Tournament Poop

[cubafish]

Here's the information/answer to Jeff's question. Looks like an interesting tournament.

The "Gregorio Fuentes" International Fishing Tournament will be held from July 22-24, 2004 at Marina Darsena Varadero, in Matanzas Province. It is a Swordfish and Sawfish Tournament, in the waters north of the Hicacos peninsula.

Cubanacan Darsena de Varadero
Marina Matanzas.
Coordinates: 23 08 North, 81 19 West
Director: Juan Caballero Interian
E-mail: direccion@marlinv.var.cyt
------------
and here's the answer to the question posed by Papa: The 54th "Ernest Hemingway" International Billfish Tournament will be held from May 31st to June 5th out of Marina Hemingway in Havana.

[CubaManiac]

[smiley=2thumbsup.gif] :D :) ;)

[jeffg]

thanks again cubafish ;)

sawfish ??? wild! how prevalent are they?

[cubafish]

<< sawfish >> I dono, but when I'm at the Hemingway tnmt the first of June I'm gonna find out! I may go home thru Varadero and have a look around for a day or two. 8)

[CubaManiac]

are there ANY BIG MARLIN left ? ?

[cubafish]

Unfortunately the answer is no as they have a very extensive long line fishing program that captures most of their billfish. A big marlin in Cuba now is a 200 pounder. During last years Heminwway Billfish Tournament, a 4 day tournament with 37 boats fishing, on 2 of the days there were zero fish caught - that's equates to a lot of very frustrated anglers. :P

[jeffg]

doing the sawfish tourney cubafish. tight lines & fishtails to ya ! [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

"37 boats for days and shutout 2 days" !! :o :o :o

not good. how big was the winner?

are any Cubamaniacs doing the Hemingway tournament?

[cubafish]

All of the fish caught in last years tournament were small - 100-200 lbs and all were tagged and released.

I'll be at the Hemingway tnmt again this year. :)

[jeffg]

you get around eh cubafish! good on you mate! [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]
do you take a camera ;)

[cubafish]

<< do you take a camera >>

How did you know? ;)

[Wade]

Cubafish,

How was the Hemingway tournament this year?

[cubafish]

Small. Only 17 boats and that included 2 late entrants. Only 4 boats from the US - last year there were 17 and 2 years ago there were 32. Bush's recent efforts have had a definate effect on the number of US boats traveling to Cuba this year and the employees in the marina were crying the blues. Canal #4 was empty/closed and canal 1 & 2 were near empty. Canal #3 was only half full and that included the tournament boats. There were very few fish caught and there were long lines and long line attending boats everywhere offshore of Cuba's northern coast - that's what is happening to all of the marlin.

Interestingly Customs, Immigration, etc. were unusually friendly and swift in clearing boats in. For the first time ever in the 10 years I have been going there, I was not asked for a bribe by any of the 6 agencies you have to clear in thru.

[jackd]

cubafish, don't wan't to publish trade secrets, but how do boats from the US get away with going to Cuba or the tournament *???

[cubafish]

Most boats final departure point is Cayo Hueso. 8) So you put the key in the slot and turn it just like on your car. Then once the engine(s) start, the compass heading is 210 degrees. ;D

[jackd]

[smiley=2thumbsup.gif] ;)

[cubafish]

Jack:
Just FYI I was not being a smart a*s with my reply :-[ . Those who go, tournament or no tournament, just go. Preparation is the real key and the main problem lies with the fact that from a safety standpoint, crossing the Gulf Stream is not a trip to be taken lightly. :o

[jackd]

No problemas Amigo, like I said don't wan't to publish trade secrets, was just wondering about the travel restrictions.

Being a fair weather sailor, I can appreciate what you say about crossing the Gulf Stream :o

[cubafish]

No trade secrets on this end. If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask. 8)

[radar]

Cubafish - How was the catch this year?

[cubafish]

Very poor. Not many boats and even fewer fish - the Cubans are snaring everything that swims close to their shores.

[radar]

I assume you are talking about commercial fishing.
Is the commercial catch for export or domestic consumption?

[cubafish]

Yes. They are commercially fishing their fisheries resource into oblivion. My inquiries revealed that the fish they catch all goes to tourist hotels, restaurants, etc., on the island, although some of the catch is sold under the counter and otherwise by the fishermen in the finest Cuban tradition of screwing the government. ;)

[jackd]

cubafish, I heard the same thing goes for lobster, shrimp and other sea foods, it all goes to feed the tourists *::)

[greslogo]

A lot of the lobster gets exported, mostly to France.

[Rose]

It seems exports go to France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Japan, Australia, China, Canada, México, Argentina Dominican Republic, Guadalupe and Martinica:

Caribex S.A. especializada fundamentalmente en la exportación de productos pesqueros congelados (langosta entera, camarón de mar y cultivo en sus diferentes formas) . Sus ventas están orientadas a los mercados de Europa (Francia, España e Italia fundamentalmente), América del Norte (Canadá), Japón, Asia y Australia
Exportación de productos vivos y frescos del mar. Sus ventas están orientadas fundamentalmente a los mercados de Asia (Japón y China), Europa (Francia, España, Italia, Portugal y Grecia), América del Norte (Canadá), América del Sur (Argentina) y El Caribe (Guadalupe, Martinica y Républica Dominicana)

Exportación de pescados congelados de la plataforma insular y de la acuicultura. Sus ventas están orientadas a los mercados de Europa (Francia, España e Italia), América del Norte (Canadá y México), América del Sur (Argentina) y El Caribe (Guadalupe, Martinica y Républica Dominicana)

Sus formas de presentación, enteros, eviscerados, individualmente congelados y envasados en cajas de 15 y 23kg. netos.


Pescados Congelados de la Plataforma Insular Cubana:

Pargos, Chernas, Bajonaos, Roncos, Sierras y Serruchos, Loros y Cojinuas
Pescados Congelados de la Acuicultura:

Tilapias, Tencas y Pez Gato
Otros Productos:

Muelas de Cangrejos, Jaiba Azul, Masa de Jaiba y Cobo

[Rick]

Yesterday I saw some very small Cuban lobster tails in the market for $39 a pound. Right next to our Atlantic variety for $10 a pound! :-/ ???

[cubafish]

I've bought lobster tails "in the field" for 2/$1, and traded a few very inexpensive fish hooks worth far less than $1 for 4 tails one day.