s pristine beachfront.
Fanning Island enjoys truly spectacular remote flats fly fishing. Double digit Bonefish are still being caught regularly, but huge Giant Trevally are the predominant species chased by visiting anglers. There are also Bluefin and Golden/Striped Trevally, Humphead Parrotfish (‘bumpies’) and Napoleon Wrasse among a myriad of reef species, all available on the fly, wading and casting on endless flats for up to 10 hours a day, if you choose.
HOST & GUIDES ONHAND
Fanning Island Lodge has access to boats and guides for up to eight anglers, but the lodge prefers to have six guests each week, so as not to over-pressure this small and fragile fishery.
We respect that and only six fishermen can fish on this remote tidal atoll with Isolation Outfitters each week. For those booking with us, we check the moon, evaluate the tide times, and recommend a week when we, and the local guides, reckon the giant trevally will be moving the most during the available days at Fanning Island, and on Christmas Island if you choose to take advantage of a two week program.
7 NIGHTS / 5+ DAYS FISHING
The lodge rate of USD$5,100 includes your accommodation and meals for two nights on Christmas Island & 6 days on Fanning Island. The meals are basic island-fare, plus soft drinks, water and snacks provided each day. This includes return flights to & from Fanning Island, all CXI and Fanning Island airport to lodge transfers (apologies in advance for the potholes), and one guide per two anglers.
What’s not included are your international return flights with Fiji Airways and related charges into CXI, alcohol and other drinks, plus tips and gratuities. Your local fishing licenses is covered by us for on each island.
Find out more by registering your interest for this remote saltwater angling adventure.
The lodge is hosting week-long trips in October and November 2026 with a further hosted trip in April 2027 for those who have unfortunately missed out on places in earlier expeditions.
TYPICAL PROGRAM
New Zealand and Australian anglers have an early morning arrival into Christmas Island (Kiritimati, CXI) via Nadi airport in Fiji. USA-domiciled clients will meet us at CXI, flying in via Honolulu, later the same day.
Note: The flight departs Honolulu on Tuesdays and crosses the International Date Line, arriving one day later in CXI on a Wednesday.
After one night on Kiritimati, we take the Thursday scenic flight to Fanning Island (also called Tabuaeran) for 6 days/7 nights wading stunning flats, trophy bonefishing and chasing epic Giant Trevally.
We head back to Christmas Island for a night of celebrations, stories and repacking.
For those choosing to stay on Christmas Island, there’s another week of fly fishing the endless flats of Christmas Island until the following Tuesday night. For those flying via Honolulu, it’s an early Wednesday morning start. Anglers flying to Fiji have an additional day on CXI before departure and are recommended to book a final morning on Paris Flat before your afternoon flight departs. Talk to us about why this is great idea!
Finally, our guiding team and onsite hosts have been servicing international anglers for many years and understand what’s required to deliver, starting months before your arrival at Fanning Island Lodge with supply orders and pre-planning.
Our team is proven, well-respected, and has the influence and experience to make your expedition here memorable for the right reasons!
We look forward to helping you plan your bucket list adventure at Fanning Island Lodge.
KEY INFORMATION
DESTINATION: Christmas Island (Kiritimati) & Fanning Island (Tabuaeran) near the Equator in the South Pacific Ocean, – travel via Honolulu, or Fiji, with Fiji Airways.
DATES: Arrival in CXI on Wednesday (depart Tuesday from Honolulu or Fiji), fly to Fanning Island Thursday, then back to CXI on Tuesday. Departure from CXI early on Wednesday.
FISHING: Bonefish, Giant Trevally, Bluefin Trevally, Triggerfish, Humphead Parrotfish, Napoleon Wrasse
RATE: US$5100 (based on double occupancy, per angler), subject to change in 2027.
