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Capt. Chris Newsome
French Polynesia: Out Island Odyssey
Experience the cutting-edge of exotic fishing!
Welcome to a world where the fishing options are seemingly limitless! In a single day, it is possible to troll the bluewater, jig the ledges, pop the reef, and so much more. If you’re skilled in the craft, try your luck spearfishing for marlin. Those who like to keep their head above water can practice the traditional Polynesian method of throwing a hand spear at mahi-mahi as they are chased down from the boat. No matter your preferred angling method, you’ll find this trip to be an exciting odyssey to an idyllic South Pacific destination.
My specialty is saltwater fly fishing which has lead me to over a dozen countries in search of fishing's final frontier. Countless hours of research, planning, and exploration have resulted in me being the first operator offering fly anglers the opportunity to experience this new destination hidden in French Polynesia. Having never seen someone fly fish, the native fishermen were initially skeptical if the technique would be successful in their waters. The out island locals quickly became believers as more than twenty species were caught on fly during the inaugural exploratory mission.
When fly anglers think of fishing in the tropics, bonefishing immediately comes to mind. I’ve been lucky to land many nice bonefish in all three warm oceans, so they were low on my priority list heading into the out island trip. That changed when I saw the studly dimensions of the bones. While the French Polynesian bonefish are lacking in numbers, they more than make up for it in size. Several legit double-digit bones were sighted, but none were brought to hand. On a couple occasions, I managed to catch a half dozen exceptionally strong bones during the morning tide. My conclusion is that the fishery here can produce trophy bonefish of a lifetime, but there are not enough productive locations to target them heavily.
Indo-Pacific triggerfish are all the rage in the world of saltwater fly fishing. I am a true trigger addict, so I was over the moon with excitement to discover an abundance of blue triggerfish on the out island flats. The reef-dwelling blue triggers rarely enter shallow water elsewhere within their Indo-Pacific range. When blue triggers venture onto the flats, they are notably more paranoid than their more publicized peachface and mustache triggerfish counterparts. Only a handful of wading fly anglers have caught blue triggers worldwide, and I now feel extremely fortunate to land the very first one that I saw. My luck changed the remainder of the exploratory trip as I spooked countless, had refusals from many, and hooked eleven blue triggers that escaped capture. I'm itching to solve the blue triggerfish puzzle and excited to help anglers join one of fly fishing’s most exclusive clubs!
In contrast to the high degree of stealth and delicacy required to stalk blue triggerfish, fly fishing for predators of the reef is hand-to-hand combat. Anglers who choose not to toss hair & feathers with fly rods, will find casting large poppers and stickbaits with spinning rods incredibly effective at drawing savage strikes. You and your equipment are tested as these powerful fish retreat toward their coral hideouts. More than half of the large reef dwellers win the battle between angler and beast. Snapped leaders, straightened hooks, and broken rods are casualties of the tug-of-war!
Extraordinarily healthy and prolific corals construct a jungle of habitat which contributes to the worldclass reef fishing. The majority of this fishing involves drifting in the boat over coral outcrops, however reef predators are also caught wading beaches and flats. This is one of the few places in the Indo-Pacific where it is possible for fly anglers to consistently hook coral trout (leopard coral grouper), longnose emperor, camouflage grouper, red bass (bohar snapper), and other reef predators. The high abundance and trophy size of coral trout is particularly special, but you need to buckle your seatbelt if you plan to land them!
The Napoleon wrasse (Māori wrasse) is a legendary reef predator of the South Pacific. We managed to land one small Napoleon on fly, one behemoth was lost on spin, and several others were sighted on the exploratory trip. Consider yourself blessed by the fish gods if you get to hold one of these magical creatures!
While no fly anglers managed to land a true "giant" trevally during our exploration, a few juvenile geets came to hand, several monstrosities were spotted on the flats, and one beastly GT subsequently escaped after being hooked on fly. It's important to set realistic expectations that the probability of landing a trophy giant trevally while fly fishing is low, but the stray chance of connecting with a gargantuan GT as it hunts on the flats is what dreams are made of. Your odds greatly increase if you choose to heave poppers with spinning gear along reef ledges. A more common sight patrolling the shallows are large bluefin trevally. Few fish species can match the eye-popping neon blues, greens, and purples of a lit-up bluefin. Fishing from the boat allows fly anglers to reach packs of brassy and black trevally that readily inhale flies. We have caught six trevally species in the out islands of French Polynesia, and all trevally put up a relentless fight!
Exceptional bluewater fishing opportunities are found just beyond the barrier reef, although bluewater fly fishing in these waters is yet to be explored. Blue marlin and yellowfin tuna are caught trolling, plus you’ll find ferocious dogtooth tuna that attack metal jigs. Avid spearfishermen travel to the region for excellent shots at world record wahoo. One angler on the exploratory trip proved that you don’t have to be Polynesian to harpoon a mahi-mahi as it’s chased down by the boat!
This trip is ideally suited for skilled saltwater fly anglers that can spot fish on the flats and cast sinking lines from the boat. The challenging wade fishing terrain requires fly anglers to be in good physical shape. Conventional anglers have their best success fishing almost exclusively from the boat. Anglers with moderate to advanced spin fishing skills will find this to be a spectacular fishery. Trolling is highly effective for anyone looking for serious pullage, and bait fishing produces a plethora of action. No matter your fishing preference, the tug is the drug in this magical destination!
In addition to fishing, there are numerous activities for visitors to immerse themselves in the natural beauty and rich culture of Polynesia. You can find yourself captivated for hours snorkeling amongst colorful coral gardens where marine biodiversity abounds. Time on dry land can include mountain hiking to spectacular vistas and beachgoing on deserted sand islands known as motus. History buffs will appreciate learning the islands' past while visiting historic ruins. Touring Polynesia's world-famous black pearl farms results in newfound knowledge and iridescent pearl jewelry as a keepsake from the islands.
I have developed a relationship with a local family that is experienced in accommodating visitors to their island. They provide welcoming Polynesian hospitality, comfortable lodging, delicious homecooked meals, and even Starlink satellite Wi-Fi. Unlike a traditional fishing lodge that houses many anglers, this trip provides an exclusive atmosphere making it a great choice for couples, families, and close friends.
The father of our Polynesian hosts is known as the top bluewater commercial fisherman in the islands and the son is a young-gun spearfisherman. Reef and bluewater fishing is done out of a custom Tahitian-built 28ft fiberglass boat that serves as a comfortable and stable angling platform. Accessing wade fishing areas requires navigating minefields of coral outcrops (bommies), so a 20ft aluminum boat with a side door is used for safe navigation and easy boarding.
Fly anglers should keep in mind that this is a new fly fishing destination. The rare opportunity to fly fish a locale that others have not means that you will need to be relatively self-sufficient. The Polynesian fishing captains are knowledgeable in guiding conventional tackle anglers, but they had no experience with fly anglers prior to my first visit. I will be available during the trip to provide assistance, but please remember that I am on this trip to fish alongside you. While I am happy to help, my role in the trip is not to serve exclusively as a fishing guide when we are on the water.
Dealing with the logistics of traveling to remote international destinations can be a daunting task. I am a valuable resource to guide trip participants through the travel process. Given the extreme fishing this adventure provides, pre-trip preparation is critical to success. Participants will receive group emails and are invited to attend several Zoom meetings where I will share my experience in trip preparation, gear selection, fishing techniques, and other travel topics specific to this expedition. I’m excited to assist you in making this adventure to the South Pacific an epic memory that will last a lifetime. Please view a slideshow of the 2025 exploratory expedition.
I am currently taking bookings for the 2026 & 2027 hosted trip season. I hope you can take part in this cutting-edge odyssey to the exotic out islands of French Polynesia!