By Joe Cermele

While checking out some news sites this morning, I found a story that will make you very happy you have the ability to drive to the Wally World, buy all the rods, reels, stink bait, and plastic worms your heart desires, then jump on your boat and use them. These things are not easy to come by in Cuba, and the government heavily regulates who can operate and own a boat due to illegal immigration. But one thing you can buy at three for a penny in Cuba is condoms. Turns out the Cubans have found many uses for them that go far beyond the bedroom.

According to the story on GlobalPost.com, condoms are frequent substitutes for balloons at childrens' parties. At baseball games, people blow them up and bat them around like beach balls. If you see a bunch of broken condoms on the streets, don't be alarmed. It was probably a water balloon fight.

But condoms really come in handy when you can't find or afford a ten-foot rod and the fish are cruising past the outer bar. Anglers tie inflated condoms together and use them as kites to carry their baited handlines offshore. From the story:

“We use them a lot this time of year, during the snapper run,” [angler Michel] Perez explained, letting out his line from a homemade wooden spool. With a good breeze, the floating condoms can carry the hook hundreds of meters out into deeper waters, far beyond casting distance, he said. Not that Perez has a fishing rod anyway. “When the fish takes the hook, the line pulls free,” he explained, “and you start reeling in.”

This only stands to prove that no matter where you are or what tackle you have at your disposal, the best fishermen out there are those that can improvise. If you need further proof that Cuban anglers are particularly innovative, I highly recommend reading Bill Heavey's story on largemouth fishing in Cuba. - JC

Comments (12)

from Beekeeper wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

And some people thought that using them to make reeds for snuff can and diaphragm turkey calls was weird...

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from dukkillr wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

At last, a legit excuse the next time my mom picks up my wallet...

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from buckhunter wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Funny. I thought the purpose of condoms was to NOT catch something.

How appropriate they are snapper fishing...

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from wilksey88 wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Interesting and innovative...but what about the condoms that get simply left floating around in the ocean? Unless I'm reading this wrong, it sounds like the fish grabs the bait and the line pulls free of the condoms, leaving them to float with the breeze.

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from ollie085 wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

I would imagine they look quite a bit like jellyfish when floating in open water--a sea turtle death sentence.

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from tim_y wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Some of the best flies I've seen are wrapped with condoms. They look great, and you would never know that they were incorporated unless you asked or tied them yourself. With little water resistance, they get down quick and they bounce off of rocks avoiding snags. Did I mention that they're durable (no pun intended).

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from countitandone wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

So, which does Perez prefer, latex or...

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from shane wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

F&S - the official magazine of other stuff you can do with condoms.

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from Hoski wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Buckhunter, you crack me up!

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from MLH wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Imagine what adding a little helium will do.

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from jhunt2 wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Buckhunter that comment made my day.

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from fliphuntr14 wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

haha buckhunter. They find new uses for those everyday wasn't it said you could start a fire with one before. I guess its like duck tape.

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from buckhunter wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Funny. I thought the purpose of condoms was to NOT catch something.

How appropriate they are snapper fishing...

+14 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Beekeeper wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

And some people thought that using them to make reeds for snuff can and diaphragm turkey calls was weird...

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from dukkillr wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

At last, a legit excuse the next time my mom picks up my wallet...

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from ollie085 wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

I would imagine they look quite a bit like jellyfish when floating in open water--a sea turtle death sentence.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from tim_y wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Some of the best flies I've seen are wrapped with condoms. They look great, and you would never know that they were incorporated unless you asked or tied them yourself. With little water resistance, they get down quick and they bounce off of rocks avoiding snags. Did I mention that they're durable (no pun intended).

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from shane wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

F&S - the official magazine of other stuff you can do with condoms.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from countitandone wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

So, which does Perez prefer, latex or...

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from Hoski wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Buckhunter, you crack me up!

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from MLH wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Imagine what adding a little helium will do.

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from jhunt2 wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Buckhunter that comment made my day.

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from fliphuntr14 wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

haha buckhunter. They find new uses for those everyday wasn't it said you could start a fire with one before. I guess its like duck tape.

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from wilksey88 wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Interesting and innovative...but what about the condoms that get simply left floating around in the ocean? Unless I'm reading this wrong, it sounds like the fish grabs the bait and the line pulls free of the condoms, leaving them to float with the breeze.

-1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

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