This January (2023), I was fortunate to co-host a trip to Cuba to fly fish. All I can say is that was an amazing experience. Not only did it exceed my expectations, but I also came away with a greater appreciation for how fortunate we have it here in the states, and how much I enjoy salt water fly fishing.
The Cuban people were so nice, and went out of their way to be helpful and gracious. Even though Cuba is less than half the size of Montana, we experienced beautiful white sand beaches, exquisite architecture and fantastic food. Plus some pretty cool cab rides in the vintage cars.
The people of Cuba have a much different life than us. The average salary is extremely low and many people we met work multiple jobs to make a living. But they were always friendly and willing to please. Wifi and cell service was unavailable for the most part of the trip and it was refreshing to put down the phone and enjoy the trip. Most of the things we take for granted, are much tougher to find or don’t exist in Cuba. There are no Walmarts or Target’s, and definitely no convenience stores to buy anything at.
We spent a few days checking out Havana, and then spent 6 days fishing and living on a 150 foot yacht. Our guides were all skilled on fly fishing the specific region and the staff on the boat was top notch. We fished for Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit but also caught Barracuda, Snook, Jack’s, and Mutton Snapper on various days. Many of the guys went diving for lobster and conk which we all enjoyed as appetizers with dinner. With 12 anglers, we had a great time fishing during the day and then relaxing and enjoying the company of others during the evenings.
My highlights of the trip include, learning about a new culture, catching my first tarpon, making new friends, and being in a beautiful place and fishing in a warm climate when it's -20 back home.
Overall, it was an incredible experience and one that I plan to do again soon. We are working on a trip in late January of 2024. Space is limited as most of the guys that went last year will be joining us again, but there is still availability. If you would like to talk to me specifically about this amazing trip, shoot me an email and I would be happy to set up a call to tell you all the details.
