Got back from Cuba and had an amazing fishing/wildlife viewing opportunity

[Sundancefisher]

You gotta see this to believe it!

[oKAglhnvRQ0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKAglhnvRQ0

Last year I saw a Humpback whale playing beside my boat. I think this is the Cuba variety!

 

[searun]

That was pretty cool. Went to Cuba last May and would like to go back again - this time with fishing rod in hand. Where were you fishing, and any details on how you hired a guide/cost etc? I gather from your gear there were a lot of bugs. I took along my snorkel gear last trip and was not disappointed! Amazing fish life there.

 

[Dennis.t]

Im going later this yr. What kind of fishing opportunities can I expect?

 

[Sundancefisher]

That was pretty cool. Went to Cuba last May and would like to go back again - this time with fishing rod in hand. Where were you fishing, and any details on how you hired a guide/cost etc? I gather from your gear there were a lot of bugs. I took along my snorkel gear last trip and was not disappointed! Amazing fish life there.

I need to put some details down. I fished the river and las Salinas. You can fishing the river from Varadero using this guy.


Alfredo's Cuba Fishing Rio Hatiguanico Alfredo was the guide in the video. Great guy. Happy to give him some business. He also guides at Las Salinas.

Cost works out to $240 CUC that goes to the government. About $100 CUC for return taxi with tip. Then there is the tip for the guide which is his only income. Typically $30 CUC but I tipped much better cause the day went so well.

 

[Sundancefisher]

Depends really where you are. The Italian operation has taken over a lot of fishing areas. What once cost $1800 for 6 days fishing from a live aboard boat now costs $4500 to $5500 euros.

Las Salinas is the best value bonefishing area in Cuba. Not a lot of amenities so it could not sustain higher costs. This River is a great place for baby tarpon

 

[Sundancefisher]

Here are some fishing pics


lemon shark on a fly!

darn

most pics are too big

Bonefish

Bonefish

Manatee

Biggest Tarpon

Mutton Snapper

 

[searun]

Very cool, we stayed in Varadaro. Wish I knew about this guide before our trip. If you tipped your guide 30 CUC that is about a month's wages for most Cuban's so he would have been a very happy guy. I was shocked at how little people make. We tipped our cleaning lady 15 CUC and she nearly dropped dead, and smothered us with appreciation. It was a real eye opener. So did you need to take your own gear down, or did the guide supply decent stuff?

 

[Sundancefisher]

Very cool, we stayed in Varadaro. Wish I knew about this guide before our trip. If you tipped your guide 30 CUC that is about a month's wages for most Cuban's so he would have been a very happy guy. I was shocked at how little people make. We tipped our cleaning lady 15 CUC and she nearly dropped dead, and smothered us with appreciation. It was a real eye opener. So did you need to take your own gear down, or did the guide supply decent stuff?

I tip the average $30 CUC for an average day fishing...even if the conditions are tough but the guide works hard. I tip up to and over $50 CUC for great days or superb work by the guide. I tipped $55 CUC for my great tarpon day. Tipped $40 CUC for a slower bonefish day but I caught a few lemon sharks which was cool.

This was my shark release!


You need to take your own gear preferably. In some instances they have some gear. I believe Alfredo has some gear that he will rent out to anglers.