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Gilbert Islands, Kiribati – future expeditions
FUTURE KIRIBATI FLY-FISHING
No Slack Loops is investigating a series of exploratory fly-fishing expeditions across Kiribati’s remote Gilbert Islands. These islands contain enormous lagoons, shallow flats, reef systems and tidal channels that may support bonefish, giant trevally, bluefin trevally and other tropical species. Few have received meaningful recreational fly-fishing attention.
As we begin visiting and assessing these islands, we welcome expressions of interest from adventurous, experienced anglers interested in joining small exploratory groups. Our first guest expeditions are likely to commence in early 2028.
LOCALLY LED EXPEDITIONS
Every Gilbert Islands expedition undertaken by No Slack Loops will be planned and operated alongside Kiribati local people. We will work with island communities, councils, fishermen, boat owners, accommodation providers and the appropriate Kiribati authorities. Their knowledge and leadership will be fundamental to accessing these fisheries safely and respectfully.
Appropriate accommodation and boat support will be secured before each expedition, and we will coordinate the complex logistics required to reach and explore each destination effectively.
ABAIANG ATOLL
Abaiang, shown in our featured images, lies north of Tarawa and surrounds an immense lagoon containing numerous islets, channels, sandbars and reef systems.
Bonefish are an established part of the local fishery, while the scale and variety of the lagoon suggest potential for giant trevally and other flats species. We have not yet fished Abaiang and will update this information following our initial reconnaissance.
Abaiang’s accessibility from Tarawa and the availability of local accommodation at Terau Beach Bungalow make it a strong candidate for our first exploratory Gilbert Islands trip. We expect to undertake an initial visit by mid-2027 and will report our findings to anglers who have registered their interest.
MAIANA FLY FISHING
Situated immediately south of Tarawa, Maiana has an extensive shallow lagoon and a documented bonefish population.
Local conservation measures have helped protect important fishing and spawning areas. Its combination of bonefish, accessible lagoon water and proximity to Tarawa makes Maiana one of our leading prospects for an exploratory Kiribati fly-fishing expedition.
BUTARITARI
Butaritari is one of the northernmost atolls in the Gilbert Islands. It has a large, productive lagoon connected to the Pacific through several passages.
The combination of lagoon flats, tidal channels, reef edges and nearby blue water makes Butaritari an exciting prospect for bonefish, giant trevally, bluefin trevally, reef species and potentially offshore fishing.
ARANUKA
Aranuka is a compact, triangular atoll with a shallow central lagoon, smaller islets, reef flats and access to the surrounding ocean.
Very little recreational fishing information exists for Aranuka. Its manageable size and variety of shallow-water habitat could make it an excellent destination for a genuine exploratory fly-fishing mission.
TABITEUEA
Tabiteuea contains one of the largest and most complex lagoon systems in the Gilbert Islands.
Its numerous islets, extensive shallow-water habitat, reef complexes and tidal passages present enormous exploratory potential. Tabiteuea may require more than one expedition to investigate properly, making it particularly appealing to anglers interested in helping uncover an entirely new fishery.
ONOTOA
Located in the southern Gilbert Islands, Onotoa has a sizable lagoon connected to the ocean by several tidal channels. Its remote location and limited history of outside recreational fishing make it another intriguing prospect. A future expedition could explore the lagoon, channels, reef margins and outer reef for bonefish, trevally and other tropical species.
INDICATIVE TRIP PRICING
We are currently using US$5,500 per angler as an indicative planning price for an initial week-long trip to Abaiang, with final trip fare dependent on cost of charter flights and on-island costs.
Final pricing and inclusions will depend on the island, domestic flight arrangements, group size, accommodation, boats and the supplies required. A detailed itinerary and confirmed trip fare will be provided before anglers are invited to book.
These will be genuine exploratory expeditions. Fishing results cannot be guaranteed, and participants should expect remote conditions, limited infrastructure and the possibility of discovering both exceptional fishing and challenging environments.
EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST
We are now assembling a register of anglers interested in exploring Abaiang, Maiana, Butaritari, Aranuka, Tabiteuea and Onotoa.
Registering your interest does not commit you to a booking. It simply allows us to contact you as individual destinations, dates and expedition plans are developed. If you would like to join a future Kiribati fly-fishing expedition, give us a call or send us an email.
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FUTURE LINE AND PHOENIX ISLANDS EXPLORATION
We have also undertaken preliminary research into other islands across the Republic of Kiribati.
In the Line Islands, Kiritimati has an established fly-fishing industry with experienced guides and dedicated lodges. Tabuaeran, or Fanning Island, is becoming increasingly recognized as a fishing destination, and No Slack Loops offers both lodge-based and campout programs to explore its lagoon, channels and outer reef. Teraina, or Washington Island, and its extraordinary freshwater lake are on our expedition list for 2027.
Beyond that only one atoll offers potential. Caroline/Millennium Island is the most intriguing. It has a clear enclosed lagoon, numerous islets and exceptionally intact marine habitat. However, it is uninhabited, has no airstrip or dependable landing, and has major conservation importance.
Malden and Starbuck have largely enclosed, saline or hypersaline interior lagoons rather than conventional tidal flats fisheries. Both have longstanding wildlife protection. Flint and Vostok lack meaningful lagoons and are primarily fringing-reef environments.
For the Phoenix Islands, outside of Kanton, that we already list as a fishing destination, there are two islands that have potentially interesting lagoon geography. Orona, formerly Hull Island, has a lagoon of approximately 26 km² and the second-largest reef system in the Phoenix group after Kanton. Nikumaroro, formerly Gardner Island, has a much smaller, restricted lagoon of approximately 4.7 km².
The difficulty is that both sit within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. Earlier PIPA management zoning treated the seven islands outside Kanton as non-extractive areas, while current visitor guidance requires specific visitor, vessel and fishing permits.
Further, their lagoons may also be less attractive for quality flats fly fishing than satellite photographs suggest. Scientific surveys describe Orona and Nikumaroro as restricted lagoons with predominantly fine, soft sediment rather than extensive Kiritimati-style hard sand.
Caroline, Orona and Nikumaroro are on our list to raise with Kiribati government officials – and to explore in future if possible, to better ascertain their potential with greater certainty.
FUTURE KIRIBATI FLY-FISHING
No Slack Loops is investigating a series of exploratory fly-fishing expeditions across Kiribati’s remote Gilbert Islands. These islands contain enormous lagoons, shallow flats, reef systems and tidal channels that may support bonefish, giant trevally, bluefin trevally and other tropical species. Few have received meaningful recreational fly-fishing attention.
As we begin visiting and assessing these islands, we welcome expressions of interest from adventurous, experienced anglers interested in joining small exploratory groups. Our first guest expeditions are likely to commence in early 2028.
LOCALLY LED EXPEDITIONS
Every Gilbert Islands expedition undertaken by No Slack Loops will be planned and operated alongside Kiribati local people. We will work with island communities, councils, fishermen, boat owners, accommodation providers and the appropriate Kiribati authorities. Their knowledge and leadership will be fundamental to accessing these fisheries safely and respectfully.
Appropriate accommodation and boat support will be secured before each expedition, and we will coordinate the complex logistics required to reach and explore each destination effectively.
ABAIANG ATOLL
Abaiang, shown in our featured images, lies north of Tarawa and surrounds an immense lagoon containing numerous islets, channels, sandbars and reef systems.
Bonefish are an established part of the local fishery, while the scale and variety of the lagoon suggest potential for giant trevally and other flats species. We have not yet fished Abaiang and will update this information following our initial reconnaissance.
Abaiang’s accessibility from Tarawa and the availability of local accommodation at Terau Beach Bungalow make it a strong candidate for our first exploratory Gilbert Islands trip. We expect to undertake an initial visit by mid-2027 and will report our findings to anglers who have registered their interest.
MAIANA FLY FISHING
Situated immediately south of Tarawa, Maiana has an extensive shallow lagoon and a documented bonefish population.
Local conservation measures have helped protect important fishing and spawning areas. Its combination of bonefish, accessible lagoon water and proximity to Tarawa makes Maiana one of our leading prospects for an exploratory Kiribati fly-fishing expedition.
BUTARITARI
Butaritari is one of the northernmost atolls in the Gilbert Islands. It has a large, productive lagoon connected to the Pacific through several passages.
The combination of lagoon flats, tidal channels, reef edges and nearby blue water makes Butaritari an exciting prospect for bonefish, giant trevally, bluefin trevally, reef species and potentially offshore fishing.
ARANUKA
Aranuka is a compact, triangular atoll with a shallow central lagoon, smaller islets, reef flats and access to the surrounding ocean.
Very little recreational fishing information exists for Aranuka. Its manageable size and variety of shallow-water habitat could make it an excellent destination for a genuine exploratory fly-fishing mission.
TABITEUEA
Tabiteuea contains one of the largest and most complex lagoon systems in the Gilbert Islands.
Its numerous islets, extensive shallow-water habitat, reef complexes and tidal passages present enormous exploratory potential. Tabiteuea may require more than one expedition to investigate properly, making it particularly appealing to anglers interested in helping uncover an entirely new fishery.
ONOTOA
Located in the southern Gilbert Islands, Onotoa has a sizable lagoon connected to the ocean by several tidal channels. Its remote location and limited history of outside recreational fishing make it another intriguing prospect. A future expedition could explore the lagoon, channels, reef margins and outer reef for bonefish, trevally and other tropical species.
INDICATIVE TRIP PRICING
We are currently using US$5,500 per angler as an indicative planning price for an initial week-long trip to Abaiang, with final trip fare dependent on cost of charter flights and on-island costs.
Final pricing and inclusions will depend on the island, domestic flight arrangements, group size, accommodation, boats and the supplies required. A detailed itinerary and confirmed trip fare will be provided before anglers are invited to book.
These will be genuine exploratory expeditions. Fishing results cannot be guaranteed, and participants should expect remote conditions, limited infrastructure and the possibility of discovering both exceptional fishing and challenging environments.
EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST
We are now assembling a register of anglers interested in exploring Abaiang, Maiana, Butaritari, Aranuka, Tabiteuea and Onotoa.
Registering your interest does not commit you to a booking. It simply allows us to contact you as individual destinations, dates and expedition plans are developed. If you would like to join a future Kiribati fly-fishing expedition, give us a call or send us an email.
————————————————————-
FUTURE LINE AND PHOENIX ISLANDS EXPLORATION
We have also undertaken preliminary research into other islands across the Republic of Kiribati.
In the Line Islands, Kiritimati has an established fly-fishing industry with experienced guides and dedicated lodges. Tabuaeran, or Fanning Island, is becoming increasingly recognized as a fishing destination, and No Slack Loops offers both lodge-based and campout programs to explore its lagoon, channels and outer reef. Teraina, or Washington Island, and its extraordinary freshwater lake are on our expedition list for 2027.
Beyond that only one atoll offers potential. Caroline/Millennium Island is the most intriguing. It has a clear enclosed lagoon, numerous islets and exceptionally intact marine habitat. However, it is uninhabited, has no airstrip or dependable landing, and has major conservation importance.
Malden and Starbuck have largely enclosed, saline or hypersaline interior lagoons rather than conventional tidal flats fisheries. Both have longstanding wildlife protection. Flint and Vostok lack meaningful lagoons and are primarily fringing-reef environments.
For the Phoenix Islands, outside of Kanton, that we already list as a fishing destination, there are two islands that have potentially interesting lagoon geography. Orona, formerly Hull Island, has a lagoon of approximately 26 km² and the second-largest reef system in the Phoenix group after Kanton. Nikumaroro, formerly Gardner Island, has a much smaller, restricted lagoon of approximately 4.7 km².
The difficulty is that both sit within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. Earlier PIPA management zoning treated the seven islands outside Kanton as non-extractive areas, while current visitor guidance requires specific visitor, vessel and fishing permits.
Further, their lagoons may also be less attractive for quality flats fly fishing than satellite photographs suggest. Scientific surveys describe Orona and Nikumaroro as restricted lagoons with predominantly fine, soft sediment rather than extensive Kiritimati-style hard sand.
Caroline, Orona and Nikumaroro are on our list to raise with Kiribati government officials – and to explore in future if possible, to better ascertain their potential with greater certainty.