Fly Fishing the Cook Islands

July 21, 2011 By: Marshall Cutchin

Seemingly out in the middle of nowhere—in fact in the South Pacific Ocean, about 1500 miles north-east of New Zealand and between French Polynesia and American Samoa—the Cook Islands would qualify in many traveling anglers’ eyes as a bonefishing paradise.  Collin Szewczyk writes about long-time Aitutaki guide Butch Leone, the Cook Island environs, and an upcoming tournament that will draw the likes of Peter Morse, Jim Holland, and Carl McNeil.

“The famous lagoon, which is often compared to Bora Bora, is also home to some of the largest bonefish on Earth.  If Aitutaki were an oyster, the budding bonefishing industry would surely be its pearl.”