Belize's Best Fishing Catches

Belize is a tropical paradise and a sport fishing destination, offering a wide variety of fishing experiences. With its Caribbean coastline, offshore cayes, and diverse marine life, Belize presents a challenging and exciting opportunity for anglers of all levels. The country is home to the Big Three of sport fishing: tarpon, bonefish, and permit, all of which are known for their fighting spirit and the thrill of the chase. Beyond these, anglers can target snook, snapper, wahoo, barracuda, jack crevalle, grouper, and mahi-mahi, among others.

Belize's diverse ecosystems, from its mangrove-lined estuaries and inlets to its coral reefs and deep offshore waters, provide habitats for an array of fish species. The country's extensive barrier reef, the second largest in the world, is a haven for anglers, offering the chance to reel in coveted game fish.

Whether you're an experienced angler or a novice, Belize's fishing grounds cater to all. You can try your hand at fly fishing, deep-sea fishing, reef fishing, or even spearfishing, with the opportunity to battle some of the strongest and fastest fish in the world.

So, get ready to cast your line in Belize and experience the fishing trip of a lifetime!

The Big Three: Tarpon, Bonefish, and Permit

Belize is a fishing paradise, with its diverse fishing grounds offering a wide array of species to target. The country is home to UNESCO's World Heritage Site, the Belize Barrier Reef, which provides unmatched game fishing opportunities. Among the many fish species that can be found in Belizean waters, the "Big Three"—Tarpon, Bonefish, and Permit—stand out as the ultimate goal for many anglers. Here is a more detailed overview of each of these three elusive flats fish:

Tarpon

Tarpon are known for their impressive aerial displays and pure muscle power, putting anglers' tackle to the test. Belize is home to a variety of tarpon sizes, from smaller juvenile tarpon that grow up in the mangroves, ranging from 5-20 lbs, to migratory ocean tarpon that swim the edges of deeper flats and can weigh upwards of 100 lbs. Tarpon fishing is somewhat seasonal, as tarpon is a migratory species. The best months for tarpon fishing are generally June, July, and August, when the big tarpon begin to show up consistently in good numbers. However, resident tarpon can be found in Belize throughout the year, especially in the rivers, creeks, channels, and lagoons.

Bonefish

Bonefish are prized by anglers and are present in equal numbers throughout the year in Belize. They inhabit the mangrove-lined lagoons and flats on the interior of the Belize Atolls and are generally larger and more eager to take flies than their ocean-side counterparts. Bonefish tend to be on the move, making casting accuracy more crucial. Bonefish can be found in good numbers from April through October, with the peak months being May, June, July, August, and early September.

Permit

Permit are often considered the Holy Grail of saltwater fly fishing, testing anglers' skills, wit, and willpower. They are known for their finicky nature, even rejecting well-presented flies. Permit can be found in Belizean waters year-round, but permit fishing is more predictable when the prevailing winds are most consistent, generally in winter, spring, and summer. The best months for permit fishing are March through May, when the waters in the backcountry warm and the winds settle down, making it an ideal time for serious permit fishermen to target large schools of these elusive fish.

Catching all three of these coveted species in the same day is known as a "Grand Slam", a once-in-a-lifetime achievement for many saltwater fly fishers. Belize, with its diverse fisheries and abundant fish populations, offers anglers a unique opportunity to pursue this ultimate goal.

Snook

Fly fishing for snook requires perseverance, as most of the fishing will not be sight casting. Repetitive casting over potential snook-holding areas is standard procedure, and once snook are located, it's important to remain in the same spot and change patterns until fish are regularly taking the same pattern. Snook tend to hold near some sort of structure, so an accurate presentation is crucial. They usually won't move far from their lair to take your offering.

When fly fishing for snook, a variety of subsurface and surface flies can be used. Bright flies with red, yellow, chartreuse, and orange as the predominant colours are often successful. Surface poppers, such as Gaines saltwater poppers in yellow/red and blue/white, are also recommended. In addition to a floating line, a sinking line can be useful for fishing during periods of bright light or when snook are holding closer to the surface. A stiff 9 or 10 weight rod is typically used for this type of fishing.

For spinning or casting, a wide variety of jigs and surface plugs are important, as it can be difficult to predict which lure the snook will find enticing. Trolling or casting with a "locator" lure until the fish are found is a common practice, and it's best to keep switching lures until strikes start occurring. Surface lures such as propeller-type lures can be effective, and subsurface crankbaits and jigs can also produce fish. The same rod/reel setup can be used as for tarpon fishing, and 14-17 lb test line is recommended.

Snapper

Belize is a small country with a diverse range of fishing grounds, from inshore lagoons to offshore waters. It is home to the Belize Barrier Reef, one of the largest coral reefs in the world.

• Black Snapper
• Caribbean Queen Snapper
• Cubera Snapper
• Mutton Snapper
• Yellowtail Snapper
• Mangrove Snapper
• Dog Snapper
• Schoolmaster
• Mahogany Snapper
• Gray Snapper

Wahoo

In Belize, Wahoo are most concentrated during the cooler months of October through February when they migrate through the Caribbean. Popular grounds include the country's three coral atolls: Lighthouse Reef, Glover's Reef, and Turneffe. Wahoo can be caught throughout the year, but November through February are the most productive times. They are primarily targeted at around 400ft on the edge of the Belizean Barrier Reef.

Barracuda, Jack Crevalle, and Grouper

Belize is a small country with a diverse range of fishing spots, from inshore lagoons to one of the world's biggest coral reefs and deep offshore waters. The country's reef system stretches across its entire coastline, and it also has a myriad of freshwater rivers. This makes it a prime location for fishing, with an abundance of fish species to catch.

Barracuda are found in the shallow waters of Belize, often cruising in the shallows. They can be caught using a small green metal lure, but be careful—they have sharp teeth! Barracuda are part of the inshore Super Grand Slam, which also includes the prized, strong Permit and Bonefish. This is one of only four places in the world where you can achieve this feat.

Jack Crevalle, or Crevalle Jack, are strong, boney, and aggressive fighting fish. They are found in the Gulf of Mexico and along the eastern seaboard as far north as Virginia. They are widely distributed from coastal rivers to 20 miles offshore. They can be spotted by the sparkling spikes that poke out of the water when they are hunting. They are often found in schools, and they bite quickly, so you need to be fast!

Grouper can be found along the 200-mile Belize Barrier Reef. They are a tasty treat and can be caught by bottom fishing nearshore. They are a good option for anglers of all levels.

Belize is a fisherman's paradise, with a wide variety of fish to catch and a range of spots to explore, from the shore, on a charter, or even by spearfishing.

Frequently asked questions