Belize Fly Fishing Packages

Packages

Fishing Info

Seasons

Available Species

Accomodations

FAQ’s

Belize is one of the best salt water fly fishing destinations in the world thanks to miles of salt water flats, crystal clear water for sight casting, and an abundant population of game fish. In 2008 Belize became the first country in the world to mandate by law the catch and release of all bonefish, permit, and tarpon which means populations are as strong as ever. Poling across the flats in your skiff or wading and stalking your fish, our expert English-speaking guides will put you in casting position time and time again. Whether you are aiming to complete the Inshore Grand Slam or are laser focused on a specific species, we will custom design your fly fishing trip to cater to your experience, target species, and budget. Below are some of our top Belize fly fishing packages to give you ideas for your next fishing vacation. Trust our decades of local expertise and see why nearly 40% of our anglers are repeat & referral guests!

Permit Fever
Tarpon Fever
Fly Fishing at El Pescador
Fly Fish Permit Alley
Fish the Turneffe Atoll
Tarpon Caye Lodge
Best of Belize
Grand Slam Placencia
Grand Slam Ambergris Caye

Belize Fly Fishing Info

Belize is Central America’s smallest country and only has 240 miles of Caribbean coastline to enjoy, but yet it is still considered one of the best saltwater fly fishing destinations in the entire world. Despite it’s diminutive stature, Belize was blessed with three of the four atolls in the Western Hemisphere, over 400 island and cayes, the second longest barrier reef in the entire world, and miles and miles of shallow saltwater flats which are home to bonefish, permit, and tarpon all year round.

Best of all, Belize realized what a gift they were given and has done a fantastic job protecting their marine treasures becoming the first country in the world to make into law the catch and release of all bonefish, permit, and tarpon back in 2008. Bonefish are available on a daily basis and few places on Earth can offer as many shots at permit as Belize. Healthy fish populations in combination with the friendly English-speaking locals, expert flats guides and world class fishing lodges & luxury hotels make Belize a fly anglers dream vacation destination. So whether you are after your first bonefish or are gunning for a Grand Slam, Belize has the fish, the habitat, and the guides to make it happen.

All Inclusive Fly Fishing Vacations

Anglers have been traveling to fly fish in Belize for over four decades. Although they had very humble beginnings forty years ago, Belize is home to several world class fly fishing lodges that today feature modern amenities like air conditioned rooms, pools, wifi, and fully equipped tackle shops. If your idea of a dream fishing vacation is to fish every day from 7 AM to 3 PM, trading stories of triumph and heartbreak at the bar over cold Belikin beer or rum drinks, and enjoying big Belizean dinners an all inclusive fishing vacation to one of our leading lodges may be the right fit for you.

You’ll find these lodges scattered throughout Belize as we have options on the mainland, on private cayes so you can fish right in front of your room, and even at an atoll 20 miles out to sea. Each of these lodges have different pros and cons, and more importantly slightly different fisheries, so we’ll help you hand pick the best fit based on your budget, experience, and target species. Our all inclusive fly fishing vacations are great for novices and die-hards alike because we will set you up with a guide to match your personality and experience. Some guides are better teachers and are very calming while others get as frustrated as you when a permit won’t take your fly. Some lodges offer daily casting lessons to make you a better angler while others offer you the opportunity to wade fish on your own before or after your fishing day.

Fly Fishing Day Trips

Belize has so much to offer we can’t blame you if you don’t want to (or aren’t allowed…) to fish every single day you are here. Whether you are exploring Mayan ruins in the jungle, snorkeling or diving along the Mesoamerican Reef, or simply relaxing on the white sand beaches you do not need to stay at a fishing lodge to experience the incredible fly fishing in Belize. Tourism started to boom in Belize in the 2000’s and today it is home to award winning eco-lodges, private villas, and high-end luxury hotels in addition to it’s famous fishing lodges. So whether your reason for visiting Belize is a honeymoon, family vacation, or just a winter getaway we can help you hit the water for a day or two with one of our expert local guides.

The two most popular vacation spots in Belize are Ambergris Caye in the north and Placencia in the south. Today both of these beach towns survive on tourism so you’ll find tons of great options for local restaurants, tour companies, shopping and quality hotels. To be certain, not everyone who owns a boat and speaks English in Belize is a quality guide that will pole you across miles of flats in search of tailing fish for hours on end. It takes serious talent and experience to be one of our guides, so trust our local expertise and know that even if you are only fishing for a day or two from a luxury beach resort you’ll hit the water with a professional guide we know personally.

Where is the Best Fly Fishing in Belize?

Belize is the smallest country in Central America with a coastline that stretches just 240 miles from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico to the southern border with Guatemala. While their national territory may pale in comparison to our offshore destinations like the Pacific Coast of of Panama or Costa Rica, when you are searching for a tailing bonefish or permit that’s more than enough room to escape your line of sight. The fishing is fantastic all over the country, but it does vary from north to south. Knowing where to go, and why, can be the difference between just an OK trip and the trip of a lifetime. Below are our four favorite fly fishing destinations in Belize:

1) Placencia
The shallow waters off of Placencia offer miles and miles of flats perfect for wading and poling while sight casting to tailing fish. This area is referred to as ‘Permit Alley’ as it offers one of the best permit fisheries in the country, if not the world. Nearby lagoons hold snook and tarpon.

2) Ambergris Caye
The most popular vacation destination in Belize offers a 400 sq mile fishery for anglers to enjoy. This area doesn’t have as many saltwater flats as Southern Belize, but instead offers sandy & mud bottoms full of turtle grass, mangroves, and lagoons.

3) Turneffe Atoll
The most remote and exotic fly fishing destinations in Belize. The Turneffe Atoll is located 20 miles off the coast of Belize and measures 30 miles long and 10 miles wide, making it the largest atoll in the Western Hemisphere. An untouched fishery with very little pressure.

4) Punta Gorda
The southernmost city in Belize is the self proclaimed ‘Permit Capital of the World’. While it doesn’t offer as many flats as the Placencia area, there is really only one well-known operation here so fly fishing on the flats and a massive protected lagoon is fantastic.

When is the Best Time to Fly Fish in Belize?

The truth is, there is never a bad time to plan a fly fishing vacation to Belize. Our top fishing lodges have recorded Grand Slams in every month of the year. Located just 17 degrees north of the equator, the temperatures are consistently in the 80’s F throughout the year so there are no major seasonal changes or winter to worry about. With Belize’s perfect habitat of mangroves, lagoons and shallow flats protected by the Mesoamerican Reef, the fish are around all year and are not highly migratory like the offshore species tend to be.

That said, the weather on the Caribbean isn’t perfect all the time so there are some months that are better for fly fishing than others. The high season for tourism in Belize is December through April, but that is mainly due to the fact it’s winter in North America and everyone wants to head somewhere tropical. The fishing is generally very good these months, but cold fronts from the North American winter are also most common during this time. Locally called “northerns“, the weather in Belize turns gray, windy, and rainy for a few days at a time and obviously that makes it hard to spot fish, let alone make your casts. The weather tends to be much better from late March through November, although wind and rain can happen at any time. When it does, we will fish the leeward side of an island or mangrove or spend the day in one of our many lagoons that are generally more protected from the wind.

Bonefish and permit are caught all 12 months of the year in strong numbers in Belize. They will spend more time upon the flats when it’s calm out, but they are always around and don’t travel too far from their home region. Tarpon are found year round in Belize as well, though there is a noticeable uptick in numbers during the great summer migration throughout the Caribbean. This “peak tarpon season” tends to be from April to September every year.

Fly Fishing Species List

Without doubt, the three most sought after fish on our Belize fly fishing packages are bonefish, permit, and tarpon. You of course need all three of them, or a snook, to complete the elusive Inshore Grand Slam. Belize has as many bonefish as it does coconuts, but the permit play much harder to get. Resident tarpon are available throughout the year, but the biggest 100+ lb tarpon are the migratory adults that roll through between April and September every year. Snook are most often found in the lagoons and mangroves, but can be found out at the cayes when the sardines are in thick schools. Whether you want variety or the Grand Slam simply isn’t in the cards, many of our fly anglers have fun with the other species we find on the flats like triggerfish, small jacks, and speedy barracuda.

Bonefish
Permit
Tarpon
Triggerfish
Golden Trevally
Snook
Fat Snook
Barracuda

Fly Fishing Tackle Guide

We strongly encourage you to bring your own fly gear to Belize so that you are familiar with how it feels and casts when you are out on the water. Some of our top lodges and outfitters do provide loaner outfits or full rental gear, but to avoid availability issues or bad fits it is best to travel with your own fly tackle.

Fly Rods
Nine foot fly rods are the standard for flats fishing in Belize. The most common set up is to have an 8 wt for bonefish, 9 wt for permit, and a 10 wt for tarpon. A lighter 7 wt can be a lot of fun for bonefish when conditions are calm, but an 8 wt rod has more muscle to deliver a fly in the wind and quickly tire the fish out. An 8 wt rod could also double as a permit rod in a pinch, but ideally you’ll fish with a larger 9 wt because the permit in Belize can approach 30 lbs and there is no way you want to lose a fish like that! A 10 wt rod is perfect for our resident tarpon that tend to be in the 35-75 lb range. If you are specifically targeting the larger migratory tarpon (May-Sept) an 11-12 wt is recommended as those fish can reach 100-150 lbs.

Fly Reels
We strongly recommend a large arbor, corrosion-resistant saltwater reel that will hold a fly line plus approximately 200 yards of backing. Having a high quality, smooth drag system is essential to prevent break-offs or being spooled by a hooked fish that is running to the deeper channels for safety.

Lines & Leaders
A weight forward floating line is ideal for most of the sight fishing you will be doing on the shallow flats. It’s also a good idea to have an intermediate sinking line when fishing for tarpon and snook in the deeper water of the mangroves and channels.

Flies
We will provide you with a full list of recommended flies for Belize once you book your trip with us. Fly patterns cna vary slightly based on where in Belize you will be fishing.

Additional Items
If you plan to wade fish we highly recommend a quality pair of wading boots or Simms flats sneakers. These need to be firm soled shoes designed for flats wading to keep out the small, sharp pieces of coral you are bound to encounter. Light tennis shoes, sandals, or booties will not work and can put a quick end to your wade fishing. Of course we recommend a light rain jacket for tropical showers, hat, sun lotion, and polarized sun glasses so you can spot your fish.

 

Belize Fly Fishing Lodges & Accommodations

Anglers have been traveling to Belize to fly fish the flats for decades. In fact, two of our most popular lodges, El Pescador and Turneffe Flats, can trace their humble beginnings in Belize back over 40 years! They’ve both come a long way since their days of no-electricity, today boasting air conditioned rooms, private baths with hot water showers, pools, and of course wifi to keep you connected. The fly fishing in Belize has become so world-renowned many more operations have been built over the years and today there are several quality fly fishing lodges throughout the entire country.

Belize is of course wildly popular among divers and regular vacationers as well, so the tourism industry has boomed and today there are accommodations to fit almost any travel style and budget. If staying at a fishing lodge isn’t your idea of a dream vacation to Belize we can choose between exclusive boutique hotels, luxury beach resorts, and private villas and condos. We even have several luxury properties that are located on private islands! As a luxury vacation outfitter, we only work with the nicest 3, 4, and 5-star operations that meet our expectations for quality, reliability, and service. Being local experts, we have personally visited every single property we represent so we’ll use our personal experience to hand pick the perfect fit for your group.

Belize Day Tours & Excursions

Our Belize fly fishing packages don’t need to be all fishing, all the time. While in Belize we can have you visit Mayan ruins, explore caves, hike into the rain forest in search of incredible wildlife, rapel down waterfalls, and of course snorkeling and diving along the famous Mesoamerican Reef. Whether it’s an off day from fishing or for the non-anglers in your group, Belize offers a host of eco and adventure tours to enjoy. We can also customize your Belize fishing vacation to spend a few nights in different locations so you can see all that Belize has to offer. The list of non-fishing activities includes:

  • Mayan Ruins
  • Cave Explorations
  • Cave Tubing
  • Horseback Riding
  • Canopy zip-line tour
  • Waterfall Rappelling
  • Guided tours of national parks
  • Bird Watching
  • Waterfalls
  • Snorkeling
  • Diving
  • Catamaran cruises
  • Manatee watching
  • Chocolate making
  • Cultural Immersion & cooking classes

What Our Guests Love
About
Belize Fly Fishing

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What We Love
About Belize Fly Fishing

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Belize Fishing FAQs

Do I need a fishing license to fish in Belize?

YES. All anglers between the ages of 16-65 need to purchase a fishing license for their Belize Fishing Vacation. These are sold by the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI). A one day license can be bought for $20 BZ ($10 USD), a one week license for $50 BZ ($25 USD). Some of our Belize fishing packages will include that in the price depnding on which lodge you stay at.

How many people will be on my fishing boat?

All fishing charters booked by Central America Fishing are private, so the boat is 100% yours. We do not set up any shared charters.

What is the standard tip for a fishing charter in Belize?

A standard tip for a charter fishing crew in Belize is 10%-20% of the cost of the charter. For most flats guides, that works out to be $50-$100 USD per day. For larger boats with a captain and mate for reef and offshore fishing trips, confirm the cost of the charter before you hit the water. Many Belizean fishing guides work as commercial fishermen diving for conch and lobster when they aren’t fishing with clients, so a tip is appreciated. Tipping in USD or Belize dollar (BZ) is fine.

Can I bring my own fishing gear?

OF COURSE! On reef fishing and offshore fishing fishing trips our private charters provide all the fishing tackle and bait you’ll need, but you are always welcome to bring your own lures, reels, and even rods if you want to catch fish using your own tackle.

Fly anglers are always encouraged to bring their own fly gear so they are familiar with their casts. We will send you a fly fishing checklist after you book your trip with us so you know what size rods, fly patterns, leaders and tippet you’ll need. Some lodges offer loaner rods or full tackle that you can rent by the day.

Which fish in Belize are catch and release and which ones can I keep to eat?

Belize became the first country in the world to mandate the release of all bonefish, permit, and tarpon in 2008. This was invaluable to protect their highly coveted flats fishery.

Many of the reef and offshore species like tuna, dorado (mahi), wahoo, snappers, groupers, mackerel and even barracuda can be kept and enjoyed for a fresh seafood dinner. In season you may also have the opportunity to dive for fresh lobster.

Can I bring fish back home with me to my own country?

If you really want to enjoy your catch our best advice is to eat it while it’s fresh here in Belize. Belizeans are foodies and the Afro-Caribbean seasoning down here is phenomenal, so we recommend you enjoy it while you can. We do however understand many of you love the idea of a seafood dinner in the comforts of your own home, so the good news is there is no law against it and people do it all the time. However – we do not have the final say in this so there are some things you need to keep in mind:

1 – In Belize there is no service that will package and ship fish home for you. If you want to bring fish home with you you’ll have to do it yourself in your own luggage. Our best advice is to bring down a soft sided, leak-proof cooler, have your fish frozen completely solid, wrap them in newspaper, and then check your cooler as part of your luggage since it will stay cooler in the cargo hold of the plane versus in the cabin as a carry-on. If you don’t have a cooler or forget to bring one, you can purchase affordable plastic coolers here in local grocery stores.

2 – While Belize does not prohibit you from bringing fish fillets home with you, your international airline might. We strongly recommend you confirm this with your airline (in writing if possible) or you may have the fish confiscated from you at the airport check-in.

3 – Even if your airline lets you fly the fish home, your local customs may have an issue with you bringing in meat products from a foreign country. In our experience most customs agents don’t seem too interested in you bringing back frozen fish fillets from your fishing vacation to Belize, but it can depend on the agent and depend on the day.

What if there is bad weather on our fishing day?

This is a question that comes up on all of our Belize fishing packages. Being on the Caribbean, the weather in Belize changes quickly and is much less predictable than the Pacific Coast of Central America. The good news is, when there is a storm or cold front coming through we typically know about it a few days beforehand which can allow us to make some in-country adjustments to try and have you do other activities while the fishing conditions are less-than-ideal.

If your captain/flats guide, the fishing lodge, or government deem the conditions are unsafe the trip will be cancelled. The first course of action is to try and reschedule you, but if that is not possible you will be refunded in full. Keep in mind that rain and dark clouds are not considered bad weather, that can be a daily occurrence in Belize! Rain shower are more common in the Caribbean than the Pacific, but the good news is they typically don’t last long unless there is a storm system moving through.

Every single Belize Fishing Vacation booked with Central America Fishing include the following:

  • Free Vacation Planning (no fees + direct rates)
  • Meet & Greet upon exiting the BZE Airport
  • Private, air-conditioned transfers with English speaking driver.
  • All in-country domestic flights
  • Luxury accommodations in your choice of all inclusive fishing lodge, luxury beach resort, or a boutique hotel.
  • Private fishing charters
  • Day tours & excursions
  • All Belizean taxes and service fees
  • Free quotes on travel insurance
  • Pre-arrival assistance with dinner reservations, tee times, pre-stocking your condo or villa, hiring a private chef, and special requests.
  • 24/7 support once you are here in country

 

Why Fish With CAF?

We have been fishing, living, and traveling around Central America since 2003. Plan your trip with local experts to make sure you are in the right place, at the right time, and on the right boat. We’ll help you fish for what you want, the way you want.

Free vacation planning + the best direct rates. No booking fees!

Personalized service from pre-arrival to 24/7 in-country support.

Hand-picked accommodations, fishing captains, expert guides for the best vacation experience.

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Nearly 40% of our anglers are repeat & referral guests. CAF puts you on the fish!

We are proud to have a global reach and have hosted anglers from 14 different countries here in Central America!

About the Author

I first visited Costa Rica during a semester abroad in 2003 and instantly fell in love with the language, culture, and natural beauty. I caught my first roosterfish on that trip, and ever since then I knew that I wanted to live here. After graduating in 2004, I worked for a year in the corporate world, but I was unhappy and unstimulated, so I returned to live in Costa Rica full time in 2005. Today I can proudly say that I’ve been in Costa Rica for half of my life, I met my wife here, and my two boys were born here so they are “Ticos”.

I’ve been working in the sport fishing industry in Central America for twenty years, I’ve had articles published in fishing magazines, hosted fishing TV shows, fished in several tournaments, and I’m a four-time IGFA trophy club member. I am however most proud to say that 40% of our anglers are repeat and referral guests. I’ve personally visited every destination, hotel, and fishing lodge that we partner with so that your next vacation with us is one of the best you’ve ever had.

Chris Atkins - Angler & Owner of Central America Fishing

All fishing vacations booked with Central America Fishing include the following:
  • Free Vacation Planning (no fees + direct rates)
  • VIP Airport Meet & Greet upon arrival into SJO
  • Private, air-conditioned transfers with English speaking driver.
  • Luxury, private accommodations hand-picked and customized for your group. Choose between private condos & villas, luxury beach resorts, exclusive boutique hotels, and fishing lodges.
  • Private fishing charters
  • All eco / adventure tours you’d like to include
  • All Costa Rican taxes
  • Free quotes on travel insurance
  • Pre-arrival assistance with dinner reservations, tee times, pre-stocking your condo or villa, hiring a private chef, and special requests.
  • 24/7 support once you are here in country
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Please fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours. If you wish to speak to us sooner please call us anytime at 1-855-414-FISH. Your 100% customized vacation starts here!

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