Fishing in Cuba with Roxtons

La Tortuga provides the base for our Cuban operation and is moored in a sheltered channel in the centre of the archipelago. It is not moored here by accident; from here fishing can be found as close as the bar area in the evenings and most of the flats and lagoons are a short skiff ride away.

There is no other destination that 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 fish and it gives rods an extraordinary choice.

La Tortuga offers the perfect base for fishing in Cuba.

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 which is a very popular way of stalking fish but if not, the hard working 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 but 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 more often caught in the winter and spring months when the water is cooler as 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. 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 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 and 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 on La Tortuga 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, La Tortuga offers the chance for rods to take a trip to fish the reef that is 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 by simply trolling can be extraordinary. We tend to recommend that all clients take a spinning rod for this action but also to take the barracuda that menacingly patrol the bonefish flats.

La Tortuga takes a maximum of 14 guests in seven air-conditioned twin bedded cabins each of which has an en suite bathroom. The staff on board are all very hard working and it is true to say that nothing is too much trouble for them, the hotel is run by an Italian manager who makes sure that everything is taken care of before it has come to the notice of guests.

With a central dining room which serves superb food, La Tortuga has a deserved reputation of being great fun and has a wonderful atmosphere. The food is inevitably based around fish and shell fish but unashamedly so; with a resource such as Jardines de La Reina on your doorstep it would be churlish to ignore it.

La Tortuga is not suited to non fishers looking for a spa area and shopping but for those who wish to dive and snorkel it would be hard to beat. A dive master is ever present and the diving is so good that it has been featured in the National Geographic Magazine. It is also well suited to those who are keen on photography as this archipelago really is a pristine wilderness and excellent photo opportunities are around every corner.

The boat offers a full laundry service, satellite communication and hire of fishing tackle - fly rods and reels as well as spinning gear. It has an excellent bar and you will be handed a freshly made cocktail every evening on your return from fishing which is a wonderful way to end the day and to start your evening.

La Tortuga does not offer the indulgencies of the Ritz but she is comfortable, clean, offers excellent service and is great fun. She is however, primarily a fishing base and in this guise she probably offers more indulgent luxuries than any hotel yet built.

Rod and Reel
The ideal rod for bonefishing in Cuba 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 suite well to catching permit.

If you are going to be fishing for 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 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 colors tend to be better in the early morning and brighter colors work best when it is bright

The list is endless and will depend to a large extent on the kind of flat you are fishing, its background color and depth.

Other Items

• Polarised Sunglasses
• Lightweight long sleeved shirts
• Lightweight long trousers/shorts
• Wide brimmed hat
• Wading shoes with socks
• Lightweight sweater or fleece
• Lightweight rain jacket

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.

World class scuba diving and snorkelling.

Season
October until July

Time Differnce from GMT
-5 hours

Electricity
La Tortuga 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, most, if not all of your transactions will be in Convertible Pesos (CVP's). It is now 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 La Tortuga and should be regarded as a bonus for exceptional service. As a guideline we recommend approximately 100 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 or night fish then a gratuity to the dive master or guide would be most welcome (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.

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. However, when pursuing tarpon in the mangroves and aboard La Tortuga 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