Trip to Cuba

[Sinker]

the end of the Varadero penisula is a great spot to shore fish
Right in front of the Blau Marina Dining Room. Theres a lagoon that can hold fish depending on time of year.
the main channel between the point and the island is good all year but if I had to pick a week i'd take last
week of mar or first week of april.
Tarpon, Snapper, Snook,Baracuda

I'm headed there first week of april. Care to share any more info on what to bring tackle/gear wise??

Thanks!

S.

[Sinker]

I just got back from Varadero about 10 days ago, send me a message if this is where you're going. Have a few ideas for you. You won't find gear for sale down there, so bring 2 of everything you need. I didn't have great luck, but ended-up doing OK and getting a little intel on the last day that I couldn't capitalize on! Bottom line~I don't think Cuba is a terrific spot for shore fishing, at least not like Florida is. (and it IS)

I'm listening?

Headed there first week of april.

I've been to cuba a few times, but never veradero, so really not sure what to expect for fishing. I have always brought my own gear, but mainly fished bridges on the causeways.

S.

[Mdiddi]

There is also top shelf bass fishing down there that not too many people know about. Americans apparently put them there years back and they were left alone. Some Americans after the embargo would come through Canada to go back down. I met a group on a guided tour on a lake. They had some huge buckets. Spend some time on Google and you will find a guide down there.

I think it is one of the safest countries I have traveled to when it comes to security. I had a friend that lived there (not born there but there on contract) and bluntly said that people there will do you no harm because if they did they would suffer. Tourism is huge for them.

[Sinker]

Not into bass. I catch them here. I want saltwater fish with teeth! Thanks though!

[bonessk01]

Varadero fishing

Take heavey weight travel rods rigged with 40-50 lb braid
Pick a week with a full moon , get tide table app or print off internet
fish 1 hr before and after tide high and low
Best baits are heavey with stainless hooks for casting distance and into wind, Shallow divers most water you can reach from shore is shallow<10feet, jigs, lots of rubber grubs white pink orange
Rod holder that can be set in sand (Large spike) watched a guy lose a 1000 dollar outfit because he was fishing 2 rods and one went byebye before he could move 10 feet
Bottom sinkers in 3-5 oz stainless hooks pack as many old reels as you can and give them away OFF RESORT!
Take rolls of wallmart 15-20lb line cost 3bucks take lots just leave where ever you fish if theirs no one around
they will be gone in no time!
Take zip lock bags for shrimp from buffet
20feet of rope to tie fish up with all fish caught should be given away! there are people there that can't get what you are playing with!
Small back pack to care your stuff in, pair of crocs to wear on your feet that sands a on a long hike and other foot wear doesn't standup to salt ,water,and sand.and you can wade in them all day!
I stayed at the Paradisus in varadero its a good walk every morning to the end of the peninsula.
Walmart has cheap travel rods but I would recommend spending more its a long way to go to lose a fish because of equip.
Ask the catamaran operators if you can troll behind the boat some places allow some don't but if you can give them all the fish you catch.Remember if on a boat speeds you fish for salt water fish are faster than you can beleive!

leaving in a few weeks to try cayo santa maria this year but already thinking I should have booked cayo guillermo from reports im reading on Worldseafishing.com this site has a huge amount of info just make sure you do a decent search before asking as they get a little rankled with FAQ

Mandatory write down some simple Spanish phrases

Can I fish here

Can i fish off boat

you want.....

Fish bait

etc.

Old cell phones are a good tip

[chris1395]

I have no experience saltwater fishing, but I will tell you what I saw when I was in Varadero last week. We stayed at the Blau Varadero. (Awesome hotel btw, second time there.) The beach is just sand there really isn't any grass or other structure until a long ways out in the area we were. We took paddleboats about 150 yards out and didn't see much of anything except sand bottom. It's pretty shallow too until you get about 50 yards out. I saw one tourist fishing early one morning but I don't think he was getting out far enough for anything really large. I saw 1 yellowtail snapper (I think?) up really shallow. I have saw locals casting nets for these little silver fish. I talked to a local who just came in from spear fishing he did pretty good he had about 6 fish I have no idea what they were, all different kinds, and bunch of big conch and snail shells. This was out front of the Royal Hicacos hotel. He said he was out about 3 km at a reef. There is also a canal on the opposite side of the beach front which looked like it could be promising. Driving in I saw quite a few spots along the way with sticks with rags in the water I assume were fishing spots, or so I've read. Lots of locals on bridges at various inlets too. I didn't make it all the way down to the end this time to look around, but there is a cheap trolley train that comes around each hour or you can take a bus down. It is a public beach but I don't know where access points are that aren't through hotel gates, obvisouly there are points to get on somewhere. You might have to ask your hotel front desk or some locals where to get on the beach farther down if you drive.

In general though Varadero is a great place to stay you will enjoy it regardless. This was our second trip back to the same resort, apparently we are going back again next year so I'm going to start accumulating saltwater gear and knowledge over the next year and go prepared next time...

[Marker]

Bones gave some good tips, I surf fish in Florida a lot which is not too far from Cuba and I find the best times are when the surf is up, usually an on-shore breeze is best as it pushes the baitfish to the land. You will need to be fishing first light on the shore as the vacationers start to arrive on the beach after breakfast, dusk and dawn is best anyway. You will not be able to purchase any fishing tackle there so take everything you need.

Raw shrimp is best if you tip the waitress they will get you some. for purchasing bait here and taking it I would prefer freeze dried minnows as bait over plastics, and also look at the Gulp products which give off scent.



Good luck.


Attachment 28492

[bonessk01]

Varadero fishing
Take heavey weight travel rods rigged with 40-50 lb braid
Pick a week with a full moon , get tide table app or print off internet
fish 1 hr before and after tide high and low
Best baits are heavey with stainless hooks for casting distance and into wind, Shallow divers most water you can reach from shore is shallow<10feet, jigs, lots of rubber grubs white pink orange
Rod holder that can be set in sand (Large spike) watched a guy lose a 1000 dollar outfit because he was fishing 2 rods and one went byebye before he could move 10 feet
Bottom sinkers in 3-5 oz stainless hooks pack as many old reels as you can and give them away OFF RESORT!
Take rolls of wallmart 15-20lb line cost 3bucks take lots just leave where ever you fish if theirs no one around
they will be gone in no time!
Take zip lock bags for shrimp from buffet
20feet of rope to tie peddle boat /kayak and fish up with. All fish caught should be given away! there are people there that can't get what you are playing with!
Small back pack to carry your stuff in, pair of crocs to wear on your feet that sands a terror on a long hikes and other foot wear doesn't standup to saltwater,and sand.and you can wade in them all day!
I stayed at the Paradisus in varadero its a good walk every morning to the end of the peninsula.
Walmart has cheap travel rods but I would recommend spending more its a long way to go to lose a fish because of equip.
Ask the catamaran operators if you can troll behind the boat some places allow some don't but if you can give them all the fish you catch.Remember if on a boat speeds you fish for salt water fish are faster than you can beleive!
leaving in a few weeks to try cayo santa maria this year but already thinking I should have booked cayo guillermo from reports im reading on Worldseafishing.com this site has a huge amount of info just make sure you do a decent search before asking as they get a little rankled with FAQ
Mandatory write down some simple Spanish phrases
Can I fish here
Can i fish off boat
you want.....ie my fish
Fish bait
etc.
Old cell phones are a good tip

[scribe]

we are booking a trip to cuba , now my question is has anyone gone down there and did any surf fishing? Spear fishing? if so any guides you can recommend?

I haven't fished in Cuba, but was talking to a guy who was surf fishing where we were staying. He said he caught a few fish doing this. Remember to put something on your feet while wading out as there are rocks and sea urchins that could make a mess of your feet.

[Drastic711]

Thanks for the Blau Varadero info. I am planning to go there and always wonder how is fishing there.
santa Maria Island is great for fishing. Lots of bridges and shore to explore...
licence cost around $400 because some Italian Adriatic company bought fishing rights.
thats way charter fishing cost a lot, boat operators must charge for licence.
if fishing from shore and approach by Cuban authorities just tell them you dont know and leave without argument.
come again tomorrow and continue fishing.
i was approached only once,left and came back after day or two again...