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 Jardines de la Reina and second the Isle of Youth.
The Jardines de la Reina is a major chain of islands off Cuba's Southeastern Coast, which is 125 miles long - very similar in distance and size to the Florida Keys. The area of the JDR that we fish is approximately 2600 square miles, a vast offshore wilderness, where you will never see another angler most days, other than people in your own group. Our live aboard houseboat, Tortuga, takes up to 14 anglers, utilizing 7skiffs. Fishing this huge area, roughly equivalent to the Florida Keys from Key Largo to Key West, a distance of 90 miles, with an average of only 7 skiffs on the water each day! Many of the good flats are fished only once every couple of weeks, and there are areas of the JDR that have still never been fished by sport fishermen! With this much water to fish, the guides are able to spread the fishing pressure around so that the fish remain quite easy to catch in comparison to more heavily fished destinations.
Each night you will talk Jack and the guides and plan on what you would like to do the following day. This is often dependant on the weather, the tides, and also what fish the anglers prefer to target that day. With such a huge amount of water available, it is easy to spread all the anglers out in the fishing area where everyone will be in superb water. There are no restrictions on where you can go or what you can fish for.
Your fishing day in the Jardines de la Reina is completely flexible. Often the guides will run back to the "mother ship" for a nice lunch and a chance to relax and then go out and fish until close to dark. If you prefer to spend the whole day on the water, you simply set this up the night before with your guide so that a nice "boat lunch" can be prepared for the following day. Our guides are hard working fellows, and often end up fishing from early morning to dusk. A nine hour fishing day is probably average, but some days we'll get up and fish for tarpon at 5:30 AM, come back for breakfast and then take off the rest of the day and fish until dark. The guides are enthusiastic and love to fish long days. Ten and even twelve hour fishing days are not uncommon. Just remember to give your guide a larger tip if you are fishing long hours.
If you would like to do some night fishing, just let your guide know and special arrangements can be made to do this after dinner. If a full day of fishing has not tired you out, you can have some spectacular fishing for tarpon, jacks and other fish at night in the JDR, especially with bait on spinning rods.
The fishing for baby Tarpon (fish in the 15-40 pound class) is spectacular. It's not unusual for clients to catch 10-15 or more in a day. Larger Tarpon, up to 85 pounds and some up to 110 pounds, especially in the late spring and summer months can be found. The most fun though, is catching good numbers of baby Tarpon, perfect fish for a ten weight rod. These fish are found on vast ocean side flats, as well as in the many channels that connect the ocean with the back country.
The island system is also teeming with spectacular Bonefish flats, many of which can be waded. Bones average 3-4 pounds but on some flats you will see much larger fish, many in the 6-8 pound class with a few as large as 12 pounds. In some of the more remote areas in the JDR, you will be fishing for Bonefish where very few, IF ANY, anglers have EVER fished for Bones! They are so unafraid, that 4-5 pound Bonefish will cruise right up to within a few feet of the flats skiff!
Permit are very common in the JDR, and these are "Florida sized" Permit, with many fish in the 25-35 pound class. Most of the Permit are found on flats closer to the deep water and the reef, on the ocean side of the island system, but there are many good Permit flats in the back country. Also If anglers devotes a few hours, during the best tides, to fishing for Permit, it is not unusual for them to get up to a dozen good shots at Permit, and a lot of these will be singles, doubles and small groups of big fish.
The large variety of flats fish and reef fish available make the JDR the finest destination in the World if you enjoy catching a variety of fish. Not only do you have the big three (Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit) but the JDR is perhaps the last place in the world where you can catch big Mutton Snappers on the flats, like you could in Florida forty years ago!
In addition to Muttons, there are lots of Jacks and some are huge. The largest Jacks are the Jack Crevalle, and it is not unusual to see twenty pound plus Jacks cruising the flats, eating everything in their path! Big Horse Eye Jacks are common - up to 14 pounds. There are Yellow Jacks (great for Sashimi) as well as schools of Bar Jacks and Yellowtail Snappers.
Out along the reef, there are a huge number of big Snappers, and Grouper, including World Record size Cubera Snapper. Anglers that troll or bait fish along the reef will hook some huge Snappers and Groupers that they will never land. The big Goliath Groupers (Jewfish) up to 5-6 feet long, for 300/400pounds, are common. The Sharks and Cudas are lots of fun to catch on the flats, and they can be caught easily by fly fishing on a variety of poppers utilizing wire tippets. Silky Sharks in the 3-5 foot range are very common and can also be easily caught while fly fishing.
Your trip begins in Havana, Cuba's capital, providing a great opportunity while visiting this great country to experience all of its history and culture, before moving down to the port of Jukro (Huckers) where you catch a ferry out to our mother ship.
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
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)
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.
TRANSFER TIME
Havana airport - Parque Central Hotel (approx 30 mins)
Parque Central Hotel - Jardines De La Reina (approx 5 hrs).
WALKING / SIGHT SEEING
A great opportunity to view the beautiful landscape as well as a great opportunity for stunning photography.
DOLPHIN ENCOUNTERS
A memorable experience giving you the opportunity to swim and interact with these fascinating dolphins.
