cayo romano and cayo cruz — jardines del rey flats
Lagoons, channels and mangrove flats on the north coast of Camagüey, a sport-fishing-only area, with bonefish, permit and tarpon.
Cayo Romano and Cayo Cruz lie on the north coast of Camagüey, in the Sabana-Camagüey archipelago, the eastern part of Jardines del Rey. They form a maze of flats, lagoons, estuaries and mangroves inside the Cayo Romano Managed Resources Protected Area, which has the Cayo Cruz Wildlife Refuge as its core zone; there the main activity is fly fishing in the lagoons and channels. Bonefish are plentiful all year, averaging about 2 kg with some near 4.5 kg, and permit are also common. The flats, of firm white sand, are good for wading. Tarpon are found in only a few specific spots. Snook, cubera, mutton snapper, jacks and barracuda round out the catch. Boats leave early from the Cayo Romano docks, and the run to the fishing grounds takes about 20 minutes.
best season
Bonefish and permit all year. From January to March northern cold fronts can bring wind, and August to October is the peak of hurricane season.
Local rules: The flats are in the Cayo Romano Managed Resources Protected Area and the Cayo Cruz Wildlife Refuge (Agreement 7,233/2012), run by the National Enterprise for the Protection of Flora and Fauna. In a protected area, tourist fishing on fly or trolling is always catch and release, and this is part of the license the operator processes (MINAL Resolution 18/2020, art. 35). Rod, line and hook only. According to the operator, commercial fishing is prohibited across the 366 km² sport-fishing area. Confirm local rules.
- getting there
- By road to Esmeralda, in northern Camagüey, then along the 42 km causeway that crosses Jigüey Bay and Cayo Romano to Cayo Cruz. The international airports of Camagüey and Jardines del Rey, on Cayo Coco, serve the area.
- facilities
- Lodging run by the fishing operator on Cayo Romano, with guides and flats boats leaving the docks every morning. Shops and services are on the mainland.
- country
- Camagüey, Cuba
tip
With a north wind from a cold front, look for lagoons sheltered by the northern line of cayes. On firm flats, step off the boat and fish on foot, slowly, with the sun at your back.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
what you can catch here
before you fish in Cuba
The recreational fishing license is issued by the provincial offices of the National Office of State Inspection of MINAL, within 72 hours. It can be processed by tourism companies, which is the normal route for visitors: the fishing operator handles the license. Basis: Fishing Law 129/2019, Decree 1/2019 and MINAL Resolution 18/2020 (Official Gazette No. 11, February 7, 2020).
- Recreational fishing only allows rod, baitcasting or spinning reel, line and hook; cast net only at sea and only for bait. Nets, longlines, traps and explosives are prohibited (Decree 1/2019, art. 15).
- Tourist fishing with trolling or fly in protected areas (where the management plan allows it) is always catch and release, and this is written on the license (Resolution 18/2020, art. 35).
- Recreational catch may not be sold. At sea, the limit is up to 15 kg per outing in areas of major fishing interest (30 kg elsewhere) and up to 3 fish over 15 kg per angler (Resolution 21/2020).
The rules and closed seasons in the rest of the app are Brazilian. Outside Brazil, the regulations of the country and province apply: confirm with the official agency.
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- official CNAP — Refugio de Fauna Cayo Cruz5,688 ha (4,539 marine); Agreement 7,233/2012; core zone of Cayo Romano Wetlands; fly fishing in lagoons and channels as the main activity; access by the Jigüey Bay causeway
- official CNAP — Área Protegida de Recursos Manejados Humedales de Cayo Romano237,400 ha (130,494 marine); Agreement 7,233/2012; administered by ENPFF
- official Gaceta Oficial de la República de Cuba — Ordinaria nº 11 de 2020 (Lei de Pesca 129/2019, Decreto 1/2019 e Resoluções 18 a 21/2020 do MINAL)Res. 18/2020, art. 35: in protected areas, tourist trolling or fly fishing is catch and release; Decree 1/2019, art. 15
- market Avalon Fishing Center — Cayo RomanoSport-fishing-only area of 366 km² with commercial fishing prohibited, according to the operator; operating since 2011; species, sizes and cold fronts from January to March