Belize's Aquatic Paradise: Fishing Adventures And More

Belize is a world-class fishing destination, with diverse fisheries and an abundance of game fish. The country offers inshore lagoons, access to one of the world's biggest coral reefs, and deep offshore waters.

Belize is home to UNESCO's World Heritage Site, the Belize Barrier Reef, the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The reef provides unmatched game fishing, with opportunities to catch snapper, grouper, jacks, barracuda, sailfish, marlin, bonito, and pompano. Beyond the reef, deep-sea fishing offers the chance to catch giant groupers, tuna, wahoo, and mahi-mahi.

The estuaries, inlets, and river mouths in Belize are known for their tarpon, snook, and jacks, while the lagoons and grass flats are ideal for bonefish, permit, and barracuda. The country also has a variety of fishing options, including spin, fly, and trolling, that can be enjoyed year-round.

Belize is renowned for its flats fishing, with shallow waters that provide the opportunity to sight cast for tarpon. The bonefish grounds are easily accessible, and anglers can choose to fish from a boat or wade the flats. Permit, another prized catch, can be found on the bonefish flats and are often present in large schools.

With its diverse fisheries, abundant game fish, and year-round fishing options, Belize offers a unique and exciting experience for anglers of all levels.

Fishing spots and techniques

Belize is a dream destination for any angler, with its variety of game fish, from grand slams to billfish and tuna. The country offers world-class saltwater fishing as well as freshwater fishing.

Ambergris Caye

Ambergris Caye is a major draw for enthusiastic fishermen. It offers superb flats fishing, with an abundance of bonefish, permit, and tarpon. It's also great for deep-sea fishing, where you can catch big snapper, jacks, barracuda, snook, grouper, and more. The port of San Pedro is a popular fishing charter location, and it only takes about 15 minutes to get to the flats.

Turneffe Atoll

Turneffe Atoll is approximately 30 miles long and 10 miles wide, with a network of flats, creeks, and lagoons that house a variety of marine species. It's a great spot for fly fishing, and you can catch a monster tarpon and snapper in the same day.

Punta Gorda

Punta Gorda has some of the healthiest fishing habitats, thanks to local environmental NGOs working to stop illegal fishing. It's a great spot for permit fishing, with two protected areas: Port Honduras Marine Reserve and Payne's Creek National Park.

Hopkins

The waters off Hopkins on the southern coast of Belize are ideal for catching permit bonefish, tarpon, snapper, mackerel, jacks, and barracuda.

Placencia Peninsula

Placencia Peninsula offers both deep-sea fishing outside of the reef and mangrove flats with calm waters for permit, bonefish, and tarpon. It's also a great spot for dorado, wahoo, snapper, grouper, barracuda, and more.

Belize City

Belize City is the largest city in the country and a gateway to incredible fishing grounds. You can fish in the rivers and flats inshore or head out a few miles to explore the reefs.

The Drop

Beyond the Belize Barrier Reef, the waters quickly drop to around 2,000 feet, making it a prime hunting ground for big game fishing.

Glover's Reef

Glover's Reef is located less than an hour from Hopkins and Placencia. It boasts a small shark population, as well as marlins, wahoo, and tuna. You can also catch smaller fish like mackerel and bonito.

Mosquito, Savannah, and Long Caye

These spots are popular for flats fly fishing and are home to barracuda, permit, bonefish, and tarpon.

Bulkhead Reef

Bulkhead Reef is a great spot for bonefish, tarpon, permit, jack crevalle, snook, mahi-mahi, tuna, barracuda, kingfish, amberjack, sailfish, wahoo, and queen snapper.

Abalone Caye

Abalone Caye is a small island off the coast of Belize, where you can find permit, barracuda, jack crevalle, bonefish, and tarpon.

Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker is a great spot for fishing in mangroves, lagoons, or the deep blue sea. Species include snook, bonefish, tarpon, permit, and more.

Laguna De Boca

Laguna De Boca is a village in Belize where you can find Goliath Grouper, permit, snapper, tarpon, bonefish, tuna, wahoo, snook, mahi-mahi, amberjack, grouper, sailfish, marlin, and jack crevalle.

Port of Honduras Marine Reserve, Toledo District

This location in the Toledo District of Belize is home to Goliath grouper, silk snapper, mutton snapper, snook, and dog snapper.

Belize Barrier Reef

The Belize Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best deep-sea fishing destinations in the world. Species include tuna, barracuda, snapper, permit, marlin, mahi-mahi, black grouper, and more.

Reef Fishing Techniques

Reef fishing is excellent throughout the year, but the best time to try your luck is from May through September. During these months, bonefish, permit, and tarpon—Belize's main game fish species—are especially abundant.

Fly Fishing Techniques

Belize is famous for its flats fishing, which attracts many angling enthusiasts from all over the world. Fly fishing is open year-round for tarpon, bonefish, and permit, with a strict catch-and-release regulation. Migratory tarpon is most abundant from April through September.

Deep Sea Fishing Techniques

Deep-sea fishing beyond the reef offers the opportunity to catch delicious meat, such as wahoo, mahi-mahi, and tuna, along with breathtaking Marlin and Sailfish.

The best fish to catch

Belize is a haven for anglers, with its diverse fishing grounds offering a wide array of species to target. Here is a guide to some of the best fish to catch in this Central American country:

Tarpon

The "Silver King", Tarpon, is one of the toughest fighters you can find at the end of your line. Belize has an abundance of Tarpon, with an entire island called Tarpon Caye being a prime spot for catching them. The best months for Tarpon fishing are June, July, and August, with some resident Tarpon available throughout the year. These fish can be found in the shallow flats of estuaries and the freshwater fishing grounds of the rivers. They can also be sight-fished year-round in Ambergris Caye, which has some of the largest Tarpon flats in the world outside of South Florida.

Snook

Snook are another highly sought-after game fish in Belize and can be found in abundance alongside Tarpon in the estuaries, inlets, and mouths of rivers. They put up a good fight and provide an exciting fishing experience.

Permit and Bonefish

Permit and Bonefish are two prized inshore species that complete the coveted inshore Super Grand Slam when caught alongside Tarpon and Snook. Permit Alley, located between Placencia and Dangriga, is a prime hunting ground for these two species. Bonefish can be found year-round in equal numbers throughout Belize, while Permit fishing is more predictable during consistent winds in winter, spring, and summer.

Snapper

The Belize Barrier Reef is home to a variety of Snapper species, including Black, Cubera, Caribbean Queen, Mutton, and Yellowtail Snapper. These colourful and delicious fish can be found anywhere along the reef, providing an excellent opportunity for anglers of all skill levels.

Marlin and Sailfish

For anglers seeking a challenge in the deep waters offshore, Marlin and Sailfish are the royal species of the Billfish family. Beyond the reef, the water depth drops to around 2,000 feet, providing a prime hunting ground for these acrobatic and magnificent creatures.

With its diverse fishing grounds and abundant fish species, Belize offers a truly unique and exciting fishing experience for anglers of all levels. Whether you're an experienced angler or a novice, the rich fisheries of this small country are sure to provide unforgettable memories.

Fishing seasons

Belize's tropical climate means that, rather than seasons, the country experiences micro-climate changes. However, there are still variations in fishing conditions throughout the year.

Bonefish Season

Bonefish are present in equal numbers throughout the year, and there is no clearly preferable season for bone fishing. The allowed season is from April through October. However, bone fishing is considered excellent from April through October.

Permit Season

Permit are also present throughout the year, although permit fishing is more predictable when the prevailing winds are most consistent – generally in the winter, spring and summer. Some of the better permit fishing can be in the fall if the weather is not affected by cold fronts.

Tarpon Season

Tarpon fishing is seasonal since most tarpon are migratory. Tarpon numbers begin to increase in April and May and drop off in September or October. Peak tarpon months are June, July, and August. Some resident tarpon are around throughout the year.

Grand Slam Season

June, July and August are the best overall fishing months as there are good numbers of all three species available.

Fishing regulations

Belize is a prime fishing destination, with world-class game fishing and a wide variety of fish species. The country has a unique combination of environmental factors that create an ideal habitat for saltwater game fish. However, it is important to follow local fishing regulations to ensure the sustainability of the fishing industry and protect the marine ecosystem. Here are some key fishing regulations to keep in mind when fishing in Belize:

• Fishing License: A fishing license is required for all anglers in Belize, regardless of the type of fishing (shore, boat, or reef) or the species being targeted. Daily, weekly, and annual licenses are available, with different pricing and application processes. Seniors over 65 who are citizens or permanent residents of Belize are exempt from the license requirement.
• Catch and Release: Belize has implemented catch-and-release policies for Bonefish, Tarpon, and Permit to ensure the sustainability of these prized sport fish species. Anglers are encouraged to take photos and videos of their catch before releasing them back into the water.
• Closed Seasons: There are specific closed seasons for certain seafood species in Belize, such as Conch (July 1st to September 30th) and Lobster (February 15th to June 14th). It is important to follow these closed seasons to allow for the replenishment of fish stocks.
• Size Limits: Belize has also implemented size limits for certain species, such as Conch (shell length > 7 inches, market clean > 2.5 oz), Lobster (cape length > 3 inches, tail weight 2.75 oz), and Nassau Grouper (must be 20-30 inches, landed whole).
• Special Laws and Permits: Only Belizean citizens or permanent residents can obtain a fisheries permit. Special permits are required for fishing certain species, such as Sea Cucumber. There are restrictions on using artificial breathing devices (scuba gear or hookah) in Marine Protected Areas, and certain types of fishing gear are prohibited, such as nets, longlines, and traps.
• Protected Species: There is a complete ban on fishing certain species in Belize, including Coral, Parrotfish, Blue Tang, Marine Turtles, Whale Sharks, and all Marine Mammals.
• Conservation Efforts: Belize is committed to conservation and has taken steps to protect its marine resources. This includes establishing replenishment zones, protecting spawning aggregation sites, and working to eradicate invasive species like Lionfish.

By following these fishing regulations, anglers can help protect the diverse and abundant fisheries of Belize for future generations.

Fishing tours and guides

Belize is an angler's paradise, with hundreds of miles of fishing areas. The Belize Barrier Reef, one of the largest and most impressive coral reefs in the world, is a prime fishing destination. The relatively undeveloped shoreline is perfect for inshore and flats fishing, with Tarpon, Bonefish, and Permit abundant around river mouths, creeks, bays, and estuaries. Beyond the reef, the seafloor drops off rapidly, bringing Marlin, Mahi Mahi, and Tuna within reach.

GoFish Belize

GoFish Belize, based in San Pedro, offers a range of exhilarating trips for novice and expert anglers alike. Their knowledgeable guides can take you to the crystal-clear flats or the beautiful barrier reef, where you might encounter Permits, Bonefish, Tarpon, and even the elusive Grand Slam.

Blue Horizon Fly Fishing

Blue Horizon Fly Fishing, founded by legendary Belizean guide Lincoln Westby, operates within the protected waters of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, known as "Permit Alley". With thousands of permit, bonefish, and tarpon landed, their experienced guides will ensure a successful trip. They offer half-day and full-day trips from Hopkins and Placencia and have a dedicated fishing lodge for those wanting a fishing vacation.

Wicked Adventures of Belize

Wicked Adventures of Belize offers premium private fishing, snorkelling, and beach cookout tours. Their combination trip allows you to fish and snorkel, and then cook your catch on the beach. They also offer an inner reef fishing trip, where you can explore the diverse and rich aquatic ecosystem of Belize.

Belize Guide Company

The Belize Guide Company, based in San Pedro, offers private fishing and snorkelling tours that can be tailored to your preferences. They cater to both beginner and experienced fishermen, taking you to the nearby reefs to ensure an excellent fish-catching experience. They also provide equipment and include a beach BBQ where your catch of the day will be cooked.

Esley Usher Fishing - Agua Mala

Elsey Usher Fishing operates around the stunning Caye Caulker, taking groups out to explore the unique scenery and excellent angling that Belize has to offer.

Uprising Tours Fishing

Uprising Tours Fishing, based in San Pedro, promises an unforgettable fishing adventure while adhering to all safety protocols. They offer inshore and reef fishing trips, as well as offshore trips that can take you up to 40 miles out to the reefs.

Practical Information

Belize fishing charters typically include fishing licenses as part of the package, but if they don't, you will need to purchase one from the Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA). Remember that fishing with scuba gear is prohibited, and catch and release is mandatory for Tarpon, Bonefish, and Permit.

Frequently asked questions