French Polynesia — Anaa, Rangiroa & Tikehau

NEW ATOLL DESTINATIONS — CURRENTLY UNDER EXPLORATION

No Slack Loops is developing a new series of exploratory fly-fishing expeditions across the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia.

We are beginning with three very different atolls: Anaa, Rangiroa and Tikehau. Anaa already has a small but established fly-fishing operation and gives us a practical base from which to understand the region. Rangiroa and Tikehau are far less developed as fly-fishing destinations. Their channels, flats and reef edges are exactly the sort of water that interests us, but there is still work to do before we bring guests.

We are currently assessing tides, fish movements, safe access, boat support, accommodation and guiding arrangements. These are not yet established, pick-your-week lodge fisheries. Our first hosted opportunities are expected to open progressively during 2027/28, once we are satisfied that the fishing, logistics and local partnerships are ready.

As we open the region, each atoll will be developed as an individual destination.

FLY FISHING ANAA ATOLL

Anaa is the most-explored of the three atolls from a fly-fishing perspective. It has an experienced local guide and an emerging catch-and-release fishery built around the lagoon’s bonefish, trevally and other tropical flats species. We have arranged guesthouse accommodation on the atoll.

The fishing is predominantly visual. Anglers wade clear, shallow flats and reef margins, looking for cruising or tailing bonefish and bluefin trevally. The lagoon also offers inshore reef edges and ocean-side water, giving us options as light, wind and tide change. Anaa’s bonefish have a reputation for being strong, wary fish, and the combination of clear water and limited pressure makes this an appealing destination for competent saltwater anglers.

The principal target is bonefish, generally encountered as singles, pairs and small groups cruising shallow, clear water. Fish commonly average around 4–5 lb, with regular opportunities at 7–8 lb and occasional double-figure specimens. It is technical sight-fishing rather than a high-numbers fishery.

Other potential targets include bluefin and striped trevally, giant trevally, triggerfish, bohar snapper, Napoleon wrasse, parrotfish and other reef species.

Anaa is likely to be the more structured of our initial French Polynesian options. Local guiding, basic accommodation and island support already exist, allowing us to concentrate on refining the program, selecting the most productive tides and building a small-group itinerary around the fishery. Please let me know if you would like to join one of our early groups onto Anaa.

ANAA: TRAVEL INFORMATION

We will meet you in Papeete. Schedule a first night here. We then travel to Anaa, east of Tahiti in the Tuamotu Archipelago, on a scheduled Air Tahiti flight from Tahiti–Faa’a International Airport. Flying time is approximately one hour and ten minutes.

Our guesthouse accommodation is simple and locally run. Guests should expect warm Polynesian hospitality, fresh local food, a quiet island community and limited services. We arrange your domestic travel, accommodation, meals, fishing support and on-island transfers within our program.

EXPLORING RANGIROA ATOLL

Rangiroa is enormous. Its vast lagoon, shallow satellite lagoons, reef margins, passes and current-fed channels present an extraordinary amount of water to investigate.

Although Rangiroa is well known internationally as a diving destination, much of its potential as a dedicated flats fly fishery remains unmapped. The areas that interest us most are away from the established visitor circuit: pale sand flats, isolated motu, lagoon edges and channels where moving water concentrates bait. In character, some of this water reminds us of Fanning Island in Kiribati — expansive, varied and best approached with a boat, a good pair of eyes and a willingness to explore.

Our initial work is focused on locating reliable wading water and understanding how bonefish and trevally use the lagoon through different tides. The scale of Rangiroa means that boat range, fuel, weather and daily travel time matter.

For exploratory anglers, that scale is the attraction. Rangiroa has the ingredients for varied fishing across flats, reef edges and channels, but it will reward patience and discovery rather than expectations based on an established lodge program.

RANGIROA: TRAVEL & DESTINATION INFORMATION

Rangiroa is approximately one hour by air from Tahiti and is served regularly from Tahiti–Faa’a International Airport. It has the broadest visitor infrastructure of the three atolls, with a choice of small guesthouses, hotels, restaurants and lagoon excursions around Avatoru and Tiputa.

The famous Tiputa and Avatoru passes connect the lagoon with the open ocean and support an exceptional concentration of marine life. For non-angling partners, Rangiroa offers world-class diving and snorkeling, pearl farms, boat excursions and the Blue Lagoon. Its established accommodation and air access make it a useful gateway for a French Polynesian holiday – with excellent fly fishing potential.

EXPLORING TIKEHAU ATOLL

Tikehau is smaller and quieter than Rangiroa, with a luminous lagoon, a single major pass and a broken rim of sand, coral and low motu. What draws us here are the edges: long, shallow margins and firm-looking sections that can be explored on foot when tide and bottom conditions allow.

The fishing appeal is intimate and mobile. Rather than crossing a huge lagoon every day, we expect to combine short boat movements with deliberate wading along reef and lagoon edges, prospecting for bonefish, trevally and reef species. Clear water should make much of the fishing visual, while the atoll’s only pass and nearby channels may offer opportunities where current concentrates bait and larger predators.

Tikehau has some fabulous wadable edges, but it is still new water for us. Our exploratory visits will determine which areas have safe footing, how tide height affects access and where fish consistently move. As with Rangiroa, early trips will be designed around discovery and flexibility rather than guaranteed daily routines.

TIKEHAU: TRAVEL & DESTINATION INFORMATION

Tikehau is around 55 minutes to one hour by air from Tahiti. It can also be linked with nearby Rangiroa; Air Tahiti operates short inter-island services, subject to the seasonal timetable.

The atoll has a small main village, locally run guesthouses and a limited number of resorts. Most activities revolve around the lagoon: snorkeling, diving, boating, birdlife and visits to the pink-sand motu. Services are limited compared with Tahiti, so equipment, baggage and contingency planning will be important parts of any hosted program.

OPENING FOR GUESTS IN 2027/28

Anaa, Rangiroa and Tikehau are new No Slack Loops locations that we are currently exploring. We expect to open hosted opportunities progressively during 2027/28, with separate programs for each atoll as our local partnerships and fishing knowledge develop.

The first guest visits will suit experienced saltwater anglers who enjoy pioneering new water and who understand that exploratory travel involves genuine unknowns. Conditions, tides, boat access and fishing plans may change during the week. Flexibility, patience and a sense of humor will be essential. Our trip pricing is indicative only at this stage.

We will operate conservatively, respect local fishing rights and community protocols, and promote catch-and-release fishing for bonefish, trevally and other sporting species. Group sizes will remain small.

If you would like to receive exploration updates or be considered for one of the first hosted departures, give us a call or drop us an email.