General Information:

There must be few flats fishermen who have not been tempted to visit the ‘Mecca’ of saltwater flyfishing, at Los Jardines de la Reina (JDR), Cuba.  And those who have been there almost invariably make return visits.

The ‘Queen’s Islands’ are a cluster of over 600 tiny virgin islands and cays lying some 120 km off the south coast of the Cuban mainland.  The whole area is a national marine park, and none of the islands is inhabited.  Remote is the word, and only dedicated fishermen, or divers, will find this trip of interest …..

The Fishing:

……… But those who are dedicated will never forget the experience. 

In the Jardines de la Reina you will find some of the finest bonefish in the world. With the islands stretching over 80 miles, you will get to fish many areas where few anglers have ever thrown a fly. The bones are large – averaging a solid 3 to 5 pounds, but fish in the seven to ten pound range are caught almost every day.

Tarpon are abundant and readily available on the flats and in the channels and "rivers" almost any day. Most of the fish in the channels are "baby" tarpon - fish in the ten to forty pound class (!), and just a delight on a 10 weight rod. These smaller tarpon are far more acrobatic than their larger cousins but pull quite hard enough to make you work at catching them. On the flats the average size ranges up to 80 lbs.  However, the deep ocean channels produce migratory specimens up to 120-130 lbs in the period February to June.

As every frustrated fisherman knows, Permit are both more elusive and more challenging to catch.  Los Jardines de la Reina has more than its fair share of permit – particularly in terms of average size (20 lbs). 

Many other fish are commonly found on the flats or on the reefs.  Mutton Snappers abound and those caught on a fly run between three and eight pounds, but fish up to fifteen pounds are a distinct possibility.  Jacks (both Jack Crevalle and Horse Eye Jacks) are from the same family as the permit.  They are some of the most aggressive feeders on the flats and thus much easier to catch than the permit.  Big Barracudas are plentiful around all the bonefish flats. Most will be three to four feet long, and will give any fly angler a terrific fight. Caribbean Reef Sharks are also common on the flats. They will take a fly and the action can be spectacular. Sharks up to 150 lb. have been landed by fly anglers. Seeing one of these monsters roll up to the surface and smash a popper is an awesome experience.

 Fishermen that want to try trolling off the reef with plugs, bait, and even flies, encounter many other species of fish. Various snappers including the huge Cubera Snapper are present as well as groupers, jacks, kingfish, albacore, wahoo, and bonito and big cudas.

There are no restrictions on the hours of fishing at Los Jardines – simply the client’s choice.  You may fish all day till you drop, or you may chose to break at lunchtime for a siesta and resume to catch the evening fish tailing in the golden sunset.  There are even after-dinner outings to baitfish for tarpon, cubera snapper or sharks in the moonlight.

The Programme:

The programme is for 9 days, Friday to the following Saturday, with 6 days fishing (5 full days and two half days).

Accommodation:

There are four options for accommodation at Los Jardines de la Reina.  The splendid 110 ft long double decked floating hotel, La Tortuga;  the yacht La Reina (the refurbished Explorador); the cruise yacht Halcon; and the new and luxurious yacht Fleet 1.  The advantage of the last three yachts is the flexibility to cruise for the whole week around this huge island system in order to find the best fishing.  The guides live on board and their skiffs are available at all times. 

Fleet 1 This is ther latest addition to the JDR operation.  The cabins have been built with extreme care, emphasizing the importance of comfort and safety above all else. You`ll also find an exquisite décor and refined taste, so you definitely won`t miss anything from home. You`ll also feel our warm and attentive service during your trip.

Each fisherman has his own single cabin.  There are 8 deluxe king cabins, each cabin has a private bathroom with air conditioning and heat controls, electricity plugs, as well as storage in drawers. Each room has panoramic windows to enjoy the breathtaking view on the caribbean beaches.

La Tortuga is permanently anchored in a totally protected channel, such that there is never any movement whatsoever.  It was fully refurbished at the end of 2007.  It has seven comfortable double rooms, each of which has an individually adjustable hi-tech air-conditioning system, its own private bathroom with shower, toilet, and hot water.  There are plenty of rod racks and facilities for cleaning tackle at the end of each day.

The Halcón is an ideal solution for a private party of 6 to 8 people.  It is a recently refurbished luxury yacht.  It is 75 feet in length, and is equipped below decks with six cabins, and three bathrooms with good showers and plenty of hot water.  Above there is a large salon, which is fully air-conditioned.  Meals are served on the afterdeck where there is normally a nice breeze.

La Reina is a comfortable 69ft. yacht, fully refurbished end of 2005, all air conditioned, with 4 double rooms and 4 bathrooms and a large upper deck where meals are usually served. 

Other Activities:

For those that are not fishing, the Jardines de la Reina offers a few other options. The diving and snorkeling is world class. A fully-fledged diving operation is run on board Tortuga in parallel with the fishing.  The experienced divemasters offer resort courses for even non-certified individuals, so everyone can participate.  Also, aside from stunning variety of marine life, the above surface flora and fauna is fascinating. Bird varieties commonly seen include ospreys, pelicans, frigate birds, spoonbills, and many different sorts of herons and egrets - to name a few.

Seasons:

The fishing for bonefish, resident tarpon and permit is productive all year round.  However, the best season for the large migratory tarpon is February to June.

Rates - 2010 /11:

Rate for the full 6 day guided fishing package, as detailed in the Programme above, including domestic transfers, with shared guide and skiff, shared twin rooms, full board are, according to season:

La Reina:        from Euro 2,940/person
La Tortuga:     from Euro 3,160/person
Halcón:           from Euro 3,160/person
Fleet 1:           from Euro 28,000 (per Group of 8, incl. 4 guides/skiffs, Single Rooms)

Supplements:

Single room, and/or one to one guided fishing, supplements available. A domestic flight plus bus transfer alternative between Havana and Júcaro via Cayo Coco is available as a supplementary extra (although the elapsed time is greater).

Conditions:

A 10% trip deposit is required to hold your reservation. 6 months prior to travel a further 40% becomes payable.  The final balance is due 60 days prior to travel.