I'll be spending a week at a Cayo Largo all-inclusive around Christmas time and I'd like to spend a day or two fly-fishing for bones or whatever else might be around. Apparently, Avalon has an operation on the island but they are not interested in doing a couple of day trips.

Are there any other guides with boats available on the island?

How about DIY opportunities? On the Google satellite map, there seems to be a lagoon on the north side of the island that screams bonefish. Is it possible to rent kayaks on the island and somehow get them to this lagoon?

If anybody has any ideas about fishing this place, I'd love to hear about'em...

Thanks...

Dale

Dale

Not good news I am afraid.

All fishing in Cuba is controlled by the Government and they issue licenses to 3rd party organisations like Avalon. You need to fish with one of these companies or guides. It operates like this to 'protect the natural environment...

As I understand it, having been in Cayo Largo in 2010, Avalon have it sown up.

Self guiding would be high risk in terms of arrest or very expensive bribes

Have you contacted the Avalon guys in Cayo Largo directly? They are a super bunch, perhaps you could suggest you take a couple of days if they dont sell the week out..

..if you do manage to secure a ride my advise would be forget the grand slam and get them to take you to one of the flats that can be waded for Bones. They will try and get you to fish for the 'slam' but only because etiquete says you tip the guide well if you get one. I know it's famous for Permit but you can spend a lot of time for no takes, you will get more sport with the Bones.

The average size of fish here is big at 6-7lb, with the odd 7-10lb common.

If conditions are right you can expect a dozen of these fish per day. Awesome sport!!

Hope this helps.
AndyH

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Andy is spot on.

I fished there with Avalon in Nov 2010 and there were only 2 boats out the days we fished (4.5).

They were happy to take 'day fishers' if they could find them. But it will cost you plenty.

The upside is that the fishing is spectacular even at that time of year; as long as the wind isnt too bad. We caught 5 grand slams in effectively 3.5 days fishing - one day was blown out.

Have fun.