TARPON MIGRATION SEASON

April-May

We would argue fly fishing in Cuba at IDJ likely provides any saltwater flats angler THE BEST LOCATION in the Caribbean TO ACTUALLY HOOK migratory tarpon swimming in large groups or strings in crystal clear water. If an angler can present the fly to a tarpon, ie give the poon a chance to see the fly, the tarpon will typically attack the fly with reckless abandon much like a jack crevalle . And if the first fish misses the fly, another will smash it, and another and another... Are we getting the proper picture yet???

For those who have fished the tarpon migration in the clear waters of Florida, this will seem like a foreign concept. And that would be correct. Even when provided with incredible education and teaching by arguably the BEST guides in the world, Florida's clear water oceanside tarpon fishery is extremely difficult. While you will generally get lots of chances casting to tarpon in Florida, getting them to eat the fly is a completely different story. Florida tarpon have PHD's in learning to avoid fly anglers due to the high fishing pressure they experience. Anglers, who have spent years getting their tarpon feeding PHD's, will have the best success feeding them.

Cuban tarpon behave like Florida tarpon did 50 years or more ago... While certainly not as large on average as Floridan migratory tarpon, they offer a particular quality that Florida's tarpon seem to have lost... They eat with reckless aggression!!! If you want to experience what it's like TO HOOK migratory tarpon, in clear waters, swimming the shallow flats, that love to attack the fly, IDJ is your place!!!

For anglers who want this experience, Islands of the Youth is THE PLACE to be DURING the Tarpon migration in April and May. It is not uncommon for completely new anglers to tarpon fishing to hook 5 or more in a single day. Experienced tarpon flats anglers can hook 10-20+ a day. Yes. It can be that good or even better.

PLEASE NOTE: April and May are the ONLY months to EXPECT this fishing scenario

Please get in touch with us ASAP if you would like to join a future Hosted IDJ Migratory Tarpon trip with us .

Most of our trips are SOLD OUT into 2026.

We can put you on a waitlist for future openings and you can work on getting a spot in the future.

SUMMER

Fly fishing Cuba during the summer month of JULY is considered Prime Time for catching SUPER GRAND SLAMS and GRAND SLAMS in Cuba. JULY is the BEST OVERALL month for catching all the flats species in Islands of the youth.

During this season, the weather and the water are warm, and the flats are teeming with all the diverse saltwater species. These fish are extremely aggressive and hungry, making them very willing to eat a fly. Anglers can expect to catch dozens of fish on the good days, with more on the best days. Its very common to catch Grand Slams in July, which means catching PERMIT.

Massive schools of Bonefish, averaging 5lbs, are found marauding the vast flats. It is very common to land dozens of Bonefish per day in July. Anglers will encounter opportunistic Permit, which are typically following the feeding bonefish. The Permit fishing can be exceptional during this time, with seasoned Permit anglers landing multiple fish a week in the 10-30lb range. Tarpon are found throughout the various flats, especially in the "red water" which occurs after night rain showers. Snook will be found on the beaches and in the mangroves. Barracuda, Mutton and Cubera Snapper offer anglers a real plethora of species to chase daily.

Fall/Winter

Even in the "off season", the fly fishing in Cuba can offer its anglers an exceptional flats fishing experience DEPENDING on the weather. When the weather shines, the fishing will outshine the weather. During the calm, warm high pressure periods, the fishing will be outstanding. Bonefish, Permit, and Tarpon will be readily available to encounter. We prefer October as a great time to fly fish Cuba in the Fall.

When winds blow hard from the North, the fishing will slow significantly. Anglers should NOT expect to encounter good fishing during these Cold Fronts. There can still be opportunities for success due to the variety of fishing options to escape the wind ie... in the mangroves, channels, and lee side of the numerous island keys. But MAKE NO MISTAKE, strong North winds will drastically affect fishing negatively. WE ADVISE AGAINST fishing in the Winter months of January thru March due to the weather risks UNLESS one is willing to gamble on the weather and be willing to expect sub-par, if not, horrible fishing for this area.

STILLWATER HOSTED TRIP DATES

Stillwater Travel Hosted 2024 Dates:

July 13-20. SOLD OUT
Oct 5 - 12. SOLD OUT
Dec 7 - 14. SOLD OUT

Stillwater Travel Hosted 2025 Dates:

May 17-24. SOLD OUT
May 24-31. SOLD OUT
July 12-19. SOLD OUT
July 19-26. 4 Spots Available
Oct 4-11. SOLD OUT

Stillwater Travel Hosted 2026 Dates

April 11-18 SOLD OUT
April 18-25 2 Waitlist Spots
May 16-23 SOLD OUT
July 11-18 5 Spots
July 18-25 6 Spots
July 25-Aug 1 Full Boat Available 10 spots

MANY SPOTS are SOLD OUT to returning customers. Please contact us if you are interested in joining future trips during the Tarpon Migration in IDJ OR July/October trips so we can plan ahead to get you a spot in 2027.

Please Email or Call to be added to the waitlist for 2027 dates and beyond

High Season

APRIL – MAY $12,500 - $14,000

April and May are the two PRIME TIMES to tangle with the larger migratory Tarpon on the crystal clear flats. While smaller on average than Florida migratory Poon, Cuban male tarpon will average 20-40lbs and females will average 50-70lbs with larger fish in the 80-100+lbs encountered each week.

Super Grand Slams and Grand slams will be available to anglers during this time frame as well. Permit (10-20+lbs), Bonefish(4-11+lbs) and Snook (5-15lbs) will be on the flats seeking food. 

JULY $11,000

PRIME TIME for Super Grand Slams and Grand Slams. The weather is warm, the water is warm and the fish on the flats are hungry. Large schools of Bonefish can be found on the flats, many times accompanied by a school of Permit. Snook are found on the beaches and mangroves.

This is the PRIME time for anglers looking to catch the overall best time for catching ALL the flats species. We suggest JULY for all newer flats anglers as they are guaranteed great flats fishing and tremendous success.

Low season $7,500-8,500

FALL- OCTOBER-DECEMBER
October offers the greatest value time of year to fish Islands of the Youth to chase the diversity of species. Typically, the weather is still stable so the water remains warm and the fishing on the flats stays very good. The fish have not been disturbed as the fishery has been closed since August due to hurricane season.

Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snook and Mutton Snapper will be the main targeted species. It is not uncommon to fish at schools of Bonefish in the hundreds to thousands. Permit can be found around those schools of Bonefish. Tarpon won't be as plentiful as the April-May time frame but they will still be around in the channels, mangroves and occasionally on the flats.

As you get further into Nov-Dec, the weather can be more unpredictable. If the wind blows from the North at over 20mph for several days, the fish will move off the flats and the fishing will slow to a near halt.

If you are fortunate to have good weather with high pressure during your week, the fishing can be very good anytime from Oct - Dec. As long as one understands the risks of the cold fronts coming in Nov-Dec and how that can hurt the fishing, they can determine whether they want to risk the weather or not.

WINTER - JAN-MARCH

This is BY FAR the most unpredictable season to fish Islands of the Youth. Typically, the most predictable weather will be strong winds from the North. This is NO BUENO for flats fishing in IDJ. The water temperature will drop and the fish will move off the flats in droves.

If one is fortunate to get lucky and have some good weather, the fishing will be ok. For us, the risk IS NOT worth the reward for traveling to IDJ and fishing during what will likely be bad weather for flats fishing 70% or more of the time.

We DO NOT advise people to fish during this season due to the weather unpredictability. If one must go during this time, PLEASE understand the risks.

This is the season when we hear of many clients that booked their trips elsewhere traveling to Cuba and NOT having the type of fishing experience they expected. We want to provide honest feedback to our clients.

In our experiences during this season, the RISK of bad weather with strong winds from the North FAR OUTWEIGH the rewards of potentially good fishing so we do not travel to IDJ during this season.

We HOST THE LARGEST NUMBER of clients to CUBA in the world. THIS IS WHAT WE DO. We have you covered on all the logistics for your trip. We ONLY suggest to clients to travel to CUBA on one of our hosted trips. Cuba can be full of variables that the average angler may not know how to deal with. Spending 8-12 weeks a year in Cuba, we know how to navigate all the potential variables Cuba may throw your way. We have to remember this is Cuba, a third world country. We want you to concentrate on the great fishing, not the logisitics....

Liveaboard

Lodging in Cayo Largo is aboard the JAF1.

This spacious 110-foot live-aboard yacht has ten rooms with 2 being convertible queen-sized cabins featuring side by side beds and eight deluxe rooms, each with two single beds. Each room comes equipped with a private bathroom, toilet, hot shower, individual climate controls, and a safe.

Whether you are looking for a quiet place to relax, a place to read in the sun, a warm jacuzzi to enjoy, or a bar to share your fish stories, the mothership provides more than enough space to accommodate any activities.

The food aboard the JAFI consists of a beautiful selection of Cuban cuisine, grilled fresh seafood and vegetables, and many international delights. The chef is well versed in many different styles and will be sure to amaze you during your stay. Also, there is a full bar with a selection of Cuban beers and rum, international wines, and a variety of spirits. Our attentive crew will be there to take care of your every need and make sure you have a wonderful trip.

Life on the live-aboard is relaxed and completely customizable. With the yacht keeping us close to the fishing grounds, the commutes are short, allowing you to fish as long as you would like to each day. You can read more details about the benefits of life on a liveaboard here.

These suggestions are for the Angler looking for the basic idea of what to bring on this trip. If you would like our in-depth and concise checklist, you can request it HERE. We have one of the largest inventories for saltwater gear in the country. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff are here to help you.If this doesn’t fit your budget, we also have rental equipment for your trip.

Rod: 8'6" 8wt – (Bonefish) Accuracy beyond belief : Winston Air 2 Max Fly Rod
Reel: Tibor Everglades Fly Reel
Line: Scientific Anglers Magnitude Clear Tip Bonefish Fly Line

Rod: 8’6" 9wt – (Permit/Tarpon) Incredible accuracy and feel: Winston Air 2 Max fly rod
Reel: Nautilus CCF 810 Fly Reel
Line: Scientific Anglers Magnitude Grand Slam Clear Floating Fly Line

Rod: 8’5 10wt – (Tarpon) Power and accuracy combined: Orvis Helios Fly Rod
Reel: Nautilus CCF X2 Silver King
Line: Scientific Anglers Magnitude Grand Slam Smooth Clear Tip Floating Fly Line

Rod: 9’ 11wt – (Tarpon) Power and feel combined: G Loomis Asquith Fly Rod
Reel: Nautilus GTX Fly Reel
Line: Scientific Anglers Magnitude Grand Slam Smooth Clear Tip Floating Fly Line

• Sunscreen
• Saltwater Pliers with cutter
• Polarized sunglasses
• Patagonia roll-top Waterproof pack
• Reusable bottle for water
• Simms Pursuit wading shoes
• Patagonia Rain Jacket
• Bug repellant - cream suggested