Since joining the Cuban Blue Sanctuary initiative in 2015, Zapata in southern Cuba has developed into a haven for fish and wildlife.
Little explored until the recent lifting of a restriction on boat engines, this mixed species fishery includes plenty of variety while fishing different types of flats in a combination of both wading and boat fishing.
There are miles of shallow bonefish flats, many of which can be poled and fished from the boat, along with large areas of hard sand, easily waded flats to search for tailing bonefish.
The bonefish average around four pounds, and it’s pretty common to catch 10 to 20 bonefish a day on these glorious flats.
The large shallow lagoons house both permit and bonefish while the scores of narrow mangrove channels and lagoons are perfect for hunting baby tarpon ranging from ten to 40lb.
Pancake flats are great for a permit, as are the white sand flats adjacent to the beach edge where big permit and tarpon (up to 80lb) lurk. Some sandy and mangrove-lined apartments snook call home, and a series of blue holes and coral heads where massive Cubera snapper, jack crevalle, and countless other species can be tempted to the surface with a popper.
The fishing operation is based on the mothership Georgiana which allows direct access to the flats and allows the fishing programme to move as the tides dictate—Zapata fishes eight rods to a week between six skiffs.
Anglers will fish for three days in a single boat and a shared skiff.
The rotation allows anglers to fish from two different types of boats, each of which has been designed specifically for the environment in which it feels. On single skiff days, the flat-hulled skiffs run very shallow, ideal for pursuing bonefish and permit in skinny water.
The larger, deeper-hulled Dolphins used on a shared basis are best suited to travel further afield and into deeper water in search of Zapata’s healthy juvenile tarpon population.
