Belize Lures: What To Use

Belize is a tropical paradise and a well-known sport fishing destination. With its Caribbean coastline and offshore cayes, Belize offers exciting challenges for anglers of all levels. The Big Three game fish—tarpon, bonefish, and permit—are highly prized catches due to their size and fighting spirit. To lure them in, anglers use a variety of techniques and equipment, including fly fishing, spin fishing, and conventional tackle. Local fishing spots include Ambergris Caye, Turneffe Atoll, and Caye Caulker, among others. When planning a fishing trip to Belize, it is essential to consider factors such as weather conditions, migration patterns, and local regulations.

Lures for bonefish

Bonefish, also known as the "grey ghost", are highly sought-after by anglers in Belize. They are prized for their agility, speed, and challenging nature. Anglers can find bonefish in various environments, but they are most commonly found in light-sand flats with turtle grass or near river mouths.

When fishing for bonefish, it is recommended to use an 8-weight rod with shrimp imitation lures and 1/4 or 1/8-ounce skimmer jigs. Bonefish can be skittish and wary of potential threats, so patience and precision are crucial when pursuing them. Successful hooking and reeling in a bonefish require strategic casting and keen observation of their behaviour.

Skimmer jigs are one of the simplest and most effective lures for bonefish. These jigs are flat with a diamond- or circle-shaped tip, and the hook and jig eye always point towards the surface to avoid snags. The hook is dressed with bucktail, fly, or synthetic material to mimic the appearance of shrimp or crabs, which are bonefish's primary prey. Anglers can also add artificial shrimp scent to the jig to appeal to the bonefish's sense of smell. When using a skimmer jig, it is important to lightly twitch the rod to mimic the movement of a shrimp.

In terms of colour, browns, oranges, whites, and pinks tend to be the most effective for jig lures. However, it is generally recommended to choose colours that match the local prey or the colour of the bottom substrate.

For fly fishing, a 7-8 weight rod is ideal for bonefish in Belize. A 7-weight rod is suitable for calm conditions, while an 8-weight rod can handle stronger winds. A longer rod, such as 9 or 9.5 feet, is also preferable as it allows for greater casting distance with less effort.

Lures for tarpon

Tarpon are one of the three fish species that make up the "grand slam" of fly fishing in Belize, along with permit and bonefish. They are known for their large size, long fights, rod-busting runs and jumps. They can be found in brackish rivers and the ocean in larger channels and on the flats. They are fuelled by bait, so that's usually where you'll find them.

Tarpon are present in Southern Belize all year round, but they become more active in spring when migratory tarpon begin to arrive. Migratory tarpon are typically larger than resident ones, weighing in at 80 to more than 150 pounds. The season for migratory tarpon is from April to September.

When fishing for tarpon, it's important to have the correct equipment. For juvenile tarpon in the 10-40 pound range, a seven-weight rod will be enough. For tarpon in the 50-90 pound range, a ten-weight rod should work. When you move into the 100+ pound category, an eleven or twelve-weight rod is needed.

When it comes to lures, tarpon tend to prefer patterns such as:

• Campeche Crab – size 2/0
• Streaker – sizes 1/0 to 3/0
• Black Death – sizes 1/0 to 3/0
• Green Hornet – sizes 2/0 to 4/0
• Cockroach – sizes 1/0 to 3/0
• Tarpon Toad – size 1/0 to 3/0

In terms of where to find tarpon in Belize, they can be found in flats, channels, river mouths and reefs. Flats are more traditional sight fishing, where you and a guide will likely be in a boat searching for cruising fish. Channels and river mouths involve more blind casting.

When setting, fighting and landing a tarpon, there are a few things to keep in mind. Tarpon have extremely hard mouths, so it's important to have a sharp and strong hook. You'll also want to set the hook hard. Try to break the tarpon's spirit early in the fight by playing it hard. Keep the rod tip pointed towards the fish and use angles to your advantage when the fish runs.

The key to landing a tarpon is to do it quickly and with minimal stress to the fish. Tarpon as large as 200 pounds have been landed in less than 30 minutes using these techniques.

Lures for permit

Permit, known as the "Holy Grail" of fly fishing, are one of the most challenging and prized saltwater game fish to catch. They are particularly difficult to hook because they are naturally picky eaters, easily spooked, and have excellent eyesight and a well-developed sense of smell. They are also strong fighters, making them highly sought-after by anglers.

Permit are an inshore species typically found in shallow water flats, sandy beaches, and deep channels. They can also be found in water as deep as 100 feet, usually in larger schools near reefs or shipwrecks. They are easily recognisable by their tall, flat bodies, elongated dorsal and anal fins, and deep forked tails, which are black in colour.

The ideal fly rod for permit fishing in Belize is a 9 weight (wt) rod, although an 8 wt rod can be used in a pinch. A 10 wt rod that doubles for tarpon also works, but it can be tiring when casting to a large number of permit. A large arbor, corrosion-resistant saltwater reel is recommended, with approximately 200 yards of 20-pound backing. A high-quality, smooth drag system is essential to prevent break-offs.

A weight-forward floating line is ideal for stalking and sight fishing on the flats. It is also a good idea to have an intermediate sinking line for laid-up fish or cruising pairs along the mangroves. Most guides prefer a 9-12 foot leader of 15-20 pound fluorocarbon with a 15-pound tippet.

Flies for permit fishing in Belize should be crab patterns, with a variety of sizes and weights to adjust depending on the water depth. Fly sizes should be #2-#6, with #4 being the most used. The standard go-to fly is the Del Brown's Merkin crab in tan or olive, but the Raghead and Christmas Island Special are also popular. Other effective crab patterns include the SS Merkin Crab, Bauer Crab, Contraband Crab, and Aphlexo Crab. Shrimp patterns can also work well as permit feed primarily on shrimp and crab.

When fly fishing for permit, accurate casting is essential. Casting too close or too hard can send them off the flats and into deep water. On calm, clear days, even false casts can give you away. Wading the flats can be a good way to get close enough to present your fly, but it must be done quietly to avoid spooking the permit.

When working the fly, your first strip should be long and slow to pick up the slack and get tight to the fly. Permit can spit out your fly quickly, so a firm strip is needed to set the hook. Once hooked, they take off on lightning-fast runs towards the safety of deeper water.

Spin fishing is another option for catching permit, although it is still challenging. A 7'0"-7'6" rod is ideal, paired with a quality spinning reel that can hold at least 200 yards of 10-pound monofilament line. The most effective bait is a 1/8 or 1/4-ounce jig head capped with live bait like crabs or shrimp. Local guides also use fresh conch shell meat as bait, which permit find hard to refuse. Bucktail jigs and imitation crab patterns can also work, but realistic movement is key due to permit's keen eyesight.

Lures for snook

Snook are known for their explosive topwater strike and acrobatic, gill-rattling fight. They are generally found along inland lagoons and mangrove-lined tidal channels which connect Belize's shallow-water flats. Snook are often found in small schools, so it's important to concentrate on an area where a strike or hookup occurs.

The best time to fish for snook is during periods of low light, so the best fishing times are dawn and dusk. If you're fishing during periods of bright light, opt for deep-running lures or flies. Topwater lures and flies are best used during low light periods.

When fly fishing for snook, you can use a variety of subsurface and surface flies. The key to success is perseverance. You will likely be fishing without sight casting, so repetitive casting over potential snook holding areas is standard. Once snook are located, stay in the same spot and change patterns until they are taking the same pattern. Flies should be bright with red, yellow, chartreuse, and orange as the predominant colours. Surface poppers in yellow/red and blue/white are recommended.

When spinning or casting for snook, a wide variety of jigs and surface plugs is important because it's hard to say which lure the snook will find enticing. You will likely need to try several before finding one that works. A common practice is to troll along or cast with a "locator" lure until the fish are found, and then stop and cast to them after the first hookup. Keep switching lures until strikes start to occur.

For surface lures, follow the guidelines for tarpon but add a propeller-type surface lure like a 1/2 oz Luhr-Jenson's "Bass Agitator" in red/white, yellow/black with red spots, or silver foil. For subsurface lures, add two types of crankbaits: Bomber "Model 7A" 1/2 oz 3 1/2" (fire tiger) and Bilf Lewis "Rattle Trap" 3/4 oz (chartreuse shiner and/or chrome/black back).

For jigs, use a 3/4 or 1 oz saltwater lead head jig with a 3 1/2" or 4" "sassy shad" type plastic "grub" in chartreuse with a black back and shad. Bucktail jigs in the same colour/size combination can also produce fish.

For rods, use a stiff 9 or 10 weight rod. The reel should be an anodized, corrosion-resistant saltwater model that can hold a full line plus 250 yards of 20 lb backing. A high-quality smooth disc drag is important. The line should be a tropical floating line. Leaders should be pre-tied, similar to those used for tarpon, with a 16 or 20 lb class tippet with a 40 or 60 lb shock on the snook leaders.

Lures for snapper

Snapper are found in abundance in Belizean waters and are a popular catch for anglers. They can be caught using an 8- or 9-weight rod, paired with a spinning reel equipped with a 10- to 15-pound line. When it comes to lures, poppers and rapalas are commonly used, along with live bait such as sardines and other baitfish. Here are some tips and techniques for lure fishing for snapper in Belize:

• Structure and Bait: Snapper are often found around structure such as wrecks, reefs, rubble patches, and rock walls. Look for areas where there is a change in current or eddies created by the structure. Land-based anglers can target snapper from jetties, rock walls, and headlands.
• Time of Day: The prime time to target snapper is during low light periods around dawn and dusk when they feed more actively. Combining these low light periods with slack tidal periods around high or low tide can increase your chances of success.
• Boat Traffic: Boat traffic or noise can impact snapper fishing. Try to move quietly into your desired location using electric motors or drift quietly to avoid spooking the fish.
• Casting and Drifting: When fishing around structure, cast or drift your lure as close as possible to the structure. If anchoring, position yourself down current from the structure and cast past it, allowing your lure to sink into the strike zone.
• Lure Selection: Jerkbaits, curl tails, and paddle tails are popular lure choices for snapper fishing. Jerkbaits are the most popular due to their narrow baitfish profile and lack of built-in tail action, allowing them to sink effectively even in strong currents.
• Lure Colour: While lure colour is important, it is more crucial to locate fish and present your lure effectively. However, some popular colours for snapper fishing include fluoro/glow, natural baitfish, pearl, smokey shad, and new penny.
• Jigheads: Snapper have powerful jaws, so choose heavy-duty jigheads like the TT Lures HeadlockZ HD, which features a strong hook and a 'head lock' keeper to secure your soft plastics. Carry a variety of jighead weights to adjust to different depths, currents, and wind conditions.
• Scented Lures: Using scented lures can help mask foreign scents and attract snapper. Pro-Cure Super Gel is a popular choice, with scents like squid, bloody tuna, and sardine/pilchard.
• Handling: Snapper have sharp spikes and gill plates, so use a larger landing net or a gaff to handle them safely. A wet cloth can also make it easier to grip and hold the fish for photos or preparation.

Frequently asked questions