CAYO LAS BRUJA – CAYO SANTA MARIA
World Class Fishing for Tarpon
From February 2009, We will be offering the fishing area north coast of Villa Clara province in Central Cuba in the west sector of Jardines del Rey. Unesco has declared this region a reserve of the biosphere. The area is beautiful, with channels,mangroves and flats and tarpon fishing is world class. The area is not very famous in Europe yet but it has proved a very good fishing potential for big tarpons, jacks, cudas, snappers, grouper, etc. during the past seasons.Fishing for tarpon is world class.

Fish from 10 to 40 lbs are present all year long and very big fish upto 100 lbs+ start to show up in great numbers from March onwards. Fishing for big snappers and jacks is also great on fly and with spinning rods.Then the vicinity of the Bahamas Channel offshore offers good possibilities for wahoo, dorado and tuna.Spin fishermen will also find fantastic entertainment on big tarpon, jacks, cudas, snappers, groupers, etc.

There are several options for accommodation, near the fishing club, in very nice bungalows, just by a beautiful white sandy beach or in the Cayo nearby in a Sol Melia 5* all inclusive hotels. The islands are beautiful and hotels offer the same high quality standards than in Varadero or Cayo Largo.This place is easy to reach by car or by plane from Havana. A 48 km causeway links Cayo Las Brujas, Cayo Ensenachos and finally Cayo Santa Maria where are located the hotels.We will provide full services from the arrival of the clients in Havana. VIP welcome, airport transfers, accommodation in Havana and Cayo Las Brujas (full board) or Cayo Santa Maria (all inclusive), organisation of fishing, camp services.

There will be 8 boats available. Those are 4 of the boats Hewes Bonefisher 17 with 75HP and 90hp (those we used in Cayo Largo) and 4 brand new Carolina Skiff Sea Chaser with 60HP. They are all equipped for fly and spinning, with cooler, life jackets, first aid kit, and radios. There fine to fish in very shallow water or just offshore on thereefs and drop offs located nearby.

For our starting season, we will offer a 15% discount on our prices for anglers. These small islands are connected to the main island of Cuba so we can organise transfers by car from/to Cuba (about 3,5 hours) in order to avoid useless overnights in Havana and to with fit international flight schedules.

CAYO LARGO
Casa Batida Fishing Club is situated on the island of Cayo Largo, a 40 minutes flight south west from Havana. Cayo largo is located at the eastern end of the Canarreos Archipelago which consist of some 350 small islands and cayos covering an area of 240 squares Km of Caribbean submarine shelf as well as flats, cays and channels. These shallow and wonderfully clear waters are home to an abundance of marine wildlife. The island of Cayo Largo covers 35 square kilometres and boasts a dozen resorts scattered along the coast line. Cayo Largo is rightly famous for its fine grained white sandy beaches.

Casa Batida Fishing Club has exclusive fishing rights on the designated Cayo Largo Natural Reserve which encompasses some 140 square miles of saltwater flats and channels. The flyfishing grounds extend 45 to 60 minutes boat ride westwards and eastwards and the different sections are rotated daily between guides. The Club rules dictate for barbless hooks (for bonefish flies only) while fishing and a catch and release policy for all species.

COMFORTABLE ACCOMMODATION
Comfortable accommodation is provided in one of the several resorts. Twin bedrooms with en suite bathroom, shower and WC, TV and refrigerator. All drinks (soft, wine, beer, cocktails) and meals are also included in the Hotel package. There are a number of separate restaurants on the island. The non-fishing companions can enjoy the wonderful beaches, boat excursions, tennis, snorkelling, diving, horse and bike riding. Cayo Largo : Hotel Sol Club Cayo Largo (4 star ) is a brand new hotel, the best standard in Cayo Largo. Several bars and restaurants offer a good food and very good services. Satellite TV, en-suite bathroom, safe, air-conditioning. Your stay at Cayo Largo is all inclusive of drinks & food. Havana : Hotel Havana Libre (5 star ) is very comfortable, well located and very convenient for the first night upon arrival. We can arrange (with supplement) accommodation in other high standard hotels such as Hotel Nacional (5*) very nice old hotel where Al Capone used to stay or Golden Tulip 5*.

MODERN FISHING EQUIPMENT
The Cayo Largo marina is a 5 to 10 minutes minibus ride from the various resorts. Next to the marina, the Casa Batida Fishing Club is located in a villa with a private swimming pool. The Club House is well stocked with fishing video and literature, tying bench and flies as well as extra fishing equipment. Guests can conveniently store their fishing tackle in the Club House between fishing sessions. The Club provides six flat boats (Hewes 16’ and 17’ with Yamaha 75 to 90 HP). Each boat is equipped with First Aid kit, life jacket, radio and cooler. All guides have an excellent knowledge of their fishing grounds; they are experienced boat-handlers and have basics skills with the English language.

SEASONS

A SEASON FROM DECEMBER TO AUGUST
The average climate is warmer than in the Bahamas with an average temperature of 23.6 C in January. These fair weather conditions during the mid winter months are suitable for flyfishing the Cayo flats. August, with an average temperature of 28.2 C, is the hottest month in Cuba. There is invariably a pleasant sea breeze but, occasionally, stronger winds can be experienced. The fishing season runs from December till August, thus avoiding the cyclones period from September till November.

DECEMBER / JANUARY
The beginning of the season from Dec to Jan is very good with already plenty of bonefish (especially big ones) on the flats and mangrove areas. Fishing for tarpons and other species can also
be excellent. It is anyway a very pleasant period to plan a trip to the Cayos as the weather is much warmer in Cuba that in Europe or Northern America.

FEBRUARY - JUNE
The peak of the season is from February to June when all species are present in the area such as tarpon, permit and jack. Migratory tarpon up to 80/100 lbs (average 15/30lbs) are regularly spotted and casts to permit are very frequent. This period is the best to try the Grand Slam. Many Grand Slams are made each season during this period

JULY - AUGUST
In the late season the weather gets hot but the fishing is still very productive especially for tarpon and permit. Fishing for bonefish is also very good in the morning and in the evening. The statistics are very interesting. They show that the same number of fish is caught during the hot months that in the high seasons month but by half the number of rods.

A LARGE VARIETY OF FISH SPECIES
Bonefish: These are the most abundant and popular of the flat species. The average weight is about 6 pounds but bigger specimens are caught, especially in the winter months. Fishing is either from the skiff or by wading. There are vast expenses of firm sand flats and there is nothing more exciting than stalking and catching a « bone » while wading knee-deep in lukewarm water.

Permit: Quite abundant indeed in Cayo Largo where they are up to their reputation of being the most frustrating fish of the flats. Lots of skills and patience are required but a fair number of « grand slams » have been achieved by Casa Batida anglers. They can be spotted very often around bonefish schools or as “singles” on several well-known areas.

Tarpon: Tarpon rate as the strongest, most acrobatic and most exciting saltwater species on the fly. A large number of tarpon are resident year round in Cayo Largo tidal channels and flats with migrating fish showing up in April until August. Their average weight is from 15 to 30 pounds but fish up to 120 pounds may be encountered and, indeed, some large fish have been caught over the past seasons. They are present in the area all year long but tarpons over 50lbs are more usually found from March to August.

Jack Crevalle: These fish noted for their speed and aggressiveness to grab popper flies are mostly found from March onwards on the sandy flats around the main island and are considered a primary target for sight-fishing.

Other species: Barracuda is another regular of the flats and there are some reef species like Snapper, Grouper and Cubera that are always worth a try.

The Temperature varies but generally there is often a cooling breeze and low humidity which makes it seem cooler. However sun block and a hat are essential.