Cayo Santa Maria - Cuba

[paulkerry]

Ok i know there have been a few cuba posts n threads but i am looking for more detailed info on this area.... i will be staying in the sol cayo santa maria in July 08 are there any areas worth fising within walkin distance methods n tackle reqd and species ..

Cheers

[lucky]

Paul you you try posting on this site for detailed info on fishing in Cuba. I know there is already one thread specifically on Cayo Santa Maria. Use the search facility to find it.

http://www.cubamania.com/cuba/forumdisplay.php?f=93

Apparently there's no flats fishing at Cayo Santa Maria but you can fish for tarpon there. Also I believe there is a marina where you can hire boats but just ask a few questions on the Cuba Mania site in the Fish Cuba section - the guys on there are very helpful and a number of them go fishing in Cuba every year.

Good luck.

[MARK2204]

Hi There Just Read Your Message And I'm In The Same Boat Im Heading To Las Dunas Hotel In Santa Maria End Of April And Cant Find Much Out If You Manage To Find Anything Out Would You Let Us Know

Cheers Mark

[paulkerry]

Hi There Just Read Your Message And I'm In The Same Boat Im Heading To Las Dunas Hotel In Santa Maria End Of April And Cant Find Much Out If You Manage To Find Anything Out Would You Let Us Know

Cheers Mark

Had to change my holiday as thomas cook changed the flights by 48hrs.. so i am off to dom rep instead

[gerardl]

Hi guys,
I'm new and I'm from Canada. Heading out to Melia Las Dunas in Cayo Santa Maria. Any of u have any infos since cabamania is now dead.

[welshtoffo]

Hi guys,
I'm new and I'm from Canada. Heading out to Melia Las Dunas in Cayo Santa Maria. Any of u have any infos since cabamania is now dead.

Hi, i dont want to be the bringer of doom and gloom but i think most of the fishing is now under private management in Santa Maria,so i think it is hard to find any shore fishing.:thumbdown

[sj fiske]

he is right!avalons sister company has taken over,the marina is cayo las brujas,when i went there it was only 85 cuc plus tip now you are looking at 490 a day,loads of tarpon,july is peak season over there average 130lb.head guide is great,forgotten his name for now.

[sj fiske]

name of head guide is soloman,not sure what rules they have there but if you look at the places where avalon have taken over they have signs up "NO PRIVATE FISHING" and there has been cases where people have had tackle taken and also fined $2000.they class the whole place as a reserve and say they are protecting their country,all a pretense to get more money from fisherman,everyone was happy before so why spoil it for those without the wallets of rich.
they were building a road and bridges further on from your hotel,the plan is to link santa maria to guillermo,a huge task but you will see they built loads of bridges to your resort,either try further up from hotel or the big bridge near your resort but take care and good luck.
sorry for the bad news,on a good note they do a fantastic jet ski trip but you will have to book with canadian opperators as elf n saftey thomas cook wont do it,it is a great trip and very cheap.

[gerardl]

When were you there?

[sj fiske]

went there 4 years ago! i know solomon still there because duinesky enters game fishing contesst in may with him.lot of litle island link up santa maria with mainland,also lots and lots of bays which you see the tarpon rolling,guide normally cuts engine and paddles you to them,they used to have a swiss tackle dealer arrange trips out there just to catch PARGO! snapper,go out an hour or so before llight when it is quiet and use big poppers!best time for them.
the bridge near resort holds loads of huge parrot fish,needles and snapper.
las brujas is def protected now!turn left at the garage and head back to the causeway and you will find loads of small bays and bridges to fish or fish off the beach where they are linking the cayos.

[sellos]

would it be possible to drive from cayo guillermo to las brujas,and any adea how long it would take,was thinking of going there this year but opted for cayo guillermo due to the ban on diy fishing,wouldnt mind driving out for the day to see first hand,there is info on the net but nothing set in stone,:bye1:

[scuro]

I have heard first hand that bridge fishing is banned during the day with patrols. From the sounds of it, it may still be possible at night.

[sj fiske]

cg to las brujas looking at 5 hour drive,head for santa clara,not sure if internal flight available from coco?matanza another great area lost to the italians ass well.

[jeroen]

I was in Las Brujas 2 years ago in may,when the boats were still cheap.Apparently fishing from bridges was always prohibited,not fishing from the shore next to the bridges but I've also heard that DIY is now completely banned thanks to the lovely guys who spoiled it on Cayo Largo.However I believe it's only the bridges on the road to Las Brujas,when you go onto the big causeway to Caibarien there are loads of bridges.I've fished from the smaller bridges closer to Las Brujas,lot of barracudas but the best are the 2 big ones halfway:pargo,barracuda,even smaller cuberas and tarpon.I didn't have any problems at all,nor did the locals.

[Steviecops]

Is there any legal DIY fishing at all on Cayo Santa Mariia? I was looking to go there next year, but I won't bother if they've made it guide only.

Went to the mainland last year, Holguin area, and you could fish where you liked. We had some superb fishing from pedalos from the resort beach. If there's no DIY fishing allowed on Cay Santa Maria, I'll go back to Holguin next year, instead.

[Fishing+Adventures]

I was there 2 weeks ago.

If You keep 4 km distance to the shore line it is legal on CSM.

Otherwise You have to be on one of the 5 boats with a guide.

[gerardl]

Just got back from CSM on Saturday. Fishing was pretty bad from bridges
#44(closest to melia hotels) and 41. Best bridges closest to hotel according to locals. Should be fished only after dark as there are daytime patrols. Went 4 times very early in the morning 5.00 a.m. 2 times the tide was flowing in and caught a few small snappers and other 2 times tide was going out so no dice. Went to Maruguilla beach (past Sol), by hotel being built, fished by the rocks and caught a few snappers and 3 cudas, 1 at least 25 lbs. Overall did not have much luck with lures and most fish taken on natural bait. Very hot and humid.

[Steviecops]

I was there 2 weeks ago.

If You keep 4 km distance to the shore line it is legal on CSM.

Otherwise You have to be on one of the 5 boats with a guide.

Is that keep within 4km, or keep outside of 4km?