Belize

Overview

Belize has earned its reputation as one of the premier saltwater fly fishing destinations in the Caribbean through a combination of vast, fish-rich flats, a protective barrier reef system second only to Australia's, and a laid-back cultural atmosphere that makes every fishing trip feel like equal parts angling adventure and tropical holiday. The country's coastline and offshore atolls provide habitat for bonefish, permit, and tarpon in quantities that rival the best fisheries in the hemisphere, and the guides of Belize, many from traditional fishing families on Ambergris Caye, Turneffe Atoll, and the southern coast, bring a deep generational knowledge of their waters that translates directly into productive days on the flats.

The permit fishing in Belize is arguably the country's greatest claim to fame. The flats surrounding Turneffe Atoll, the largest atoll in the Western Hemisphere, hold permit in numbers and sizes that make this species, notoriously difficult to catch on the fly elsewhere, an achievable target for dedicated anglers. The guides at Turneffe have developed specialized techniques for presenting crab patterns to tailing permit on the turtle grass flats, and catch rates at the top operations consistently exceed those of most other permit fisheries worldwide. Fish averaging fifteen to twenty-five pounds are standard, with specimens exceeding thirty pounds taken each season.

The southern coast of Belize, from Dangriga south through Placencia to Punta Gorda, offers equally compelling fishing in a less developed setting. The extensive flats systems of the inner reef provide outstanding bonefishing, while the river mouths and lagoons hold tarpon that range from juvenile fish of ten to twenty pounds, perfect for honing tarpon-fighting skills, to mature migratory fish exceeding 100 pounds that arrive in spring and summer. The mangrove-lined creeks and estuaries harbor snook and barracuda that add variety to any itinerary.

Belize's fishing calendar runs year-round with seasonal peaks that vary by species. Permit fishing is best from March through June when spawning aggregations concentrate fish on the flats. Tarpon fishing peaks from April through September. Bonefishing is productive year-round but best from November through May. The country's accessibility from the United States, English-speaking population, reasonable cost structure compared to some Caribbean alternatives, and genuine conservation ethic make it an outstanding choice for anglers seeking their first international saltwater fly fishing experience or returning for another shot at the species that got away.