Fishing Hot Spots

Lake guides for this map

Month-by-month patterns, fish, ramps and rules for each water:

All fishing guides →

Fishing Hot Spots by coast

Cays, points, reefs and channels with good fishing water. Tap one to fly to it on the map.

Gulf Stream marlin, endless flats and huge reef systems

The Gulf Stream runs right along Cuba's north coast, so blue and white marlin, sailfish, wahoo, tuna and mahi-mahi pass close to Havana, Varadero and the northern cays. Hemingway fished these waters out of Cojímar and Havana. Inside the reef, the northern cays from Cayo Santa María to Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo, and the southern cays off Cayo Largo and Trinidad, have some of the biggest bonefish, permit and tarpon flats in the Caribbean, with reef fishing for snappers, groupers and jacks on the outer edges.

Cuba has many national parks, ecological reserves and wildlife refuges, including Jardines de la Reina, Guanahacabibes, the Ciénaga de Zapata and Punta Francés. Fishing there is banned or only allowed with licensed operators, so they show in red on the map and BigJoe does not put fishing spots in or next to them. All sport fishing in Cuba is done through licensed marinas and guides. U.S. citizens must also follow U.S. travel rules for Cuba.