Product Description

On Cuba, time has almost stood still since 1950. Experience the special atmosphere and the beautiful tropical nature while fishing at one of the world’s best “grand slam” destinations. Cayo Romano and Cayo Cruz are essentially the same area and you fish both places during the week. The area has been closed to the public for many years, and recently opened only 3 years ago. The fishing pressure is, and has been, zero. You therefore have many fish, and fish that are not used to seeing flies and fishermen. In this area there are plenty of big bonefish, tarpon and permit, as well as exciting species such as baracuda, snook and jacks. You live in a non-operating and converted sugar plantation in the town of Brazil, and will be taken out every morning to the outermost islands, where the boats are. We help you with all the preparations – from fly choice to equipment selection and clothes! The trip is 9 nights where 7 nights are spent in Cayo Romano, and 2 nights spent at a 5 star hotel in Havana. 6 whole days with fantastic fishing, and two nights in Havana City – This is really something you should experience now before Cuba opens for Americans, and perhaps changed drastically…
What to expect on this trip:
Let’s say it right away, fish-wise, this destination is at least as good as Cayo Largo, and has some of the best tropical fly fishing you will ever be able to experience, but it also has some drawbacks. You are staying a ways away from the sea, and it is about a 1 hour drive every morning to get to the boats. The food and the hotel also maintain a slightly lower standard and the guides do not have as extensive experience (newly opened place) as at Cayo Largo. They speak decent “fishing English” but fail on longer conversations. Having said this, you get to enjoy a fishing that is so outrageously good that it really is worth considering this trip. As long as one is aware of these issues, and the fishing itself is the main goal of the trip, we will argue that you get a great deal. The food is just OK, the guides are not great in English, but does not matter as long as you stand and grin all day while fishing. There are 10 hours of fishing every day! With so many big bonefish and possibilities at really big tarpon and many permit, this is actually one of the best destinations we have for both beginners and experienced tropical fishermen!!
Fishing in Cayo Cruz:
Fishing in Cayo Cruz is absolutely fantastic! There are plenty of big bonefish in the area, and opportunities to dabble in tarpon and permit will often emerge. There are few other places that can compare with the number of large bonefish. Guests can expect to catch bonefish during the week that will weigh from 7 to 10 pounds. The area is also fantastic if you want to try out Permit. Larger permit are often at 0.5- 1.5 meters deep, and cruise happily behind food-seeking stingrays. We also found shallow areas where we sneak up on smaller permit on foot..
Large tarpon often enter the area in April / May, and Barracuda, Snook, Snapper and Jacks pop up when you least expect it. It is the sheer amount of fish, uncrowded fishing areas and variety of species that make this place so exciting. The area is 366 square kilometers, so here every boat has over 50 square kilometers entirely for oneself if desirable. Commercial fishing is strictly prohibited and nature is virtually untouched by humans.
The area consists of large mangrove islands, channels and bays, both soft and hard- packed “sand flats” and “turtle grass flats”, but also larger lagoons and typical “tarpon-flats” where we usually fish from the boat.
Daily program in Cayo Cruz:
Every morning there is breakfast in the dining room, afterwards everyone gets ready for a shared transport out to where the boats are kept. This trip takes about 45 minutes to one hour, and after passing the local military outpost you drive out onto the islands. The passport must be kept and shown to the military outpost on the first day. Cayo Cruz is the closest and here large numbers of tarpon pass in April / May. We drive on simple roads built on piers between the islands, passing many bridges where tidal water is pushed through. The best bonefish and permit areas are found out on Cayo Cruz, and this is where the boats are anchored up, right beside the guide’s bungalow, where we will keep the fishing gear between each fishing day. The guides wash the rods and reels after each fishing day, and they are safe here.
The guides are eager to get going early if conditions are favorable, so it is recommended to eat breakfast at 05:30 and depart at 06:00, so that one can start fishing around 07: 00. The fishing is usually 10 hours per day, and you’re back at the docks at the latest 17:00. Dinner is served at around 20:00.
NB! Take a look at the pdf attachment for more info and pictures!!