Fly Fishing in Belize

Fly Fishing Travel Trips: Ambergris Caye and Punta Gorda in Belize -
Prospect of a Grand Slam

Reaching Belize from Europe is not an easy task, since direct flights to Belize City are still scarce.

The best option is to fly into Miami and catch an American Airlines flight to Belize City. Who is not too excited in passed through the States and its Customs autocracy, can always flight directly to Cancun / Mexico. Then take a bus to the border. In any case, each option does require a 2 days trip. We did chose the second itinerary. After few days relaxing in Playa del Carmen in Mexico, we went down the coast reaching the border in Chetumal by bus. We crossed it with a taxi. Beware Swiss citizen: you'll need a VISA to Belize. After jumping in a small Chesna in Corozal, we were looking forward to your first fly fishing paradise: the island of Ambergris Caye.

Bonefish country - Belize

  Till 1981 British Honduras, stretches itself over 2'3000 KM2. The land has 200.000 inhabitants, of which more then half are located in the Capital Belize City. Belize has as neighbours, Mexico in the North, Guatemala on the West. On the East side, the Caribbean Sea has the biggest beef barrier of the North hemisphere - a paradise for fly fishing. The name of the country was apparently given by the Spanish pronunciation of Peter Wallece name's . This pirate established in 1638 the first English speaking settlement at the Belize Rivers edge. In land, many Maya Ruins are left as witness of early times. These can be reached and visited in daily excursions. The subtropical climate is pleasant, due to its constant sea breeze. Temperatures are around 35 °C in summer. During Winter they rarely drop under 15°C.

Fly fishing in Ambergris Caye

  Caye Ambergris Caye is a small Caribbean island 12 miles from the coast line of Belize, which is highly appreciated by American tourists. In the small town with Caribbean flair, San Pedro, we are welcomed after the short inland flight by Hans, the Hotel Director of Hotel El Pescador . San Pedro has few thousands residents and offers lodging from simple to exclusive, shopping and nightlife.

Flyfishing Lodge El Pescador in Ambergris Caye

El Pescador means "The fisher" ...the reason why the Hotel in known for... It is specialized in fly fishing excursions for Tarpon, Permit and Bonefish. San Pedro is just few minutes away by bike or boat. Along with it's fly fishing programs, the Hotel proposes many other activities. Non fishers can take advantages of the scuba diving school, which my partner did. El Pescador is a paradise-place, in which fishing, scuba and relaxing at the beautiful sandy beach is great. From the veranda you can enjoy the best view of the ocean and the reef. Beside the hotel rooms, El Pescador offers Villas with 1, 2 or 3 Bedrooms. These are surrounded by tropical gardens and have private pool. Hotel facilities are included.

Fly fishing in Ambergris Caye

In the Flats of Ambergris Caye you can catch the whole year around Tarpon, Bonefish and Permit, since these are herepermanently. The Bonefish though does not grow in extreme measures like those that I saw in Los Roques. Saying this, I don't mean that „bones" of 6 lbs are regulars.... Permit, Jack Crevalle and Barracuda offer a great variety of other challenges. The majority of Tarpons stay in these Belizean flats during August and September.

Together with my fly fishing guides Thomas and Will (the instructor) , we approached by boat some flats during the first day, in order to „check out" some Bonefish. It was pretty clear after few minutes that this week would have being a tough one for, as a non-used sea fly fisher. It was very difficult. With the help of Will and Thomas I was at least able to catch few. The challenge was one of the main reasons to bring me there...so I was at least happy, but I wanted to catch a Tarpon. The biggest Tarpon was caught in Year 2000 by a French guy called Max Domecq in front of Guinea Bissau with the record weight of 130 kg. The Tarpon lives in tropical salt water, can reach 100 Kg and is loved by sea fly fishers for its heavy fighting during fishing. 

I needed a little to get used to it, but with the help of Thomas (who told me that this happens to all European sea water fly fishers that are not used to fish in flats) I was able to bring few good "shots" and my first Tarpon in. Since the fish is very fast and changes direction many times, the difficult were many. Beside Tarpon I was able to bring in a nice Jack.

Fly fishing in Punta Gorda

Punta Gorda is the city placed at the southern point of Belize. In past times it was just a stop over point to Puerto Barrios in Guatemala or to Puerto Cortes in Honduras. Today visitors are in the search for places like this, with it's Charme, away from modern civilization. The air is clear, due to its nice showers, that bring down more then 4 Meter of water pro year. Although in Punta Gorda live only 6000 people, here you find the highest ratio of beds for visitors. Most of places are basic, some have warm water, all are charming.

Flyfishing Lodge Machaca Hill in Punta Gorda

The Lodge is located in the unspoiled paradise of Toledo, 15 Min. away from Punta Gorda. Beside its world class fly fishing area, the hotel offers many trips to natural sites and faunistic sites: Trials, rivers trip, bird watching, butterflies and wildlife trips and visits to the many Maya ruins. The Hotel has its own Lemon growing area and vegetables plantations, among others also tropical flowers. The resort is 470 hectares wide, divided in mountains and nature, with a length of 2.5 km far of Rio Grande reachable by a sea ride of aprox. 20 Min. Here a great spot for fishers. The hotel was restructured out of a farm and is on top of a hill called "Bill Hill", from which he gets is name. From the river, there is gondola that brings you to the hotel. Each of the 12 rooms has 2 bedrooms, a sitting area private bath and air-condition.

Flyfishing Permits

Punta Gorda is the best place in the world for Permits. After a daily trip to Maya ruins close by Punta Gorda, I had still one more day to trip to catch one of them. I did not want to live without even a try! The coastal area of Honduras Marine Reserve and Snake Cayes, a small boat trip from the hotel, have 130 lagoons, rivers and Mangroves: fantastic for fly fishing. We saw few of them, but the low tide made it more difficult.

Permit (Trachinotus falcatus)

The Permit is probably the most difficult fish to catch. He is one of the "Grand Slam" group (catch a Tarpon, a Bonefish and a Permit in one day): almost impossible to do. The Permit is about 10 to 20 pounds heavy. Big Permit's reach 30 to 50 pounds. Permit prefer warm water, not as Bonefish do. To optimum equipment you'll need is a fly fishing rood, cord # 9 to 10 and flies, that look like gambas. At his view also experienced fisher become scared! The Permit is extremely strong and wants to fight until it's end. Many surprises during the drill...

I was also scared, by being there and by facing one. My hand was shaking...witness were few wrong tries. My guide was doing it's best to bring me back to optimal throwing position. As I found position and a goof "shot" a black shadow literally snapped my fly away from a Permit. I had a Jack Devil! Unfortunately, my first try with Permits was not successful. But on my next trip...you'll see...