Islands of the Youth (IDJ): Tarpon, Permit, and Unforgettable Moments

Cuba’s Islands of the Youth—commonly referred to as IDJ—delivered an exceptional week of fly fishing in Cuba for our group this May. Located just south of mainland Cuba, directly below Havana, IDJ is renowned for holding some of the largest tarpon in the Caribbean, along with impressive numbers of permit and bonefish.

From the first cast on Day 1 to the final moments of the week, our anglers encountered aggressive, hard-charging tarpon—some reaching up to 80 lbs. To say these fish “eat” a fly doesn’t quite capture the drama. They detonate on the fly—head out of the water, violent surges, and acrobatic strikes that rival Florida’s famed mullet-run footage. And they don’t eat solo—multiple tarpon compete for the fly, often pushing each other aside in spectacular fashion.

Conditions & Challenges
The main challenge of the week was water temperature. On the flats, temps reached 88°F, with the shallowest waters peaking at 93°F. This extreme heat altered the usual tarpon behavior, pushing them off the inner flats and toward deeper, reef-side water. Compounding that, persistent south winds made accessing the reef difficult for much of the week. However, when the wind cooperated, the action was phenomenal—multiple doubles per skiff and nonstop excitement.

Permit, Bonefish & Snook
When conditions kept us off the reef, attention shifted to permit—and they didn’t disappoint. On the right tides, we encountered schools ranging from a few fish to upwards of 50, most in the 10–20 lb range. Anglers able to present a clean cast saw solid success. Bonefish, too, were available in excellent numbers, with fish up to 7 lbs landed.

Snook rounded out the week’s species diversity. Several fish in the mid-teens were caught, including a standout snook that tipped the scales over 20 lbs.

Final Thoughts
The diversity and quality of the fishery at IDJ continue to impress. It’s rare to find a destination where an experienced flats angler can expect shots at:

• 5–10 tarpon (20–80 lbs) per day

• Permit in the 10–20 lb class

• Bonefish in the 4–8 lb range

• Trophy snook pushing 20+ lbs

The only thing we were left wanting? More days to fish.