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Named by Christopher Columbus, the Jardines de la Reina, are a collection of small islands situated 75km off Cuba’s southern coast.

You will find some of the finest bonefishing in the world in the Jardines de la Reina. These flats are never fished commercially and are teeming with bonefish. The scale of the fishing available is almost unprecedented.

Due to the fact that the fishing is well off the coast, accommodation is on live-aboard boats, some of which are permanently moored while others are able to move about freely.

Although not the easiest Cuban fishing to get to, the fishing is well-worth the effort to get there and suits groups of fishermen who want to maximise their time on the water.

Fishing

Bonefish are the principal species targeted and are generally in the 4 to 6lbs class although there are likely to be daily opportunities for fish in the 7 to 9lbs bracket. Bones in the 10 to 14lbs class have been caught with increasing regularity in recent years.

What is impressive is the overall numbers and average size of the bonefish. There is a variety of flats, from pure white sand to a mixture of sand and grass, to flats where it can be solid turtle grass and marl.

The guides use the flats skiffs to cover a lot of water, but when they find an especially good flat to wade, they often park the boat. Fishermen hop out, accompanied by the guide, and wade the flats. There are a great number of flats that provide outstanding wading for large tailing bones on an incoming tide.

The late afternoon and evening fishing can be especially pleasant. The guides are willing to fish late, and the wind typically dies in the afternoon. Tailing and feeding bones can be spotted hundreds of yards away on the calm flats, and in the low evening light the bones pounce on a fly with reckless abandon, something that you do not see during the day.

Tarpon are everywhere in the island system, especially baby tarpon in the 10 to 40lbs class. Larger fish, 80 to 140lbs are getting more and more common every year, especially between March and June. The many ‘rivers’ and ‘creeks’ flowing between islands are especially good at higher tide levels, and schools of bigger tarpon are often found right out on the flats, in two to six feet of water. It is also thrilling to fish for tarpon at night when the tarpon will come to a popper with dramatic lunges!

Food and Lodging

La Tortuga

La Tortuga is a large, 110-foot long, double-decker floating hotel with seven cabins for guests. Newly-refurbished in 2007, Tortuga is an unbelievably solid boat - made of steel and is anchored in a protected channel, so that it never moves about. Each cabin has its own shower with hot water, toilet and individually adjustable high tech air-conditioning system.

A large air-conditioned dining room downstairs with both a foredeck and afterdeck make this a very comfortable home away from home. Wireless connection is available all the time.

Freshwater is guaranteed by a desalinator providing 4,000 litres a day and generators are located on a small island close to the lodge and run 24 hours, a day.

La Tortuga normally accommodates 14 fishermen, two per room. Individuals and small groups can book La Tortuga, subject to space, and a private charter is not necessary.

Halcon

The Halcon is a refurbished 75-foot luxury yacht. It is equipped below decks with six cabins and three bathrooms with good showers, and plenty of hot water. Up top, there is a large salon, which is fully air-conditioned. Meals are usually served on the afterdeck where there is normally a nice breeze.

The chef on the Halcon does a wonderful job, dinners being primarily seafood but for those wanting something different, chicken and pork are also available.

The guides live aboard the Halcon along with the guests, and having the flexibility to travel around this huge island system in order to find the absolute best fishing is a key to the popularity of the Halcon.

The Halcon can be taken privately by a group of six to eight people. In addition to fishing, the boat caters for diving groups.

Why we rate it

Off the charts fishing of course!

Price

Land packages are from: Tortuga 3,160-4,690 and Halcon 3,160-4,690 for a weeks fishing package.