Cuba - Isle de Juventud fly fishing trip reports

We have had two groups fly fishing out of the Isle de Juventud in Cuba over the past couple of weeks on Perola and Georgiana. Both weeks had fabulous weather and great fishing.

The first group from Australia and New Zealand  spent the week aboard Perola. Nik Mathiessen of Big Angry Fish sent through these images and words from their trip.

"Had absolutely amazing weather and amazing fishing!"

A report on the Georgiana week will be online shortly.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OF FLY FISHING IN CUBA AT ISLE DE JUVENTUD PLEASE CONTACT US ON +44 (0) 1621743711 OR EMAIL: enquiries@flyodyssey.co.uk

Cayo Largo, Cuba - Client Trip report

Each April we send a group of anglers to Cayo Largo in Cuba. Here is a report from one of our clients, Mr Robert Thong from the UK, who returned with Marie for the second trip to Cayo Largo. This report was first published on Marie's blog  "The Larder 36" which is a great read.

Just after Easter, Marie and I returned to fish Cayo Largo in Cuba after having had such an exciting time two years ago. We enjoyed another great angling trip, albeit somewhat different compared to two years ago, which just shows the immense variety of the fishing here. So I thought I’d post another blog article on Cayo Largo to inform readers who are considering fishing there.

The Place and Getting There

Cayo Largo is a narrow 25-km long island in Western Cuba, half an hour flying time directly south from Havana via a local air shuttle service. It is a planned vacation resort island, with several mega resort hotels and many self-catering cabanas and villas for vacationers looking for sun, beach and diving. It is situated in a protected Marine Park throughout which commercial fishing is banned and only one designated group, the Avalon fly fishing operation, have exclusive rights for sport fishing. Catch-and-release fly fishing is the only allowed method. Avalon run six guided flats boats for a total of up to 12 anglers at any time, fishing six days a week.

As part of the Avalon package, we stayed in the all-inclusive Sol Melia resort hotel, a 10-minute daily transfer by a dedicated mini-bus every morning to the marina where the flats boats are kept. The hotel is filled with holiday makers from all over Europe and the Americas – there was a pre-dominance of Italians and Canadians the week we were there. We took breakfast and dinner at a range of restaurants situated on-site at the resort, plus a packed lunch on the water with our fishing guide on fishng days. All meals are included and the hotel also has a 24-hour bar offering unlimited beverages including alcoholic drinks – once at the resort, there is no need to carry any cash around as everything is already paid for, making this an excellent option for non-fishing partners and friends of the anglers as there is a full-range of water- and land-based activties on offer at the hotel every day, all included in the price. Of course for the anglers, there is no opportunity to sample any of these non-fishing activities except on the arrival and departure days as the fishing takes up the whole day – I’m sure none of the anglers minded!

The package also includes one night’s stay at a top hotel in central Havana on the in-bound journey and again on the way home, with an easy option to add extra nights in Havana at either end, so the fishing trip can be combined with a visit to a very quaint and interesting city.

The Fishing

The sheer size of the marine park is astonishing, split up by Avalon into 6 distinct fishing areas ranging from two areas within just 5 minutes boat ride from the marina, to the furthest two areas which are an hour’s boat ride away. On any particular day, only two of the areas are fished (by up to three boats each), so that each area is rested for at least two days in the weekly cycle – hence the fish are not at all pressurized. In any case, each area is very large, so you are rarely fishing near any of the other boats, and it’s not possible in a day for any one boat to fish all the available water even in its allocated area. We never fished the same water more than once in the whole week.

  

  

In all the areas, you can find the standard flats species of bonefish, permit and tarpon, as well as snook, various type of jacks and snappers, and barracuda. Bonefish are everywhere, sometimes in huge schools of 100+ fish, and it wasn’t unusual most days to land over a dozen bonefish between the two of us in the boat. Most of the bonefish we caught were in the 3 to 4 lb range, which is on the high side for the Caribbean, many of them aggressive very hard-fighting specimens, with a fair sprinkling of 5 and 6 lb fish, plus one 7-lb and another 8-lb trophy. There are permit around too – we got a few shots at them most days without managing to land one (unlike our last trip), although some of the other boats did manage to do so. And tarpon can be found both in the deeper channels and off the beaches – I had good shots at a few and managed to land a nice 25-lb one after a half-hour battle. A very pleasant surprise were the hard-fighting jacks and the large-ish snappers, many of them 2-lb and up – on one memorable day I landed five bigger jacks ranging from 6-lb to 10-lb, each putting up a tremendous fight. And if you’re so inclined, you can also fly fish for the very aggressive barracuda – see the picture below of a huge 30-lb cuda that Marie landed.

We fished with 8-, 9- and 10-weight single-handed fast action rods, with floating lines on the flats and off the beaches, and intermediate and sinking lines in the deeper channels and dropoffs.

Season and Contact Details

The fishing season in Cayo Largo runs from November through to July, with April to June being the most popular times although there is good fishing to be had throughout the rest of the season subject to higher risk of rain and winds.

We’d like to thank Mat McHugh of Fly Odyssey for organizing our trip and Mauro Ginevri and his team for their expertise and hospitality. Special mention also to Sean Clarke and his group from Farlows who were great fishing companions.

CUBA AND MEXICO FLY FISHING INFORMATION DAY AT FARLOWS, PALL MALL - 10 AM, WEDNESDAY 16TH APRIL, 2014

Fly Odyssey will be present in Farlows, Pall Mall providing information on two of our most popular destinations: Cuba and Mexico

We will have all the information on last minute rods and special deals available at both locations along with information on our upcoming hosted weeks to Cayo Largo and Georgiana (Isle of Youth) in Cuba and Playa Blanca and Punta Allen in Mexico. If you are travelling or planning to travel to either destination in 2014 or 2015 please come along to discuss your best options.

For more information please contact Fly Odyssey on 01621743711, via email at enquiries@flyodyssey.co.uk or speak with a Farlows staff member on 0207 484 1000.

Permit season in Mexico and Cuba

October and November is our favourite time to target permit in Mexico and Cuba. Over the next 4 weeks we have 60 anglers visiting these 2 destinations. Our first clients managed to get down to Casa Blanca and Tulum in mid October. James and Tracy managed their first permit each and then preceded to land another 8 over their 2 week stay. James manage to convert one of his permit into a Grand Slam.  A great achievement!! Some thoughts and images from their trip below.

Hi Mat,

 

I've attached some pics from our trip to Casa Blanca.  As you can probably tell our main focus was permit.  We both had a great time, the lodge and its setting was top notch and Rita was a great host.  Obviously going for permit is never going to be a numbers game but I think we did alright, finishing with 6 between us at Casa Blanca (another 4 were added from the beach at Tulum).  Whenever a permit was landed we made sure we got a bonefish in preparation for the night time tarpon fishing from the pier.  I did manage to finish off a grand slam one night.  I very nearly finished another slam from the beach around Casa Blanca on the Saturday before we left in the afternoon for the plane - I had the permit and bone but the tarpon got off even though I thought I'd nailed it.

 

Many thanks for organising everything - it all went to plan.

Regards, James

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND ADVICE ON THE BEST FLY FISHING GUIDES AND LOCATIONS IN MEXICO AND CUBA FOR PERMIT PLEASE CALL US ON +44 (0) 1621743711 OR EMAIL: enquiries@flyodyssey.co.uk

Fly fishing in Cuba - Film from hosted trip to Isle of Youth, Perola live-aboard in June 2013

We hosted a group aboard the Perola which fishes the remote waters of the Isle De Juventud (Isle of Youth) in June 2013. The Perola provides access to a remote stretch of keys which offer some of the best tarpon fishing in the Caribbean. The variety of fishing available from sight fishing shallow flats, fishing the reef cuts and reef flats and mangrove lagoons provides some really exciting opportunities to cast at tarpon ranging in size from 10lb to 90lb.

You also encounter many of the other popular fly rod targets including bonefish, permit, barracuda, and various snapper species (cubera/mutton).

The film we put together gives a good idea of what can be expected.

We have a number of weeks available in Cuba in 2014. Please give us a call on 01621743 711or email us at enquiries@flyodyssey.co.uk for more information.

Saltwater fly fishing in Cuba : Client feedback

A great report from Duncan Goldsmith who joined us on a recent visit to Isle de Juventud aboard Perola.

Cuba June 2013

Just returned from my 4^th salt water trip with the Fly Odyssey team, and as in previous trips, the experience will remain imprinted on my fishing memories.

Every trip I learn more about the challenging environment of salt water fly fishing, more than books or dvd’s will ever teach you, but the more you go, the more you discover beyond the fishing.

During our week in Cuba I was fortunate to fish with several other members of the team and during conversation, one of the common points that came up,was that fishing with like-minded guys, meant everyone derived an enormous pleasure in seeing their boat partner for the day landing a fish or suffered with them the agony of losing one. I think it comes from the common understanding of mastering the challenge. Presenting the fly and then not lifting the fly from the fishes mouth at the crucial point instead of sticking it like you should have done, and told everyone you did ( I think the video footage revealed a world of lifts instead of strip strikes! ). Wondering whether that fantastic knot actually had the line going the right way through the loop, or the wind was from the wrong side – we heard it all, we said it all and we understood when it went wrong for the other guy as it did for all of us.

But then we felt the exhilaration for the other guy when he got it right, and finally held his prize up for the camera.

Suddenly, I realised that fishing alone is great, but fishing with such a like-minded group in such a special place added more.

And Cuba is special. The area we fished was deserted. Not just quiet, but devoid of presence.  You felt privileged to be there, as if you were fishing your own part of the world. You might think that means the fishing was easy. Well I couldn’t comment as someone with a wealth of salt water experience, but I think the general feeling from our group was that there were ample chances at worthy adversaries! But isn’t that what you want? Okay we found willing bonefish, but they weren’t all easy, and my personal best was a thrill. I found the variety of species as good as any where I’ve been so far, but I don’t think we scratched the surface.  To be honest, we all concentrated on the tarpon. 

I think the group had around 27 boated with over 40 jumped. There were plenty of fish in the 20 to 40 lbs class with a few bigger ones landed and lost. Its difficult to explain how you can lose a fish but still be happy. To survive the guides barrage of well-meant information, make a cast that you know you are capable of but don’t always, deliver under pressure, miss the mangroves, don’t wrap the tail round the hook etc etc etc, and then actually hit the fish hard as you know you should, only for it to fall off after a few jumps, well, hey do you know what, sometimes it was just great……

The guides were fantastic. We were blessed with 3 very different characters who, by the end of the week, had become good friends with the party, and they certainly put us on the fish.

For the week we were based on Perola, an old German luxury yacht, built around 50 years ago, and perfect for our trip. Comfortable and cool cabins, with plenty of storage for the gear, a spacious deck area to enjoy meals and the sun set, and an attentive and professional crew. The food, mainly fish based, was exceptional. Diving with the crew to help gather the lobsters was an added bonus.

And the fishing? It’s a mix of flats, reef and mangrove. All stunning, and each with its own challenge, offering endless variety. I had set myself the goal of a decent fly caught tarpon. A proper fish that jumped and screamed off into the distance. 

I came away with that memory and a lot more. Tarpon, bonefish, jacks, barracuda, and more, all on the fly.

Cuba is a very special place to fish, and to enjoy its challenges with such a great group of anglers seeking the same thrill just adds to the experience. To sit and relive the day with a cold beer or two, look at the pictures as the sun goes down and east fresh fish and lobster, that’s great fishing.

Thanks to the team Fly Odyssey.

Fly Fishing Cayo Romano, Cuba : Group trip report

One of our regular group trips to Cayo Romano has just returned with an update after new operators have taken over the lodge for the 2013 season. They have implemented a zone system similar to that used in Cayo Largo as well some new outboard engines for the skiffs. The fishing proved a little tougher than previously but a good number of permit were still landed.

Mat,

Thanks for organizing yet another great trip to Cayo Romano - our fourth in four years.

Our group of 6 anglers had 5 permit, a million mojitos and a great time as always. We also lost another five permit and caught scads of bones, snapper, cudas, triggerfish & tarpon.

I had two cracking permit of 22lb and 15lb, and one grand slam. I came within a whisker of catching a Super Grand Slam but the snook here are very tough. A Super Slam will happen this season, now that they have found the snook. I lost two fish, and found yet another way to lose a permit when a big 20+ fish got free after a barracuda bit through the fly-line during the fight. 

Don't tell anyone, but the permit fishing here really is the best in Cuba - lots of shots at big fish, and huge areas still to be explored. Can't wait to come back.

Best as always

Matt Harris

You can view more images of the trips Matt has made to Cayo Romano here: MATT HARRIS FLY FISHING

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT US ON +44 (0) 1621743711 OR EMAIL US: enquiries@flyodyssey.co.uk

WEB: www.flyodyssey.co.uk

Cayo Romano fly fishing Update: New Management and plenty of Permit

2011 proved a difficult year for fly fishing operation at Cayo Romano. Food issues and a decaying road bridge to the skiffs meant that the journey to and from the lodge was an arduous one. In November 2011 we sent Max Sardi of FARLOWS to check out the promised changes made by management of the lodge. He reported back that changes were afoot. New electric showers, new chef and lodge manager and importantly the Cuban government working hard at repairing the causeway to the skiffs.

HAving noted the improvements we sent our first group for 2012 to the lodge. MATT HARRIS and his friends have travelled to Cayo Romano on two previous occasions and new how good the fishery was, in particular the permit fishing. We were glad to hear that all those works begun in November were now complete and the operation a vast improvement on what they found in 2011. The fishing well, a lazy 11 permit for the week.

Mat,

Here's some images from our trip - absolutely knocked out with the whole deal - many thanks!

Regards
Matt Harris

Matt has a great selection of images from his trip on his WEBSITE.

For more information on fly fishing in the Cuba please email us or call on +44 (0)1621 743711.

Cuban grand slam: Cayo Largo

Our first client Grand Slam for 2012 was achieved by Robert Thong fishing Cayo Largo in Cuba. Congratulations Robert. Robert's wife Marie also narrowly missed out on a slam while other anglers in the lodge recorded 2 more slams and a super slam. Sounds like the flats of Cayo Largo are starting to warm up....

Hi Mat,

Cayo Largo was excellent! I got a Grand Slam (lost a 15lb snook at 4:45pm, so missed out on a Super Slam).

I also landed another nice tarpon (25lb) and landed lots of bonefish. Also managed to land a big jack (10-15 lb) and a huge Cubera Snapper of 30+ lb. There were two other Grand Slams and a Super Slam that week too from 12 fisher-people. Marie missed out on a Grand Slam as she couldn't manage to land a Permit (although she did hook one) but she landed a nice 20+ lb tarpon too. She caught lots of bones too, including several in the 6lb or 7lb size. Bonefish by the way were typically 4 lb in size, smallest we caught was 3 lb or so – much larger than in Mexico or Belize, more like Bahamas.

The Sol Melia hotel very nice with unlimited alcohol for people who are into that sort of thing (which we weren't). Our fishing guide was excellent, the fishing was very professionally managed, and they leave large areas of the available fishing untouched for a day or two to recover, so the fish are not at all pressurised. Each fisher-person gets a free box of flies (6 bonefish, 2 permit, 2 snook/tarpon) which is a nice touch.

If someone really wants a Grand Slam, they should go to Cayo Largo as they keep a few baby tarpon spots untouched and reserved for people desperately needing to catch a tarpon at day end, so the main challenge is catching that elusive permit first!

Cheers and thanks
Robert

For more information on fly fishing in the Cuba please email us or call on +44 (0)1621 743711.

Fishing Report Cayo Romano, Cuba

First 2011 group to Cayo Romano

The first group of 2011 to Cayo Romano, Cuba has returned with tales of big permit. Congratulations to angler Tim Mark's for his permit estimated to exceed 30lb. The group also managed one grand slam as well as a large number of other species including bonefish, tarpon, jack crevalle, and baracuda. Photographer Matt Harris has kindly sent through some images of the trip. To view the full compliment of images visit Matt Harris Fly Fishing.

We have a few opportunities to fish Cayo Romano in June 2011 which should see increased numbers of tarpon available. For more information on our group trips during this time please email us or call on +44 (0) 1621 743711.

Cayo Romano images courtesy Matt Harris and Jonathan Webster.


Huge Permit!!


Matt's permit on way to the Grand slam.


Big jacks make Life fun.


Another permit success.


Cracking permit one of 4 landed during the week.