The Isle of Youth as it is affectionately known is one of the most remote, idyllic locations in the Caribbean with some of the best flats Tarpon fishing in the world. Fly Odyssey has been hosting group trips every year to IDJ for nearly a decade, allowing you to fish very unpressured waters to Tarpon in excess of 100lb’s.
From the luxury and comfort of your liveaboard, the experience explores the remote waters between the Isle of Youth and Cayo Largo throughout the Canarreos Archipelago. This area is beyond the reach of any land-based operations and the tarpon fishing here is simply immense with big numbers of shots at fish daily in the 15-50lb range. Combine this with some outstanding bonefish and permit fishing and you have a fantastic saltwater fly fishing destination
THE ISLE OF YOUTH, CUBA
Dates: July, 2022
Cost: AUD$6,930 * to be advised
Rods: 8
Available: 4
Host: James Laverty
Inclusions: Return Domestic air flights from Havana to Nueva Gerona, IDJ, 7 nights full board aboard the Avalon 1 including all alcoholic beverages and cocktails, 6 days guided fly fishing, ground transfers on IDJ.
Exclusions: International flights to Havana, meals, and accommodation in Havana on arrival and departure, Taxi transfers, Oceans for Youth conservation fee (USD$100) and open bar fee (USD$200), Cuban visa (USD$70)
The Isle of Youth as it is affectionately known is one of the most remote, idyllic locations in the Caribbean with some of the best flats Tarpon fishing in the world. Fly Odyssey has been hosting group trips every year to IDJ for nearly a decade, allowing you to fish very unpressured waters to Tarpon in excess of 100lb’s.
From the luxury and comfort of your liveaboard, the experience explores the remote waters between the Isle of Youth and Cayo Largo throughout the Canarreos Archipelago. This area is beyond the reach of any land-based operations and the tarpon fishing here is simply immense with big numbers of shots at fish daily in the 15-50lb range. Combine this with some outstanding bonefish and permit fishing and you have a fantastic saltwater fly fishing destination
Day 0: Arrive into Havana, and check-into your Hotel in the CBD. Settle in and rest.
Day 1: Old Havana – explore the bohemian and charming old Havana. Join a walking tour, visit the markets, or sit at a bar, listen to music, and watch the world go by. Learn about Cuba’s history, view the architecture, and step back in time. Evening Friday night group dinner.
Day 2: Transfer to the airport where we will be met by the Avalon 1 staff before boarding a 9 am flight to Nueva Gerona, IDJ (60 mins). Transfer to the Marina and board the Avalon 1. Enjoy lunch and gear-up for the next day’s fly fishing. The boat will transfer us to the fishing grounds in the afternoon. Evening dinner and roof-top spa to end the day as the sun goes down.
Days 3-8: Breakfast is typically served at 7 am, before boarding the skiffs to commence the first days fly-fishing (2:1). Guests can request a packed lunch or return back to the Avalon 1 around 1 pm for lunch/siesta before venturing back onto the water at 3 pm. Fishing will generally finish around dusk 7-8 pm before dinner is served. Relax into the evening on the middle or upper deck, with bar facilities open to rehydrate and discuss the days fishing.
Day 9: Final morning aboard the Avalon 1 before departing back towards Gerona, IDJ. After lunch, the group will be transferred to the airport at around 2 pm before a 4 pm departure back to Havana, arriving at 5pm. Transfer and check-in to your Hotel before a final Saturday night evening/dinner in old Havana.
Day 10: International departures commence or continue your holiday in Cuba.
The Avalon 1 mothership is a 110ft Yacht, built in 1995 and recently refurbished in 2015 throughout. With eight air-conditioned cabins, comfortable beds, sun-deck, whirl-pool and exotic food menu it’s the perfect base to explore the tarpon flats on the Canarreos Archipelago.
The layout of the live-aboard is spacious and comfortable, with four staterooms on the lower deck, two on the middle deck and two adjacent to the main salon. All have private en-suites with hot water, televisions and are in either double, twin or triple configurations with good storage. Each room has panoramic windows to enjoy the views of the Caribbean.
The boat has rod-storage areas with fresh water available to hose all your gear down at the end of each day.
On the Upper Deck, the large Dining Area is surrounded by comfortable sofas to relax before dinner and enjoy a Cocktail while watching the sunset. There is a large serviced Bar on one corner with a music system, which is well equipped to prepare all kinds of beverages, cold beers at the end of a long day.
At the end of the large dining room, the stairs lead to the roof, to an open area with Jacuzzi, a majestic Grill, chairs and an excellent panoramic view.
Dining on board combines the style of the best Continental Italian cuisine with delicious Seafood including Lobster and traditional Cuban favorites. Beverages available on board included in your open bar fee include bottled mineral water, sparkling and tonic water, various soft drinks, juices, cocktails, beers, rums, whisky and excellent wines.
The Chef on the Avalon is excellent. The day starts with a hearty breakfast. Lunch and dinners are primarily fresh fish. Lobster is their specialty and is served in a variety of ways. For those who like something different, chicken, pork and beef are also available. Salads and different fruits are served at every meal. Desserts feature our famous Cuban caramel custard, rum-flavored cakes, cookies, puddings, pies and many others. Vegetarian and kosher meals are served on request with many different choices available.
With up-to eight anglers, the four skiffs aboard the Avalon One will accommodate two fly fishermen with one guide each, exploring the waters and Marine Park region of the Canarreos Archipelago. A remote chain of islands that runs eighty miles from Isla de la Juventud, all the way to Cayo Largo off the west coast of mainland Cuba, these areas of Cuba are beyond the reach of any land-based flats skiffs. The tarpon fishing here is immense and will see you having large numbers of shots at flats cruising fish each day.
The majority of tarpon fishing will occur on the deeper flats, channels and mangrove-lined lagoons with fish ranging in size between fifteen and one hundred and twenty pounds in weight. May through to August are the best months to have the opportunity to jump these larger migratory fish.
While there are mangrove lined channels that can be fished successfully blind for Tarpon, the sight fishing appeal on the expansive flats areas makes this region fairly unique.
A typical day starts after breakfast at 7:00am and you are out in the skiffs from about 8:00am. The leisurely daily program involves stopping for lunch around midday and a rest on the Avalon around 1pm for lunch and a break, before heading out around 3pm and fishing through until dusk at 8pm. In addition to the mobility of the mothership to fish new grounds each day in close proximity to the fishing grounds, the ability to fish late into the day also maximises your time on the water.
Combined this with some outstanding bonefish and permit fishing and you have a stand-alone saltwater fly fishing destination. While not easy to fool, you will get multiple shots at Permit throughout the week, with good numbers of Bonefish to 8lb’s and Snook also available.
“The Isle de Juventud Tarpon Week was my first hosted trip, and my first experience of live-aboard saltwater fly fishing. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but soon found any expectations I had to be totally exceeded, boating a 90 lb size tarpon on the first morning. My first one ever! The fishing was fantastic throughout the week with a variety of pristine locations from ocean reef to mangrove back-country and huge flats, and tarpon to be seen on all of them. Our skiffs were the only other fishing boats we saw during the week, and the vast fishing area feels remote and untouched.
The local guides are superb: hard-working, helpful and with a great sense of humour. They’re at their happiest when they’ve found a school of tarpon, and you’ve managed to keep one on all the way to the boat.
The live-aboard experience was great. There’s more than enough fishing time during the day, with no time wasted on travelling to the skiffs, and time for a post-lunch siesta to recharge the batteries for the afternoon and evening. The group were great fun and excellent company, with everyone sharing the day’s stories over the pre-dinner mojitos.
We had a free morning and afternoon in Havana at either end of the trip and it was worthwhile venturing into the city to soak up the atmosphere and have an excellent dinner before leaving for the airport.
Mat and the Fly Odyssey guys were great throughout, with excellent organisation before and during the trip. Kevin from Fly Odyssey was especially helpful, advising and providing my flies, leaders and fly lines for the trip.
I would whole-heartedly recommend this trip. It was a real adventure and I hope to be able to make it back another time”
Alan, UK
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