Jack Simpson has been guiding in Cuba for many years and now with countless successful trips behind him we are pleased to announce that Jack has now joined Angling Direct Holidays and will exclusively be hosting our Cuban Escorted trips.
Being a qualified fly casting and game fishing instructor, regardless if you are a complete beginner, intermediate or experienced fly angler, by joining us and Jack on one of our hosted trips you will get to experience exciting fly fishing and light tackle spinning in possibly the most prolific salt- water destination in the northern hemisphere. These trips are based in two main areas of Cuba, first Isle of Youth and seconded the Jardines de la Reina.
The Isle of Youth (Isla de la Juventud) lays 100km off the coast of mainland Cuba, nearly straight south of Havana. It is a large island, 2200 sq. km, about fifty miles across, and somewhat round in shape. Today it is home to 75,000 Cubans, mostly located in the only major city, Nueva Gerona, at the northern end of the island. Once a haven for pirates such as Francis Drake and Henry Morgan, it was then called Parrot Island and became the basis for Robert Lewis Stevenson's "Treasure Island". Later it became known as the Isle of Pines and you will still see lots of pine trees as you drive across this beautiful island.
Famous American angling author Joe Brooks spent many a day fishing the flats of the Isle of Pines for tarpon, bonefish and permit back in the 1950's, and wrote about his exploits in the American magazine, Outdoor Life. Back then, the fishing was unbelievable. Then came the Cuban revolution in 1959 and all sport fishing ceased for the next fifty years! Commercial fishermen netted a variety of fish and shrimp here, but now most of the pristine flats have been turned into a Cuban National Marine Park, where no commercial fishing is allowed other than for lobster. Interestingly, on the same flats that Joe Brooks wrote about fifty years ago, the fishing is still unbelievable and should now remain so with the protection as a Marine Park.
In 1978, Cuba re-named the Isle of Pines Isla de la Juventud, the Isle of Youth for the many children that were coming to the island from around the world to advance their education.
The area we fish is gigantic, seventy-five miles of flats from the Northern side of the Isle of Youth down the East side and then back out to the East in a chain of islands, the Cannarreos Archipelago, that runs all the way to Cayo Largo on the eastern end. This is an area of flats and small-uninhabited mangrove islands larger than much of the Florida Keys, from Marathon to Key West! With our Cuban partners, Angling Direct Holidays has an exclusive on this new area. You are fishing an area that had not been sport fished for over fifty years until we opened our operation in 2006. Even now, the flats receive so little fishing pressure that the fish are incredibly easy to catch.
In the Isle of Youth, we utilize Dolphin Super Skiffs, made in the USA, some of the finest flats skiffs ever designed. The larger 18 foot Super Skiffs we use in Gerona with Yamaha 90 HP motors are perfect for covering a lot of territory and have enough fuel capacity to run over 100 miles in a day.
Anglers fishing out of Gerona board the skiffs at our private dock on the Jucaro River, it is then a run across a shallow bay, which puts you into the island system where it is easy to fish on the lee side of the islands to combat any wind. The island system to the North has many larger channels where there is a resident population of good-sized Tarpon, with many fish in the 50-80 pound class. Later in the spring and summer Tarpon up to 150 lb have been caught. Snook and Bonefish are found in substantial numbers in these same waters. Although the Snook are more elusive, our guides have found many good spots to fish along the mangrove lined shorelines, often over white sand bottom. The average Snook are in the 18-25 inch range, but many fish in the 30-40 inch class have been taken by fly fishing. Bonefish are plentiful everywhere it seems, especially in the many shallow lagoons throughout the islands.
The Oceanside flats to the south offer wonderful wade fishing opportunities on hard sand bottom. The bonefish seem to average 3-5 pounds but occasionally larger fish are seen and taken, right up to 10 pounds. Permit are also found on selected flats both on the "inside" and on the "outside" flats, most fish are in the 15-25 lb class. Mutton Snapper and Cubera Snapper are very common in all of the larger channels that run through the island system. Many Mutton snapper over ten pounds get caught on fly, right up to 15 pounds –world record size! Nearly everyone catches a big Mutton or two when fishing for Tarpon in the channels. Jack Crevalle is also common, both in the channels and out on the flats.
FISHING METHODS
Saltwater Fly Fishing.
SPECIES TO CATCH
Bonefish
Season: March to July - Oct to April
Peak: April to May
Weight: 1lb to 10lb
Average Weight: 5lb |
Permit
Season: March to July - Oct to April
Peak: April to May
Weight: 1lb to 30lb
Average Weight: 10lb |
Tarpon
Season: March to July - Oct to April
Peak: April to May
Weight: 20lb to 130lb
Average Weight: 60lb |
|
Note: these figures are complied with catch reports over 5 years, however they can be affected by adverse weather.
TOUR INCLUDES
Accommodation, guided fishing, packed lunch whilst fishing and fishing licenses.
WHAT’S EXCLUDED
Flights (E), Holiday insurance, laundry, personal items, tourist card (£25 must be purchased before travelling) and local tips.
OPTIONS
Seat upgrades available with all airlines.
VISA
A machine-readable passport with at least 6 months before expiry. Tourist visa card required before departure.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
No vaccinations currently required
PLEASE NOTE
All details of visa and medical requirements are correct at time of press. However, please check these requirements for changes.
DEPARTURE TAX
There is a $25 CU departure tax payable upon leaving Cuba.
FLIGHT ROUTE AND FLIGHT TIME
UK - Havana (approx 9.5 hrs)
Havana - Isle of Youth (approx 25 mins)
BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
International Flight
(E) 1 checked in item 23 kg (B/F) 2 checked in items 23 kg. Please contact either Iberian or Air France airways for weight limits & additional costs for checking in additional fishing equipment.
Internal Flight
Cubana Airlines - Tropical Class: 30kg, Tourist Class: 20kg.
TRANSFER TIME
Havana airport - Parque Central Hotel (approx 30 mins)
Isle of Youth airport - Rancho Hotel (approx 20 mins).
RUM MUSEUM
This is a remarkable tour of the Havana Club Foundation's installations, which recreate a traditional rum distillery. The journey begins where barrels are made, then on to the presses, the sugar depot, the fermentation and filtration stages, the ageing process and finally blending and bottling.
DIVING
Explore the beautiful underwater scenery including a vast range of tropical and reef fish in crystal clear waters.
