Several rivers and creeks make this area a huge estuarine system, which in turns harbors healthy populations of fish. The Moho River, Rio Grande and Deep River get loaded with juvenile tarpon and snook in December and January, and 100-pound-plus silver kings pile up in the Deep River, just south of Punta Ycacos, in January and February.
Several islands a couple of miles from the mainland, like the Snake Cayes, Albaloon and Frenchmen Caye, are surrounded by prolific flats where bonefish and permit are plentiful, and in November, tarpon join their ranks. Traveling a bit to the northeast, the Sapodilla Cayes are also loaded with permit and bonefish. Northeast Sapodilla Caye, Frank's Caye, Nicholas Caye, Hunting Caye, Seal Cayes, Tom Owen's Caye, Black Rock, Red Rock and North Spot are all productive areas adjacent to each other that can be reached easily from the Monkey River, Punta Negra or from Punta Gorda without sacrificing much fishing time on a long boat ride.
Getting There
You will need a passport to travel to Belize. American Airlines and TACA are the main carriers with service from Miami, Florida. Belize City, the capital, serves as the hub for fishing lodges and outfitters, most of which have representatives at or near the International Airport to help incoming anglers with their travel arrangements upon arrival. Some folks will require no more than a short drive to the coast, and a boat ride to a nearby island to reach their final destination in Belize. For others a long drive or a domestic flight may be needed. If you are headed to Ambergris, you’ll probably fly from Belize City to San Pedro, for instance. And if you’re going down to the southern part of the country, you’ll have to fly to Dangriga and continue on by water or by land. But no matter what area your travels take you to, you can definitely bank on encountering some terrific fishing once you get there. Although Spanish is widely spoken, English is actually the official language in Belize, so you won’t have any problems asking for directions or communicating with your guide.
Gear You’ll Need
Bonefish:
Spinning: Light 6 1/2 - to 7 1/2-foot fast-action rods rated for 6- to 12-pound line matched with reels with 5:1 or faster retrieve ratio. An assortment of 1/8-ounce light-colored skimmer jigs.
Fly: 9-foot, rods for 7- to 9-weight lines (the wind is often an issue), direct-drive fly reel with 200 yards of 20-pound backing, loaded with floating line of choice. Novice fly rodders may also want to bring Scientific Anglers Headstart or Windmaster fly line designed for casting in windy conditions. Top flies include Epoxy Crazy Charlies and standard Crazy Charlies in tan, pink, and white, Gotchas, Borski Swimming Shrimp, Borski Bonefish Slider, Snapping Shrimp in tan, Clouser Minnow in tan-and-white, chartreuse-and-white and pink-and-white. Flies should be tied on No. 6 and 4 hooks.
Permit:
Spinning: 6 1/2 to 7-foot, fast-action rods rated for 8- to 17-pound line matched with reel with 5:1 or faster retrieve ratio, 200 yards of 8- to 12-pound line.
Fly: 9-foot, fast-action rods rated for 9- to 10-weight lines, direct-drive fly reel with 200 yards of 30-pound backing, loaded with Mastery Wet Tip Clear or Cortland Ghost Tip fly line or a full floating line. Top flies include Borski Mangrove Critter, Del’s Merkin, McCrab and Clouser Minnow. Flies should be tied on No. 1 and 2 hooks.
Snook:
Conventional: 6 1/2- to 7-foot spin or plug rods rated for 12- to 20-pound line, and models rated for 15- to 30-pound line. Spin or plug reels with strong gears and 200 yards of 12- to 20-pound line. White and yellow 3/8- to 1-ounce bucktail or plastic-tail jigs , assorted topwater and medium-running plugs.
Fly: 9-foot, fast-action rods for 8- to 10-weight lines, direct-drive reel with 200 yards of 20- to 30-pound backing, floating saltwater taper fly line, Mastery Wet Tip or Cortland Ghost Tip fly line. Top flies include Lefty’s Deceiver in white-and-green, yellow-and-red, chartreuse-and-black, weighted Sea-Ducer in white-and-red, yellow-and-red, black-and-orange, Konehead deerhair slider in white, chartreuse or black, Whistler in white-and-red, yellow-and-red, chartreuse-and-black, Half & Half Clouser in white, chartreuse. Flies should be tied on No. 1/0 to 3/0 hooks.
Tarpon:
Conventional: 6 1/2 to 7-foot spin or plug rod rated for 12- to 20-pound line, 6 1/2 - to 7-foot spin or plug rod designed for 15- to 30-pound line. Reels with strong gears and 200 yards of line.
Assortment of bucktail and plastic-tail jigs in white and yellow in 1/2 -, 3/4 -, and 1-ounce, and topwater and swimming plugs.
Fly: 9-foot, fast-action rods for 10- to 12-weight lines, direct drive reels with 200 yards of 30-pound backing, floating Saltwater taper fly line, Mastery Wet Tip or Cortland Ghost Tip fly line. Top flies include Lefty’s Deceiver, Sea-Ducer, Konehead deerhair slider and Whistler in color combinations species for snook, above. Also carry a basic selection of Keys-style tarpon flies such as the Cockroach, Key Lime, Nightmare, Black Death, Tequila Sunrise, Tarpon Shrimp and Orange Grizzly, tied on No. 2/0 and 3/0 hooks.
