Average Temp 26C December to August     Water Cayo Largo Natural Reserve     Type of Fishing Fly Fishing     Main Species Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Jack Crevalle     Prices from £2893.00 per person

The island of Cayo Largo is located in the south of Cuba, just 40 minutes flying time from beautiful Havana. Cayo Largo lies in a huge flats area that averages just 6 feet, perfect for fly fishing. The channels, are loaded with Snapper, Grouper, Jack, Snook and Barracuda of more than 30 lbs with will readily take a Lure as well as a fly.

In the lagoons on the northern part of the island you will find Tarpon, Permit, Jack and lots of Bonefish. The Isle of Cayo Largo is inhabited by commercial fishermen who primarily trap lobster. The Cuban Government has made a prestigious national park of 270.000 square meter, Casa Batida has sole permission to fish the entire eastern end of the Archipelago de los Canarreos.

The average temperature of the water is 26°C. The climate in Cayo Largo is pleasant all the year with an average temperature of 25°C. The hottest month is August, average 28°C, the "coldest" is December with an average of 23,5°C.

The northern side of Cayo Largo, where the submarine shelf is extended, is the ideal environment for Flyfishing enthusiast's: Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Jack Crevalle. …On one flat, I saw Permit zipping and darting in and around schools of Bonefish. Ditto Baby Tarpon. Literally, in a period of an hour one day, I had shots at all three fish that make up a Grand Slam.(Don Causey, August 2000).

The coral barrier is a 5 minutes boat ride from the shore. Fishermen will enjoy light trolling on board our Sea Pro 17'. Casa Batidas equipment is top class with a fleet of brand new boats , made up of : Hewes Bonefishers 16' and Sea Pro 17's.

Casa Batida is an excellent spot to combine relaxation, diving, fishing and water sports. The reason is simple: Cayo Largo provides you with excellent weather and comfortable accommodation, sailing, tennis, diving and other activities, . One of the few fishing lodge in the world where you can enjoy the fishing with your family and non-fishing friends.

The fishing area of Cayo Largo is a Natural Park of 27.000 square km. Canarreos Archipelago has about 350 islets and cayos and forms marvellous oasis in the Caribbean . The northern side of Cayo Largo, where the submarine shelf is extended, is the ideal environment for the flyfishermen , it measures an average depth of 1,5 meters. The south side of Cayo Largo is protected by the coral barrier and its white beach of fine sands and the flats marks it out as a fantastic place for waders. The wide fishing area is subdivided in 38 micro-areas.

The fishing day will be organized in a way that each micro-area should have a rest of at least 6 days. This way allowed a plentiful presence of fish during all the year

Suggested Equipment
Bonefish
Bonefish are the most popular and numerous character in the lineup of flats species. It's attributes include a great eagerness to take both flies and lures, but they are best known for their astonishing and reel-stressing runs. The fly fishermen has an advantage over the spin fisherman due to the delicacy of the fly presentation and more diverse selection of patterns.

Fly selection:
It is important to match the fly's overall color with that the bottom. The food items that the bone prefer are also expert in camouflage and will match to their surrounding perfecty. Then again, there are days when the light colors are the only colors that will work. When in doubt ask to your guide for recommendation.

Patterns
Permit have a particular weakness for small crabs (especially live ones) so the majority of the productive patterns are crab imitation. The most productive in the area, are the "Casa Batida's " crab. Light colour on a hook size 2 or 4. Puff patterns #2 to #4 light colour. Many Casa Batida's Permit have fallen to any bonefish fly, as well. Rods: Should be the same as aforementioned bonefish recommendation but a bit stout to handle larger flies and fish. The ideal permit rod is 9 or 10 wt. Reels: Those listed for bonefish should fare well against permit, but make sure to have at least 200 yards of 20 lbs. backing. Lines: In most case, a floating line will suffice because most permit flies are heavily weighted. Tippet/Leader: Again, follow the bonefish guidelines but use a slightly stronger tippet section (12-124lb).

Permit
for the fly fishing angler, the permit is considered the ultimate flats species. The bottom line is, unlike the bonefish (which has an empty stomach for a brain), permit always seem to be immediately suspicious about that little ball of hair and epoxy you're trying to make look like a crab.

Snook
Into the mangrovian system you'll can find the fish to make up the Super Grand Slam, the guides drive you to find Snook. In Cayo Largo the Snook don't abound, but there's a presence. In March of 2000 an italian customer did the Super Gran Slam. Due to the size of the Snook you'll meet, it's good a rod 9 or 10. You can use Streamer or Popper to catch them

Jack Crevalle
Jack Crevalle are found from March to August in a good quantity. In those months they can be considered a primary target. Shallow water in a sandy footing is the house of this great fish. It attacks the popper or the fly with an extraordinary aggressivity giving to the fisherman a sense of fighting without comparison. Presentation: Jack are found in the white flat around Cayo Largo, on fly the fisherman have to cast head of the jack and try to cruise its way . With the popper remember to make more noise that you can. Leader/Tippets: Use the same lider of the tarpon, just lessen schock leader to 50 lbs. Flies: Very good is Clouser Deep Minnow (Chartreuse), but better when the school are around is the Popper (Yellow, Green, Red), the most exiting fishing in Casa Batida. Fly Lines: Floating lines are generally all that are needed. Rod/Reel: A 10 weight rod of the same type discussed in the tarpon section.

Barracuda, Snapper, Shark
Lurking at the top of the food chain, these tough flats predator offer some outstanding action on a fly or lure. They will strike anything that darts away from them in an injured manner. When, hooked, they are some of the fastest and most powerful fis to be taken on light-tackle. Flies: Barracuda, Needlefish patterns (green/white, chartreuse, blue, white), Braided Barracuda Fly (chartreuse), Saltwater popper (2/0-3/0) Note: For barracuda, an extra-fast retrieve will usually provoke more strike than a slow retrieve. Shark, Snapper, Lefty's Deciver ( red/white, blue/white), Streaker, Shark Fly (2/0- 3/0)

Tarpon
Tarpon are the largest, strongest and more acrobatic of the Casa Batida's fish. Even juvenile fish will put your angling skills to the test. The tarpon size in Casa Batida going from 15 to 120 lbs. A large number of these fish, especially the mid size, remain in the area through the year. Migratory fish begin to show up in the beginning of April and, the number increase significantly from April to August. Fishing Condition: Most tarpon will be encountered in the tidal channels connecting the flats , in most circumstances, fish are see rolling and the angler will try to approach within casting distance. In the south of the "cayos" in 4-5 feet of water, tarpon can be found cruising along the shore. Correct hook setting will also help put the odds in your favour. Point the rod tip at the fish and firmly set the hook with your stripping hand only.

Then keep your rod tip close to the water (to eliminate the slack) and pump the rod sideways with short sharp tugs as you pull on the line and the rod simultaneously. This sound very nice on paper, but if you haven't caught one of this giant primordial beats before, the sight of one inhaling your puny fly will turn you into a bumbling ball of never. The rod: The flies you'll use are not than big, not are they heavy, so you won't need a big rod for the fly, it's for the fish. The ideal rod for Casa Batida is 10wt. From April to Agoust the 12 wt it will be better. Reel: Tough, no-nonsense reel are a must when you are playing tarpon. Anti-reverse, with a strong, reliable drag is a vital. Tarpon reels should hold your line plus at list 200 yards of 30-lb backing. Lines: Floating lines are generally all that are needed.

Leaders and Tippets
Very simple leader, start on perfection loop, then 7 feet of 50 lbs. line, finish with other perfection loop. Attach 24 lb. class tippet with a perfection loop or bimini twist with a loop to loop. Now is the time to the shock leader, it can be connect with a bright knot or a very simple surgeons loop. At last attach the fly with a perfection loop or Rapala knot. Flies: A selection of the following should cover you in all condition ( tied in sizes 2/0- 3/0- 4/0), Cockroach, Chico's Shallow Water Tarpon (burnt orange/grizzly, yellow/grizzly), Stu Apte (Aple Tarpon), Lefty's Deciver (various colour), Deceiver (red/yellow, chartreuse/white), Clouser Minnow (various colour). Popping bugs are very effective all year around. A note on lost fish: The average fly fisherman only lands about 30 percent of jumped fish. The most common causes related to fish loss are dull hook, poorly tied knots and frayed tippet, super-sharp hooks and well-tied knots are of utmost importance! Carry a small hook file at the times. It's important to know that in Casa Batida's area you'll have one day of Tarpon fishing in a week. Those who wish fishing more days the Tarpon will do it with a surcharge of 40 usd a day (for the greater costs of fuel) outside the Casa Batida's area.

Fishing License
at your arrival at the lodge it will charged a Fishing License of $80. The real excitement of fishing Cayo Largo is the serendipitous nature of the experience. The Canarreos Archipelago (350 islands and cayos) are a marvellous oasis in the Caribbean. You'll meet an incredible numbers of shades of green and blue.

The peaceful of the inhabited cayos, divided by flats and channels. Square kilometers without people, boats, divers. Just some doves, flamingos or pelicans, to make more pleasant your immersion in this virgin land. Some of the flats have still not seen a fisherman on a fly, and part of the fun will be finding new and productive area. The guides will not be rotated during the week.

Guides speak English, French or Italian; Spanish obviously. The atmosphere in Casa Batida is very relaxed, and the staff is friendly and willing to do whatever it takes to make your stay pleasurable.

Inside of Casa Batida there's a work table where you can build your own fly (recommend to carry only hooks), you can watch fishing videos and magazines, to listen to the music, talk with guides and colleagues or just relaxing on a sofa. At Casa Batida you can store the technical equipment for the night. Twenty meters outside Casa Batida we have our dock where 4 boats keep waiting. Aside a pool ans shower are available. Casa Batida is the meeting point going-returning from fishing session. You will have breakfast at the hotels from 7:30 a.m. Departure is at 8-8:30 a.m. with your skiff.

The majority of Cayo Largo Flats have firm bottom and provide a good wading, most days you will have the option of either fishing from the skiff or wading. Anglers choose to take advantage of the best time to spot bonefish and permit on the flats, usually from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Earlier and later, the sun glasses causes a glare, making fish difficult to see.

Each evening the manager and the guides will determinate the next day's schedule on the basis of the clients input and careful rotation of the productive areas to ensure the grounds are rested.