Pull the Trigger

My First Christmas Island trip was with Josh and Royal Treatment last year. It was an amazing experience. We had great weather except for one day. There were days you could catch as many bonefish as you could reel in. By the last day of the trip, I was bonefish out. I decided to focus on Giant Trevally and Triggerfish. I ended up catching only one fish, but it was a beautiful Yellowmargin Triggerfish. It was worth it.

I just got back from my second trip to CXI with Royal Treatment. I was much better prepared this time, with just about every fly suggested for triggers and some of my custom crab creations. We had pretty bad weather for bonefish, but that was not why I was there. I was there to continue my trevally and trigger obsession. Thankfully, both of those species are still visible when there are rolling clouds and overcast days.

I wasn't lucky enough to catch a big GT, but I did fool several triggerfish. About half of my eats were on my saltwater confidence fly, a self-tied size 6 tan EP spawning shrimp. I landed my first trigger early last year and a huge permit in Cuba last November on one. I tied around 100 of these guys in different sizes, colors, and most importantly, weights. The thing about triggerfish is that a fly is almost guaranteed to be destroyed if the fish eats it and doesn't get hooked. I have a bunch of crunched flies from mis-timed strips.

I ended up landing two triggerfish on this trip. Both Moustache 'Titan’ Triggerfish, a new species for me. The first was dumb luck. I "Doordashed" the fly directly on the fish's nose. The fish was tailing, so it was less spooky than normal, and he liked my offering. After bullying the fish in with maybe a bit too much drag, my week was made. I started trying experimental flies when the guide wasn't looking. Much to my surprise, I had more success than I was expecting.

My second trigger was much more exciting. I placed one cast exactly where I'm supposed to. I waited for the fly to sink. One slow and long strip, and the fish was on it. I stripped the fly in, pausing for him to eat it exactly how my guide was directing me to. The fish followed the fly all the way to about six feet from me and the guide's feet. I had 2 feet of tippet out of my rod tip while holding the rod grip as far around and behind myself as I could. I had no idea what to do. My guide was silently watching. I raised the fly off the sand about 4 inches. The fish followed. I dropped it. The fish followed and ate the fly. I had no line or extra arm on my back to strip set like I should. I trout set like I was Bill Dance setting the hook on a tournament-winning bass. I was willing to risk my almost brand-new T&T Sextant to hook and land this fish. Luckily, my rod stayed in four pieces, and my guide and I were hysterically laughing. A couple of minutes more trigger bullying with heavy drag, and I was one happy guy.