• Cayo Romano
  • Cayo Largo
  • Zapata
  • JRD Tortuga
  • JRD Live Aboards
  • Las Brujas
location
Cayo Romano – Cuba

season
November 1 to August 30

capacity
Angling capacity at Cayo Romano Cruz is 14 rods

species
Bonefish, permit, tarpon. Mutton snapper, snook, cubera snapper

LOCATION

Located on the north shore of the eastern province of Camaguey, the Cayo Romano/Cruz fishery is an enormous system of flats, lagoons and pristine estuaries. Located in Jardines del Rey, commercial fishing within this designated area is strictly forbidden and rigorously enforced by the Cuban Government. The designated sport fish only area is 366 square kilometers in size, meaning that on the average day, each skiff has over 50 square kilometers to itself. The fishing area is virtually untouched and represents one of the cleanest and most biologically diverse ecosystems we’ve ever fished.

PRIMARY SPECIES
Bonefish, permit, tarpon. Mutton snapper, snook, cubera snapper, jack crevelle, and barracuda are all consistently available from this location.

SEASON OF OPERATION
November 1 to August 30. September and October are prime hurricane months in Cuba so we do not recommend these months to book a trip. Please note that the bonefishing in the summer, while excellent, is strongly influenced by the water temperature. The flats at Cayo Romano/Cruz are a little deeper than those found at Las Salinas, which means that the bonefish and permit are still found in excellent numbers throughout the year. We’ve experienced stellar bonefishing well into late July, so guests looking to fish during the summer months can expect the same quality of fishing that is found during the winter and spring months.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE LOGISTICS
The typical week runs from Saturday to the following Sunday. However, we can be flexible in terms of arrivals and departures when given sufficient notice.

ACCOMODATIONS
The Oceans Arena Blanca by H10 is the first hotel in Cayo Cruz which opened in November of 2018. There is not much information about this hotel as of yet, but we know it will have 550 rooms and will be located only 2 minutes from the fishing docks where you will start each morning.

The hotel is an all-inclusive hotel with swimming pool, bar, lounge, fitness center, etc, featuring several activities for non-angling guests. The hotel is only 1 hour from Cayo Coco airport, and 2 hours from Camaguey airport. There is a brand-new asphalt road that connects Cayo Cruz to both airports, which makes transfers both quick and easy.

DESTINATION CAPACITY
Angling capacity at Cayo Romano/Cruz is 14 rods.

THE FISHING
The first thing that guests need to know about when considering this location, aside from the exceptional flats fishing that is found here, is that this is a new fishery still very much in its infancy. It has only been in operation for two years and has not seen many clients, particularly when compared to other locations in the Caribbean that offer this quality of fishing. Nowhere does this become more apparent than with the guides who work this location. The guides are hard working and eager to learn but they are very green and are learning on the job. There are no veteran guides here with decades of experience. The senior guides have at most 2 years of experience and this can at times be challenging to deal with, particularly for some of our more experienced anglers who have fished all over the world with us. However, if you are prepared to be patient while the guides develop, what you will find is a virtually untouched flats oasis, absolutely teaming with fish and wildlife.

The boats depart from Cayo Cruz each morning and depending on the guide rotation that day, you may be heading to any number of areas to spend the day. From Cayo Paredon Grande in the north to Cayo Guanaja in the south, there are countless islands, lagoons and bays that will keep anglers happy and into fish. Much of the fishing takes place back towards the mainland, in and around the massive island of Cayo Romano. The average boat run to the fishing areas is about 20 minutes in length and you can be into fish within 5 minutes of leaving the boat docks. It just depends on where your guide wants to take you that day and what you are interested in targeting. With 50 square kilometers per boat, the options are just about limitless. There are so many great aspects to this fishery that it can truly be a sensory overload at times.

The flats are an inviting combination of hard packed white sand and a semi firm mottled bottom that still provides good wading. And what a place this is for those who like to wade. It’s very similar to Los Roques in terms of the amount of area that’s wadable and there are places here where you can wade for 4 straight hours without heading back to the boat.

The average sized bonefish is a healthy 4 pounds and during the course of the week it is not unheard of for guests to land a fish or two in the 10 pound range. Tailing bonefish are common and guests can expect to see bonefish in singles and doubles, all the way up to schools of several hundred fish. What really sets this location apart from so many other fisheries is that guests can expect to encounter and get shots at good numbers of permit each day. There are very few places on earth where guests can fish for big bonefish each day and get shots at tailing permit. This combination may take place in other locations but not with the consistency that is virtually guaranteed at Cayo Romano. It is a rare day when you don’t encounter and get shots a permit. The permit will range in size between about 8 and 30 pounds.

There are two locations within the Cayo Romano that offer very good tarpon fishing and both are about an 80 minute boat ride from the Cayo Cruz boat launch. The guides tend to save these areas for when an angler has already boated a permit and is looking for a Grand Slam. These fish will range from 30 to 90 pounds.

The exception to this is in late April and May, when the migrating tarpon come close to the mainland to feed and spawn. During this time frame we can organize the skiffs to be brought down to the coastal town of Jiguey, which is just a 10 minute ride from the hotel. This area offers very good tarpon fishing in the bay out front of and to the right of Jiguey and guests can also expect to venture out to the first row of islands off the coast of the mainland looking for silver kings. When you hit it right and the sardine schools are in, fish over 100 pounds will be landed.

BOATS AND EQUIPMENT
The skiffs operating at Cayo Romano/Cruz are Mitzi brand skiffs, manufactured in the United States. Each skiff has a poling platform for the guide along with rod holders and very generous storage space, located at both the front and back of the boat. The casting platform is large and offers lots of space for those anglers who like to move around a bit while standing on the bow of the boat. Constructed from a very light fiberglass mold, these skiffs are ideal for the miles and miles of shallow water flats that anglers will find here. Drawing less than 6 inches of water, the skiffs are powered by very reliable 40 HP Yamaha two stroke engines.

GETTING THERE
Guests will fly into Havana where you will be met by a Slipstream Angling representative as soon as you clear customs. You will be driven into downtown Havana where you will spend the night enjoying the sights and sounds of this dynamic city. The next morning, guests will travel to the domestic airport for the 1 hour flight to Cayo Coco. The flight to Cayo Coco is scheduled daily for 12 noon. Upon arrival in Cayo Coco, guests will board a waiting taxi for the 90 minute drive through the countryside to the town of Brasil, located in Camaguey province. From the mainland, a causeway stretches out into the warm Caribbean Sea, heading up to the boat launch at Cayo Cruz. The road initially winds its way through some very rural farmland and it’s sometimes hard to imagine when you’re on this road that you are actually on your way to one of the finest flats fishing destinations in the world. Once you hit the causeway, after passing though the Cuban military checkpoint, it’s a beautiful drive through the small islands, with gorgeous flats and bays on either side of the road as you head up to Cayo Cruz.

Slipstream Angling is a full service travel company and can handle international airfare, Cuban Visa applications, as well as a host of other services relating to your trip. Please contact us directly at 1 866 644-7703 if you’d like assistance.

INCLUDED IN PRICE

  • 7 nights at the Hotel Casona de Romano in Brasil (dbl occupancy) full board
  • Daily transfers to and from Cayo Cruz each day
  • 6 days of guided fishing
  • Cuban sport fishing license
  • Comprehensive pre trip information package

NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE

  • Transfers, hotel in Havana, meals in Havana
  • Round trip flight from Havana to Cayo Coco
  • Round trip taxi service from Cayo Coco to Brasil on arrival and departure days
  • $100 USD Conservation Fee
  • Fly and spin fishing gear
  • Alcohol
  • Gratuities
  • Mandatory Cuban Medical Insurance Policy as of May 1, 2010

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

- Credit Cards and debit cards are not an option at this location. Cash is essential to pay for bar tabs, guide and staff gratuities.

- Electricity is both 110 and 220 volt – Get your cigars in Havana because there is nowhere to buy them in Brasil.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

1) A valid passport that does not expire for at least 6 months after your departure from Cuba

2) A Cuban Entry Visa.

RATES FOR 2019/20

Low Season :
Jan 4 – March 14 2020 and Aug 29 – Dec 26, 2020

Double Occupancy in Skiff : $3,299 USD
Single Occupancy in Skiff : $5,699 USD

Non Angler : $2,200 USD, DBL

High Season :
March 14 – Aug 29, 2020

Double Occupancy in Skiff : $4,950 USD
Single Occupancy in Skiff : $8,850 USD

Non Angler : $2,500 USD, DBL