ISLAND OF THE YOUTH (Isla de la Juventud)
One of the best Tarpon destinations in all of the Caribbean
Getting There: All guests fly through Havana and then transfer by bus to a port on the Bay of Pigs to meet their yacht
The Fish: Island of the Youth has exceptional Tarpon fishing, especially during the months of the migration. Bonefish, Permit also available
Notable: Short travel time. The Tarpon here are a larger average, and plentiful in multiple habitats including flats, channels, and the ocean reef
juvenile Tarpon call home. In these locations, guests who enjoy wade fishing will find large, light colored flats where they can stalk bones, as well as slightly deeper borders where guides will know to find Permit.
Isla de la Juventud is a beautiful, and less- traveled part of Cuba. As a result, angling pressure is very low, and even the presence of foreign tourists is unusual. For anglers seeking world class Tarpon fishing, and who like to go where few others have gone before, IDJ should be near the top of their list.
Avalon Fleet 1 moves between Jardines de la Reina to the east, and the prime Tarpon locations of Island of the Youth when the annual migration of fish begins. A luxurious live-aboard yacht, AF1 makes anchor in several spots during the week. This means that guests see a diversity of habitats, and have the opportunity to catch other species as well. The first anchorage is usually to the west, and this is where some of the best tarpon fishing is. As the boat moves to the east, the habitat and possibilities for bonefish and permit increase. This provides great access for clients, and short rides to and from the fishing in skiffs is the norm. Fishing for tarpon at this Western end of the Cannereos Archipelago can be world-class. Better yet, rides along the along chain to the East provide encounters with excellent habitat for Bonefish and Permit.
Isla de la Juventud (Island of the Youth), is the largest island in the nearly 4000 islands that surround the Cuban mainland. Most fishing guests will overnight in Havana, and then transfer by coach to a small port on the Bay of Pigs where they board the Avalon 1 yacht. From the port, the yacht will travel to its first moorage near Island of the Youth.
Isla de la Juventud lies at the western end of the Canarreos Archipeligo, made up of nearly 350 islands. Cayo Largo, another fine angling destination is at the eastern end of this island chain. The habitat here is pristine, and seldom visited, except for a few intrepid divers, lobster fisherman, and anglers in the know. With mangrove islands, tannin stained interior bays, and close proximity to the deeper water to the south, tarpon flourish near IDJ as juveniles, and return as adults during their migratory months. The "Baby Tarpon" that live in and around the mangroves range in size from 5-30 pounds, while the migratory fish will range from 40-120 pounds. The peak months for large Tarpon are April, May and June, although there are some larger fish available here throughout the entire year.
Although famous for the great Tarpon fishery, Isla de la Juventud is also home to other flats species, including Bonefish and Permit. Both these species become more numerous as anglers reach the outer islands of the archipelago, farther from the darker, mangroved lined water that
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