Even More Cuban Grand Slams

Day 3 of my hosted week at Jardines de la Reina and with my good friend Richard Ward, and our long-term Cuban friend and guide Coki we were on our quest for our sixth Cuban grand slam. Days 1 and 2 had given us at least 9 good shots at permit all to no avail, not hungry, don’t like the fly, casting to close and spooking the fish. With permit, you just have to take all of this in your stride.

Therefore on day 3 at 8:30am when we all saw permit number 10 tailing and feeding in the shoreline among a mass of coral heads. I was at the front of the skiff, i took some deep breaths to steady my nerve and Coki positioned the skiff to give me my best shot.

We could clearly see the permit 40ft away, head down grubbing and feeding in the coral. Coki instructed me to cast as close as possible to the head. The first cast was to much to the right, ":hit, cast again" Coki urged, and this time the Mureo shrimp was right on the button. "Coki slow strip, stop" I saw the fish move onto the fly and when slowly i striped again and felt the tension on the line i strip struck and we were hooked up. With the permit now screaming away and Coki calling to me "Jack rod high wind wind" as he poled after the permit. I have been in this situation before and knew that the permit would head for the coral heads so i released the drag to minimum tension to avoid being cut off. My hopes of landing the fish sunk as i felt the backing rubbing on the coral and the tension on the line going tight.

Without hesitation Coki leapt down fro the poling platform, threw of his hat, kicked of his shoes and has he dived over the front of the skiff he called for Richard to drive the skiff !! Three times Coki dived to free the snagged line and with Richard expertly driving the skiff we soon were back in control and we had Coki and a 20lb permit in the skiff ,we all gave a cheer of relieve.

Then we realised we did not have the $2000 carbon composite Stiffy Pole in the skiff, fortunately they float and we recovered it some 70 yds away.

When I started this story, i overlooked that in a situation like this it helps a hell of a lot if you have a fishing friend who stays calm and can drive a skiff.

Two hours later, we had the bonefish and the tarpon, grand slam done and dusted. In addition, for the rest of our 5-man group Barry Hatton on only his second saltwater trip got a baby permit, a bonefish and a tarpon for a grand slam and Bill Sowerbutts got a 15lb permit and just failed to get his tarpon to get him a grand slam.

On our last morning 40 minutes before we were due to get back to the Halcon for our return to the Cuban mainland with me again at the front of the skiff i got anther permit of 15lbs.

Great fishing and great team work at a wonderful location, thank you Jardines de la Reina, thank you Coki and Richard, we will be coming back.

Jack Simpson.