Video: Fly Fishing for Bonefish in Jardines de la Reina, Cuba

Why do we love bonefish? from Jim Green on Vimeo.

From Drowning Worms, a nice video with fly fishing ventures in Cuba with bonefish as a targeted specie.

From the video maker:

“This is the first of three movies we shot in Jardines de la Reina, Cuba. We were fishing from La Tortuga – a house boat moored in a deserted archipelago about 3 hours’ boat ride from the mainland. During the week, we caught all sorts of species, including jacks, snapper, barracuda and tarpon – most of which were hooked on fly. It turned out to be a fantastic trip and one we all hope to repeat in the not-too-distant future. This video focuses on the smallest, but also probably the fastest fish we encountered – the bonefish, which were there in numbers at this time of year (November).”

To check out more from Drowning Worms, please click here.

More on this destination:

Just 90 miles off the coast of the United States, Cuba offers the flats fly fishing that anglers dream of. Fly fishing in Cuba is similar in many ways to the nearby Florida Keys. Bonefish, tarpon (and big ones at that), and permit are generally among the primary targets, but unlike the Keys, the salty critters of Cuba have seen a lot less pressure, thereby making Cuba a great place for grand slam (and even super slam) chasing. In addition to these three species, anglers also have access to snook, snapper, sharks, and barracuda, among other targets.

While anglers have accessed Cuba from all over the world for some time, access has been trickier for U.S. anglers, as the embargo and related travel restrictions have deterred anglers. In addition, the embargo’s effect on airline access from the U.S. has complicated things. Of course, with the recently announced “new course” on relations with Cuba, there are hopes fewer hiccups. But until then, U.S. anglers might still opt to seek the assistance of fly fishing travel agencies that make arrangements to overcome visa and other obstacles.

The changing relations between the United States and Cuba will certainly impact fly fishing there. While it is expected that the 1950s feel of Cuba will change with relaxed trade regulations, the angling will also change with the anticipated flood of anglers coming in. More pressure will change the fishery, but more fly fishing aficionados from the U.S. might also bring more opportunities via expatriate guides and new lodges.

One thought

  1. Great video. Suggestion for you, if you would tighten your loop, especially on your delivery casts, you would save a whole lot of energy, wear’n-tear on your casting shoulder and probably be much more accurate on your target. Of course this is IMHO and telling you this from a veteran guide/instructor point of view.

    Keep the videos coming, they’re quite enjoyable.
    Captain Russ Shirley
    Salty Fly Charters
    St. Petersburg, FL

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