CUBA Fly Fishing - Jardines de la Reina

Fly Fishing Gardens of the Queen

Permit: Permit are the ultimate flats challenge, and many fly fishermen have been taken to school by this wary fish. The best locations in Cuba to consistently find permit are in Jardines de la Reina and Cayo Largo. Both locations are 60 to 80 miles offshore, along Cuba’s southern coast. The optimal times to fish for permit here are between March and July, as well as in November when the tides are high. Like Cayo Large, JDR is also an outstanding location for Grand Slams and Super Slams, largely because the permit fishing is consistently good.
Tarpon:  JDR and Isla de la Juventud are the best for tarpon fishing. Peak tarpon fishing is from February to late July, with April through July being the best time for large tarpon.
Bonefish:  Bones are available year-round at all locations. In JDR, the morning winds often calm down in the afternoons, and fishing in the late afternoon can be superb, especially for bones.
Mutton Snappers are everywhere in the JDR, and plenty are found and landed on the flats, a real rarity. This is perhaps the best and only place in the world where you can expect to catch mutton snappers on the flats.
Other species:  Anglers that want to troll off the reef with plugs, bait, and even flies, encounter many other species of fish. Various snappers, including the huge cubera snapper, and groupers, jacks, kingfish, albacore, wahoo, bonito, and big ‘cudas are present. One group of visiting anglers caught 25 different species of fish off the reef in one day.

The Fishing Program:

Jardines Season is year-round. Peak tarpon fishing is from March through July. Most flats are within 15 minutes of the liveaboard.
Boats:  A mix of Dolphin Super Skiffs with 70-HP motors and light fiberglass Mitzi skiffs teamed with 40-HP Yamaha two-stroke engines. Each skiff has a poling platform for the guide, rod holders, and generous storage space at both the boat's front and back. Two anglers per boat and guide. There are no fuel limitations with our outfitter.
Guides:  The local guides are excellent fishermen and are very skilled at finding all species. They were born and raised on these waters and know the ocean and the flats very well. The guides speak Spanish, yet also enough fishing English to get by.
Fishing Equipment is not included in the package. An equipment rental is available for $350.00 per week and includes rod, reel, and lines. Our confirmation packet includes a detailed list of what to bring.
A Cuban Fishing License is included in the package.
Rental Equipment:  Equipment is available for fishing and diving and must be confirmed and paid 60 days before arrival.
A Marine Park Conservation Fee is an added $300.00 per person.
Diving Equipment is available for $250.00 for a full set of diving gear per week. Diving is not an option for all packages.

A Typical Fishing Day:

You’ll fish from dawn until dusk, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A typical fishing day begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Your guides are ready to depart for fishing by 8:00 a.m. Morning winds often calm down in the afternoon, and fishing in the late afternoon can be superb, especially for bonefish. You’ll have a packed lunch. You’ll be guided for seven to nine hours each day. You'll return to the liveboard at dusk, about 5:00 p.m. Enjoy appetizers at 5:30 p.m. and then dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Getting to the Liveaboards:  U.S. Citizens traveling to Jardines de la Reina (JDR) must fly in and out of CAMAGUEY airport in 2024 and 2025. There is one flight per day from Miami to Camaguey Cuba (CMW). (If you are traveling to Isla de Juventud or Cayo Largo, you'll fly to Havana.)

Arrival and Departure Days:  Upon arrival at Jucaro Port, you will board the liveaboard and begin your fishing week in the Jardines de la Reina. On the final day of your trip, you’ll return to the liveaboard around 2:00 p.m. The yacht will return to Jucaro Port, where you will overnight. Early the next morning, you will return to Camaguey for your departing flight.

Disclaimer:  At all the liveaboard yachts, you can choose to book individually, or you can also book half yacht. Liveaboard vessels require a minimum occupancy to operate every week. In general, this minimum occupancy corresponds to the total number of rooms on each ship (for example, on a 12-room vessel, we are unable to operate with less than 12 anglers onboard). In the case of reservations confirmed for HALF YACHT, if said occupation is not fulfilled at the time of the trip, either by the group itself or by other groups reserved directly by the outfitter, the outfitter reserves the right to relocate the group to another boat or accommodation, always respecting the destination and on the same dates as confirmed for the group.