Jardines de la Reina Fly Fishing Vacation
If you are considering a tropical saltwater excursion in the Caribbean, 
we would highly recommend the Tortuga (Avalon Fishing and Diving Center) located in the Jardines de la Reina--"The Gardens of the Queen" cayos located off the southern coast of Cuba. We are convinced that it truly offers the saltwater angler all of the best in tropical saltwater angling--tarpon, bonefish, permit, jacks, cuda--all in shallow, clear water with experienced, knowledgeable and professional guides who are intimately acquainted with the fishery. You will also see no other anglers on the flats while you are there. The flats skiffs used at the lodge are all very modern, beautifully appointed for fly fishing and exquisitely maintained for reliability.
Jardines de la Reina Fishing
The fishing grounds literally surround the Tortuga. Each pair of anglers has the services of an experienced, knowledgeable local guide for the week. The guide will take you to the fishing areas in a modern, well-equipped flats skiff, powered by reliable Yamaha outboard engines. The fishing grounds are extensive, and runs to the flats usually take no more than about thirty minutes. Once at the fishing venue, you will either fish from the skiff as it is poled by the guide, or wade the flats, depending on where you are fishing. All of the guides are conversant in English and all are fly fishermen who understand the needs of fly fishing clients.
The fishing day starts early with breakfast in the dining room, then onto the flats for the morning's fishing. Lunch can be taken on board the skiff, or you can return to the Tortuga for lunch. The fishing day usually extends to approximately 5:00 p.m., when the guide will return you to the Tortuga in plenty of time for a drink and shower before taking dinner. There is a half day of fishing on the day of arrival, then five full fishing days, finished by a morning's fishing on the day of departure from the lodge.
The waters of the Jardines de la Reina contain good numbers of a variety of game fish. Tarpon can be sight fished in the clear waters surrounding the cayos, appearing in schools and as singles. The average size of the tarpon is 30 - 60 pounds, with larger fish being seen and/or jumped each day. The largest tarpon we saw on our initial visit were around 100 pounds. If the visibility is good, it is not uncommon to encounter large numbers of tarpon in a day. The really good news is that most of them will grab the fly if it is properly presented. Indeed, I have never had such a large percentage of target fish bite as I did in the Jardines. In addition to the larger tarpon on the flats, there are lots of smaller tarpon in the mangrove areas and creeks adjacent to the flats. These fish are up to about 20 pounds and they are very aggressive takers when the fly is presented to them. Fishing for the 'baby' tarpon is great fun, but it puts a premium on casting accuracy, given the tight quarters where the small tarpon live. They are also very prone to disappear into the mangroves after they grab the fly, leaping from the water and into the greenery at the mangrove edges.
There are good numbers of bonefish in the shallow flats around the cayos. Some of the flats are solid enough to accommodate wading to stalk the bonefish, while others must be fished from the poled skiff. The bonefish are a reasonable average size, with the occasional large fish appearing. All of the bone fishing is sight fishing, often pursuing schools as they push around in shallow water.
There are reasonable numbers of permit in the waters around the Jardines, and a Grand Slam is a possibility on any given day. We had 2 clients achieve Grand Slams during the 2006 season. The permit tend to be large - 15 to 45 pounds - and they are as hard to catch as are permit anywhere. You are certainly not guaranteed a permit, but you will undoubtedly have a chance to cast to them during the stay.
Jacks, barracuda and various snappers occur in good numbers around the flats, as do other varieties of game fish.
Jardines de la Reina Fishing Packages and Details
Accomodations
The Tortuga
The Tortuga is a 110' long floating hotel moored permanently among the cayos of the Jardines, protected from the wind and waves of the open water. It is a very adequate and comfortable accommodation. The rooms are somewhat small, but easily accommodate two anglers each, together with their gear. Each room has its own bathroom, including toilet and shower, and all have air conditioning. Meals are taken in the dining room on the main deck, prepared and served by an experienced staff. The food is very good and features Italian, American, Cuban dishes and sea foods. There is a spacious common area at each end of the Tortuga where a drink can be enjoyed at the end of the fishing day. If you wish to experience the diving potential of the area, there is a dive master on board and arrangements can be made while on board.
The Halcon
The Halcon is our recently refurbished luxury yacht with a storied past. Seventy Five feet in length, it is equipped below decks with six cabins, and three bathrooms. Good showers with plenty of hot water make things comfortable. Up top there is a large salon, which is fully air conditioned and a perfect place to have cocktails after fishing, before dinner.
Meals are usually served on the afterdeck where there is normally a nice breeze. The chef on the Halcon does a wonderful job with the meals. Dinners are primarily seafood- fresh fish every day, lobster and conch. For those that would like something different, chicken and pork are also available. Salads and a variety of fruits are served every day. The desserts like flan, and rum cake are delicious.
The guides live aboard the Halcon along with the guests, and having the flexibility to travel around this huge island system in order to find the absolute best fishing is a key to the popularity of the
Halcon. The ideal group of anglers is eight, with four guides and four flats skiffs available at all times.
The La Reina (The Queen)
The La Reina is a comfortable yacht, not new but still very efficient. Sixty-nine feet in length, all air conditioned, with 4 double rooms , 2 per side sharing a bathroom on each side! Showers with plenty of hot water make things comfortable.
Meals are usually served on the inside deck. The chef on the La Reina does a wonderful job with the meals. Dinners are primarily seafood - fresh fish every day, lobster and conch. For those that would like something different, chicken and pork are also available. Salads and a variety of fruits are served every day. The desserts like flan, and rum cake are delicious.
The guides live aboard the La Reina along with the guests, and having the flexibility to travel around this huge island system in order to find the absolute best fishing is a key to the popularity of this vessel.
Upcoming Trips
April 10-16, 2010: Tortuga
May 8-14, 2010: Tortuga
June 5-11, 2010: Tortuga
* If you are interested in going to the Jardines at times other than the above listed weeks, let us know and we can put together a package for you.
How to get there
Air service operates from various departure points in Canada (depending on season) direct to Havana or Cayo Coco. If you travel to Havana, you will have to overnight and then travel overland by bus to Jucaro (approximately 5 hours driving time), or by air to Cayo Coco (45 minute flying time) and then bus to Jucaro (1 ½ hour driving time). Once in Jucaro, you will be met by the Tortuga staff and transferred to the lodge by boat (approximately 3 ½ hours traveling time).
Rates
Each package includes five full days guided angling and two half days guided angling, based on two anglers per boat with single guide. The package also includes all accommodation based on double occupancy in the room, three meals per day while on Tortuga. Not included in the price is transportation from home to Cayo Coco or Havana return, transfer to Jucaro return, bar tab while on the Tortuga, gratuities to the guide and lodge staff and any other expenses incurred while in Cuba. A non-refundable deposit of $1500 USD is necessary to hold space, with the balance being due 90 days prior to arrival at Jucaro.
Deposits
A non-refundable deposit of $1500 USD is necessary to hold space, with the balance being due 90 days prior to arrival at Jucaro.
Special Notes
If you are interested in going to the Jardines at times other than the above listed weeks, let us know and we can put together a package for you.
For package pricing please fill out the form to the right or contact us by phone (403) 271-1016 or by e-mail.
