Flats boots

[Greenheart]

Hopefully going to Cuba Sept / Oct & intending to do a spot of beach fishing. I'm told Flats boots (Wading boots) are an essential of equipment due to the sharp coral. Doe's anyone know where I can source a budget pair of these in the UK or soe's anyone have a pair of size 11 that they want to sell?

[cowie]

Hi mate i've just got back from Cuba a couple of weeks ago,was staying on Cayo Coco at the Melia,i bought a pair of flats boots here,they were £28 and were spot on,though the guide i was with had a pair of those swimming type shoes which i also took along for on the beach and they cost about £7,though wouldn't recommend them as the soles arent thick enough to withstand some of the sharp bits of coral you walk over
http://www.bonefishadventure.com

This guy has everything you need for fly fishing out that way,any other info you may need give me a shout and i'll try and help,where are you staying?

[Greenheart]

Hi Cowie, i've just seen some short ones that Orvis do for £25. I shall probably inves in those. How did you find the fishing out there? Any tips. I've not decided which area to go to yet, so any advice on the resorts, currency to take etc would be much apreciated. Did you take sterling, dollars or pesos?

[cowie]

the fishing was fantastic,where you stay affects what fishing there is close by?
We stayed on Cayo coco at the Melia cayo coco,the hotel was superb in every way,the beach is fantastic,great fishing from the beach and excellent chance of something really big fishing from the rocks to the left of the hotel.There is a lagoon behind the hotel which has chalets built on stilts,the fishing here is superb too,with snapper,barracuda,tarpon and bonefish,there are bonefish flats to the right of the hotel about a cpl of miles walk.As for currency you take sterling,the exchange rate in our hotel was around 1.75 pesos to the pound,also if you intend to do any of the fishing/excursions,its as well paying for them by credit card,Visa and visa electron all accepted,we found that they use a simple calculation to transfer the amount from pesos,to us$,this is what gets charged to your card,but what with the $ exchange rate being so good right now we got the trips for nearly half price if you understand.We are booking for next may but will have to go to the hotel next door(sol cayo coco)which is also superb as this time we are taking the kids(groan lol),i can honestly say this was the best holiday i've had,the cubans are lovely people,weather is great,and its just a laid back place,with stunning fishing...what more could you ask for.The other main fishing area is the next island along- cayo guillermo,the sol and melia hotels there are excellent also,there is more opportunity of tarpon here,than cayo coco,also a wooden pier at the melia cayo guillermo which fishes very well.Anything else give me a shout mate i could take about cuba forever lol.
http://www.cubamania.com/cuba/showth...p?t=18551,have a look here,this was my fishing report.

ps the bone was more like 5-6lbs (got all excited by the guide lol)

[Greenheart]

Cracking report Cowie. You should do one for this Forum. Having read that, i'm getting quite excited about Cuba now

[fishypaul]

just a thought ian,i have a pair of skeetex bivvy slippers,they have quite a tough rubber sole on them,wouldn't they do the job ?

[Greenheart]

Originally Posted by fishypaul

just a thought ian,i have a pair of skeetex bivvy slippers,they have quite a tough rubber sole on them,wouldn't they do the job ?

Aparently you need snugfitting shoes with a tough sole & fairly high ankle to stop coral & sand getting inside mate. Proper flats boots have reinforced neoprene uppers. Thanks for the suggestion though Paul.

[lucky]

Originally Posted by Greenheart

Aparently you need snugfitting shoes with a tough sole & fairly high ankle to stop coral & sand getting inside mate. Proper flats boots have reinforced neoprene uppers. Thanks for the suggestion though Paul.

Hi Greenheart - just spotted the thread - if you can't get ahold of proper flats sneakers another trick is just use tough soled footwear but get a pair of old socks and cut the toes off them. Then just pull the socks up your foot a bit so that you can turn the top of the socks back down over the shoes. This should stop any bits of coral getting inside your shoes. Some people do this for added protection even with the proper sneakers though it's probably not neccessary.

If however you think you might be makng more trips to the tropics in the future for flats fishing it might be worth investing in a pair of Simms Flats Sneakers. They're amongst the best available and cost just under US$100. You can get them through Amazon.com (the postage shouldn't be much) but they don't seem to have them in your size at the moment.

http://www.amazon.com/Simms-Fishing-.../dp/B00061Z83W

Sportsfish here in the UK do but they charge £85 for them so I wouldn't bother at that price.

Those Orvis ones for £29 that cowie pointed out do look a pretty good alternative.

PS if ordering footwear from the States remember UK size 11 equals US size 12.

[Greenheart]

Just ordered these Orvis Flats Boots. Price £25. I think they could be good for rock hopping in the UK too.....

[cowie]

nice one mate ...bet you can't wait huh,am just bookin next years back to cuba

where you staying mate?