Trip Report: Cuba (January 25-February 1st, 2025)

Location: Canarreos Archipelago, Cuba

The entire Miami airport was shutdown. We sat in our plane still at the apron, while about a quarter of the passengers were up at the gate waiting to board. They halted boarding and we were told by the captain that no flights were leaving/arriving. As we looked out the window, the AeroMexico plane next to us was getting all of the bags taken off and placed on the ground while police dogs did a thorough search. After about an hour, tensions around that plane seemed to calm and eventually the remaining passengers of our flight began to board again. Shortly thereafter, we were wheels up and headed to Havana. 

While scanning the news later that afternoon, after arriving at our home for the night, I finally found the news report that stated someone had made a bomb threat (left a letter) on that plane sitting next to us in Miami. It turned out to be nothing, but certainly created an interesting last leg to our arrival. Thankfully, this was the only real hiccup of the trip.

After the group all arrived at our home in Havana from their various flights, we settled in and headed out to dinner. In a couple of classic 1950's era cars, we cut across Old Havana to a notable local restaurant I was told "you HAVE to go to." This was a different place than I had visited last year, and I was excited for a new spot! After climbing a couple stories of stairs inside an older stone/marble-decorated building, we reached a rooftop restaurant with great views of the city.

(Alan (left) and Ken showing off their early week bonefish)

(Guide Vera showing a good broadside view of Ted's double-digit bonefish. A personal best for him...and the week wasn't even half-over!)

As the first couple of days passed, the mainstay was the quality of the bonefish. This is constantly very true for this area. It regularly produces some of the best bonefishing in the Caribbean by not only numbers, but also size. It was rare to hear about/see a bonefish under 4-5lbs. Many anglers reported catching 7-8lb bonefish, with Ted hauling in the best of the trip, surpassing 10lbs! Mantis/spawning shrimp imitations were really all you needed to tie on. A well-tied pattern put in the right place commonly yielded a willing bonefish. They generally aren't picky - they just want it presented properly. 

As the week continued with the sun-kissed days, we were all able to find some receptive fish. Beyond bonefish, permit, and tarpon, anglers also targeted some of the other worthwhile species on the Cuban flats. Some healthy jacks and barracuda also were tossed into the mix, keeping the action engaged and options even broader. 

(some jacks and barracuda to keep the week spicy)

Although our week's weather was good, with really the wind being the sole difficult factor, this area can be challenging for even the most seasoned angler. There is a lot of area to cover and fish can be found in many locations. Different than a lot of other lodges/locations where there are limited flats or areas to fish, the vast expanse of the Canarreos provides a fishery that requires legitimate effort from both the guides and anglers alike. If you are willing to put in the work, you will likely be rewarded handsomely with potentially some of your personal best days on the flats. 

We did not plan our trip around the migratory tarpon season. When this is happening, the Canarreos (from Cayo Largo to Isla de la Juventud) will be a host to large tarpon out on the flats with the ability to sight-fish for 80+lb fish. However, there are plenty of resident tarpon that can range from 10-40lbs with even larger ones tucked deeper into the channels. One angler jumped an 80-100lb tarpon in one of the channels. 

I got lucky one day and was able to find some great tarpon schools on some outside flats in the 25-40lb range. Sight-fishing that morning was a lot of fun. I landed 3 tarpon and jumped a couple more in only an hour or two right before we ate lunch. 

(a good way to spend a late morning) 

(Erik (left) w/ father Ted and Alan (right))

(Ken (left) and Ted with some fish from the Cayo Largo area)

As the final day passed and we found ourselves back at the mothership sharing fish stories and drinking Mojitos, I think I saw the biggest and widest smiles of the week. Not only had the last day provided some of the best fishing of the week (some landing 20(!!) bonefish on what was also a short day due to time needed to return to the mainland), but it was simply a good ending to a solid week. 

On a personal note, I was fortunate enough one day to complete a Grand Slam. The morning consisted of bonefish. By midday, I was lying on the bow of the skiff exhausted and hooting after landing a memorable permit. After a short break to reflect, my guide Frankie (a great guide who I had fished with in the past) said to me: "So you wanna finish this off??" I looked at him confused and asked, "What do you mean?" To which he replied, "Let's get that Grand Slam buddy!" It wasn't until then that it dawned on me... I generally don't get into competitive/comparative/measurement-type things with fishing (or really anything). I don't carry a measuring tape with me when I'm out on the water, even when guiding. I'll run a fish along a net or rod to get a reference point if necessary, but that's it. Don't care too much about entering tournaments, etc. Competitiveness is a component of fishing that sort of turns me off. BUT! (haha), knowing Frankie seemed confident that we could pull this off and we had still had some time left, I obliged. We blasted around looking for some tarpon and ended up catching a few towards the end of the day to seal the deal. 

It was then that Frankie taught me the Cuban/Spanish expression: "Feliz Como Una Lombriz." I asked Frankie what the rest of his evening consisted of, and he said the rest of the guides were going to take him home and bring out the rum. Knowing that it was as much of a special deal for my guide made it all that much more for me as well.

I always find these trips to be extremely memorable for a lot of reasons. From the eye-opening aspect of traveling and visiting a new location, to the immersive quality of fishing different waters and all that it brings with it, it's the full package that makes these adventures singular. For this specific week: I got to watch a father and son enjoy a special time together, one angler's first bonefish ever, and two personal best bonefish for two separate anglers. Watching people either learn brand new things, build on existing skills, learn, struggle, and succeed has always been a fascinating process for me. This is true while I'm guiding or otherwise...We may have lucked out with the weather, but our group consisted of great people - and that's really the core of these trips. Lots of fish, lots of laughs. 

(Mojito's and stories at the end of the day...)

• Written By: Josh Thelin
• Photos By: Josh Thelin and thanks to Erik, Ken, Alan, and Ted for getting some pics to me on short notice!

Upcoming 2026 hosted trip dates:

• Feb 21 - 28th (call for availability and pricing)
• Feb 28 - March 7th (call for availability and pricing)