“TOTAL FISHING IN CAYO PAREDÓN, JARDINES DEL REY” Tour (FLY FISHING, SPINNING, VERTICAL GIIGING AND BOTTOM FISHING)

“TOTAL FISHING IN CAYO PAREDÓN, JARDINES DEL REY” Tour (FLY FISHING, SPINNING, VERTICAL GIIGING AND BOTTOM FISHING)

Cayo Paredon is well known for fly fishing. This island is recognized as one of the best fishing zones in Cuba with few motor boats (flat) for fishing in shallow water. Cayo Paredon has recently been declared the rights to develop the area as a salt-water and fly-fishing mecca. The area has been protected from commercial fishing for years, which has allowed the populations of saltwater fish, such as Permit and to flourish and for the migratory titans of the flats, Tarpon in this area is extremely healthy in numbers. In 2012 was the first season that regulated sportfishing, allowed to take place in this area, and the low fishing pressure makes this place a magical Cuban fly-fishing destination for avid saltwater fishermen. Fertile feeding areas for Bonefish & Permit are bordered by white sand flats and deep blue channels where Tarpon can be seen cruising. Many of the flats have hard bottoms making wade fishing very easy alongside the fishing from the skiffs.

Enviroment:

The Jardines del Rey (Gardens of the King) Archipelago lies just off the northern coast of northern Cuba. Some of its cays are larger than some countries of the world, and its virgin nature stands out making it one of the most precious spots in the Cuban Caribbean. To the north, it’s surrounded by a coral wall of about 248 miles in length, which is the second largest barrier reef in the world, the first being the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. There are canals among the cays and islets, which originates back to millions of years ago when they used to be riverbeds. After the last big thawing, they were partly flooded when the level of sea water rose. The cays become bigger from West to East of Morón, Ciego de Avila Province. In this region you visit Turiguanó Island and Cayo Coco, Guayabal and Sabinal, which form a kind of exterior coast in front of the shoreline, giving shape to the Buenavista bays, Los Perros and Jiguey. Among the formations of the archipelago, we have Cayo Coco which is linked to the mainland by an 11 mile causeway. This also links Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Paredón Grande, just like Santa Maria.

Cayo Paredon Grande offers the best of all options, Superb saltwater fly-fishing for Tarpon, Permit and Bonefish. Hard bottomed flats bordering deep blue channels allow for great wade-fishing opportunities. Bonefish are diverse, numerous and big; fish over 3 or 4 kg are common and there is a good population of Permit which cruise both the same flats as well as the slightly deeper water. The best Tarpon caught was in 2011, a staggering 70 kg and with the fishing program being run since 2012, there is no reason why this record should not be equalled or bettered. Sheltered areas allow for good fishing conditions all year round giving anglers realistic opportunities to land an elusive Grand Slam every day; however, do not underestimate the difficulties of this challenge regardless of how many fish you see!

In Cayo Paredon there is a small fishing center “centro de pesca Paredon” with four brand new Carolina Sea Chaser Skiffs with 60hp outboard engines. They are all equipped with holders for fly and spinning rods, a cooler for snacks and drinks, life jackets, first aid kit, and radios. Most of the fly fishing guides have a significant amount of experience, have unique skiff handling skills and a working knowledge of English. A rotational scheme is in place, ensuring anglers have a chance to fish with all the different guides and exploit their individual skills and knowledge.

Besides the fishing for permit, bonefish and tarpon, you will also cast for other challenging species as mutton snapper, snook, cubera snapper, jack crevalle, barracudas, etc.

Total Fishing: Fly fishing, spinning, vertical giiging and deep sea fishing.

Departure by transfer, from Cayo Coco and Guillermo hotels to the boarding point, sailing by boat and fishing through the Cayos channels from Paredón Grande to Cayo Mégano. This is an incredible fishing area.

In Cayo Paredon there is a small fishing center “centro de pesca Paredon” with four brand new Carolina Sea Chaser Skiffs with 60hp outboard engines. They are all equipped with holders for fly and spinning rods, a cooler for snacks and drinks, life jackets, first aid kit, and radios. Most of the fly fishing guides have a significant amount of experience, have unique skiff handling skills and a working knowledge of English. A rotational scheme is in place, ensuring anglers have a chance to fish with all the different guides and exploit their individual skills and knowledge.

The big three - tarpon, permit and bonefish can be fished the whole year round which makes it possible to catch what is called a Grand Slam (all three species caught in only one day). Besides, there you can get barracudas, groupers, jacks, trigger fish and the Cubera Snapper, which is one of the hardest fighters compared to its size at all. The different species you can find on the flats make the fishing interesting, as there is always some fish around that can be caught. Some of these creatures look funny, despite their weird outlook, sometimes; they might be very strong fighters.

Boarding point: Paredón Grande International Fishing Base.

What´s included in the tour?:

• Professional bilingual fishing guide.
• Skiff up to two anglers.
• Fishing license.
• Ice on the boat
• 8 hours aprox (8:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
• Round trip transportation.
• Box lunch.
• Open bar with non-alcoholic drinks (water, soda, and juice)

The tour does not include:

• Tips for the guide.
• Lunch.
• Other alcoholic drinks.
• Fishing equipment and flies.
• Health insurance.

Very important note: Spinning is not allowed.

Maximum capacity of fly fishing boats: Maximum of 2 people per boat.

Recommended to bring:

• Gravel guards to keep out the sand.
• Copper or Bronze Polaroid Sun Glasses.
• Long sleeved UPF rated shirts.
• Quick dry fishing shorts and pants.
• Light socks to keep the sun off of your feet.
• Buff or bandanna.
• Sun gloves.
• Sunscreen and hats.
• Rain coat and pants. Just in case.
• Waterproof camera.
• Dry bag/knapsack.

Main fly fishing species:

Bonefish:

Cuba has more Bonefish per square mile than any location that we have ever been. It's a destination where schools of Bonefish are not unusual. But casting to double or single cruisers is more the norm. That means that you are almost always targeting big healthy fish. The average size of Bonefish in Cayo Santa María is between 6 to 8 lbs. But casting to Bonefish over 10 lbs. is a common everyday occurrence. Recommended equipment: 8wt rods with bonefish taper floating fly lines. 15lb. fluorocarbon tapered leaders. Recommended flies: Bead head weighted flies. Tan Crazy Charlie’s with rubber legs. E.P. Spawning Shrimp and Mantis Shrimp. Size 4

Permit (Trachinotus falcatus):

Permit have been called many things. Easy to catch is certainly not one of them. They are a spooky, moody frustrating fish. Some fly fishermen who have been on a quest to land a permit for years brought to tears when that moment finally happens and they bring the first permit of their career to hand. Permit can be elusive. Your best chance of hooking and landing a Permit are in a location where Permit are abundant. The more shots that you have, the better the odds. The Permit population in Gardens of the King is extremely healthy. Permit are prevalent on the flats of Cayo Coco throughout the year. They begin to show up on the flats in more significant numbers towards the end of March and can be easily targeted until the end of November. Recommended equipment: 9-10wt rods with quick loading bonefish/permit floating lines. 16-20 fluorocarbon tapered leaders. Recommended flies: Flexo-Crab size 2, Crab patterns with rubber legs, Avalon Permit Fly sizes 4 and 2.

Tarpon (Atlantic tarpon):

Florida is clearly recognized as the best place to go to hook up a big Tarpon. But one of the complaints about tarpon fishing in Florida is the sheer number of people doing the same thing. The flats and channels where the big tarpon frequent in the spring are more populated by expensive flats boats and fishermen than they are with tarpon. The spring migration of tarpon to the flats of Gardens of the King is truly world class. Large Tarpon start to ascend on to the flats in the beginning of April and are usually present late into June and early July. Recommended equipment: 10-12wt rods with floating Tarpon taper line plus Intermediate Tropical Sink Tip. 30lb. fluorocarbon leader with 80-100lb. bite tippets. Recommended flies: Black Death, Purple Death, Tarpon Toad, Cockroach, Red/White Tarpon Fly. 2/0 and 3/0.

Vertical Giiging Fishing: It takes place all year round and you can catch species such as: Tuna, Crowned, G-T, Snappers, Grupers, Damsels (in winter), Sharks and Barracudas.

Deep Sea Fishing: It takes place all year round and you can catch species such as: Snappers, Cuberas, Jocu, Pargo Alto, Tunas, Sharks, Sierras, Sobacos, Jiguaguaguas, Gallegos and Barracudas.

Spinning Fishing: It is done the whole year and you can catch species such as: Shad, Jiguagua, Cuberas, Jocu, Pargo Criollo, Barracudas, Gallegos, Dorados and Agujas. This fishing uses the Tag and Release method.

Fly Fishing: It is done all year round and we fish species such as bonefish, permit and shad, this last one only from April to August. This fishing uses the Tag and Release method.