Our Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival guide, Colin Macleod, shares a firsthand account of his latest hosted trip to Cayo Cruz, Cuba. Fishing with his trusted Helios 3, Colin reflects on a week spent on the flats – helping first-time saltwater anglers find their feet, sharing long days on the water, and enjoying the camaraderie that makes hosted trips so memorable.
“Hosted fly fishing trips are becoming increasingly popular. Benefits include the company of like-minded people for anglers travelling alone or in small groups and access to years of flats fishing knowledge for first time travellers from experienced members of the party.
In late November, twelve excited anglers headed for Heathrow airport, leaving behind the snow and ice of a decidedly chilly Britain. Our destination was Cayo Cruz, located in the Jardines Del Rey, Cuba. Those with a window seat were treated to an appetite whetting view of the extensive bonefish flats below, as the jet circled Cayo Coco airport. Exiting the aircraft exposed us to a wave of heat and humidity and it felt like the holiday had begun.
Cayo Cruz is basically a desert island on the north coast of Cuba and the epicentre of incredible fishing, with our hotel situated just a double haul from the marina, where our skiffs lay in wait. The area is a genuine fisherman’s paradise.
The first morning dawned hot and humid, with a gusty wind. I normally fish with an angler enjoying their first bonefish trip on the first day, in order to show them the ropes and calm any nerves. On this occasion, I had the pleasure of four first timers travelling with us and paired them with experienced anglers where possible, for the benefit this brings. As always, the mission on the first day is to help newcomers to the flats to catch their first bonefish and I am pleased to say that these anglers proved to be proficient fly fishers and opened their bonefish accounts in some style. As the host, I was then able to relax and settle into the fishing.
Following eight hours floating over turquoise waters and beneath powder blue skies, the skiffs headed for home, where cold beer and snacks awaited anglers at the hotel bar and the swapping of fishy tales could begin in earnest. The social advantages of a hosted group became apparent as the week progressed, with anglers sharing meals, drinks and boats together and the formation of new friendships.
The next five days of fishing passed in a blur of fins, tails, impossibly white sands and screaming reels. Cayo Cruz is a truly beautiful and unspoilt environment, which offers bonefishing of the highest quality, enhanced by the presence of plentiful permit, bags of barracuda and tons of tarpon, in season. Dedicated permit anglers would feel very much at home in Cayo Cruz. But for the majority of fly fishers, it is the world class bonefishing which captures the imagination. Whether by fully immersing oneself in the bonefish’s domain through wading for them on white sand flats which stretch to infinity or by poling in a skiff with a guide, a true adventure awaits.
The weather during our week was favourable overall, with plentiful sunshine (so important for spotting elusive bonefish), accompanied by a perhaps stronger than average wind. Fast actioned rods really help to deliver a fly with accuracy during such conditions and I was glad to have a Helios D 8wt by my side. Despite the winds best efforts, all anglers returned impressive numbers of bonefish to a variety of shrimp and crab patterns, barracuda, snappers and a very special first permit for Len Metcalfe.
I will be hosting a repeat trip to Cayo Cruz in November 2026 on behalf of Go Fishing Worldwide.”
