Understanding Flats Fly Fishing Tides and Moon Phases

If you have begun to plan and try to understand when to visit Belize for a fly fishing vacation, you have most likely found out that the tides can play a big factor in your fishing conditions. While there may not be a perfect recipe for picking the best tides here is some basic information that applies to the fishing tides in Belize.

What are tides?

Tides are directly linked to gravity and the moon, the moon’s gravitational pull moves the earth’s bodies of water and this in the tides. The tides will vary in height and intensity depending on where the moon is in proximity to the sun and earth. So when you have a high tide the flats in Belize will be flooded with water, thus bringing needed nutrients and marine life onto the flats. Typically with this comes the fish. But, you do have to take into consideration that certain flats are deeper than others, so some flats may fish better a lower tide while other tides fish better at high tide. This is where the importance of having a fly fishing guide in Belize comes into play. They know where to go and when to go to find fish.

Best Tides to Fish?

As a rule of thumb, the fish will come onto the flats as the tide comes in, and the fish will return to the depths of the ocean when the tide goes out. So typically as a general rule the 2 hours before high tide (incoming tide) and the 2 hours after high tide (outgoing tide) are the best times to fish the flats of Belize.

The stronger the tide the more food will be swept up onto the flats and the more fish will come. A stronger tide means that there is a large increase in water depth and height. So, for example, you would want to choose to fish a 2 feet tidal increase than say a 1-foot tidal increase in depth. As more water will have rushed onto the flat and with this more food and more fish. So look for this when looking at tide charts.

The tide schedule is divided into four, seven day periods. And these four cycles will repeat every 29.5 days, or approximately every month. The four stages include the First Quarter, New Moon, Last Quarter and Full Moon.

Typically, if you are targeting permit in Belize you will want to focus your efforts in that 4-hour window around the high tide. 3 days before and 3 days after the New Moon and the Full Moon phases are your safest bet to be able to fish this window in your standard 8:00-4:00 pm guide day. As around this moon cycle, the high tide falls within the 8:00 am -4:00 pm window. So if you are wanting to target permit and can only go fishing during the 8:00 am - 4:00 pm window it is best to try to book around the new and full moon.

Fish the ‘Smarter, not Harder’:

But, at the new Blue Horizon Lodge, we have been taking a survey of the times that permit are hooked and landed. And you our surprise, we’ve learned that most fish are landed AFTER 7 am. The agreed upon reasoning between the guides, is this has to do with the angle of the sun. The higher the sun is, the easier it is to see the fish, and then make an accurate cast at the fish. Our team still ‘fishes the tides and not the clock’, but they most often depart between 6:30 and 7:30 am each day. But, they will fish late in the day, if that’s when the fish start showing up.

To book an all-inclusive fly fishing package and vacation at the new Blue Horizon Belize Lodge inquire within at info@bluehorizonbelize.com.

Guide to Bonefishing in Belize

Having a reef that spans the whole coastline of Belize, let’s just say there is plenty of fish habitat. It is a true saltwater angler’s paradise. One of the most common game fish to target on the fly in Belize is the bonefish. Also called the “ghost of the flats,” this species can be tricky at times but for the most part, a well-presented fly will always result in a hookup. Don’t underestimate the power of these fish either, once you have them on it’s common that they will take you to the backing.

The average size of bonefish in Belize is 2-5 pounds while there are some bigger fish that move in singles or double but these fish can be extremely spooky and educated.

Where to find bonefish?

While northern Belize is known for more bonefish, the bonefish in the South Water Caye marine reserve tend to be bigger. Our fishery is not as well know for bonefishing, but it no less productive.

Cayes/Islands: Large schools of bonefish can be found on a consistent basis on numerous caye (islands) throughout our fishery. The schools of bonefish congregate around the white sands where they feed on shrimp and crabs. They will also congregate around docks, as at times fish scraps fall into the water. These bonefish are perfect for the novice or never ever anglers.

Bonefish Flats: There are also some skinnier shallower flats that provide good habitat for bonefishing in Southern Belize. These flats can be a lot of fun to hunt down a bonefish. It does take a little bit more expertise to execute a precise presentation to get these fish to eat and not spook.

When to target bonefish?

Bonefish are plentiful year-round in Belize. While the weather can play a factor in finding the fish they seem to be creatures of habit and can be found in the same areas day after day. The bonefish can also be targetted during low tides when the permit fishing is slow. Bonefish do seem to be most active when there is tide moving, most likely because this means food is moving across the flats.

Recommended Bonefish Tackle:

    •       Rods: 7 or 8 weight

    •       Reel: Saltwater reel holding at least 200 yards of 20 pound backing

    •       Fly Line: Tropical Weight forward floating line

    •       Leader: 9-14 feet - depending upon the fishing situation

    •       Tippet: 2X-0X 8-12 pound test - fluorocarbon offers an advantage

Bonefish Flies:

Pops' Bonefish Bitters, #6 & #8 (Olive and Amber)

Crazy Charlies - chartreuse, white, pink & brown (unweighted for outer flats) #6 & #8

Gotcha’s - white, pink, tan , #6 & #8

 The guides at Blue Horizon are skilled in chasing down bonefish and are always willing to teach a new angler the ways of flats fly fishing for Belizean bonefish.

Grand Slam fly fishing in Belize

Two Days, Two Grand Slams, One Incredible Video

The country of Belize is well known as one of the top locations to enjoy the sport of fly fishing. Many anglers travel to the small Caribbean country in pursuit of the fabled bonefish, permit, and tarpon, and catching all three in one day is known as a Grand Slam. Some angler come for an introduction to the world of saltwater fly fishing, while others venture to Belize with the hopes of catching their first permit or a triple digit tarpon. And for the lucky few, a Grand Slam is is caught.

There is no doubt that Belize is one of (if not the top) top locations in the world to catch a Grand Slam on a fly. The prolific populations of bonefish deliver a nearly 100% guarantee of “catching” a bonefish, not just “fishing” for bonefish. Both resident and migratory tarpon swim in the emerald waters of Belize, granting ample opportunities for jumping and landing tarpon ranging in size from a few pounds to over 150 pounds. But the abundant schools of permit are what truly make Belize special. Few fisheries in the world can claim to have the quality permit fishing that Belize has. Often regarded as the most difficult of the three species to catch, the sheer numbers of permit in Belize converts landing all three in one day from a dream to a reality.

While fishing with Blue Horizon’s guides, Lincoln Westby and Marlon Leslie, our General Manager, Damien Nurre, experienced the highest potential of the fishery. And our friend Will Phelps was in right place at the right time to capture two magical days of fishing on video - not one, but two Grand Slams in two days! Check out the video linked below.

Catching a Grand Slam is possible 365 days a year, but the most likely period to catch all three species in one day is during the spring and summer months. May through early September is the most common time that our guests accomplish this trilling feat.

For more information about fly fishing in Belize for a Grand Slam, send us an email or give us a call!

Belize Fly Fishing - Tarpon Leader and Tippet Building 101

*Article from Ruth Simms as she prepares for an upcoming trip with Blue Horizon

The date is August 15th, 2019 and I’m a nerd. I’m actually a fly fishing nerd, and yes I use to watch star trek but that’s beside the point. On the 19th I will take a red-eye down to Atlanta, GA for a connection flight to BZE (Belize City) on the 20th. Being 4 days away from departure a rolodex of items not to forget flip through my mind. I keep thinking of my passport… I know it’s in that one drawer but I had better make sure today after I get home from work. Fishing wise I keep thinking to myself, “Ok the list of equipment on the Blue Horizon Belize at Thatch Caye Island Resort website says for tarpon a 30lb 9ft leader with 12-18 inches of 60, 80 pound shock tippet.” This suggestion has been whirling around in my head for the past 2 weeks.

You see I have been on a couple destination trips now and have had knots that I tied fail on large fish, hooks bend out and swivels be pried open just above the popper. I feel I have solved the swivel problem with an extensive swivel haul at my local outdoor store. Seems like a random issue but if you never have cast a very large popper you may not know that after a few casts unless you have a swivel that rotates inline with your fly, your fly line will start to twist. I learned this the hard way, aka first hand. The absence of a swivel in this kind of setup is not ideal because A.) it frustrates you to no ends and B.) over time if you don’t tend to it, it will cause your line to split or crack and poof you’re down another $100. 

So back to this tarpon leader…I pretty much have two options. One is what Capt. Buddy Kirkhart once referred to as a “homeboy” leader. It is essentially 50, or 60 or whatever lb test you’d like of STRAIGHT flouro. I know this works because I once used a 60 lb test 10’ piece of flouro with a perfection loop on one end (loop to loop connection to the line) as well as a perfection loop to the fly. I used this 60lb test “homeboy” leader to land a 50lb GT on the flats of Kiribati. In that situation, it really didn’t matter because the only obstacles between the fish and I were deep blue water on the edge of a flat and maybe some coral that I was hoping my 60lb flouro would withstand. Also in these shallow flats the GT was the apex predator and only had to fear human anglers (this statement will make sense later). At that time all I knew was that building a leader was not my specialty.

A month prior I had gone to Columbia and lost 3 huge Peacock Bass on class tippets that I tied. I was using improved Albright knots that I learned from videos online. Theoretically, they should have worked just fine, but with a rushed learning period and no one to provide feedback except for my comparisons to images on Youtube I really had no idea what I was doing. The only other time I had to care about leaders for that large of a fish or greater was when fishing for tarpon in Islamorada, FL this past June 2019.  And on this trip is where I learned the benefits of using a class tippet.

1. Should your rod break or your reel come loose or any other kind of equipment failure occurs and you have a 100+ lb fish on the line, ideally, you want that reel back and you want those rod pieces back. In this situation, a class tippet will protect your gear if your 11 or 12wt tropical line has a 50lb core, or theoretically anything with a greater pound test than your class tippet.

a. PAUSE. I just realized that some might not be familiar with the term class tippet leader. Essentially this type of leader is comprised of 3 main sections (sometimes even just 2). The first section (the part closest to the fly line or butt secion) is something hard to break, like 40 to 60lb test. It is something with a substantial diameter such that a smoother transfer of energy can occur from fly like to leader during a cast. Connected to that you have a smaller lb test piece of line: the Class Tippet is usually 20-16lb way down to even 2lbs in some cases. And depending on the species in many cases the 3rd section is a bite tippet. This piece of line is something with a little thickness to it like 40-80lb test so that the targeted species cannot chew through the part of the line that comes in contact with its mouth. This 3rd section is connected to the fly. Ok, back to the benefits of using a class tippet…

2. Say you are fishing and stripping in line on a boat… doot doot de doo just enjoying the scenery then BOOM huge hit! Your line starts ripping out of the boat from the pile that you’ve made down near your feet. Where is it wrapped around?? Feet? Toes? Fingers? A wrist?? One morning in the keys this happened and the line was flying out of the boat so fast that it caught one of my fingers…pop! Guess what? I lost the fish but I got to keep my finger!! Amen.

3. Lastly, say you have the biggest permit you have ever seen on, or the most hydrodynamic bonefish known to woman, OR a tarpon so shiny you are blinded when the sun glistens off its mirrored body jumps. And then all of a sudden! Out of nowhere! Dun dun. Dun dun. Oh hi Jaws. Oh you wanna eat my disadvantaged fish? Not on my watch. With a class tippet you have the choice to selflessly point your rod tip directly at your prized (almost landed) fish and perform a sad but HERORIC long distance release. And then you sleep well at night. 

Ok so what is my dilemma? Well… I’m embarrassed to say but I do not feel confident in being able to tie a leader with class tippet inline. Who’s with me here!? Believe me, I have tried to learn. I learned all about improved Albright knots but after those leaders, I made failed me I don’t trust them. Actually, really I should say I don’t trust my ability to tie that specific knot correctly. What do I trust? At home, I have leader that Capt. Mike Alfano tied. It has a 16lb class tippet that was broken right in the middle of the class portion after a 2 hour fight with a 120lb tarpon. (my rod snapped on this fish so actually had that not have happened I highly suspect the leader would have stayed intact.)  So what does that tell me? This leader is drool face emoji GOLD. I’m going to do some research tonight and report back tomorrow.

I’m back! After a little DM-ing I got the skinny a couple of leader options. The first is from Capt. Mike Alfano of Islamorada, Florida. Mike is a guide who has spent immense amounts of time understanding tarpon behavior, migration patterns and feeding habits and will be sure to put you in the right spot at the right time. He has a variety of leaders he uses for adult tarpon and was kind enough to send me this recipe. 

Mike Alfano’s Recipe for Tarpon Leaders:

1. If your fly line comes with a pre welded loop 

   • Perfection loop on 6ft of 60 lb

   • Loop to loop connection

2. If you fly line does not come with a pre welded loop

   • Nail knot with 6 feet of 60lb (butt section)

3. Blood knot

4. 4 feet of 40lb

5. Improved blood knot

6. Just less than 18 inches of 20-16lb class tippet

7. Improved blood knot

8. Just less than 12 inches of 50lb “shock” or “bite” tippet

9. Fly is attached using improved homer roads loop knot

Mike has been fishing for tarpon since he was a child and if you’d like to see the kind of tarpon he or his clients catch using leaders like these check him out @captain_mike_alfano Mike notes also that if using a clear fly line you can shorten the overall length of the leader a tad. And alternatively if using a colored fly line lengthening the leader a tad won’t hurt either. He further notes that lubricating the blood knots using chapstick can really make a difference. As a final check make sure that there are not any burn marks in the 16lb class after clinching them down. 

I was also able to track down a leader recipe designed for more inshore fishing using a 7-9wt rod for tarpon up to 40 lbs. This one comes from a guide I fished with last June Capt. Buddy Kirkhart @night_heron_light_tackle. By the way, if you are ever in the Stuart, FL region of FL (2 hrs north of Miami) do not hesitate to book him. He is one of the most hilarious and kind guides I have ever fished with and you are guaranteed a trip to remember. Ok back to the leader!

Buddy’s Tarpon Leader recipe for Fly Fishing:

1. Assuming your fly line has a welded loop

2. Perfection loop

3. 3.5 feet of 40 lb mono

4. 2.5 feet of 30lb

5. 18 inches of 20lb.

6. 18 inches of 15lb

7. 12 inches of 30 lb for the bite tippet

8. All connections are a simple uni to uni knot

9. From bite tippet to fly Buddy uses a Mirro-lure loop knot.

10. Only substitute is a piece of 40lb bite tippet instead of that 30lb if the tarpon are on the plus side of 30lbs.

11. He notes that this basic leader works in 90% of all his situations and turns over well

Further, he notes that he ties his “traditional” tarpon leaders complete with a bimini twist and blood knots for his 10-12wt rods and/or poons over 50lbs. For this type of leader I won’t go into detail but if you’re interested in learning more about that kind of leaders and are in the Islamorada area swing by the Florida Keys Outfitters and hit up Jill Tisdale @jill_bird who ties them day in and day out at her local fly shop, for tournaments, visiting anglers, etc. 

For all of these knots, I was able to look up Youtube videos sent by Mike Alfano or with a simple Youtube search.  I know a lot of us get comfortable with the luxury depending on our guides to make the leaders but I feel it’s important for myself to have a basic back up plan in the case that I’m traveling to a destination where class tippet leaders aren’t the norm and I just feel more humane and safe using one. Also, no judgment on “homeboy” leaders as I’m all about that life given a specific situation. With leaders packed, may the good lord fill Thatch Caye Island with massive tarpon, permit, bonefish or another goliath. Amen.

Article by Ruth Simms (@navajoflyfisher). This is featured on flylordsmag.com from a trip with Team Flylords down to Thatch Caye Island Resort while fishing with Blue Horizon Belize in the famed Permit Alley region of Southern Belize.

Belize Reopens for International Travel on August 15, 2020

International Airport Reopening

The Belize City International Airport officially reopens August 15, 2020. We can’t wait to welcome anglers back to Belize! The fish (and guides) have missed you! This has been an unprecedented break from the annual pressure from anglers. Our guides have been out a few times to “test” the waters and are reporting many unwary permit feeding happily on the flats. The first groups to fish the region will be rewarded with some of the best fishing in decades. Are you ready to join us?

Frequently Asked Questions on COVID-19

CAN TOURISTS AND FOREIGN NATIONALS TRAVEL TO BELIZE?

Tourists and foreign nationals will be able to travel to Belize starting August 15, 2020. This will be only via Belize’s International Airport (BZE) by commercial flights or private flight charters. 

WHAT IS THE BELIZE HEALTH APP AND ITS ROLE IN VISITORS COMING TO BELIZE?

Starting on August 15th, 2020 all guests coming to Belize will have to register for “The Belize Health” App before entering the country.  The App will be free and will allow for Belize’s Ministry of Health to check-in with guests throughout their stay. In the event a new case arises while a visitor is on holiday, contact tracing will be much easier and notification of other parties who may have been within your vicinity will be quick and efficient enabling us to #stopthespread as best as possible.  The Belize Health App is not yet available in the App Store and is in its testing phases now, but will be released in the weeks prior to August 15th. Travelers have ample time to register.

ARE COVID-19 TESTS REQUIRED TO ENTER BELIZE?

Yes. In order to travel to Belize, every single visitor – no matter your nationality, including Belizeans – must provide a negative test result within a 72-hour window of your flight to be granted entry into the country.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T HAVE A NEGATIVE TEST UPON ARRIVAL?

If an arriving passenger, whether citizen, resident or foreign national does not provide proof of a negative test results within 72 hours prior to arrival, they will be immediately required (at their own cost) to take a rapid test given by Belize’s Ministry of Health at the BZE airport. If this test proves a positive result for COVID-19, you will be required to remain in quarantine in a government-approved location. The quarantine period will be at the cost of the traveller and for a period of time determined by Belize’s Ministry of Health. 

DO I NEED TO WEAR A FACE MASK IN BELIZE?

Face masks are required in all public places and should be worn during the entire flight landing, deplaning, throughout the arrival process and in the airport. 

IS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPEN IN BELIZE?

Yes. Public transportation in Belize is operating via buses, water taxis and domestic airlines. Social distancing is required to queue, and a face mask is required for the entirety of your journey. We offer the Muy’Ono Explorer for express transportation from the international airport to your resort.

ARE FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS OPEN IN BELIZE?

Yes. Restaurants, Bars and Cafes in Belize are open but are required to practice social distancing among tables and a limited capacity. Most resorts have restaurants on-property. Please contact us if you have additional questions.

ARE BUSINESSES AND TOURISM ATTRACTIONS OPEN IN BELIZE?

Yes. While open, social distancing is required. As in any public space, or activity, you are required to wear a mask. There are new capacity restrictions that have been identified for all tourism sites to ensure social distancing can be maintained and smaller groups will provide a more intimate tour experience. Please contact us if you have additional questions.

WHAT IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS SHOULD I HAVE WHEN TRAVELING TO BELIZE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY?

Ministry of Health Hotline: 0-800-MOH-CARE (664-2273)
Belize Tourism Board Information Line: 1-800-624-0686

Blue Horizon’s Sanitation Procedures

OUR COMMITMENT TO CLEANLINESS AND HYGIENE

Blue Horizon always take great pride in maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. In response to COVID-19, we have increased the frequency with which our public areas, guest rooms, and facilities are deep-cleaned and disinfected, using hospital-grade disinfectants. We also offer hand sanitizer throughout the property for guest and employee use. 

PROCEDURES & PROTOCOL

• Employees: All employees are required to take their temperature before reporting for duty. Any employees exhibiting or exposed to any illness will be instructed to stay home. We require all illness-based absences to continue until a sufficient quarantine has been completed according to CDC guidelines and individual healthcare physicians. All employees will wear face masks while on-duty.

• Communication: Constant communication with local public health officials to provide real-time updates to all guests and employees.

• Hand Hygiene: The importance of hand washing is being communicated to employees daily and is vital to keeping guests and employees healthy. We are stocked with supplies to support healthy hygiene practices. 

• Guest Rooms: Our employees follow CDC COVID-19 approved cleaning and disinfecting protocols while using hospital-grade disinfectants. Rooms are deep cleaned after guests depart and prior to the next guests' arrival, with particular attention to frequently touched surfaces.

• Public Spaces: At our new lodge, we have increased the frequency of disinfecting these areas with a focus on the frequently touched surfaces and areas like guest entrances, the main lodge, and common gathering areas. Hand sanitizer will be available for guests to use in all public spaces. All public seating will be placed 6 feet apart.

• Back of House: We have increased sanitation procedures in the spaces where employees are behind the scenes to help make your stay the best it can be. All back of the house, including kitchen staff, will wear face masks and gloves.

IN THE CASE OF AN EVENT

If we are alerted of a case of COVID-19, we will immediately partner with our public health officials and follow the procedures and protocol to ensure guests and employees are not affected. We will implement extreme disinfecting procedures of the common areas on the hotel grounds as well as areas we know the individual has been to during their stay. 

BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

• Check the CDC’s Travelers health notices for the latest updates and guidance for each country you plan to travel to. 

• We recommend all guests purchase travel insurance to protect you and your family from the unexpected before and during your trip. Blue Horizon is proud to partner with Generali Global Assistance. To learn more about Generali and to add it to your trip, click here. When entering the total trip cost, please enter the total for all lodging, tours, or transportation purchased through Muy’Ono Resorts (Blue Horizon Lodge) and Muy’Ono Adventures (Blue Horizon Fly Fishing). Generali Global Assistance offers a 10-day free look and can only be purchased up through the date of your final payment. For more information visit Generali.

A Guide to Fly Fishing Placencia, Belize [A Permit Paradise]

Fly Fishing in Placencia, Belize

With miles and miles of undisturbed flats, it’s a good reason that Southern Belize is considered the permit capital of Belize. There is wonderful habitat for these permit to thrive in and not as many anglers and people for that matter in the south. Nestled on the southern coast the quaint little fishing village of Placencia has become an under the radar destination for many adventure seeking tourists, more specifically anglers pursuing Belize fly fishing and sport fishing opportunities.

What’s unique about Placencia is it located on a thin peninsula with a large lagoon on one side and the ocean on the other, the isolated village is a must-see for any traveler. “The sidewalk” on the tip on the peninsula has numerous smaller resorts, BandB’s, local restaurants and bars perfect for a couple of day stay for any angler.

The Travel to Placencia Village:

The small village is perfect as travelers do not need any sort of transportation to access all the amenities and services. Many of the accommodations offer complimentary shuttles as well as free bikes. A lot of tourists also like to utilize golf carts while staying in Placencia. The easiest way to get to Placencia is to take a commuter flight from Belize International Airport. Airlines like Tropic Air or Maya Island Air offer flights every hour or so throughout the day and the cost is around $265.00 per person roundtrip. The flight time is around 35 minutes as driving could take 4-5 hours, so for most the flight is the way to go.

Accommodations in Placencia Village:

Since the small tourism boom in Placencia, the locals and hospitality companies have created many different lodging options to meet each traveler’s needs. On the tip of the Peninsula, there are many different vacation rentals as well as a small resort called the Brisa Oceano. This resort has wonderful rooms, complete with full kitchens. It is located on the very tip of the Peninsula on the sidewalk and on the beach. So this makes it perfect for travelers looking to enjoy all the local cuisine and culture the Peninsula has to offer. It is also located next to the two well-known bars where most people wind down there day. The bars are called the Tipsy Tuna and Barefoot Beach Bar. Definitely check these out and enjoy the beach views and tropical drinks.

If you are looking for accommodations with a little more amenities and services, a little bit farther out of the main village there are some wonderful resorts including the Placencia Resort. This resort is complete with multiple restaurants onsite, a pool, exercise room, variety of room types and full harbor.

Another option that many tourists prefer is to do a combo trip where they stay 3-5 nights on the mainland and then head out to a caye or island to stay 3-5 nights. This way you get the full Belizean experience of the culture on the mainland and then escape to the beauty of a Caribbean island. One island I recommend highly due to its location of wonderful fishing and snorkeling is Ranguana Caye. This Belizean island has a great flat for DIY fly fishing for bonefish.

The Fly Fishing in Placencia Belize

Like most other areas on the mainland of Belize, the fishing right off the beach in Placencia is not that productive as the reef is located about 20 miles offshore. The reef is where phenomenal fishing occurs. So hiring a guide is essential to your fishing adventure when you're in Placencia. While at certain times of the year and certain conditions there can be some beach fishing for jacks, tarpon, snook, and barracuda. Don’t count on this as it can be a bit finicky. But the true draw to this village is the reef right off the coast. The fishery is just endless with pancake flats, cayes, and lagoons in islands that tarpon frequent (Tarpon Caye). As well as some blue water right off the reef that can be productive for deep sea fishing.

Many of the guides at Blue Horizon Belize, are born and raised in Placencia or the nearby village of Independence. These Placencia fly fishing guides are the real deal and will take you on an unforgettable fly fishing experience for permit, tarpon, bonefish and much more. To book your fly fishing adventure in Placencia, reach out to us at info@bluehorizonbelize.com. We offer package specials with lodging, food, and guided fishing.

Honeymoon Island Fly Fishing Trip in Belize

Southern Belize is a perfect place for a couples vacation or honeymoon with some fly fishing mixed in. As a travel destination, Belize is known for adventure tourism that is rich with culture and warm and fuzzy hospitality. The Caribbean seas and genuine hospitality make it a great place for couples to spend some quality time together. Belize is also top on the list for many anglers, with beautiful saltwater flats teeming with flats species like permit, bonefish and tarpon.

At Blue Horizon Belize we offer customizable honeymoon and couples fly fishing packages. You can decide how many days you want to book a fly fishing guide and if you want to add anything other activities like SCUBA diving. The guides at Blue Horizon Belize are also happy to take you for a combo day of snorkeling and fly fishing. We can also accommodate spin fishing if your spouse is not comfortable with a fly rod. But…there are nearby cayes with schools of bonefish that can be a lot of fun for a novice angler.

Blue Horizon Belize works exclusively with Thatch Caye Island Resort. This small resort offers adventure and island fun in a barefoot casual environment. The accommodations are breathtaking with a rustic Belizean feel, but only include the necessities, unlike your typical luxury hotel suite. The island is limited to 30 guests at a time and 15 rooms. It also has 5 Premier Over Water Bungalows, which are a favorite for couples. The single standing structures are the perfect romantic accommodation. Some of our guests have claimed that they have caught permit and bonefish standing on the porch of their Over Water Bungalow. One guest even provided a picture so the proof was in the picture.

There is a nice flat at Thatch Caye that sometimes will have bonefish and permit feeding at certain tides. You can also kayak and paddle board to nearby cayes that have some wadable flats. But the true experience is to hire one of Blue Horizon’s local Belizean fly fishing guides for a professional guided trip. Thatch Caye is located in the South Water Caye Marine Reserve. This area is known as “permit alley” due to the vast amount of flats with tailing permit. The best part about Thatch Caye is that the guide will pick you up and within two minutes you could be having shots at permit, bonefish, and tarpon. It is a true saltwater angler’s paradise and the accommodations and food at Thatch Caye are wonderful.

We also offer “Rock to Reef” packages with Copal Tree Lodge, which is located to the south in Punta Gorda. Couples will enjoy 3-5 nights at each resort. You will get the jungle land based adventure at Copal Tree Lodge and then the island getaway at Thatch Caye. At Copal Tree the fishing program is more focused on permit, so Thatch Caye does offer better fly fishing opportunities for the novice angler.

Whether your planning a romantic getaway, or celebrating an anniversary or want to do a couples trip with some of your friends Thatch Caye Island Resort is a great option for fly fishing anglers. Be sure to send us an email at info@bluehorizonbelize.com to check availability and inquire about a customized couples fly fishing vacation.

Belize Barracuda Fly Fishing Opportunities

Like many saltwater flats destinations in the world, barracuda are present year-round on the flats of Belize. A barracuda or commonly called “the wolf of the flats” they are a large, predatory ray-finned fish known for its fearsome appearance and aggressive behavior. Barracuda range in size from a couple pounds to 80 pounds and 6 feet in length. The larger ones are considered “Great Barracuda” and are more commonly encountered when diving or fishing at deeper depths. However, barracuda in the 20-40 pound class are common in the flats of Belize and can be effectively targeted with a fly rod.

A barracuda can be a temperamental eater and will not always eat a well-presented fly. So here are a couple of tips to keep in mind when fly fishing for barracuda in Belize.

• Be stealthy: once a barracuda knows you are there the fish will sit there and act like it doesn’t see you. But really the fish see’s you and is aware that you are fishing for it. So think of this as you typically are only going to get one really good shot and make the best of it.

• Be prepared at all times: Typically your not going to see a larger good sized barracuda each day flats fishing Belize, unless the guide knows of a resident fish and you ask to target it. So as you spend your day flats fishing, rig up a rod for fly fishing barracuda. Have it ready in the boat at all times. Some fishing pairs will always have one angler ready with the cuda or shark rod to maximize time on the flats boat with the guide.

• Cast past the fish: Since cuda seem to be smarter than they look and eat, be smart about fly placement. Cast 10-15 past the fish or ahead of the fish. Just be sure to throw the line overtop the fish. The fly does not need to be right on top of the cuda like when your permit fishing.

• Proper retrieve: You cannot move the fly fast enough. Once the fly hits the water, begin stripping that fly to get it moving and when the cuda shows interest try to strip it even faster.

• Proper Gear:

  • 9-12 Weight Rod

  • Tropical Line with Clear Tip

  • Toothy Critter Wire Leaders work great or build your own. Tie a 12-foot butt section of 60# fluorocarbon to the line and then attach three feet of 16# or 20# hard monofilament with an improved blood knot, add a foot of wire bite tippet.

  • Specific Baracuda Flies work best like the Umpqua Barracuda Fly. You can also use tarpon flies like the black death and cockroach. But the double hook on the specific cuda flies works very well.

If all else fails, spin to win. Spin fishing for barracuda can be much simpler than fly fishing. So if for some reason you don’t have another fly rod for a cuda setup. Ask the guide to bring a spin rod and have it rigged up with a tube.

In Belize, we eat a lot of the barracuda we catch. It is safe to eat barracuda in these waters. They taste very good with a white flakey texture similar to that of mahi mahi. Light fry or on the grill with Marie Sharps is the ticket.

Belize Saltwater Fly Fishing Gear Packing List

So you have booked your fly fishing trip to Belize and are wondering what you might need to pack for your adventure. Here is some general information about what we suggest to pack for fly fishing in Belize.

Belize is a tropical country where the average temperature is 84, so expect this more or less most days of the year. While like any place in the world Belize does experience cold fronts and warm fronts so be sure to check the weather before heading to Belize. A lot of the time when you check the weather during the rainy season it says rain every day, well this may be true but these rainstorms only last for less than an hour. So don’t be discouraged that the weather says rain every day a lot of the time this is not the case. Here is a link for a detailed weather report of Southern Belize: https://old.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=434969&sty=m_spot.

General Packing List:

• Light rain jacket and sweater for cool mornings/evenings and early morning boat runs. You never know when a tropical rainstorm may decide to move through.

• Light quick-dry shirts, shorts, and pants for protection from the sun.

• Polarized sunglasses for spotting fish (amber, copper, or green mirror work best on the flats), bring two pairs if you have them. One pair for the runs to the fishing grounds and another pair for the actual fishing.

• Wide-brimmed hat for protection from the sun.

• Buff or other sun protection for the head and neck.

• Personal medications.

• Small waterproof bag for carrying extra gear or dry bag backpack.

• Camera, batteries, plenty of memory/film, and lens cleaner.

• Sunscreen, lip balm, and moisturizers (SPF 30+).

• Insect repellent (we recommend OFF brand spray with the orange cap).

• Hand towel/rag for fishing use.

• Wading shoes or boots for stalking flats fish, if desired - We recommend HARD SOLES

  BOOTS. Simms, Patagonia, or Orvis makes a Zip-it style or Flats Sneakers that work very well.

  Normal wading boots can be very clunky and heavy to pack. Our guides like to wade fish for tailing permit a lot of the flats in Southern Belize.

• Fisherman’s pliers, clipper, and line cleaner

• Optional: binoculars and snorkeling gear. Our guides can take you snorkeling on your fishing day if you would like. This does cut into the fishing time but can be a nice way to break up a week of fishing. Be sure to bring your own snorkel gear.

Fly Fishing Gear:

Recommended Permit Tackle:

• Rods: 9 or 10 weight

• Reel: Saltwater reel holding a minimum of 200 yards of 20-pound backing

• Fly Line: Tropical Weight Forward Floating

• Leader: 9-12 feet

• Tippet: 12-20 pound test, 16 pound is the go-to. Fluorocarbon offers an advantage

Recommended Tarpon Tackle:

• Rods: 11 or 12 weight

• Reel: Saltwater reel holding a minimum of 200 yards of 30-pound backing

• Fly Line: Intermediate and sink tip (350-500 grains sink tip). Having both of these lines makes you prepared for every scenario. We often will fish deeper channels most of the time and the heavy sink line is mandatory for this.

• Leader: 4 - 6 ft. butt section, 16 - 20-pound class tippet and 60 - 100-pound shock tippet

Recommended Bonefish Tackle:

• Rods: 7 or 8 weight

• Reel: Saltwater reel holding at least 200 yards of 20-pound backing

• Fly Line: Tropical Weight forward floating line

• Leader: 9-14 feet - depending upon the fishing situation

• Tippet: 2X-0X 8-12 pound test - fluorocarbon offers an advantage

FLIES:

Permit Flies:

• Bauer’s Crab - Olive and Tan size 6-8 (sometimes size 4)

• Camo Crab - Olive size 4 and 6

• Del Brown's Permit Fly (Merkin) - Tan size #2 to 1/0

• Enrico Puglisi's EP Crab - Olive, Tan, Tri, size 6, 4, 2

• Various other Crab patterns in olive or tan - size 6-1/0 Smaller, lighter variations for the shallow flats

Bonefish Flies:

• Pops' Bonefish Bitters, #6 & #8 (Olive and Amber)

• Crazy Charlies - chartreuse, white, pink & brown (unweighted for outer flats) #6 & #8

• Gotcha’s - white, pink, tan , #6 & #8

Tarpon Flies: sizes 3/0 to 4/0

• Gummy minnow - size 2, 2/0

• Apte-style tarpon flies in various color combinations. Dark colors tend to be better in the early morning and brighter colors work best when the sun is bright.

• Deceiver patterns - various colors

Hopefully, this packing list will prepare you for your fishing trip to Belize. If you are in need of specific fly fishing gear we do offer rentals. Be sure to reach out to us at info@bluehorizonbelize.com for any specific questions in regards to the gear.

3 Tips to Prepare for Your Saltwater Fly Fishing Trip in Belize

Are you thinking about booking a fly fishing trip to Southern Belize? Or maybe you have booked your fly fishing adventure to Belize and want to make sure you are properly prepared to make the most out of your trip? A lot of anglers that come to fly fish Belize for the first time have minimal experience fly fishing the saltwater. Most are avid freshwater trout anglers that have dreams of catching a grand slam on the flats of Belize. So what are some tips to prepare yourself for your saltwater fly fishing adventure?

Tip #1: Have the right gear and know-how to use it.

Make sure to come prepared with the correct gear for your Belize fly fishing adventure. While many lodges, outfitters, and guides do provide gear it is not always everything that you need to make the most of your Belize fly fishing trip. It is better to be prepared for your trip with your own gear, so you don’t have to assume or set your hopes on that the outfitter your use will have the proper gear for you.

For starters, it is recommended to have 3 rods rigged up and ready to go each day for your guided trip. We recommend setting up a 9 foot 7 or 8 weight rod for bonefish (floating line, 8-12 pound fluorocarbon leader, and a bonefish fly). The second rod would be your permit rod, a 9 or 10 weight rod (floating line, 16-20 pound fluorocarbon leader, and permit fly. The third rod would be your tarpon rod or cuda/shark setup. Typically this is setup with a clear intermediate tip line weight to match the rod, tarpon leader or wire leader if you are after cuda or sharks. It is also recommended to bring a sink tip spool or reel for this setup as fishing the deep channels for tarpon is common in Belize and a full sink line is essential. It is also good to bring a back up 9 or 10 weight rod and have it on the boat in case one of the rods breaks. Think of this as your backup permit rod. By having the right gear prepped and ready to roll you will be able to make the most of your time on the flats of Belize.

Tip#2:Make sure to have a reputable guide booked.

A local Belizean fly fishing guide will take the learning curve out of trying to learn the complexities of saltwater flats fishing and specifically permit fly fishing. The guides are out on the water 200 plus days a year and have been out on the water their whole lives. They know where the permit live, what tides to fish specific flats, and how to make your day unforgettable. More often than not tourists coming to Belize believe that DIY is the way to go and while this may be possible in some areas it is not as productive as fishing from a boat with a guide.

It’s important to book a guide farther in advance to ensure you are getting an experienced fly fishing guide. While some guides to claim to offer fly fishing they are more often taking out spin or reef fishing trips. So be sure to double check that the guide you booked is reputable and understands fly fishing.

The guides at Blue Horizon Belize are all english speaking and are knowledgable, personable, and patient instructors. We do our best to match clients with the best fitting guide for their personality and fishing preferences.

Tip#3: Practice casting heavy rods and be able to haul fly line with one fly line pick up.

One step you can take to prepare yourself for your fly fishing trip is to practice casting the heavier weighted rods. We recommend to head out to a lake or take your boat out and rig up the rods just like you would for your saltwater fly fishing trip. It also helps if you have a friend come along to help roll play real scenarios that would happen out on the flats. Instead of peeling off all the line and trying to double haul as far as you can focus first on accuracy. Have your friend call out “shots” of imaginary fish. For example, they say 12’o’cock 40 feet you then make the cast. Then again 3’o’clock 60 feet. Then again 10’o’clock 20 feet. Try going through different shots just like it would happen on the flats in Belize.

One component to keep in mind that most novice saltwater anglers seem to forget is to focus on being able to make your casting with one double haul. So if you have to make a 60 foot shot at 10’o’clock, try making this cast without false casting. Or once you have made your shot and your line is out, try to pick up all your line and make another shot without false casting.

One of the number one mistakes novice salt fly anglers make is too much false casting. Have confidence in your ability to shoot line with one double haul. So practice this at home and you will be better offer when you arrive to catch a permit of a lifetime in Belize.

Hopefully these tips will prepare you for a fly fishing trip of a lifetime to Southern Belize. Be sure to send us an email at info@bluehorizonbelize.com to check availability for fly fishing guides or to book your fly fishing adventure to Belize.

Wading Boots for Flats Fishing Belize

If you have booked a trip with Blue Horizon Belize, you have probably seen that we recommend bringing hard-soled saltwater wading boots. While this item is not essential, especially if you are just going for one day, they do come in handy for certain scenarios out in the flats. It could make or break a day, especially for a beginner angler.

You can get closer to a fish on foot as opposed to in the boat. Wading boots allow you to get out of the boat and get closer to a feeding or tailing permit. This is great for many novice anglers as it can mean making a 30-foot cast on foot instead of taking a 60-foot cast from the boat. While not every permit can be hunted down on foot, you will often have a shot or two on foot on average per day.

To be best prepared we recommend bringing down a pair of trusted flats wading boots so you can stalk a permit on foot.

Flats Boots we recommend:

*Please contact your local fly shop to see if they have any in-stock. #buylocal

Orvis Fishing Christmas Island Bootie $79.00: minimalist, lightweight enough to get the job done from the boat. Avoid this model if you plan to do a full day of wading on your own, no foot support. But great for quick off and on’s from the flats boat.

Simms Fishing ZipIt II Flats Booties $99.95: lightweight and easy on and off these are great for the angler who doesn’t need a lot of boot support and will just be using in and off the boat.

Simms Fishing Flats Sneakers $169.95: these are durable, long-lasting, and comfortable flats boots. If you plan to do some wading on your own these would be the ones. They will last a little longer and give you more traction.

Other options:

Sandals will not protect your feet from stinging coral but they will be better than going barefoot. Cheap water shoes are always an option but these tend to get pretty beat up fast. You can also use an old pair of sneakers with tube socks. Just know that the saltwater will eat them up pretty good. Normal wading boots built for waders with wading socks are a decent option but are extremely heavy to pack and can be timely to put on quickly. We do recommend a pair of flats specific shoes if you are fishing multiple days with us, you will thank us later.

Tailing Permit Tactics

Southern Belize is the epicenter for tailing permit. The vast pancake flats provide suitable feeding grounds for a hungry permit. When the tide shifts and the water moves onto the flats, permit move in and gorge on the crabs, shrimp, baitfish, even the sea urchins and small lobsters. Typically, this feeding frenzy will result in tailing permit.

A tailing permit is a happy permit and a happy permit is one that will eat a well-presented fly. So when you do encounter a tailing permit it is your time to shine here are some tips to follow.

Go for the Jugular.

“Hook him or spook him,” is the rule to live by on a tailing permit. 

When you see a permit tailing and feeding, put that fly right in front of that fish. Think of a dinner plate and land it within a dinner plate of the permit’s mouth. You can aim for the head of the permit and hope that fly drops write into the feeding fish’s mouth. This is different from when you have a cruising permit or a school of permit. A tailing permit is less spooky, take advantage of this.

Get Close to the Fish.

Since a tailing permit is preoccupied with actively trying to stuff crabs into it’s mouth use this to your advantage. If you are in a boat, get out of the boat and take the hunt on foot. This allows you to get closer and have a good shot. It’s not uncommon for a tailing fish to come within 10-20 feet of you and not notice as it’s mind is on food.

Don’t Let Your Emotions Get in the Way

A tailing permit will absolutely get your heart rate going. So with this tell yourself before you go fishing that if you do encounter a tailing fish you are going to take a deep breath and relax, just focus on what you know and don’t let the pressure get to you. The mental game of permit fishing is real, so step up out of it and show the permit that you have confidence. You have control to catch that fish, so make it happen.

If you want to book a trip to have daily shots at tailing permit, there is no better place than the Blue Horizon Lodge with Blue Horizon Fly Fishing guides, led by legendary guide Lincoln Westby. To check availability you can email us at info@bluehorizonbelize.com.

What to Wear on Your Flats Fly Fishing Trip in Belize

Most people that want to enjoy a day in the sun on a flats boat down in Belize would think of wearing maybe swim trunks or a bathing suit and lots of sunscreen. But, most people who have been in a flats boat for a full day or wading the flats for a full day know that if you just wear a swimsuit you’re probably going to look like a lobster by happy hour. While a swimsuit is perfect to wear as a “base layer” below you will find a general guide of recommended clothing and gear you need to bring for your permit fly fishing adventure in Belize.

While most all of our Belizean Fly Fishing guides have canopy’s on their boats. Often when fishing the canopy’s are down so the sun will be beaming down on you. If you prefer to have a guide with a canopy please let us know and let the guide know you would like the canopy up as much as possible.

Hat and Sun Mask (Buff):

Make sure to bring a baseball cap or wide-brimmed hat to keep the sun off your face. Many flats specific hats even have a black under-visor to absorb sunlight to make it easier to target fish. Many anglers prefer light-colored water-resistant hats in the flats. Simms Fly Fishing makes a few that are specific to the tropical flats.

A Buff of facemask is also essential to keep the sun off the back of your head and face. They can be bought almost everywhere and can be easily packed in your carry on bag. So don’t forget your buff as it will keep that sun off your face and prevent unnecessary sunburns.

Fishing Shirt or Sun Hoody:

A lightweight long sleeve fishing shirt is a great item to bring down to Belize for your days on the water. The classic Columbia PFG is one that many anglers prefer. The breathable shirts allow for comfortable fishing in the hottest conditions. The collar also protects you from the sun.

A sun hoody is more of a newer trend in flats fishing. The lightweight hoody keeps the strong UV rays off your skin thus, reducing your body temperature. The hoody also is nice as it provides UV sun protection on your head and face.

For women both a hoody and a long sleeve fishing shirt work great as a layer over a bathing suit, so you can still soak up some rays.

Pants or Shorts:

Many anglers prefer lightweight fishing pants as these protect your legs from getting sunburnt on a long day of fly fishing. Shorts and swim trunks are also a good option depending on your preference.

Packable Rain Jacket:

This is probably the most often neglected essential item to bring on your flats fly fishing trip to Southern Belize. You think you are headed to a tropical climate with warm temps, well often in the mornings before the sun is rising it can be a bit chilly out on the ocean. Especially if the waves are a little choppy and the water is splashing in the boat. So be sure to pack a lightweight rain jacket on your flats fly fishing trip. There is also always the chance of quick tropical rain systems that move through.

Footwear:

Most anglers who fish from a flats boat prefer to be barefoot to be able to feel the line if it tangles at your feet. This is a great option but if you are fishing for multiple days your feet may take a beating from the sun even with the aid of sunscreen. Another option is to wear some socks with traction on the bottom or lightweight boat shoes, sandals or even your wading boots. But remember one loud step and that tailing permit will be long gone. So we recommend barefoot and having a backup in case your feet do get a little sunburnt.

Also, be sure to pack your saltwater wading boots in the boat and have them readily available.

Polarized Sunglasses:

Polarized sunglasses are essential for your flats fishing trip. Many anglers bring two pairs, one as a backup or to wear when you take runs to the flats so one pair stays crystal clear of saltwater. Bringing some alcohol wipes in your kit is a good addition for cleaning the saltwater off your glasses. The flats fly fishing guides prefer typically Costa or Smith Glass lenses in the green or blue mirror lens for bright days or the copper or grey lens on cloudier days.

Waterproof Dry Bag:

Packing all these gear into one waterproof dry bag is a great way to stay organized. Simms, Patagonia, Orvis, and other fly fishing companies make a handle of dry bags, backpacks, slings, duffels, and hip packs that work great for flats fly fishing from a boat. While you can put your bags in the hull to keep them dry having a nice waterproof bag is a great addition.

Guide tip: Have a plastic bag or fly puck of some flies and tippet that you can stick in your pocket if you need to hop out of the boat to hunt a fish down. This makes it so if you break off or have to change flies you can do so quickly.

If you have any additional questions about what to wear for your flats fishing trip in Belize, feel free to reach out to us at info@bluehorizonbelize.com. We hope that this aids and prepares you to catch your grand slam a permit, bonefish, and tarpon down in Belize!

DIY Fly Fishing in Belize

The fishing grounds in Belize are endless. Having the largest living barrier reef, second largest barrier reef (behind the great barrier reef), the coast of Belize is dotted with hundreds of small islands called Cayes (pronounced “Keys”). Providing miles and miles of fishable water for the avid flats angler. The question is how do you find and access the fly fishing flats in Belize?

The barrier reef in Belize does span the whole coastline of Belize but the reef can be quite far from the mainland at many parts of the country. For fishing this means that the flats are only accessible by boat, making it challenging to DIY fish from shore. While on the mainland fish do move through and there can be opportunities for gamefish like jacks busting bait in the mornings, the potential for tarpon moving through specific channels or hanging around in the dock lights at night, barracuda, and other smaller reef fish. But for the most part the fishing from the mainland can be quite unproductive.

If you wanted to do some DIY fly fishing in Belize your best option would be to stay out in the Cayes or islands off from the mainland. These cayes are located on the barrier reef, they actually make up the barrier reef. Around the islands, marine life is rich in biodiversity providing great habitat for many game fish like bonefish, permit, and tarpon.

The most pressured and popular (for a good reason) is the island of San Pedro in northern Belize. The island offers great DIY fishing right off the beaches and can be very productive at times. But it does see a good bit of pressure and the fish can be pretty keen due to this.

There are many great lodging options with productive flats either located right at the island or nearby and can be accessed by kayak or paddleboard. A few favorites for many anglers is the Ranguana Caye Island Resort and Thatch Caye Island Resort. Both have fly fishing flats with resident bonefish and often also host feeding permit and other flats species like triggerfish. Just make sure to bring your own fly fishing gear as typically most of these island resorts do not have gear on hand for guests.

Weather also plays a large factor in having good conditions for DIY fly fishing in Belize. If the wind is up and the waves are choppy is can be very challenging to fish the islands and it can also be unsafe to take out a kayak or paddleboard. So do keep this in mind.

If in fact, you wanted to book a day of guided fly fishing while you're in Belize to understand the fishery, Blue Horizon Belize does offer day trips in Hopkins, Placencia, and the surrounding Cayes. To inquire about booking a trip you can email info@bluehorizonbelize.com.

Hosted Saltwater Fly Fishing Trips in Belize

At Blue Horizon Belize we allow our guests and customers to “host” groups of anglers at our various resorts that we operate at. What this means is if you are a host you will be in charge of getting all the deposits for your group’s trip, taking care of travel questions, and any other questions your group may have. We are also here to help aid you in the process of being a host.

Why host saltwater fly fishing trips?

That is the million-dollar question..well it’s simple for many people. They want to bring together a group of friends to go on an unforgettable fly fishing adventure. But if you do host a trip, Blue Horizon Belize will also offer you a free or comped spot on the trip. While restrictions do come into play here as typically you will need at least 7 paying fly fishing package guests in order to claim that host spot. But if you think you may have some clients that you want to take on a Belize Fly Fishing vacation hosting a trip may be a perfect option for you. If you also have 8 or more friends that want to plan a fly fishing trip, you can also apply the comped spot to discounting the rate for everyone. So this is a great option to get the price down.

What makes a good host?

Know what your group wants and understand what the fishery and lodge offers. At Blue Horizon Belize, we are heavily focused on permit fishing. This type of fishing may not be for everyone so be sure to communicate to your group what exactly each day looks like and what the fishing catch rates and expectations should be. That’s why we are here every step of the way to help you plan your hosted fly fishing trip to Belize.

If you are interested in hosting a saltwater fly fishing trip in Belize, the team at Blue Horizon Belize is here to help you, reach out to us at info@bluehorizonbelize.com to check availability.

Belize Fly Fishing Guides

Belize Fly Fishing Guides

In the country of Belize, qualified and experienced fly fishing guides can be hard to come by especially during the busy tourist season from December to May if you don’t book ahead. Many renowned fly fishing guides book out quite early, some as far as a year out. While sometimes you can get lucky when a guide has a gap in his schedule but often the top caliber guides are booked and usually booked around the quality tides.

Do note that English is the primary language in Belize. So all fly fishing guides in Belize are English speaking. Some of the guides will speak in the local creole at times.

What to look for in a Belize Fly Fishing Guide?

A quality fly fishing guide is what makes the international fly fishing travel experience so enjoyable. So what is that makes a great guide? First and foremost, knowledge of the local fishery and fly fishing expertise. But attitude is also an essential trait to a quality fly fishing guide. Is it a job for the guide? Or it is a passion and way of life? Successful guides will effectively translate their passion of the fishery to you.

The guides at Blue Horizon Belize are held to the highest standard. They enjoy what they do and are good at what they do. They are professionally trained, held accountable by the other guides and staff, and have an established client base. They are also all insured and have up to date Captain’s Licenses and Tour Guide Licenses. Two credentials that are mandatory for any Belize fishing guides but often overlooked. These credentials are often a good indicator if your guide runs a “tight” program.

How to Become a Fly Fishing Guide in Belize?

In the country of Belize in order to be a fly fishing guide you need to be a Belizean citizen. This regulation has protected the local citizens of this livelihood and has prevented many international fly fishing guides from flocking to the area to open up operations and guide as we have seen in other Caribbean countries like Mexico. If you are a Belizean citizen and want to become a fly fishing guide you will need to retain your tour guide license as well as your captain’s license.

It’s a Family Tradition

Like many other Caribbean fly fishing destinations, guiding is a family business that is passed on generation to generation. Our fly fishing guides were taught by their fathers, who were taught by their fathers and now our guides are teaching their children.

Many family names are very renowned in the Belize fly fishing guide business. Westby, Leslie, Cabral, and Garbutt are just a few of the fly fishing families that work with Blue Horizon and Muy’Ono Resorts.

Of course, Lincoln Westby, the founder of Blue Horizon Lodge and our lead guide, is one family name to mention. Lincoln’s roots are in Hopkins and Dangriga. You can learn more about Westby family fishing HERE.

To the South in Placencia, the Leslie family is known for their fly fishing expertise. Charlie Leslie, the founder of Tarpon Caye Lodge, is a popular guide in Southern Belize. His son Marlon Leslie is one of the most renowned guides in the region and lead guide for Blue Horizon. Ivan Leslie, Blake Leslie, and Bruce Leslie also operate in Placencia with Blue Horizon

Another common family name of fishing guides in southern Belize is Cabral. At Blue Horizon, Steve Cabral is a lead guide and his son, Kevon Cabral, is an aspiring guide in his early 20’s that will be a permit master for years to come.

Down south all the way in Punta Gorda, there’s only one guide name that comes to the mind: Garbutt. The Garbutts are a family of commercial fishermen that have branched into guiding fly fishing. Scully, Oliver, and Eworth are the three brothers who guide out of the Garbutts Fishing Lodge in Punta Gorda and service Copal Tree Lodge.

A quality fly fishing guide is hard to come by, a top-caliber guide can be expected when you book with Blue Horizon, at the Lodge or at any of our partner hotels.

Sport Fishing License Required to Fish in Belize

Sport Fishing License Required to Fish in Belize

In order to sport fish in Belize, whether it is catch and release or you will be keeping fish to eat, you are required to have a fishing license. The best way to retain a fishing license is to head over to the Coastal Zone Management Authority Sports Fishing License Portal and fill out the electronic form to retain the license. Make sure to save a copy of the confirmation on your mobile device or print it out to have while fishing in Belize.

Upon checking out you will select the License Type to be Sport Fishing (Catch and Release Only) regardless if you are keeping fish or not.

The cost of the licenses:

1 Day $20.00 BZE
1 Week $50.00 BZE

Blue Horizon Lodge Pre-arrival Information

Welcome!

Thank you for choosing Blue Horizon Fishing, a Muy’Ono Company, for your upcoming fishing adventure. 

We look forward to fishing with you and welcoming you to our recently rebuilt Blue Horizon Lodge. Our lodge offers the best in local food, warm Belizean hospitality, and of course prime fishing. We hope you will find this document useful as you plan your trip to beautiful Belize.

We are available to answer any further questions via email at info@bluehorizonbelize.com or by calling us at 1-800-313-1672. 

_____________________________

PRE-TRIP INFORMATION & RECOMMENDATIONS 

TRAVEL:  DO NOT FORGET YOUR PASSPORT. A valid passport is required to enter Belize.  We recommend that you carry a change of clothing and your necessary personal items such as medications in your carry-on bag. Although we have not had a substantial problem with lost luggage, being prepared will help prevent the major inconvenience of lost luggage. 

CURRENCY:  U.S. currency is easily exchanged in Belize at a rate of $2 BLZ for $1 US, and you do not need to exchange money before leaving home. Large US bills ($50's and $100's) can be difficult to break, and we suggest that you bring smaller bills. We also recommend clean, crisp, or new bills for hassle free use during your travels in Belize. Other currencies should be exchanged for Belizean dollars or US dollars prior to traveling to Belize. Blue Horizon Fishing accepts most major credit cards. Most major Credit Cards are accepted throughout Belize. Blue Horizon guides and staff accept U.S. currency.

GETTING TO BLUE HORIZON LODGE: Belize City International Airport is just a short non-stop flight away from many North American cities: Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Denver, Chicago, Newark, and LA. You can also find daily flights from Belize to other countries in Central America, such as Guatemala and Mexico.

ARRIVAL: We ask that you book an international flight that arrives no later than 3:00 pm into Belize City. Upon arrival at the international airport, you will clear immigration, pick up any checked luggage, clear customs and exit the arrivals area. You will then go to the domestic ticketing area (accessed through two sets of doors, upon exiting the arrivals area). In case you need assistance with your luggage, airport porters are available (they do expect a tip for their services). You will then enter the domestic area in the airport, check in for your flight to Placencia at the Tropic Air or Maya Island Air counter, and receive your boarding pass and instructions for catching your flight. We suggest you ‘check’ as much baggage as you can, as there is limited room in the airplane seating area for carry on items. The next step is to go through thel airport security checkpoint and enter the departure gates. If time allows, we highly suggest you visit Jet’s Bar… if you ask anyone, they will be able to point the way. 

The flight to Placencia will most likely make a short stop in Dangriga before continuing to Placencia. The total flight time will be about 30 minutes from Belize City to Placencia.

Once you arrive in Placencia, you will be greeted by a Muy’Ono representative, who will help you gather your luggage and then transfer you to The Placencia Resort, where our boat and captain will be waiting. Depending on the schedule of other arrivals, you may be required to wait for a short period of time while other guests arrive. During your wait, you will have access to the resort’s bar and restaurant, as well as the pool. Once, all of the guests have arrived at The Placencia Resort, you will be transferred to our island lodge. 

NOTE: The representative who greets you at the airstrip in Placencia will ensure that your luggage is delivered to the boat. You can simply enjoy your time at The Placencia Resort.

Our island lodge is a quick 20-minute boat ride from The Placencia Resort. The boat ride is included with the purchase of the all-inclusive package. We utilized a fleet of boats for these transfers. We suggest you keep your rain gear handy in case the weather requires it. Your luggage will be stowed in a covered storage area and/or covered with waterproof tarps. 

NOTE: The last flight to leave Belize City departs at 4:45 pm daily. If your intentional flight is delayed and you miss the last flight to Placencia, you will need to stay in Belize City. The first flight from Belize City to Placencia is at 7:45 A.M. The cost of meals and lodging, and/or the services in Belize City is not covered in your Blue Horizon Fishing package. We are happy to assist with making arrangements if need.

NOTE: It is not uncommon to be moved to an earlier commuter flight on Tropic Air or Maya Island Air. If you are moved to an earlier flight, PLEASE contact us ASAP so we can arrange to have our teammate at the airstrip in Placencia when you arrive. Please contact our Operations Manager: Marcy Usher by calling 011-501-670-4567. You can also email reservations@bluehorizonbelize.com or email info@bluehorizonbelize.com. 

DEPARTURE: On departure day, breakfast is adjusted slightly later in the morning, and we ask that your bags are packed and ready to travel before you arrive for breakfast. The boat transfer to the mainland departs our island lodge at either 6:45 am or 8:30 am, depending on the flight schedules of the departing group. On your departure day we can recommend you book an international flight scheduled to depart at 12 p.m. or later.

NOTE: We can accommodate earlier departures, but additional charges may apply for private or special transfers. 

WHAT TO EXPECT

LOCATION: In Belize, a “caye” (pronounced key) is an island. There are different spellings, most commonly Caye or Cay. Blue Horizon Lodge is located on North East Caye. The original island our head guide, Lincoln Westby, settled and developed over 20 years ago. He chose the island because of its proximity to the best permit, tarpon, and bonefish flats. Our lodge is the most central location for accessing the prime flats of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve.

You can look up our island using these coordinates: Latitude: 16°41’17.57"N  Longitude: 88°11’13.58”W 

MAIN LODGE: To keep with the heritage and history of the island and Lincoln’s legacy, we converted one of the original guest rooms into our main lodge and dining area. The footprint was doubled, the walls on two sides opened up and a wrap around deck were added to create the open air lodge with striking views of the home flat (yes, you will be able to fish to tailing permit in front of the lodge). The unique design allows the lodge to be fully open to the ocean, have a portion open to the outside, or we can completely close off the lodge to protect it from the weather. Our lodge will invite you in to enjoy the comfortable lounge and of course the community dining table.

GUEST ROOMS: Our sea-side rooms have views that extend past the edge of our home reef, have been designed to utilize as much of the original guest cabins as possible, and much of the accents of the decorate have been repurposed from Lincoln’s original Blue Horizon Lodge. All of the guest rooms are air-conditioned and furnished with two full size beds. A spacious private bathroom complete with hot water showers created from recycled materials.Rooms 1 and 2 are nearly 100% from the original lodge, and the 3 room unit housing rooms 3, 4, and 5 share the original footprint of Lincoln’s lodge. Front porch decks give anglers the perfect place to take in the sunrise, read a book, or relax with friends and tell tales of the day’s fishing success.

FOOD & BEVERAGE: All of our packages are all-inclusive, they include three meals per day, snacks and local alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Your typical daily menu consists of traditional Belizean cuisine with a modern touch. Breakfast is served buffet style and is ready early. Our location allows us the unique ability to maximize the best fishing tides, and you will either have lunch back at the lodge or take lunch on the boat with you. A three course meal always concludes your day at Blue Horizon Lodge.

NOTE: We will cater to special dietary needs, just let us know when you book your trip what you require.

BREAKFAST: Self-serve coffee is available by 5 am each morning, with the breakfast buffet open shortly after. Breakfast consists of coffee or tea, fruit juice, fresh tropical fruits, pastry, muffin, sweet, and a savory option of quiche, stuff jacks, or other to go breakfast items. Depending on the best times for fishing your guides will be ready to depart as early as 6 AM.  

LUNCH: Lunch is served on the island when low tides occur mid day. During a mid day high tide, you’ll take lunch to go and enjoy it on the boat.

APPETIZERS: Appetizers are served daily at 6 PM.

NOTE: Our self serve bar and drink cooler is open at all times of the day. Our bar is well stocked with local rum and mixers. If you want to enjoy other libations, please bring those to the island. The duty free store in the Belize airport is a great location to purchase those items.

DINNER: Dinner is a three course meal served at 6:45 P.M and will include a seafood/meat entree, complete with veggies and starch, and is followed with made on the island dessert.

DRESS: Dress at the lodge is casual and there is no need for formal clothing. 

POWER: Our lodge and guest rooms are powered by a high efficiency diesel generator. From time to time, you should expect the power to be shut off to run daily maintenance on the generator (we typically perform these tasks while you are out fishing) Normal US standard power plugs will work in the outlets in the rooms and lodge.

WATER: Drinking water is supplied in each guest room and in the main lodge, in five gallon jugs of purified water. Drinking water is supplied on the boats in large reusable coolers. Upon check in, you will be given a water bottle for drinking water. Please help us reduce the use of plastic by using that water bottle. 

NOTE: We utilize a state of art water maker for all non drinking water uses. While this water is 99% safe to drink, or brush your teeth with, we do still provide the 100% purified water as a convenience to our customers. 

INTERNET ACCESS: Our island has wireless internet access covering the majority of the property. Your room and the main lodge  are 100% covered. Cellular service is limited, but available to most US carriers. 

NOTE: We have installed a next generation internet system that allows for accessing the internet at fiberoptic speeds. WiFi calling, emails, internet browsing, text messaging, social media, and even high speed streaming of live TV and movies is not just possible, but standard. We expect you to be pleasantly surprised by the speed and consistency you’ll be able to access the internet.

GRATUITIES: Tipping is at your discretion and should relate directly to the level of service you receive.  As we are often asked about customary tipping, so we offer the following suggestions.  Tips should be paid in cash, and we suggest that all tipping be done at the end of your visit. Suggestions below are in US dollars. 

Fishing Guides - All gratuities to the guides should be given directly to the guide. We recommend tipping your fishing guide $100.00-120.00 USD per day ($50-60 per angler per day for 2 anglers in the boat). If you are part of a multi-boat group, we suggest tipping at the end of each day. If you are scheduled to fish with the same guide each day of your stay, please feel free to tip anytime during your stay. One important note: the guides often depart for home shortly after completion of the fishing day on the final day of your trip. Please make sure to tip your guide before he departs for home.

 Lodge Staff - Our lodge staff is integral to the enjoyment of your stay at Blue Horizon Lodge. Even if you don’t see them during your stay, they are there to ensure the lodge is operating at our maximum enjoyment for you. Recommend tipping the lodge staff $15-20 USD per guest per night of your stay (ex: 7 Nights / 6 Days of fishing = $105-140 per guest). Staff tips should be given to the lodge manager and they will distribute the tips equally to the staff. 

PACKING LIST: Belize is a tropical country where the average temperature is 84ºF. Dress is informal at the island resort, so bring light, comfortable clothing. You may wish to consider packing the following:

•       Lightweight rain gear for tropical showers

•       Light jacket or sweater for cool mornings/evenings

•       Light quick-dry shirts, shorts, and pants for protection from the sun

•       Polarized sunglasses for spotting fish (amber, copper, or green mirror work best on the flats)

•       Wide-brimmed hat for protection from the sun

•       Personal medications

•       Small waterproof bag for carrying extra gear

•       Camera, batteries, plenty of memory/film, and lens cleaner

•       Sunscreen, lip balm, and moisturizers (SPF 30+)

•       Insect repellent (we recommend OFF brand spray with the orange cap)

•       Hand towel/rag for fishing use

•       Wading shoes or boots for stalking flats fish, if desired - We recommend HARD SOLES BOOTS. Simms, Patagonia, or Orvis make the Zipit Style or Flats Sneakers that work very well. Normal wading boots can be very clunky and heavy to pack,

•       Fisherman’s pliers, clipper, and line cleaner

•       Optional: binoculars and snorkeling gear

FISHING OVERVIEW: The South Water Caye Marine Reserve, locally known as Permit Alley, is home to prime pancake flats and many schools of permit, bonefish, and cruising tarpon. The nearby Meso-American Reef is home to many permit and tarpon, as well as jacks, snapper, barracudas, and some other species. Tarpon are present year round and found on nearby cayes, channels, and in the large Placencia lagoon, which is also home to healthy populations of snook. From late April through the month of August, anglers can cast their flies at the larger migratory tarpon. These fish can reach 150+ pounds.

Besides the vast experience of our talented guide staff, the next best reason to come fishing at Blue Horizon Lodge is the proximity to the most productive permit flats in Belize. It is very common to travel less than 10 minutes from the lodge and be casting to tailing permit. Occasionally, our guides will make longer runs, but only if they are 100% confident they will find unpressured fishing. 

PERMIT: The vast majority of anglers come to Southern Belize to pursue permit. Permit are plentiful and are found on the pancake flats and the outer cayes surrounding Blue Horizon Lodge. You can expect plenty of shots at 5-20 pound permit on any given day. There are few places in the world you can expect to have more shots at permit. What makes Permit Alley so unique, is the number of tailing permit you will encounter in a given week. A tailing permit is a feeding permit. And you should expect to have 80% or more of the permit you see to be tailing.

BONEFISH: While the area is most well known for the permit, there are impressive numbers of bonefish. The most common place to see bonefish is on the flats near the cayes or on select reef flats. On an average day on the flats, any time of year, you will see and fish to schools of bonefish in the 2-5 pound range. These fish tend to be in large schools; however, there are singles and doubles if you are interested in more challenging casting. Our guides can consistently find schools of bonefish, even during low tides and weather conditions that limit the encounters with permit. 

TARPON: Tarpon are present in the fishery throughout the year, in select channels and protected island lagoons. The tarpon migration is generally from late April through August in Belize, and the channels and cayes in the South Water Caye Marine Reserve get robust amounts of migration. There is considerably less pressure in these waters then in the more famous reaches of Northern Belize. The tarpon in this fishery tend to be ‘eaters’ not ‘lookers’. 

OTHER GAME FISH: Barracuda, jacks, snapper, sharks, jacks and trigger fish are all available and add to the angling experience. We recommend that you come prepared to at least try for some of these other species during your stay.

GUIDES: All of our guides are English-speaking Belizeans with extensive knowledge of all of the water they fish. Several have been guiding on the flats for more than three decades. They are accomplished boatmen and fly casters, who fish on their days off. They will gladly help you with the technical aspects of saltwater fly fishing if you desire assistance. Two anglers generally fish with each guide, although private boat/guide packages are available.

FISHING: During your fishing days you should expect to be on the boat for a minimum of 8-9 hours per day. Our guides will commonly put in long days, especially if the permit are showing themselves. If you want to return to the lodge earlier, that option is always available. Just let you guides know when you’ve reached the maximum fishing time for the day.

Our fishery is perfectly suited for fishing from the boat or from foot. Some of our guides prefer to fish from the boat, others from foot… the argument can made of the advantages to both styles. Please bring wading boots appropriate for wading hard corral flats.

NOTE: Rental gear is available at our lodge. Wading boots, rods and reels can be rented during your stay at Blue Horizon Lodge. Rental prices:

• Rod/Reel Combos: $25USD/day or $100USD/week

• Wading Boots: $15USD/day or $75USD/week

FISHING LICENSES: Sport fishing licenses are required in Belize for all game fish. Bonefish, permit and tarpon are the only catch-and-releas. If you are between 16 - 65 years of age a license is required. The Sport Fishing license is available for one (1) day at $20 BZ or (1) week for $50 BZ. Purchase of a Sport Fish license is available online at www.coastalzonebelize.org.

TACKLE: It is important to come prepared if you wish to bring your own gear, here is our recommended gear list.

Recommended Permit Tackle

    •       Rods: 9 or 10 weight

    •       Reel : Saltwater reel holding a minimum of 200 yards of 20 pound backing

    •       Fly Line : Tropical Weight Forward Floating

    •       Leader : 9-12 feet

    •       Tippet : 12-20 pound test -Fluorocarbon offers an advantage

Recommended Tarpon Tackle

    •       Rods: 11 or 12 weight

    •       Reel : Saltwater reel holding a minimum of 200 yards of 30 pound backing

    •       Fly Line : Intermediate or sink tip (350-500 grains sink tip).

    •       Leader : 4 - 6 ft. butt section, 16 - 20 pound class tippet and 60 - 100 pound shock tippet

Recommended Bonefish Tackle

    •       Rods: 7 or 8 weight

    •       Reel: Saltwater reel holding at least 200 yards of 20 pound backing

    •       Fly Line: Tropical Weight forward floating line

    •       Leader: 9-14 feet - depending upon the fishing situation

    •       Tippet: 2X-0X 8-12 pound test - fluorocarbon offers an advantage

FLIES: Flies are available for purchase in our pro-shop (along with other critical fishing tackle). You may choose to tie or bring a selection of flies. We recommend 2-6 of each pattern below.

Permit Flies:

Bauer’s Crab - Olive and Tan size 6-8 (sometimes size 4)

Camo Crab - Olive size 4 and 6

Del Brown's Permit Fly (Merkin) - Tan  size #2 to 1/0

Enrico Puglisi's EP Crab - Olive, Tan, Tri, size 6, 4, 2

Various other Crab patterns in olive or tan - size 6-1/0

Smaller, lighter variations for the shallow flats

Bonefish Flies:

Pops' Bonefish Bitters, #6 & #8 (Olive and Amber)

Crazy Charlies - chartreuse, white, pink & brown (unweighted for outer flats) #6 & #8

Gotcha’s - white, pink, tan , #6 & #8

Tarpon Flies:

Gummy minnow - size 2, 2/0

Apte-style tarpon flies in various color combinations. Dark colors tend to be better in the early morning and brighter colors work best when the sun is bright.

Deceiver patterns - various colors

EP - Peanut style flies - various colors

All tarpon flies in sizes 3/0 to 4/0

_____________________________

PAYMENTS: Deposit payment is required to confirm all bookings, and made within 10 days of making your reservation. Deposits can be made via credit card, check or wire transfer. Processing fees may apply for credit cards and/or wire transfers. Full payment is due 90 days prior to the scheduled trip. You can easily call us with a credit card if you prefer to give information over the phone. 1-800-313-1672. We prefer you utilize the secure payment portal linked from the email you received that confirmed your reservation.

Credit cards are accepted for on island purchases or gratuities to the lodge staff. We accept most major credit cards. A processing fee of 3% will apply to all on island credit card payments.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

•           All cancellations must be received in writing.

•           Prior to 90 days 100% of deposit may be transferred to another date/angler or refunded minus
the cancellation fee

•           Between 45 - 90 days 50% of package may be transferred to another date or angler or
refunded minus the cancellation fee

•           Less than 45 days may not be transferred or refunded

•           All cancellations will be charged a 5% cancellation fee

•           The unused portion of these packages by guest’s choice are not refundable.

•           Trips cancelled or shortened as a result of inclement weather and/or acts of nature including
hurricanes or due to airline delays, strikes or political unrest are not refundable. We strongly encourage all guests to purchase travel insurance. 

It is the Tour Operator’s / Agent’s responsibility to ensure that their clients are informed of the above mentioned cancellation conditions and that they are covered by a travel insurance policy to offset unforeseen cancellation charges.

Conditions are subject to change without notice.

Trip insurance is highly recommended 

CONTACT: For any questions or further details regarding fishing, please feel free to contact our Fishing reservationist at info@bluehorizonbelize.com

EMERGENCY CONTACT: Marcy Usher - Operations Manager @ 670-4567. From a US phone, be sure to dial 011-501 before the 7 digits listed. 

TRAVEL / TRIP INSURANCE: We work with Global Rescue as our travel insurance partner. They are recognized as the best in the industry and offer multiple products from their signature Emergency Evacuation policies to Trip Cancellation and more. Please utilize this link for purchasing travel insurance: https://globalrescue.com/bluehorizonflyfishingbelize/

Permit Fly Fishing 101 [With Basic Tips]

Permit Fly Fishing 101 [With Basic Tips]

Permit, are known as the "Holy Grail" of fly fishing, are by far the most difficult, picky and frustrating fish you'll encounter on the flats. They have superb eyesight and a well-developed sense of smell. 

Due to body shape, permit seem to be much more comfortable in deeper water. Although it is fairly common to see a permit with its tail and dorsal fin sticking out of the water, it usually won't remain that way for long. Permit seem to suddenly appear on a flat for a brief feeding spree and then fade back into the safety of the deeper water. They're constantly on the move.

Quick, accurate casting skills (and a lot of luck) are essential. Our experienced guides greatly increase your chance of catching this tricky fish.

Basic Tips to Permit Fishing:

1. Make sure you are confident and familiar with the gear you are using. Be sure to cast the fly rod prior to the trip or as soon as you get on the boat. You want to be able to cast the fly accurately into a dinner plate-sized target at about 40 feet.

2. Assess every encounter differently. Since permit can be tough to catch, each encounter with them is different. So be aware of each scenario, ask yourself different questions. Is this fish tailing? Is this fishing moving? Is it a school of fish? Just a single fish? Is there chop to the water or is it straight calm? All these different questions will change the way you target the fish. So ask your guide what he would do in these different scenarios.

   Keep in mind to try to cast the fly far enough away from the fish that the splash will not spook it but close enough that it will first notice the fly when the pattern drops through the water column.

3. Never give up on a fish. If you think you blew the shot and permit spooked, don’t give up. It’s common for a permit to initially spook and then come back and eat the fly. So listen to your guide and watch the fish closely. And never pull that fly out to early. Most permit anglers have made this mistake before.

4. Understand the hookset. A big part of catching the permit is getting a proper hookset. The first step to do this is to make sure you have the slack out of the line and you are tight to the fly. So after you make a cast, typically you will need to strip in a little to get the slack out. Once the slack is out you have a tight connection to the fly and can almost feel when the permit eats. Watch the fish closely and listen to your guide. If the fish eats it set the hook with a strip set and never lift that rod tip up.

5. Think about how to land a permit before you hook a permit. What do you do once you hook a permit? More often than not you are going to let this fish run and the guide will use the boat to the advantage. In Belize, coral can break you off very fast, so if you are around any coral raise the rod high so that the line does not wrap on coral. Also, be sure to clear your slackline easily and avoid wrap-ups on unnecessary gear.

SUGGESTED GEAR:

Rod: 8,9, or 10 wt (Stiff to cast crab patterns in the wind). Standard is a 9 foot 4 piece rod.

Reel: Anodized, corrosion resistant saltwater model. Should be able to hold a full line plus 300 yards of 20 or 30 lb. backing.  A high quality smooth disc drag is essential.

Line: Tropical Floating Line to match the line weight.

Leaders: 10 ft. 16 pound leaders are standard. Extra spools of 16 and 20 lb. Saltwater tippet are nice to have.

Flies:  A large selection of crab and shrimp patterns in a variety of sizes, colors, and weights. Tan, olive and various shades of brown seem to be the most effective colors for most Belizean waters. Be sure to have a variety of different sink rates.

Hopefully, these tips and gear recommendations will help you in your journey to catching more permit on the fly. Be sure to send us an email to check availability for guided fly fishing in Belize and availability at the Blue Horizon Lodge. One of the finest permit destinations in the world.