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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). |
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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 fly fishermen , 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 |
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Suggested
Equipment
Bonefish
Bonefish
are the most popular and numerous character in the line-up
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 colour with that
the bottom. The food items that the bone prefer are also
expert in camouflage and will match to their surrounding
perfectly. Then again, there are days when the light colours
are the only colours 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).
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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.
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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.
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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 fish 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 Deceiver ( red/white,
blue/white), Streaker, Shark Fly (2/0- 3/0) |
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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 aggressively
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.
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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 August 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. |
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Fishing
License
On
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 kilometres 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 and 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. |
Cuba
Prices
Holiday Enquiry Form
For more
details contact: Stevie
anglingclassics@aol.com |
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