Belize: Prime Fly Fishing Season

Belize is an angler's paradise, with diverse angling opportunities and a climate that makes it possible to fly fish all year round. The average temperature is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and the country is protected by the world's second-largest barrier reef.

While you can fly fish in Belize at any time, there are certain months that are better for fishing than others. The dry season, from December to May, is considered the best time to fly fish due to minimal impact from weather, but there are other factors to consider, such as fishing pressure from other anglers, moon cycles and tides, and the slow vs. busy season.

The rainy season in Belize is from June to November, and while it doesn't rain every day, there are small monsoon cycle systems that move through quickly. The dry season, on the other hand, usually has minimal wind, making it perfect for fly fishing.

If you're looking to catch the Grand Slam—Tarpon, Permit, and Bonefish—the summer months are ideal, especially June, July, and August, when there are a lot of fish on the flats. If you're specifically looking for Bonefish, March through November is a good time, as they are more eager to eat a fly during these months. Permit fishing is best from April through October, and Tarpon fishing peaks during the summer months, with the biggest catches of the year typically in August and September.

The rainy season is the best time for fly fishing in Belize

Belize is a year-round fishing destination, with a consistent climate that makes it ideal for memorable fishing experiences any time of the year. The average temperature hovers around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and temperatures rarely exceed 100 degrees. Even during the rainy season, which runs from June to November, there are only passing showers rather than all-day rain, so fishing trips are rarely cut short.

The rainy season is often when Belize experiences the best fishing of the entire year. The rains bring ideal conditions for fly fishing, with light winds making it easier to find fish and cast a fly accurately. The rainy season is also when anglers can take advantage of lower prices, as flight prices tend to be lower, and hotels and fishing operators often offer deals and promotions.

During the rainy season, anglers have the opportunity to target a variety of species. Tarpon, bonefish, and permit are the crème de la crème of the local fly fishing scene, known as the "Grand Slam". Tarpon fishing, in particular, is quite popular during this season, with the summer months being the peak season for this species. Bonefish are also plentiful during the rainy season, and anglers can find them in deep soft-bottom lagoons and shallow coral flats throughout the country. Permit, the third member of the Grand Slam, can be found in the southern ends and Permit Alley, as well as inshore.

In addition to the Grand Slam species, anglers can target other interesting species during the rainy season. Snook, for example, can be found in coastal rivers, mangrove creeks, inland lagoons, and tidal channels. Barracuda, known as "the wolves of the flats" due to their aggressive temperament, can also be targeted year-round, although larger barracudas are mostly found in deeper waters.

So, if you're planning a fly fishing trip to Belize, don't let the rainy season deter you. With ideal fishing conditions, lower prices, and a variety of species to target, the rainy season is the best time for fly fishing in Belize.

June to August is when tarpon migrate in Belize

Belize is a fly-fishing paradise, with the second-largest barrier reef in the world and beautiful lagoons. The country's warm climate means that fly fishing is possible all year round. However, if you're looking to catch tarpon, the best time to visit is during their migration, from June to August.

Tarpon is a migratory species, and their numbers begin to increase in April and May, dropping off in September and October. The best months for tarpon fishing are June, July, and August, when the largest tarpon are present. During these months, you can expect calm seas and comfortable weather, with temperatures in the low to mid-90s.

In June, the start of the rainy season, you can expect some smaller monsoon rainstorms in the afternoons. These storms typically pass through quickly and won't interrupt your fishing. June is an excellent month for a "grand slam", giving you the chance to catch permit, bonefish, and tarpon all in one day. The new and full moon phases will bring the best fishing conditions.

July offers nearly identical conditions to June, with plenty of fish on the flats. This is another excellent month for a grand slam, and your chances of catching a large permit are high.

In August, you can expect calm and warm weather, with some of the biggest tarpon of the season. This is the best time of year to try for a grand slam, and it's also when you're most likely to find large permit during the tarpon migration.

While June to August is the peak season for tarpon, you can find resident tarpon in Belize's waters all year round. These fish typically weigh between 60 and 90 pounds, but some can reach over 150 pounds, and occasionally, you might even find one approaching 200 pounds.

So, if you're hoping to hook a mighty tarpon, plan your trip to Belize for June, July, or August, and you'll have a reel-y fantastic time!

March to May is the best time for permit fishing

Belize is a year-round fly-fishing destination, with its diverse angling opportunities, beautiful lagoons, and the world's second-largest barrier reef. The country's average temperature of around 80 degrees Fahrenheit means that there is no bad time to visit.

However, if you're specifically interested in permit fishing, March to May is the best time to visit. As the waters warm up and the winds settle down, the larger permit tend to school up and cruise the saltwater flats in search of food. Many of these schools host numbers in excess of 50, and sometimes even hundreds of permit.

March is the beginning of the most favorable time for fly fishing for permit in southern Belize. For the next six months, the permit fishing will be at its peak for the year. In March, bonefish remain catchable daily, and all tide cycles will give anglers an advantage. Tarpon continue to migrate with baitfish, and when found, they eagerly eat flies. March can be a windy month, but it is uncommon to experience a north front.

In April, bonefish are always an option, and permit fishing remains great, especially during the new and full moon phases. During the full moon, more tarpon arrive in the region, and they tend to be larger than the resident tarpon. The weather in April is usually calm and settled, with little rain.

May is typically the hottest month of the year, with light winds. Migratory tarpon are present on the flats, feeding. Permit and bonefish feed consistently on the flats. Weather is rarely a factor in May.

While June is technically the start of the rainy season, it is still an excellent month for fishing. This is when you have the best chance of a grand slam: catching permit, bonefish, and tarpon all in one day. Again, new and full moon phases will bring the best fishing.

December to February is a good time to fish for bonefish and permit

Belize is a great place for fly fishing all year round. The country's warm climate means that the temperature rarely exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and even during the rainy season, storms tend to pass through quickly, so your fishing day is unlikely to be cut short.

That being said, December to February is a particularly good time to fish for bonefish and permit. While these species can be caught year-round, the dry season, which runs from December to May, is considered the best time for fly fishing due to minimal weather interruptions.

In January, you can expect good fishing for permit, bonefish, and resident tarpon on calmer weather days. The high winds can make fishing the flats more challenging, but the reef fishing for barracuda, snapper, mackerel, and jacks is excellent. The new and full moon tide will create the most productive fishing for permit, and bonefish are a daily option.

February is similar to January in terms of fishing conditions. The weather is the biggest factor this month, and anglers should watch out for cold fronts moving through, as these will bring fewer fish up to the flats to feed. On warmer days without wind, anglers can expect tarpon, bonefish, and permit. By mid-February, the chances of a "Northern" or cold front diminish, and you can start to see some of the best catch rates for permit.

While bonefish and permit are present in Belizean waters throughout the year, permit fishing tends to be more predictable when the prevailing winds are most consistent, generally in the winter, spring, and summer.

So, if you're planning a fly fishing trip to Belize and want to target bonefish and permit, December to February is a great time to go!

The dry season is peak tourist season

The dry season in Belize is from December through to May. This is also the peak tourist season.

The dry season is considered the best time to fly fish in Belize because of minimal disruption from the weather. However, there are other factors to consider when planning a trip to Belize during this time. For example, there will be more fishing pressure from other anglers, and accommodation prices are at their highest.

December through to February is a great time to escape the winter, with relatively warm temperatures. This is a good time for bonefish and permit, and there is a chance to chase resident tarpon on the less windy days. The reef fishing is good to excellent.

March through to May is the best time for permit fishing in Belize. As the waters warm up and the winds settle down, the larger permit tend to school up and cruise the saltwater flats looking for food. There is still great bonefishing to be had, and tarpon fishing gets better and better.

April and May are the hottest months of the year, with minimal wind. This time is perfect for a fly fishing trip. However, it is worth noting that the dry season in Belize is not completely devoid of rain. The country experiences micro-climate changes, and the occasional cold front can pass through in the winter months.

The dry season is a great time to visit Belize for fly fishing, with warm temperatures and minimal rainfall. However, it is also the peak tourist season, so accommodation prices will be high, and there will be more anglers on the water.

Frequently asked questions