Cuba Cayo Romano
Join Us November 12-19, 2022
Out Fly Fishing was extremely excited to announce the return to Cayo Romano for 2022. After an incredible week of filming with Fly Nation TV back in 2011. We have returned numerous times with groups to this truly unique and exceptional fishery over the last decade.
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, triggerfish, and barracuda are all consistently available from this location.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The ROMANO is a stunning new accommodation in Cayo Romano. With a privileged location, at only 100 meters from the fishing marina (unlike the previous 45min-1hr drive we had to do when the Casona in Brasil was the previous accommodations).
This new private mini lodge has a swimming pool, bar, lounge, a variety of signature restaurants, bowling area, and more. This lodge features several activities for anglers and also for non fishing guests. Additionally, the accommodation is only 1 hour away from Cayo Coco airport.
The lodge is built right on the water, overlooking a beautiful channel visited daily by tarpon schools and jacks. Some of the best fishing takes place right off the marina before dark.
All rooms are spacious and well appointed with air conditioning, tile floors and nice showers. The Romano has a private block of rooms specially assigned to the Avalon anglers, in a quiet area.
In the open-air main lodge you will find comfortable lounging chairs and a fully stocked bar with an accommodating bartender. After a long day on the flats it’s nice to recount your adventures to fellow anglers while sipping an ice-cold beverage and enjoying the daily selection of snacks prepared fresh every afternoon. After a shower, make your way to the dining room to enjoy the chef’s daily specialty. This accommodation offers a “lodge atmosphere” to anglers who visit it, as it is remote but not disconnected. The main lodge has wireless internet for guest use. Come down and enjoy yourself at Cayo Romano.
DESTINATION CAPACITY
Angling capacity at Cayo Romano/Cruz is only 16 rods. This marine preserve receives very little pressure and angling days are carefully restricted.
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 since 2011 and has not seen many clients, when compared to other locations in the Caribbean that offer this quality of fishing. This leads to an unpressured fishing area where the guides have free range to explore and share the bounty of this flats oasis. Many of Avalon's guides have worked in this area previously as commercial fishermen and have grown up among these flats, lagoons, and mangroves.
Because of this deep history and wealth of knowledge, along with Avalon's professional and progressive training measures, Cayo Romano now features some of the best and most competent guides in all of Cuba and the Caribbean. Avalon guides speak good English and are eager to share stories about their Cuban heritage and unique fishing experiences with the guests. These guides will go the extra mile for each and every one of our clients while exhibiting a passionate drive towards success while pursuing the fish of a lifetime.
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 kilometres 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.
Cayo Romano demonstrates all the characteristics of a recently discovered, virgin fishing territory – large numbers of fish, good sizes and their evident lack of exposure to flies and leaders. Add to this the natural beauty of the cays and of the water and you have a truly memorable place to fish. 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 6 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. 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. If you hit it right and the sardine schools are in, fish over 100 pounds can be landed.
Besides the fishing for permit, bonefish and tarpon, you will also cast for other challenging species as mutton snapper, snook, cubera snapper, jack crevalle, barracuda, etc.
GETTING THERE
Guests will fly into Cayo Coco where you will clear customs. Upon arrival in Cayo Coco, guests will board a waiting taxi for the 60 minute drive through the countryside to the town of Romano. 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.
TRIP COST: $4199USD
INCLUDED IN PRICE
– Transfers to and from the Cayo Coco International Airport
– All transfers inside Cuba as per program below
– Round trip taxi service from Cayo Coco to Romano Hotel on arrival and departure days
– 7 nights at the Hotel Casona de Romano (dbl occupancy) full board
– 6 days of guided fishing
– Cuban sport fishing license
– Comprehensive pre trip information package
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE
– Round trip flight to Cayo Coco
– Fly and spin fishing gear
– Alcohol
– Gratuities
– 25 CUC airport departure tax
– Mandatory Cuban Medical Insurance Policy
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
– Credit Cards and debit cards are not an option in Cuba. Cash is essential to pay for bar tabs, guide and staff gratuities.
– Electricity is both 110 and 220 volt
-All trip payments must be made via wire transfer to our Bank or via USD Bank drafts
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.
There’s just not the space to fully relate what this fishery has to offer so please take a look at some of the photo albums and stories available. For more pictures from Josh’s 2011 trip to Cayo Ramano on a Fly Nation TV shoot check out these links.
Fly Nation’s FB page Photo Album:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.149335855136027.34626.108329512569995&type=3
O.F.F.’s Facebook page Photo Album:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150351220092023.342252.47790722022&type=1
Slipstream’s Travel Blog from the Fly Nation shoot:
http://www.slipstreamangling.com/index.php/blog/
Spots are limited so don’t miss your chance to join us for a week O.F.F. in Cuba!