River Hatiguanico
Snook
Rio Hatiguanico, Zapata, Cuba
The Zapata region of Cuba has many treasures. Las Salinas is a vast area of 'flats' which abound with bonefish. If you're lucky you will find permit and some of the mangrove areas have tarpon. But if you want to target tarpon and snook, then Rio Hatiguanico is the place to go. This is the biggest river that flows through the Zapata swamp. The swamp is home to the endemic Cuban crocodile as well as the world's smallest bird, the zunzuncito or bee hummingbird.
Tarpon are fearsome beasts. The top predator in their world, they seem to fear nothing. When you cast to a large tarpon, then you are taking on a formidable adversary. Firstly the tarpon doesn't just swallow your fly, it engulfs even a 3/0 hook, mugging your fur and feather concoction. Then when it realises it's been hooked it proceeds to mug you, the angler. It pulls with great power and leaps so high you'd be forgiven for worrying that you'd strain your neck ! After what is closer to all-in-wrestling than angling, the bout can end suddenly when the line goes limp. The huge fish has let go of the hook, as if it had been toying with you all along.
Tarpon grow large. In the Rio Hatiguanico, the smaller fish, babies in the 10 to 20lb class are furthest up the river. As you head downstream, the tarpon become progressively larger and more daunting. Fish of 80lbs are there to be caught – if you like no-holds-barred wrestling !
River Hatiguanico
Snook