I have seen some folks posting about fishing in Cuba, and I was wondering if it is legal for an American citizen to fish in Cuba?
Hey RH,
Technically, you can legally be in
Cuba, but you cannot legally spend a dime
during your visit. Due to a law passed
back during the cold war to deprive the
communist of the use of our dollars. If
however, you were invited and fully
sponsored by cuban nationals, I think you
could legally do so. I’m equally sure that
some government agency would watch you very
closely after your visit.G
Can you imagine how different things
might be in Cuba had the communist not
gotten a foothold there? Cuba could have
been the mecca of vacation spots and the
people of the country could have had much
improved standards of living. So sad!
Warm regards, Jim
Jim, if we’d lift the embargo that we’ve had on them for 40 years, their standard of living would improve, too…
I know someone who was stationed at gitmo in free cuba yrs ago. Thought it was great and said some of the fish he saw were great.
Hey DM,
Point taken. We could go point/counter
point but not without it becoming a
political thread and I’m trying to be good
while the boss is away.G Suffice to say,
Cuba is a beautiful country with much to
offer. I’m sure that given the opportunity
many of us would love to trace Hemmingways
footsteps. I’ve heard some amazing stories
about the fishing and how it was back in the
good old days. Warm regards, Jim
Was in Cuba back in Feb 2005…Jardine de la Reina. Fishing fantastic, people fantastic, food and drink both good and plentiful… I most certainly will go back in the near future.
I hope the embargo is lifted in our lifetime, if only to allow the Americans access to this wonderful country and all it holds.
Andy
"My fishing is no longer an obsession, an addiction, or a mania; it’s much more than that!
" - Dave Micus
Jim, it is always a pleasure dealing with a gentleman such as yourself.
Andy, I really hope one day to make it to cuba. I’ve heard from others it is just as you described it.
As others have said, it is not legal for an American to go there and spend any money. That being said I have known a few who have gone and fished the amazing islands fishery in the south. Here is how they did it . . .
Some live locally here in Western NY so they simply drove to Toronto and flew to Cuba from there. Others booked round trip tickets to Toronto and then had round trip flights to Cuba from there. They simply asked that their Passport not be stamped and that was not a problem.
All had a great time, caught lots of fish and returned to the US without issue.
I also have some buddies in the Keys that go there for couple big game events. Same thing, no issues so far.
Jeff - AKA Dr. Fish
If it has fins and swims than I must chase it!
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“1” face=“Verdana, Arial”>quote:</font><HR>Can you imagine how different things
might be in Cuba had the communist not
gotten a foothold there? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
It used to be the place to go for a great time. I imagine it will be again someday.
Ed Mercado
[url=http://www.mercconsulting.com:51e4f]http://www.mercconsulting.com[/url:51e4f]
Web Design for the Treasure Coast.
[This message has been edited by FloridaFlyer (edited 12 September 2005).]
Dr.Fish,
Do you mean that the people that circumvented the system were allowed to enter Cuba without having their passports stamped by the cuban, or the canadian authorities?
RHenn,
On returning from Cuba in Feb, it wasn’t until on the ‘plane back that i realised that my passport had NO entry/exit stamps from Castros’ Paradise! I was a bit disappointed, but i guess a ‘Forign departure’ would work the same??
Andy
"My fishing is no longer an obsession, an addiction, or a mania; it’s much more than that!
" - Dave Micus
RHenn, yes that is what folks are doing.
It is NOT illegal for Canadians or most other countries for that matter to travel to Cuba.
LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
LF,
I agree that it’s not illegal for folks from other countries to travel to Cuba, but I was under the impression that Americans are doing it via Canada.
Hey RH,
Yes, it is happening. It’s just not
legal. Warm regards, Jim
[url=http://www.ibike.org/cuba/ofac/010805-nyt.htm:80d86]http://www.ibike.org/cuba/ofac/010805-nyt.htm[/url:80d86]
[This message has been edited by Jim Hatch (edited 15 September 2005).]
Sometimes people do get caught despite their attempts to cover their tracks. A couple of years ago a local couple were caught and prosecuted. They had went to Cuba via Canada and Mexico. Their fine was about $5k a person plus a federal offense on their record.
Yes Rhenn, that’s what I’m saying. I travel to Canadafrequently and rarely do they stamp my passport. Having a entry/exit stamp from Canada is not an issue though. What you don’t want is a stamp from Cuba in your passport.
I have yet to hear of anyone going there fishing who got into any trouble with the US Govt. . I do know of a few who got stung that made the mistake of trying to bring lots of contraban back (cigars).
Jeff - AKA Dr. Fish
If it has fins and swims than I must chase it!
DR Fish,
Sorry, but I have to disagree with your practice. Laws are laws, and should not be circumvented. No matter how good the fishing is! And if you do get caught, you deserve everything you get. Sorry, I just can’t see how folks can hold the law in such low regard. Rob
Hello RH,
I might have missed something but I
didn’t see where Dr. Fish said He had been
to Cuba. I don’t take from his posts that
he has or that he encourages it. He just
explains in response to your query how it
is happening. I have been to all the
neighboring islands and have circled Cuba
on a boat dragging feathers. I’ve smoked
my share of good Cuban cigars from Haiti or
the Dominican Republic. But to my knowledge
I’ve never broken a law doing so. Nor do
I take that Dr. Fish has or is encouraging
anyone else to. Warm regards, Jim
I remember reading in Fly Fisherman or some other rag years ago that bonefish can be a little scarce in Cuba.
The Cubans eat them.
“The trout were laughing so hard at us that they considered evolving and growing legs so that they could crawl out of the water and catch their breath”
Dave Barry
Dudley, the fishing sites around the Cayos are all protected, no locals are allowed onto the islands unless the work there, no comm. fishing for miles around the islands, and government checkpoints at all access points.
When i was there, there were vast shoals of Bones, and no shortage of larger bones, or other types of fish, on the protected areas.
Andy
"My fishing is no longer an obsession, an addiction, or a mania; it’s much more than that!
" - Dave Micus