"The Best Permit Fishing We've Ever Seen"

What does it really mean to have the best fishing? It's a phrase often tossed around in the angling world, but its meaning is deeply personal. Some define it by the number of fish landed—a measure often tied to the angler's skill level. But in the world of flats fishing, the most meaningful definition centers around opportunity: the number of quality fish encountered, how close they came, and how real the chances were. Whether or not those chances were converted is secondary. A truly world-class experience is defined by the consistent presentation of high-quality shots.

By that standard—and by nearly any other—this week at CNR was unforgettable.

From Day 1, the action was immediate. Bonefish, Tarpon, and Permit were all in play from the start. While the first day of a trip is typically a warm-up—where anglers reacquaint themselves with the water, visibility, and casting under pressure—this group hit the ground running. Dozens of Bonefish were landed, Tarpon were jumped and brought to hand, and the first Permit of the week was landed within hours. It set the tone for what would be an extraordinary week—particularly for those chasing Permit and Tarpon.

Day 2 brought what can only be described as the most remarkable day of Permit fishing we've ever experienced. Every skiff reported exceptional numbers of quality encounters. Our own boat saw over 1,000 Permit throughout the day—schools ranging from half a dozen to well over a hundred fish. It was the kind of day that would be hard to believe had we not witnessed it ourselves.

Remarkably, even though hundreds of Bonefish were landed throughout the week, they were hardly the focus—which, to many anglers, might sound downright crazy. But in this fishery, chasing Permit meant adopting an entirely new mindset: intentionally pulling the fly away from 3–7 lb. Bonefish to avoid spooking nearby Permit. It was a surreal shift in priorities—and one few of us ever imagined experiencing.

Permit fishing is never easy, but when you're getting over 150 legitimate shots in a single day, it becomes something else entirely. Five eats confirmed the quality of the presentations, though, in classic Permit fashion, each one managed to escape. Still, the sheer volume of fish and high-quality opportunities made for one of the most exciting days of flats fishing any of us have ever had.

As the week progressed, the Permit fishing continued to impress. Two anglers landed their first-ever Permit—a milestone achievement under any conditions. One angler went even further, landing both his first and second Permit in a single day and completing two Grand Slams. These are the kinds of stories that become part of flats fishing lore.

Then, as the winds settled, the focus shifted naturally to Tarpon—and what followed can only be described as controlled chaos.

Calm mornings revealed rolling Tarpon moving in consistent patterns across the flats. With a well-placed cast in the 55–65 foot range, an eat was almost guaranteed. Even at 40–50 feet, the hookup rate was remarkable. Skiffs across the zone were jumping and landing dozens of Tarpon daily. The phrase "best Tarpon day ever" echoed across the live-aboard with growing frequency.

In the end, calling this a great week of fly fishing in Cuba feels like a dramatic understatement. Whether it was your best week or not may depend on your personal angling résumé—but for nearly everyone on this trip, it was the most action-packed, opportunity-rich week of flats fishing they had ever experienced.

And they're already planning to do it all again next year.

If you'd like to experience a week like this, contact us now to reserve your place on the 2027 waitlist.