» General Information:
The Isle of Youth is the largest Cuban island and is located 70 miles to the southwest of mainland Cuba. The largest of the 350 islands in the Canarreos Archipelago. The area is huge; more or less like Jardines de la Reina with white sandy beaches, mixed coral and deep turtle grass. The area is a marine park, and nearly all the Cayos offer good fishing. The Isle of Youth in Cuba offering one of the best tarpón fishing in the Caribbean sea, from giant tarpón in deep channels to juveniles on shallow flats or babies along mangrove shorelines. The Archipelago De Los Canarreos is unbeatable with excelent bonefishing, some fish averaing over 5 lbs. and least spooky you can imagine This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for bonefish lovers; the last place in the world where you can experience this kind of "never seen a fisherman" bonefish population. Wading, poling, tailing; you got it all. We even caught fish on some flats despite the completely wrong tide. The trophy size fish and the different types of fishing will make this incredibly interesting fishing even to the most experienced fishermen.
Snook, big size snapper, mouton snapper, horse eye jack and other species you can find in the flats and channels. Permit have been saw on 5 different flats, up to 20lbs. The area is very protected and is rarely need to cancel fishing due to bad weather. Occasionally, there may be a short run to another spot through some rough water due to a cold front, but within a matter of minutes you will reach new flats away from the wind.
» Package:
The package includes 2-night accommodation in Havana; all ground transfers; airfare Havana/Nueva Gerona/Havana; 6-full days of fishing and 7-night accommodation in Hotel Rancho or 6-night accommodation in "La Perola" mother ship. All meals during the fishing days.
High season starts on mid Febrary till first week of June. Low season starts on January till mid February and from June till July.
» Accommodation:
Hotel Rancho is a comfortable 3 star hotel with single rooms, hot water, A/C , very friendly staff and beautiful surroundings. The meals were abundant and delicious. Hotel facilities are very basic and include a bar, a little shop, Internet and private parking.
» Tackle and Equipment:
Complete saltwater fly fishing tackle: # 8 Wt; # 10 Wt and # 12 Wt. It is advisable to take at least two tackles for line #8 and # 10; 1 (one) spare line WF8 F and WF10 S. Sinking line for tarpon is highly recommended.
Flies for Bonefish: Crazy Charly; Gotcha; Bonefish Special; any kind of Shrimp; Clowser Minow.
Flies for Permit: Merkin´s Crab; Rag Head Crab;Nick´s Casablanca.
Flies for Tarpón: Black Death; Purple Death; Cockroach; Stu Apte; Seaducers; Sea Streamers; Tarpon Toad.
Some poppers.
Others: Leaders for Bonefish 9 feet and 13,2 pounds); for Tarpon butt 50 or 60, and 80 or 100 lb. fluorocarbon schock tippet. Spools with 12,20, 40, 60 and 80-pound fluorocarbon tippets. Silicone to clean the lines. A pair of pliers to remove hooks and pincers to cut steel. Steel line stretch for Barracuda and Shark. Hook sharpener. A wide-brimmed hat, with neck protection. Polarized glasses. Neoprene boots with rubber soles for sea-wading. A light water-proof jacket. Sun block, SPF 40 or higher. Medicine for headaches, stomach aches, anti acids, etc. Insect repellent. A valid passport.
» Additional Information:
A tourist visa is necessary to enter Cuba. It costs $15.- and you can apply for it on your own. For the ones who travel from countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Cuba, the visa could be issued in Cancun with the assistance of a travel agency ( please ask in advance).
American dollars and other European currencies are not acceptable to pay any kind of service, you must change your money in tha airport x CUC. You can use credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc) for shopping, hotel and other services, but they are NOT accepted it they have been issued in the United States.
The weather is usually drier and slightly cooler from December to March. During September, October and November, it is usually rainy and there might be occasional tropical storms or rain showers. All the months are good for fishing, but there is more abundance of bonefish and tarpon from March to July.
The average annual temperature in the area is 26°C and humidity reaches an average of 74%. A breeze from the Caribbean blows during the day and light winds from the land blow at night. Cuban people are polite, friendly and well-mannered. It is a safe country as regards crime; however, keep your valuables in a safe place.
» Rates / Isle of the Youth - Jan. 10th/Feb. 28th and June 6th/July 31sth
Start from U$S 3,250.-
Per angler. Sharing skiff (boat & guide). Accommodation in single basis in Hotel Rancho.
Rates include:
All transfers inside Cuba. 2-night accommodation in Havana at a 5 star Hotel. 7-night accommodation in the Island in a 3 star hotel (Hotel Rancho) with A/C in single basis. Full board. 6 full fishing days with skiff and guide, in double basis. National Park Licence. 20 beers & 50 waters or soft drinks.
Rates do not include:
Alcoholic beverages. Gratuities. Fishing equipment and flies. Cuban Visa. Airport taxes
Notes:
We are able to quote other tailor made packages. Maximun 8 anglers.
» Rates / Isle of the Youth
Ask for special offers and rate for groups
Per angler. Sharing skiff (boat & guide). Accommodation in single basis in Havana and living on board double basis at "La Perola".
Rates include:
All transfers inside Cuba. 2-night accommodation in Havana at a 5 star Hotel. 6-night accommodation in the Island in "La Perola" in double basis. Full board. 5 and 1/2 fishing days with skiff and guide, in double basis. National Park Licence.
Rates do not include:
Alcoholic and non acoholic beverages. Gratuities. Fishing equipment and flies. Cuban Visa. Airport taxes
Notes:
We are able to quote other tailor made packages. Maximun 8 anglers.
» Rates / Isle of the Youth - March 1st-June 6th
Ask for special offers and rate for groups
Per angler. Sharing skiff (boat & guide). Accommodation in single basis in Havana and in the Island.
Rates include:
All transfers inside Cuba. 2-night accommodation in Havana at a 5 star Hotel. 7-night accommodation in the Island in a 3 star hotel (Hotel Rancho) with A/C in single basis. Full board. 6 full fishing days with skiff and guide, in double basis. National Park Licence. 20 beers & 50 waters or soft drinks.
Rates do not include:
Alcoholic beverages. Gratuities. Fishing equipment and flies. Cuban Visa. Airport taxes.
Notes:
We are able to quote other tailor made packages. Maximun 8 anglers.
» Fishing
Report
September 2010
No reports have been received for the past few weeks.
» Fishing Testimonials
» We had a great time in Isle of the Youth by: Chris & Shauna - July 01 , 2010
Daniel,
Thank you so much for setting up our trip to IDJ. We had a great time and were so happy to have all the opportunities to hook, jump and land Tarpon. IDJ is a wonderful Tarpon destination, with excellent guides, good service at the lodge, and a wonderful manager. We were very impressed with the organization and attentiveness to the fishing, lodging and every need we expressed. Despite the weather being a bit windy everyone on our trip had chances to land giant Tarpon! Our boat had tarpon everyday, sizes ranging from 25lbs all the way up to over 100lbs, incredible! We are excited to try another Cuban Fly Fishing Trip with FlyFishing Caribe!
Thanks very much and I hope your next week is more fruitful.
Chris & Shauna
» We spotted many big size tarpon in Isle of the Youth (Cuba) by: Roberto Gentili - May 27th - 2010
Dear Daniel.
I'm sending some pictures of the fishing week in IDJ.
The fishing was very good despite the windy days. We spotted many big size tarpon.
The guides put their effort into looking for alternatives to the wind, allowing us to get good catches. We caught (landed and photographed) many tarpon weighing between 40 and 60 pounds. Of course we lost many other hookups due to the fierceness of these fish and our lack of expertise.
The best thing that happened to my friend Eloy and me was that both of us were able to achieve a Grand Slam, while we were fishing on the same skiff on the same day. What an unforgettable experience!
We had already landed a snook each by 11 o´clock in the morning. Before midday, Eloy succeeded in hooking a bonefish and by 2 in the afternoon, both of us had caught a tarpon. Eloy had achieved his first Grand Slam and we had some celebration! I only had to catch one bonefish and I still had 4 hours to fish. I can´t describe how nervous we felt. Eloy let me have the rest of the fishing time so that I could also reach the Grand Slam. We searched for bones everywhere, but they wouldn´t show up. We sailed lagoons and every flat we could. For security reasons, the guide set the limit of 19 hrs to return.
By 6 in the afternoon, I felt really down-hearted despite the constant encouragement of Eloy and our guide Michael. At 6.55, right when we were starting the countdown to go back, 3 bones showed up 20 meters away, in a current of water coming into a flat. I cast, and we watched one of the bones following the fly without taking it. When I cast again, the bone took it. As soon as I hooked, the fish darted away from the skiff. My nerves were on the edge to collapse. The only thing I could think of was holding that bone in my hands and celebrating the achievement with my friend.
I handled it gently until I landed it on the skiff, and that was when we started to celebrate. The three of us hugged each other as if we had accomplished an amazing achievement. It was incredible having succeeded by the end of the fishing day!
Arriving at the marina, meeting the rest of our friends, the mojitos, the toasts at dinner time & all of them were very emotional moments that only those who feel the passion for the fly cast can understand.
Lastly, I would like to mention the excellent service of the hotel staff, the marina personnel, the guides and the rest of the people who were with us.
They all made this a perfect fishing trip, not to mention your organization. Everything would have been harder without your participation.
A big hug,
Oruga (Roberto Gentili)
» Isle of the Youth (Cuba). The trip was fantastic! by: Sebastián Tacchino - July 30th 2009
Daniel,
The trip to Isle of the Youth was fantastic. Everything turned out perfect. The staff was always very kind and committed.
I have no words to describe the fishing. I have never thought that I'd be able to see so many tarpon everywhere and of all sizes.
We fished in total:
* 11 snook. One weighed 12 pounds and we were the only boat catching snook in the whole week.
* 56 tarpon were hooked, but we succeeded in landing 23 of them. The heaviest weighed 75 pounds ( 64 inches long, 28 inches of diameter), a 60-pounder, 2 weighing 50 pounds, 5 weighing 40 pounds&
* 47 bonefish, one weighing 6 pounds and 24 inches long and another one weighing 6,5 pounds and 25 inches long.
Our guide Manolo deserves to be mentioned too. He was an absolute genius.
A big hug and I hope to go back soon.
Sebastián Tacchino
» Isle of the Youth - Cuba by: Roberto Gentili (h) - May 19th, 2009
Hello Daniel,
First of all, I´d like to thank you for your services, as this allowed us to get to know Isla de la Juventud.
It was a real pleasure to spend those days surrounded by so warm and attentive people. The people in charge, the chef, the waiter and all the staff made us feel at home in the Hotel Rancho.
With regard to the fishing and the guides, we can only say they were truly praiseworthy. Michael and Osmani were our guides, who were always dedicated and eager to help us land the desired and hard tarpons.
We had many strikes of giant tarpon, but our lack of experience made us miss most of them. We could also see many of them in different spots but we weren´t able to cast due to the winds or the dense vegetation, but without any doubt there is plenty of them in the island. We were able to land 40 to 50-pound tarpon, but some of them managed to escape, one of which weighed between 70 and 80 pounds.
With regard to the baby tarpon, we saw considerable amounts in different places. We hooked about 15, but we had over 40 strikes. Fishing them has proved to be fascinating.
We found bonefish too, but as they were not our aim, we didn´t make many attempts
A big hug,
Roberto Gentili (h)
» Isle of the Youth - I had a great trip !!!! by: John Neaves - June 10th, 2008
Dear Daniel,
I have just returned. I had a great trip and will prepare a report with photos over the weekend and send it to you. Iparticularily enjoyed the stay at the Isle of the Jouth where I found that the fishing was challenging but more rewarding. I think that I landed about 40 tarpon of all sizes with the largest 85 to 90 lbs. I had some superb fishing for permit but no bites.
Thanks for everything.
Kind regards,
John.
» Isle of the Youth. First of all can I thank you very much for organising the trip !!!!!!!!! by: Graham Frost - July, 04th 2007
Daniel - first of all can I thank you very much for organising the trip in June 2007. I would encourage anyone who hadn't been to Cuba before to combine the fishing with at least a couple of days in Havana beforehand to start to appreciate the country, its history and its people. I would recommend they stay in Habana Vieja and to take a run along the Malecon at dawn to see the real fishers bringing in their catches!
The fishing itself was a great adventure. The set up is very professional and friendly, and I particularly appreciated the real effort that the guides put in to finding the fish and making the trip special. I enjoyed the varied fishing - from mangroves to channels, from flats to sandy shore - and the variety, quality, and size of the fish.
I also liked that the guides ensured that even if your flies were not right they had their own special flies to ensure your chances were maximised! As ever I learnt a lot - but know there is still so much more to tropical salt water fly fishing - and look forward to continuing my education both in Cuba and elsewhere with FlyFishingCaribe and your own advice and guidance.
It was also great fun to meet the lively spirits that are Mike and John - and the Canadians!..........
