Penrhyn Island (Tongareva) in the Northern Cook Islands is fished very infrequently, but for the lucky few who have stepped foot onto this equatorial atoll, it is compared to the best bonefishing found anywhere else on Planet Earth.
Because the island sees so few tourists, aside for a couple of dozen yachties , planning a trip to this outcrop requires thorough preparation. We invested an initial year in meticulous planning before deploying our first explorative group. We are now thrilled to be able to support eco-tourism on Tongareva through destination fly fishing — and to be able to bring much-needed medical, scholastic, sporting, and practical homewares onto the island on our visits.
We are immensely grateful for the supportive local community and the support from the Island. We work closely with the island leadership to ensure we stay within their customary laws and cultural protocols including avoiding fishing prohibited or restricted marine areas (Ra’ui) and respect customary fishing rights.
No Slack Loops seeks to maintain this highly valuable isolated sustainable fishery by providing input into fisheries management, and on-the-ground assistance where possible. We acknowledge the rights of the local people to self-determination and want to work alongside them to maintain the fishery for future generations, in the way that they choose to manage this resource.
No Slack Loops has worked closely with our charter air service to make these trips happen. Despite there being no commercial airlines serving the atoll on a regular schedule, we have two routes onto/off the island. We work in with the surrounding islands to minimize charter flights costs by securing backhaul from our empty weekly return flight where possible. This can reduce the price of flights considerably for each angler, but is variable and dependent entirely on freight and traveler demand.
FLY FISHING ON PENRHYN
Penrhyn’s massive 230 sq km (90sq mile) lagoon is teeming with large bonefish, bluefin and giant trevally, and other pelagic species. Whilst there are no formal dedicated fly-fishing guides, we support the local boatmen by hiring them and their small aluminum boats to access deeper channels or the untouched outer atoll reefs.
There is no fly fishing lodge here of course, but like many of these inhabited atolls, there is basic accommodation, support for meal preparation and access to water, fish and some local supplies. Anglers must be entirely self-sufficient from a tackle perspective, bringing all their own gear, lines, and flies. We bring in the rest.
Wade fishing on Tongareva’s expansive, hard-sand flats is excellent. Expect to catch world class bluefin trevally, and bonefish. Bring wire leaders for when the barracuda come hunting, and be prepared to fight and release fish quickly to avoid them coming to grief courtesy of hungry reef sharks.
PLANNING & LOGISTICS
Penrhyn is located approximately 1,400 km (860 miles) north of Rarotonga. We meet you at Rarotonga International Airport and arrange all accommodation on Rarotonga and on Penrhyn, flights to/from Penrhyn, all meals and drinks, licenses/permits/authority to fish and local fly fishing support.
There are no standard hotels or resorts. We arrange informal homestay accommodation with camping for overflow. It’s hot here so we bring portable/rechargeable fans, power banks and basic supplies for the week.
Our trips are up to one week long. Expect to undertake community activities on Sunday as fishing is discouraged on this religious and family day out of respect to the local community.
ACCESS AND 2027 DATES
Talk to the team at No Slack Loops to plan a visit to Penrhyn in 2027. As you can imagine, trip dates are strictly limited to visit this once-in-a-lifetime bucket list saltwater fishery.
Penrhyn Island (Tongareva) in the Northern Cook Islands is fished very infrequently, but for the lucky few who have stepped foot onto this equatorial atoll, it is compared to the best bonefishing found anywhere else on Planet Earth.
Because the island sees so few tourists, aside for a couple of dozen yachties , planning a trip to this outcrop requires thorough preparation. We invested an initial year in meticulous planning before deploying our first explorative group. We are now thrilled to be able to support eco-tourism on Tongareva through destination fly fishing — and to be able to bring much-needed medical, scholastic, sporting, and practical homewares onto the island on our visits.
We are immensely grateful for the supportive local community and the support from the Island. We work closely with the island leadership to ensure we stay within their customary laws and cultural protocols including avoiding fishing prohibited or restricted marine areas (Ra’ui) and respect customary fishing rights.
No Slack Loops seeks to maintain this highly valuable isolated sustainable fishery by providing input into fisheries management, and on-the-ground assistance where possible. We acknowledge the rights of the local people to self-determination and want to work alongside them to maintain the fishery for future generations, in the way that they choose to manage this resource.
No Slack Loops has worked closely with our charter air service to make these trips happen. Despite there being no commercial airlines serving the atoll on a regular schedule, we have two routes onto/off the island. We work in with the surrounding islands to minimize charter flights costs by securing backhaul from our empty weekly return flight where possible. This can reduce the price of flights considerably for each angler, but is variable and dependent entirely on freight and traveler demand.
FLY FISHING ON PENRHYN
Penrhyn’s massive 230 sq km (90sq mile) lagoon is teeming with large bonefish, bluefin and giant trevally, and other pelagic species. Whilst there are no formal dedicated fly-fishing guides, we support the local boatmen by hiring them and their small aluminum boats to access deeper channels or the untouched outer atoll reefs.
There is no fly fishing lodge here of course, but like many of these inhabited atolls, there is basic accommodation, support for meal preparation and access to water, fish and some local supplies. Anglers must be entirely self-sufficient from a tackle perspective, bringing all their own gear, lines, and flies. We bring in the rest.
Wade fishing on Tongareva’s expansive, hard-sand flats is excellent. Expect to catch world class bluefin trevally, and bonefish. Bring wire leaders for when the barracuda come hunting, and be prepared to fight and release fish quickly to avoid them coming to grief courtesy of hungry reef sharks.
PLANNING & LOGISTICS
Penrhyn is located approximately 1,400 km (860 miles) north of Rarotonga. We meet you at Rarotonga International Airport and arrange all accommodation on Rarotonga and on Penrhyn, flights to/from Penrhyn, all meals and drinks, licenses/permits/authority to fish and local fly fishing support.
There are no standard hotels or resorts. We arrange informal homestay accommodation with camping for overflow. It’s hot here so we bring portable/rechargeable fans, power banks and basic supplies for the week.
Our trips are up to one week long. Expect to undertake community activities on Sunday as fishing is discouraged on this religious and family day out of respect to the local community.
ACCESS AND 2027 DATES
Talk to the team at No Slack Loops to plan a visit to Penrhyn in 2027. As you can imagine, trip dates are strictly limited to visit this once-in-a-lifetime bucket list saltwater fishery.
