Commencing in Melbourne, we will travel to New Caledonia for a night and group welcome dinner in Noumea before departing north to the fishing grounds the following day. The comfortable road trip is a good time to get to know the other members of the group and talk about the fishing ahead while taking in the magnificent scenery along the way.

Fly fishing over five days, we will spend time hunting the vast flats systems for trophy bonefish which average 7lb’s in weight, with all fishing done on foot. With an experienced guide team and host, you will also have the opportunity to also chase a range of trevally species on the flats, with comfortable lodging and fine food awaiting you at the end of each day. The final evening will be spent to unwind at the Sheraton Diva before flying home from La Tontouta International Airport.

Day 0: Arrive in New Caledonia. Transfer to the Hilton Noumea for overnight stay. Group Dinner and welcome.

Day 1: Depart 0800 to Poingam with several stops along the way. Scenic drive along the west coast we will stop at Kone and Koumac along the way. The journey takes between six and seven hours, with an arrival time of around 1400. Check-into your Bunglaow, relax and prepare for the next day’s fishing. Pre-dinner drinks are served and communal dining with other travellers over three courses with French wines.

Days 2 – 6: Continental breakfast from 0630 is served, departing for the 15-minute drive to Nennon Beach and departure for the flats at 0730. The journey to the flats takes between thirty and forty minutes by sea and along the coastline / boat pass region depending on weather conditions. Return to Nennon around 4-5pm daily and back to the lodging. Pack bags, dinner and drinks.

Day 7: Breakfast at 0730 and depart at 0830 for the Sheraton Diva Resort and Spa, Bourial (4 hrs) with an arrival around 1230. Afternoon of leisure and relaxation. Evening farewell dinner.

Day 8: Early departure to La Tontouta International for departing flights

When in the far north, we choose to stay at the ‘Resort of Poingam’ which is a locally owned and operated bungalow setting with charming hosts, offering a relaxing French/South Seas style right on the beach.

Located four hundred and fifty kilometers from Noumea, Poingam is a little paradise located near Boat Pass and the beautiful beaches of Nennon, offering seven rustic thatched bungalows with quaint attached bathrooms.

The beautiful garden surroundings and the feeling that you are literally at the end of the earth make this a fantastic getaway from the fast-paced world that many of us are accustomed to.

With a small saltwater pool and eighty hectares of national parks and nature trails, there are plenty of options for non-anglers. Spotting wild horses and electric blue butterflies, the flora and fauna is impressive.

The food and hospitality at the Relais de Poingam is excellent. The dining, each day, is at a large communal table where you will share your evening meal and wine over three courses with travelers from all over the world. Including local seafood and a mixture of traditional and French influences, guests will typically enjoy fresh lobster and roasted suckling pig throughout their stay, while dessert may include cognac laced banana and papaya crème brûlée, washed down with French wines.

The setting makes for a great evening where you can discuss and plan fly fishing the flats the following day. WIFI is available but limited to the reception area.

Fly fishing two anglers to one guide, we have two large boats available with 150hp four stroke engines which are used to travel to the flats each day. The coastline of the Northern Province, stretching from Poum on the west coast to Boat pass at the northern most point and down to Phagaan on the east coast, is a plethora of mangrove-lined shallow bays, sand flats, coral reef and dozens of small islands scattered about.

There are around five different flats accessible within a short boat ride from Poum/Poingam, each with unique features. However, the real jewels are the flats of St Phalle, Isle of Balabio and Baaba. The reef of Balabio on the lee side of the island extends from the sand cay of St Phalle for over twenty-five kilometres and it is two kilometres wide at its narrowest point. Sand has built up on this reef to create a sandflat habitat that takes your breath away when you first approach it and look at the expanse of white that stretches to the horizon where it meets rich, red, bare mountains. This must be one of the most scenic bonefish locations in the world.

The St Phalle flats contrast markedly with the shallow mangrove-lined bays of Isle Baaba, with the slightly tea-stained water providing a colour reminiscent of that found in Ascension Bay, Mexico and which provides extensive feeding areas for the Bonefish found here.

New Caledonia is not a destination for big numbers of Bonefish, however what they lack in numbers they more than make up for in size, and eight weight outfits with plenty of backing are recommended.

Typical waded flats fished are between one and five feet deep, however, there are numerous drop-offs and strong currents at times so it pays to have a good selection of weighted flies in larger sizes to accommodate and get the interest of these big fish. When clouds are about and the wind picks up, the ability of your guide to spot and put you onto cruising Bonefish maximises your chances at connecting with these beasts.

While they rarely get fished to, a stealthy approach and ensuring your fly is always on the bottom is paramount as the fish move on and off the flats with the tidal movement. Fishing times are determined the evening prior based on the tides and conditions, but with the wind generally picking up in the afternoon you will need to be out on the water fairly early most days to maximise your window of opportunity.

On booking you will be provided with a full and comprehensive pre-trip guide to ensure you are well prepared both on and off the water.

“The fishing isn’t easy and you have to take your chances when you get them, but that said, these fish are something else! The average size was around 6-9lbs with our biggest for the trip estimated by Ben to be 12-13lbs!! The take is very visual and its explosive. Big smoking runs leave you wondering how the hell a fish of that size manages to peel 150m of line off the reel, drag up tight, in the blink of an eye. It was some of the most exciting saltwater fly fishing I’ve encountered. It really was very special”.

Andrew Thompson

“The final day proved to be very memorable and our best, with everyone catching solid fish. Fishing unguided throughout the day I had the best Bonefishing of my life with a 4, 7, 9 and 11lb Bonefish coming to hand as well as some solid Trevally which was a bonus. I probably saw 25+ bones that morning with the best sighted must have been 15lb’s + – I do believe this is surely the place to get a world record. We also spotted some big GT’s on the flats, but they were just out of range to make a cast to”.

Tony Hiam

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