Fishing in Cuba with Roxtons

There is no other destination like Jardines de La Reina which offers such a huge fishery and it is simply not possible to begin to cover all of these flats in a month let alone the more standard week. This range of fishing means that, come what may in terms of tides and weather, there will always be a productive place to saltwater fish and it gives rods an extraordinary choice.

Avalon Fleet I is an intimate, comfortable and stylishly designed yacht offering guests maximum comfort and safety.  A truly exciting and exclusive way to fish in Cuba and enjoy the stunning flats of this incredible fishery.

Every day, whilst you are fishing, the captain  will move Avalon Fleet I to a different mooring destination so that you spend each night in a new location, which means that you can access parts of the archipelago that from a moored platform are too far away to access.

There is no such thing as a typical flat in Jardines de la Reina; firm white sand, coral and turtle grass are the most prevalent and a great deal of the flats are suitable for wading but if not, the hard working Cuban guides with their innate ability to spot fish, will happily pole you all day and get you into the best position. Their knowledge of the flats is crucial as tides, wind and overhead conditions can all play their part in determining where bonefish will be found. With such a huge breadth of choice of flats your guide will know where to go.

Bonefish are ever present and can be taken in any month of the year but it has been a feature of recent years that the larger fish (up to 10lbs) have been caught more often in the winter and spring months when the water is cooler. During this time the smaller fish are driven to seek warmer waters and tend to congregate in schools just off the flats.

Baby tarpon (up to 30lbs -  so all things are relative) are present throughout the year and can be found cruising in and out of the mangroves and the larger tarpon which reach up to and above 100lbs come onto the flats from the end of March onwards as the water warms up and brings with it more and more baitfish.  Tarpon fishing in Cuba is a unique experience and the larger tarpon are jumped throughout the year but the success rate very much depends upon the weather as generally the best time to find them is on a calm morning. This is when the tarpon can be intercepted as they leave the flats where they have been night feeding to return to the safety of the reef.

Permit are the keen fisherman’s ultimate goal and they have the ability to turn even the most languid man into a shaking wreck as these fish do not present themselves very often.  When they do they are inclined to be utterly dismissive of even the most perfect cast. They are, however, found on the flats throughout the year and rods have landed Grand Slams from November to June. These difficult fish require a huge amount of teamwork between the rod and the guide but to land one is one of the highest achievements in saltwater fishing today.

As well as the productive flats, there is the chance for rods to take a trip to fish the reef, a short skiff ride away. This is an experience not to be missed as the quantity and variety that can be taken on either a well placed popper or simply by trolling can be extraordinary. We recommend that all clients take a spinning rod for this but also for the barracuda that menacingly patrol the bonefish flats.

Avalon Fleet I accommodates up to eight guests in eight deluxe king cabins offering queen sized beds with seven private bathrooms.  Each cabin has air-conditioning, electricity points and storage as well as breathtaking views of the Caribbean sea and beaches. 

There is a spacious and comfortable open plan lounge complete with audio and visual equipment, dining room and bar area on the boat deck.  The majority of your meals will be served in the dining room. The menu has an Italian and Cuban influence and is accompanied by international wines, cocktails and of course, Cuban cigars.  This really is an excellent space for relaxing and enjoying a few sundowners after a day on the flats.

Rod and Reel
The ideal rod for bonefish is a 9ft 8 weight with a robust reel constructed from a non-corrosive metal such as aluminum with good smooth drag control. The reel should hold at least 150 yards of backing. You should ensure that you have a spare rod in case of breakage as well as a spare reel and spools in case of accidents. This tackle will also suit well for catching permit.

If you are going to be targeting tarpon, these immensely powerful fish require a 9ft, 10 to 12 weight fly rod, outfitted with a good quality tarpon reel.

Lines
High visibility weight forward lines compensate for the ever-present trade winds and can be seen in the air or on the water in bright light. Take an extra fly line just in case the first suffers damage. For tarpon and permit fishing in Cuba you should also have an intermediate line as well.

Nylon
Leaders should be 9 to 12ft, tapered clear nylon with tippet between 5 lbs and 10 lbs. Ensure that you carry plenty with you. Most tackle stores stock excellent pre-tied bonefish leaders.

Flies
Below is a list of some of the flies we recommend:

Bonefish flies

• Pop's Bonefish Bitters
• Pop's Egghead Bitters
• To-Dy-For (small unweighted shrimp pattern)
• Gotcha, Horror, baited Breath
• Crazy Charlies - white, pink, brown
• Raghead Crab
• Various small shrimp and crab patterns

Permit Flies

• Del Brown's Permit Crab
• Raghead Crab
• McCrab
• Various other crab patterns

Tarpon Flies

• Apte style tarpon flies
• Cockroach, black & purple, orange & black, red & black
• Dark colours tend to be better in the early morning and brighter colours work best when it is bright

The city of Havana offers a great insight into the mixed colonial past of the island. ‘Colonial decay’ is the best way to describe it and a tour of the old quarter in either a horse-drawn carriage or on foot is a must. Cigars, chrome plated cars and the last vestiges of Castro’s empire are experiences that should be at the top of any traveller’s wish list.

Jardines de La Reina also offers World class scuba diving and snorkelling.

Season
Late October until July

Time Differnce from GMT
-5 hours

Electricity
Avalon Fleet I has both 220 and 110 volt 2 prong plugs so Europeans will need converters and an adapter.

Currency
The national currency is the Cuban Peso (pesos cubanos) however, all of your transactions will be in Convertible Pesos (CVP's). It is illegal to use US$ Dollars in Cuba to purchase anything from bars and shops. You can only obtain CVP's in Cuba, the best place being at the exchange counter at the airport or from branches of CADECA (CASA DE CAMBIO) which are located in Havana and around the country. It is advisable to take UK Sterling or Euros to exchange as there is a penalty for exchanging US$. 1CVP is equal to US$1.

Tips
Whilst in Havana, you will find that the majority of hotels are all-inclusive and additional gratuities are at your discretion. Tips are discretionary aboard Avalon Fleet I and should be regarded as a bonus for exceptional service. As a guideline we recommend approximately 150 CVP's per person to the guide and 75 CVP's per person for the boat staff. It is usual if you are fishing on your own to double the amount for your guide. If you dive, then a tip to the dive master is recommended (CVP20 is normal).

Visa Requirements
Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of your return home. A tourist visa is compulsory for entry to Cuba. This is valid for 30 days from the date of arrival. You need to hand in your Tourist Card on check-in along with your tickets and passport. Whilst you are in Cuba you must retain the tear-off part of the Tourist Card given to you by customs as you will require this on departure from Cuba.  You can obtain a Tourist Card from Roxtons.

Medical Requirements
At present there are no mandatory vaccination requirements for those travelling to Cuba. However we recommend that you check with your doctor prior to departure to receive the most up to date health information.

Insect Situation
Whilst on the flats you are unlikely to encounter mosquitoes. Also, when pursuing tarpon in the mangroves and on board in the evening or on a still night you may find mosquitoes early on in the season. We would advise that you carry insect repellents such as Jungle Formula.

Recommended Reading

• Fly fishing in Saltwater by Lefty Kreh
• Fishing the Flats by Lefty Kreh & Mark Sosin
• Bonefishing with the Fly by Randall Kaufman
• Fly fishing for Bonefish by Dick Brown
• Fly fishing the flats by Barry and Cathy Beck