Belize, primarily known for inshore flats fly fishing, is approximately 1,191 mi (1,918 km) north of the equator and the tropical climates makes it ideal for sports fishing most days of the year. The entire country is a mecca for inshore fishing for Bonefish, Permit, Snook and Tarpon. All four species are found countrywide from North to South, from the inland rivers to the shoreline of the Caribbean Sea to our Western-most Cayes; along with a host of other sports species, such as jacks, snappers, barracuda and a host of saltwater species that tug a line and offer a good fight. While Belize is a small country, our flats are extensive and fishing is a little different in each location. Make sure to check with your outfitter, lodge or guide on favorite flies used in a specific area.
Main Inshore Flats Species
Bonefish (Albula vulpes): Average in Central Belize is 3 lbs with smaller and bigger landed. With the ban of gillnets countrywide, Bonefish are being fished to as big as 6+ lbs.
Bonefish live in inshore tropical waters and move onto shallow mudflats to feed with the incoming and outgoing tides. Adults and juveniles may school together, and they may be found singly, in pairs or schooled in bigger groups.
Length of average cast needed: 25 feet to 40 feet
Permit (Trachinotus falcatus): Six to 30 lbs are average sizes of Permit found in Belize; with smaller and bigger landed.
Permit are usually found in shallow, tropical waters such as mudflats, sand flats, coral and channels. They are usually seen as individuals or in small schools.
Length of average cast needed: 25 feet to 50 feet
Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus): Average size in Belize varies. Resident fish range 5 lbs to the 80 lbs, with a few being around 100 lbs. Migratory Tarpon size range about 80 lbs to over 175 lbs.
Tarpon are found in both saltwater and freshwater habitats, on the flats, along the coastline and in the rivers of Belize. Tarpon are able to survive in brackish water, waters of varying pH, and habitats with low oxygen content due to their swim bladders, which they use primarily to breathe. They are also able to rise to the surface and take gulps of air, which gives them a short burst of energy.
Length of average cast needed: 30 feet to 60 feet
Snook (Centropomus undecimalis / Centropomus parallelus): Average size 8 to 15 lbs in Belize, with smaller and bigger being landed.
Snook live in shallow coastal waters estuaries, rivers and lagoons and often move between fresh water to saltwater mangroves cayes.
Length of average cast needed: 20 feet to 30 feet
On any day of the year in Belize, there is opportunity to fish to Bonefish, Permit, Snook and Tarpon. Weather conditions of the day, tides, your fishing skill and whether the fish are feeding are all factors on hook-ups and landed fish. Any day on the water offers a day of landing a Grand Slam (Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon all landed in the same day) for Super Grand Slam (Bonefish, Permit, Snook and Tarpon all landed in the same day).
Daily Fishing Schedules: Your daily schedule will be based on who you are scheduled to fish and each destination may be a little different in schedule.
Fly fishing is during sunlight hours for optimally seeing and casting to your target species.
Sunrise is between 5:19 am (longest day of the year) and 6:16 am (shortest day of the year). While Sunset ranges between 6:29 pm (longest day of the year) and 5:21 pm (shortest day of the year) –fishing time is between and will depend on the time of year.
While Belize has small tidal movement, 12” to 24”, this makes a difference on when fish feed. Fly fishing and targeting species will depend on the tides of the day and most guides plan fishing days according to tides and which species feeds on the incoming, outgoing to low tide.
Catch and Release: Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon are protected by law in Belize and can only be fished for in the act of catch and release. Though not protected by law, many fishing lodges and fishing guides are limiting the number of snook and other sports species being kept and mainly fishing as catch and release.
Fishing Licenses In Belize
As of 2009, Fisheries (Species Designation Protection) Regulations [S.I. 114 of the Fisheries Act] – This gives the Fisheries Department the mandate to protect the key sport fishing fish species in Belize. As a result, the following species are protected and can only be caught for catch and release purposes: Bonefish (Albula vulpes), Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), and Permit (Trachinotus falcatus)
BELIZE FISHING LICENSE: You can purchase your Belize Fishing license before you arrive in Belize online at https://apps.coastalzonebelize.org
Cost is Bz$20.00/US$10.00 per angler, per day
Cost is Bz$50.00/US$25.00 per angler, per week
Other Fishing: Belize is home to a variety of other fish species that are fun to fish for on a fly – quite a few species of jacks and snappers, barracuda, ladyfish, tripletail – all found inshore. Belize also offers off-shore (deep-sea) fly fishing for marlin, sailfish, wahoo, dorado and other deep sea species.
Both conventional tackle and fly fishing equipment can be used for inshore and offshore fishing. Many conventional tackle anglers switch treble hooked lures to single hooks for inshore flats fishing for easier removal from Bonefish, Permit, Snook and Tarpon.
MikE & Marguerite Heusner
Belize Fly Fishing Pioneers and Fishing Lodge Operators
In 1980, the year before Belize’s independence, the authors of this article, Mike and Marguerite took over management of Keller Caribbean Sports, previously Barothy’s Caribbean Lodge, Ltd. (opened in the early 1960’s).
In 1986, when KCS went up for sale, Mike and Marguerite became partners. Mike and Marguerite are avid fly fishers and operate the Belize River Lodge.
