Earlier this year I had the extreme pleasure of testing out an Adios, the new hybrid kayak from Diablo Paddlesports. A clever combination of sit on top kayak and stand-up paddleboard, the Adios is ultra-stable and includes innovative developments in both paddle and seating technologies. Test-driving in the World-Class fishery of exotic Christmas Island coral atoll, the versatile Adios really proved its worth.

Megan and Thomas Flemons, along with Jay Korbell make up the awesome team over at Diablo headquarters. These down to earth folks are driven by the same passion that got us all hooked on kayak fishing to begin with. I was excited to hear that Diablo had worked with legendary kayak designer Tim Niemier during their creative process. When asked if they wanted to be a part of the very first kayak fishing expedition to Christmas Island, Diablo Paddlesports did not hesitate for a moment! This sense of adventure is what life is all about and is obviously the driving force behind this company. The team over at Diablo Paddlesports knew the Adios would be perfect for fishing the island’s vast lagoon, and graciously supplied two fully rigged hybrids for the Christmas Island trip. With this type of leadership and commitment you know this company is out to make great products for years to come and they will listen to their anglers.

It all started a few years back while on a kayak mother ship expedition exploring Isla Espiritu Santo in Baja Mexico. Pro Staff kayak angler and publisher Allen Sansano asked me, “What would your next dream trip of choice be?” After a quick shot of tequila followed by a beer chaser I promptly answered, “Christmas Island.” And so it began. While on a trip of a lifetime, we began planning another trip of a lifetime.

Christmas Island is the world’s largest coral atoll and sits 1200 miles south of Hawaii. For many years it has been a premier destination for world-class bone fishing. The vast inner lagoon offers an untapped mecca for fly fisherman. However, I wanted to go and catch the very large giant trevally residing there. The night Sansano asked me the question about the next dream trip, I had just got back from an incredible solo session down the back side of a small island where every cast on my top water popper had a dozen Cabrillo fighting over the lure. It was such a blast seeing all that action up close. I knew that I wanted to top water pop for big GT in a place like Christmas Island. After years of planning with Allen Sansano and the government of Kiribati, the dream that began on the back of a boat in Mexico was about to become a reality.

It was only three short hours from Honolulu before we arrived at Christmas Island. We were excited to get fishing and it felt like Christmas Eve when we opened up the Diablo Paddlersport boxes. The first thing I noticed was how the Adios looked. These boats have a beautiful shiny finish from the Thermoform ABS used in the construction process. We wanted to mount some shotgun pole holders for the strong GT’s, and installation was a breeze thanks to the two rear access hatches. These kayaks also have a very large forward hatch that is great for storage. After some quick drilling and installing we were ready to hit the water.

One factor that became quite obvious after only a few minutes on these boats was that the Adios is a very stable kayak whether you‘re sitting or in a standing position. Even for large sized paddles such as Allen and myself, the Diable proved to be more than a match for our high centers of gravity. The kayak is wide and offers plenty of stretching room. The area where you stand has convenient footpads for an easy relaxed grip. Diablo’s elevated “Larry Chair” is a true comfort to sit in and offers a much higher line of sight for casting than a conventional SOT. The Adios also comes with a nifty pull handle, making transitions from the sitting position to the standing position very easy. Diablo’s Quick Draw Versa Paddle is a powerful tool allowing anglers to switch between a traditional kayak paddle and a stand up paddle within seconds. It was no problem to paddle quickly to one area while sitting, then stand up, look around, and toss bait. It became quite clear the Adios was made for sight casting and is easily stable enough for fly-fishing.

With our excellent local guides it did not take us long to find the fish. Before we knew it, both Sansano and myself were hooked up. Allen even tried his hand at casting flies for the hard-fighting bonefish. I had a blast fighting the giant trevally. Christmas Island is loaded with giant trevally and frequent catches of over 50 pounds and upwards of a hundred pounds are not uncommon. Christmas Island is one place to go where you are guaranteed to catch a lot of fish. Whether it was on the fly, top water popping, or jigging, the Adios was a worthy kayak for exploring the world’s largest coral atoll. We had no problem battling big GT’s and bonefish on these excellent fishing kayaks. If shallow water sight fishing is your thing and you prefer to stand while you fish, this is the kayak for you. The Adios has much more room and stability than a traditional SUP.

We would like to express our heart-felt thanks to Diablo Paddlesports for their commitment to the Christmas Island project and for being adventurous enough to go on this awesome expedition with us. We can’t wait to see what great things lay ahead for this company and what cool new products they are going to design next. For those wanting to take a trip to Christmas Island and to explore the world largest coral atoll, please go to www.christmasislandkayakfishing.com. We are offering the best deals on full package fishing accommodations. We cater to all styles of angling in addition to kayak fishing. Book by the end of 2012 to enjoy a special savings offer.

Merry Christmas and Aloha

- David “Boogie-D” Elgas