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Any input on flies or any other insight?We are going in July to the garden of the Queens.
Anyone been to Cuba?
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Following! I have a trip later this year!
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Please give an update when you get back. Good luck.
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Assuming you are fishing with Avalon since they have exclusive rights to fish Jardines De La Reina, they should have provided you with a list of flies they recommend. Having said that bonefish are opportunistic feeders and most bonefish patterns will work. I haven't fished that location personally but did fish Cayo Peradon and the bones ate pretty well everything we threw at them.
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I fished the Bay of Pigs a couple years ago. Same experience as sidelock. The bones weren't too picky and ate a variety of the normal patterns. Didn't see any permit but did catch/jump several juvenile tarpon in the mangrove lagoons. Small streamers and Toad patterns are good for them. Much bigger fish in the garden area, from what I've heard.
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Just got back home yesterday afternoon. Fishing was overall much slower than anticipated. We were booked on the Tortuga. Apparently there have been some issues/complaints regarding its fitness, so Avalon moved us over to the Aggressor 1. So, instead of being ferried from Jucaro to live aboard the Tortuga, we boarded the Aggressor 1, sailed out to the site of the Tortuga, anchored up right next to it, and then lived on the Aggressor 1 and fished the same “zone” we would have otherwise.
Avalon has the Gardens broken up in to three zones (A, B, and C). There were a combined 22 skiffs fishing each day in the three zones last week. Our guide said this was much more than typical fishing pressure, but suffice it to say that the advertisements of vast areas of fishing without seeing other boats was not the reality we experienced. I counted as many as eight boats in a long line, spaced 300 or so yards apart, anchored on a flat waiting for tarpon to come with the tide change several mornings.
We fished for tarpon almost exclusively. Each day the whole group seemed to see fewer. For me, it went from jumping four and landing two on the first day, to no shots on the last day. Guide said the weather was off, with winds from the south rather than the apparently typical east, and that may have been a contributor as well. Caught lots of incidental fish, e.g., cudas, jacks, snappers, etc., and landed one really nice bone that we went after when a permit shot we were chasing did not materialize. No permit shots, but then did not spend time trying, either.
Tarpon we got were all on the smaller side for migratory fish as compared to what you might expect elsewhere—lots of 40 to 60 pound class fish. Saw a couple bigger ladies on their own that would have gone 80 or better. Brought 11s, but switched over to my 10s after the first day to save on wear and tear on my casting arm.
Ran a floater, intermediate sinking, and fasting sinking line. Had both flats shots to visible fish and dredging, with the latter growing in frequency through the week.
In terms of flies, we ended up using mostly EP baitfish patterns in various sizes and colors. I had the most luck with a brown/orange Back Country and a brown/tan Tarpon Streamer. There is a smaller baitfish there, known as the “Lorito”, that migrates on the full moon in April, May, and June that may have had something to do with the success of smaller baitfish patterns. Did well on a black/red Peanut Butter in lower light.
We flew in to Havana, but out of Camaguey. We were told to book our flights out for Saturday afternoon. Avalon provided a shuttle from Havana, and was supposed to do the same on the exit to Camaguey. There was a large group with us on the Aggressor 1 that was flying out of Santa Clara, and their plans and interests dictated the details of the trip for us as well unfortunately. We were given the choice of leaving Jucaro before 5:00 A.M. for Camaguey or paying $100 for our own cab leaving at 8:00 A.M. We opted for the latter, but still arrived seven hours before our flight. Also, we carried our rods on coming into Cuba. Note that you cannot carry them on coming out through Camaguey. If you booked with Fly Water Travel, as we did, they will tell you otherwise, but that information is not accurate. You will be required to check them.
Hope that helps. Anyone have any more questions, I am happy to help if I can
Avalon has the Gardens broken up in to three zones (A, B, and C). There were a combined 22 skiffs fishing each day in the three zones last week. Our guide said this was much more than typical fishing pressure, but suffice it to say that the advertisements of vast areas of fishing without seeing other boats was not the reality we experienced. I counted as many as eight boats in a long line, spaced 300 or so yards apart, anchored on a flat waiting for tarpon to come with the tide change several mornings.
We fished for tarpon almost exclusively. Each day the whole group seemed to see fewer. For me, it went from jumping four and landing two on the first day, to no shots on the last day. Guide said the weather was off, with winds from the south rather than the apparently typical east, and that may have been a contributor as well. Caught lots of incidental fish, e.g., cudas, jacks, snappers, etc., and landed one really nice bone that we went after when a permit shot we were chasing did not materialize. No permit shots, but then did not spend time trying, either.
Tarpon we got were all on the smaller side for migratory fish as compared to what you might expect elsewhere—lots of 40 to 60 pound class fish. Saw a couple bigger ladies on their own that would have gone 80 or better. Brought 11s, but switched over to my 10s after the first day to save on wear and tear on my casting arm.
Ran a floater, intermediate sinking, and fasting sinking line. Had both flats shots to visible fish and dredging, with the latter growing in frequency through the week.
In terms of flies, we ended up using mostly EP baitfish patterns in various sizes and colors. I had the most luck with a brown/orange Back Country and a brown/tan Tarpon Streamer. There is a smaller baitfish there, known as the “Lorito”, that migrates on the full moon in April, May, and June that may have had something to do with the success of smaller baitfish patterns. Did well on a black/red Peanut Butter in lower light.
We flew in to Havana, but out of Camaguey. We were told to book our flights out for Saturday afternoon. Avalon provided a shuttle from Havana, and was supposed to do the same on the exit to Camaguey. There was a large group with us on the Aggressor 1 that was flying out of Santa Clara, and their plans and interests dictated the details of the trip for us as well unfortunately. We were given the choice of leaving Jucaro before 5:00 A.M. for Camaguey or paying $100 for our own cab leaving at 8:00 A.M. We opted for the latter, but still arrived seven hours before our flight. Also, we carried our rods on coming into Cuba. Note that you cannot carry them on coming out through Camaguey. If you booked with Fly Water Travel, as we did, they will tell you otherwise, but that information is not accurate. You will be required to check them.
Hope that helps. Anyone have any more questions, I am happy to help if I can
These are a bit of a surprise! I expected the fishery to be talked up but I didn't expect this much!
What were you carrying your rods in?
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That is disappointing to hear... Was your main goal Tarpon or is that what the guides said you would be fishing for? Did you do any wading for bones or permit?
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Fishpond Dakota that holds both rods and reels. There were so many of them on the Aggressor 1 when we all arrived it took a few minutes to sort out which one was mine, so carrying rods may be alright from other airports? All I can say for sure is we heard it was an issue at Camaguey before we left, I double checked with Fly Water and Dylan said it was never an issue, and it was totally an issue. I argued the cause to no avail at the counter, and then I grabbed one of the locks off my duffel, locked up the rod/reel bag, and handed it over. Picked it up in Miami at customs and then did not recheck it for the rest of the trip. It all made it okay, but obviously I would not have chosen to take that risk.
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It is overhyped and their logistics and organization leaves much to be desired.
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Yes. We went to fish for tarpon. We did not do any wade fishing. I saw other folks doing it, though, so I am sure doing that is not a problem if you prefer.
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Well at lest you caught some Tarpon. Looks like Cuba is like every where else
Headed there in July to mostly focus on Permit and large snapper on fly. From what I have understood from friends has been that the larger tarpon fishing is much better in the keys. They say they eat better in Cuba in a more traditional manor but on limited shots...than say Oceanside migratory fish in the keys. However, I think fishing is fishing and having the opportunity to go to Cuba is an experience in itself and I’m looking forward to that most of all.
What week are you headed down there? I Will be there July 13-20...
Thats the week after I am slated to go...
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I'll be there July 6 though the 13.
Sweet—Looking forward to hearing about your trip.
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Feds just announced the end of People to People travel to Cuba for Americans effective tomorrow. If you’ve already paid you can apparently still go, but otherwise looks like no more fishing there, at least not through the exemption most people travel there under, for the foreseeable future.
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