cuba

All aboutCuba

Cuba’s legendary flats have re-opened for business and The Fly Shop® has teamed up with a reliable, modestly-priced outfitter with exclusive access to a great fishery!

HAVANA ’ S EL MALECON is a broad, 8mile long esplanade, that stretches from the mouth of Havana Harbor in Old Havana to the Vedado neighborhood. Due to economic reforms that allow Cubans to own private businesses, it’s now lined with tourists and entrepreneurs. In fact, tourists from around the world seem to be in a rush to visit Cuba. By far the largest number appear to be coming from Canada and western Europe where arrivals have been increasing by almost 10% for a decade. Nobody really has an accurate estimate as to how many Americans travel to Cuba each year, legally or otherwise. For the second time since an economic ban was placed on doing business with the Cuban nation in 1959, the political climate appears stable. What is now required for U.S. citizens to obtain legal permission to visit Cuba is a current U.S. Passport, Cuban Tourist Visa Card (purchased online for about $85) and a declaration that motivation for travel to Cuba is for “educational purposes” or any of a dozen other reasons the U.S. government now considers legitimate. American travellers are now pouring into Havana in numbers that actually exceed the amount of tourism prior to the Cuban revolution, and fly fishermen are understandably part of that crowd.

CUBA IS larger than the entire state of Florida with half a dozen destinations that are of interest to flats fishermen: Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen), Cayo Largo, Isla de Juventud (Island of Youth), Cayo Cruz, Cayo Santa Maria (Gardens of the King), and the Zapata Peninsula. After visiting Cuba several times, The Fly Shop® decided to focus on the Zapata Peninsula, primarily because it is the least impacted of the Cuban fisheries. The Zapata Preserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is protected by the Cuban government as a fly fishing only, catch-andrelease marine reserve. World Heritage Site status effectively preserves the pristine habitat of flats species that include bonefish, tarpon, permit, snook, Cubera snapper, and barracuda. This huge, 6,500 square-mile ecosystem is 60 miles long and 20 miles wide and was set aside in 2015 as the San Lazaro Biosphere Reserve, which prohibits commercial fishing and ensures the habitat and fisheries will be protected and enhanced for generations. Fly Fishing the Run is the only operator allowed within the massive, 3,200 square mile West Salinas Region of the Reserve, and every one of the shallow flats, back bays, creeks and cays surrounding this massive, internationally protected wilderness is considered to be their exclusive fishing grounds. Guests enjoy the use of a comfortable, mobile, live-aboard vessel, the MV Georgiana. From locations in the heart of the Preserve, run times to the fishing grounds are short. The ultra comfortable MV Georgiana liveaboard easily accommodates it’s eight weekly guests, a very talented and hard-working crew, or team of fly-savvy guides, and a combination of six single and double skiffs. Anglers rotate during the week between the swift single and double skiffs – fishing solo for three days, and sharing a skiff and guide with a buddy for the others. The single angler flats skiffs are perfect for bonefish and permit in shallow back country while the double skiffs are more suitable for tarpon fishing and longer runs to fishing grounds further to the west. The mobility of the mother ship translates into a number of advantages in this huge and diverse off-shore parkland. The guides enjoy enthusiastic anglers and aren’t allergic to long days, allowing you to fish as hard as you want. A remarkable contrast to many other destinations or lodges where you are often limited to six or eight hours on the water, including running time. This unique fishing program guarantees anglers that at least half of their week will be in a single skiff with a private guide – receiving 100% of shots. Nobody else in Cuba offers a sweeter deal, and at no additional cost.

fly fishing the run The package includes the airport reception, quality hotel on the night of arrival, all transfers, and all meals and guided fishing on board for 7 nights. This is a terrific package, very modestly priced by Cuba standards. The outfitter is a completely reliable, experienced, and talented professional who delivers a top quality trip. s 7 night/6 day package $4,250 - $5,750

Fly Fishing the Run photo