The Basics of Bass Fishing in Cuba

Most people would be very surprised to learn that Cuba has over 1,000 lakes and is known as the last frontier for bass fishermen from around the world. Bass fishing in Cuba is a very popular sport.

History of Bass Fishing in Cuba

Bass were first introduced into Cuba in 1915 by people from the King's ranch and the United Fruit Company. The world record for the largest bass ever caught is 22 pounds 4 ounces, caught in Montgomery Lake in Georgia by George Perry in 1932.

The bass is considered to be "cold blooded," so its body temperature is the same as the water it lives in. The ideal water temperature for the bass is 65-70 degrees, which makes Cuba a great location for it to thrive in.

Bass are actually capable of listening and accomplish it through their lateral line and inner ear.

If you go bass fishing in Cuba or anywhere else in the world, do not expect to catch a male bass over 4 pounds because that is the nature of the bass. A bass is considered an adult once it reaches 12 inches in length and will be capable of swimming at speeds up to 15 miles per hour or faster.

Cuban Bass

The Cuban bass is considered to grow faster and be more aggressive than the Florida bass. The majority of the Cuban bass fishing experts agree that the best time to catch bass is three days before or three days after a new or full moon. Since annual temperatures in Cuba only vary about 7 degrees, anytime is a good time to go bass fishing in Cuba

Bass Species

There are numerous bass species considered as game fish in North America. If you are bass fishing in Cuba you are in North America. Although referred to as bass they are actually part of the Sun Fish family. The game fish include; largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and Guadalupe bass.

Bass have a reputation in Cuban bass fishing circles as being very strong fighters. Bass can be found in lakes, reservoirs, ponds, rivers, streams, creeks, and even roadside ditches, when heavy rain has occurred.

The largemouth bass is considered to be the king fighter because of its very large size and resistance when hooked. It will try to escape and run for cover in weed beds when hooked. Smallmouth bass try and escape in a different manner by jumping and fighting more on the surface to try to throw the hook.

Catch and Release

Bass fishing in Cuba today is almost all "catch and release." The fishermen still get the victory feeling of the catch, but by releasing, the bass population multiplies.