As a lot of my friends would know, I have had a love of fly fishing for years. So, when the chance came to go to Aitutaki and fly fish for Bone fish, I definitely could not say no…
Leaving Rarotonga and the Cook Islands and flying to Aitutaki, was an amazing experience. First, I had the surreal experience of chickens walking around me in the departure area and second I have never had a boarding pass that looks like I had been shopping.
Arriving at Aitutaki I was picked up and taken to Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa, a stunning 5 star resort which is surrounded by the most amazing sand flats and crystal clear turquoise water, like crystals in the sun. It is also the home of the famous Bone fish; fly fishermen from all over the world regard this fish as the one to be caught when making up their fly fishing bucket list.
The food service and the attention to detail at the resort is really 5 star. Whether it was helping me with a quick piece of toast before heading out fishing in the morning, or sitting watching the sun set over the island during dinner of some of the best fish I have ever eaten was an amazing experience.
But the real find was the Koru café. About 8 years ago Tina and Steve Armstrong moved from Sydney and set up this amazing café situated among the palm trees on the way to the flats on which I would spend the day wading and casting to Bone fish.
The café has a 2 group Boema coffee machine and serve Lavazza coffee. They also have a very extensive kitchen garden attached to the café, which produces fresh produce for the meals at the café. Tina also told me they have just set up an aquaponics project which will increase the supply of leaf vegetables to the café, not to mention the fresh fish it will supply.
The café uses long life milk which works very well with the Lavazza coffee, they also use the proper tulip cups, which I do enjoy having my early morning coffee in. The cafes décor is warm and friendly and has a very pleasant feel to it.
Every morning during the week that I was in Aitutaki I would take the short walk from the resort to the Koru café, were the barista Missy would have a double shot latte for me and a double shot short black for my fishing guide Butch ready before heading out to chase Bone fish on the sand flats, which move up the lagoon and surrounding areas of Aitutaki.
The week on Aitutaki was really at the top of the fishing experiences I have had during my life. The role of my fishing guide Butch Leone was to put me in front of the fish and he was exceptionally exceptional at this. But, it was a really steep learning curve for me on the skill level needed to catch these tricky fish. Sad to say I did not catch one, but there is always next time.
I think that I would like to end on a quote from Butch that he sprouted as we are on our way to the other sand flats to find the bone fish, early in the morning quote… “If you cannot be a good example, be a bad role model” … sounds like my life.