Some trips are remembered for the fish, others for the friendships.

This one had both.

The week quickly started with clouds rolling in and covering the sun. Only a day and a half brought full sun, the rest was filtered light and guessing games on the flats. It was the kind of week that tests patience and teamwork, where trust between guide and angler becomes everything. But the group we hosted didn’t seem to mind at all.

Ten anglers, all friends since college or childhood, most from Richmond, Virginia. Mid-fifties now, but their energy was the same as when they were twenty. Around dinner tables and on the deck of the mothership, old stories blended with new ones, and laughter seemed to fill the gap the weather left behind.

Even in tough conditions, the fishing delivered. Four slams were caught over the week, three were first-time permit anglers, and two were fishing the flats for the very first time. On the first day, two anglers focused on bonefish and caught over eighty between them.

The highlight, though, came when Will landed his first permit. His guide, Vera, stood beside him in the water as they admired the fish. Jim stood on the skiff taking photos. As Will was about to release the permit, Jim quietly spotted another permit swimming by. He waited, letting Will have his full moment, before picking up his own rod. He cast, hooked, and landed his fish. By the end of the day, both men had completed their first grand slams.

No one was surprised that Jim had seen the fish. He is known for his eyes. But what stood out wasn’t his sight, it was his patience. That quiet understanding between friends who’ve known each other long enough to know when to step in and when to simply let the other shine.

Beyond the fishing, what left a mark was the group’s generosity. They came loaded with gifts: nail clippers, tools, polos, socks, hats, and women’s clothing for families. A few of the guests were doctors and a veterinarian, and they brought medical and practical supplies that are impossible to acquire in Cuba. The staff was overwhelmed with gratitude. It was a reminder that kindness and thoughtfulness travel farther than any fly line ever could.

On the final morning, a thunderstorm rolled through as we left the mothership for the airport. Half the group was stuck on the bus, the other half still aboard, rain pounding the deck for nearly two hours. The mood couldn’t have been higher. Stories, laughter, gratitude,  everyone happy and smiling, knowing they’d shared a trip that would stick with them forever.