Latest fishing reports from Cayo Guillermo

[crazycuda]

Hi everybody, going to cuba this sunday, has anyone got any fishing reports on the cayo guillermo area. Any tips would be gladly recieved. Thanks guys.

[steve m]

Hi Crazycuda,

Got back from Cayo Gullermo last week and we did ok.
Spent a few a hours at Pilar beach and got a few jacks on a spinner. Didn't see as many fish here as last year but I think it probably fishes better at night.
The channels behind the Sol were full of baby tarpon but the water there was quite dirty this year and although we had a few takes I only managed to land one of about 10lbs on an orange clouser. There were also plenty of fish rising in the channels between the Cojimar and Daquari but didn't manage to get any - these ones are slightly smaller than those behind the Sol.
There are definately bonefish off the beach in front of the Cojimar as we saw a pair come right up to the sand in the middle of the day but typically I didn't have my rod with me and couldn't locate them later...
The bridge beside the Speedboat Hire area was ok for jacks this year with the locals catching plenty of a good size on live bait. Saw a big school of large barras off the far side of the bridge but although I threw loads of spinners and lures at them they weren't interested. Probably could have got them on live bait.
If you keep walking across the bridge and fish the flats from the left side of the road just beyond the bridge you've got a good chance of getting some barras on a spinner. Not too big but good sport on light tackle - they seem to go for long skinny silver lures (4-6 inches, 20g) and like them fished fast and near the surface.

You can hire a car (£40 a day) or a moped (about £15 a day) and drive down the island towards the lighthouse at Paredon. The moped is the cheaper option but takes about 2 hours each way (with 2 passengers).
Before you get to the outpost at Paredon the bridge is a great mark for all sorts of decent size fish. We got a good size jack on a ledgered prawn and freelined bait to get a big needlefish. Make sure you have a wire trace on for the needlefish.
If you carry on past the bridge you have to stop and give the guards a bip on the horn and they'll come out and let you carry on. A few cold beers are usually appreciated by these lads.
We got some decent bonefish around the flats at Paradon (before the lighthouse) but I know the guides use these areas so don't know if they'd be best pleased to find you there. Saying that, I don't know if they have exclusive rights to these areas. Anyone?
Hope this helps,

Regards,
Steve

[steve m]

Hi Crazycuda,

Got back from Cayo Gullermo last week and we did ok.
Spent a few a hours at Pilar beach and got a few jacks on a spinner. Didn't see as many fish here as last year but I think it probably fishes better at night.
The channels behind the Sol were full of baby tarpon but the water there was quite dirty this year and although we had a few takes I only managed to land one of about 10lbs on an orange clouser. There were also plenty of fish rising in the channels between the Cojimar and Daquari but didn't manage to get any - these ones are slightly smaller than those behind the Sol.
There are definately bonefish off the beach in front of the Cojimar as we saw a pair come right up to the sand in the middle of the day but typically I didn't have my rod with me and couldn't locate them later...
The bridge beside the Speedboat Hire area was ok for jacks this year with the locals catching plenty of a good size on live bait. Saw a big school of large barras off the far side of the bridge but although I threw loads of spinners and lures at them they weren't interested. Probably could have got them on live bait.
If you keep walking across the bridge and fish the flats from the left side of the road just beyond the bridge you've got a good chance of getting some barras on a spinner. Not too big but good sport on light tackle - they seem to go for long skinny silver lures (4-6 inches, 20g) and like them fished fast and near the surface.

You can hire a car (£40 a day) or a moped (about £15 a day) and drive down the island towards the lighthouse at Paredon. The moped is the cheaper option but takes about 2 hours each way (with 2 passengers).
Before you get to the outpost at Paredon the bridge is a great mark for all sorts of decent size fish. We got a good size jack on a ledgered prawn and freelined bait to get a big needlefish. Make sure you have a wire trace on for the needlefish.
If you carry on past the bridge you have to stop and give the guards a bip on the horn and they'll come out and let you carry on. A few cold beers are usually appreciated by these lads.
We got some decent bonefish around the flats at Paradon (before the lighthouse) but I know the guides use these areas so don't know if they'd be best pleased to find you there. Saying that, I don't know if they have exclusive rights to these areas. Anyone?
Hope this helps,

Regards,
Steve

[crazycuda]

Cheers steve for the info, Did you try the hobbie cats?. As you can tell by my name I'm chasing barracuda and believe trolling in deeper water may be the key using rapalas or dead bait what do you think? Thanks again, only two days to go!!!!!!

[waggerlad]

hi crazycuda.
me and the welsh wonder mark fished the hobbycats in novemberfrom the daqurie the deadbait worked for me (moarra) evertime mark used raps bid red ones and others he had had a few chases but no fish as soon as he used deadbait bang, he lost a very good cuda.
i had five barracuda and a king fish but the lads from the daqurie said both methods work regards

[crazycuda]

cheers guys, I will post a thread on my return regarding fishing and the state of the melia pier. Wish me luck.

[bag up bri]

Tight Lines Crazycuda catch one for me and have a cracking holiday,looking forward to hearing how you get on.:grin3:

[marktheshark]

Ullo Steve M
Can you tell me (as precisely as you can) where you fished behind the Sol please, and how easy they were to get to? I walked the area last year and didn't see any fish topping, but it's always good to have a plan B if the Daiquiri channels get drained or filled (or the crocs get too big!)
Ta
Mark

[steve m]

Hi Mark

I was shown this spot by a guide last year who showed me where to cross but opted to stay on the far bank (on the Sol side) and shout instructions to me when I hooked into one rather than cross the channel!

Anyway, you come out of the entrance of the Sol heading towards the main exit road/guards hut. There are some bushes on the left (opposite the guards hut) and you can see the channel through them. Head for the bushes nearest the corner - literally just off the road. It's a bit overgrown but push through the bush and you'll be on the edge of the channel, just at the point it turns the corner to follow the road up. The water is pretty murky and not particularly nice here and you can't see the bottom but this is the shallowest part to wade through (we did it in sandals, a bit grim but worth it for the fish!). It only comes to half way up your calves. Once across there are plenty of good places to fish from - you should be facing across the water and it's nice and private as the bushes on the far bank screen off the back of the Sol complex. Where you are is really a big island but the best fish seem to be in this particular straight stretch right behind the Sol.

Hope this helps

Steve

[marktheshark]

Much obliged for that ... your instructions ring a bell but I must have walked right past last time. I can't help feeling that we must be mad wading through that stuff just to catch baby tarpon but it's still a laugh.
The Sol area seemed to be bad bad Mosquitoville last time, worse than the Iberostar so I'll go tooled up with Deet.
Roll on June!
Mark