Flyfishing in Belize

coalminer · Jul-29-2009, 08:53 PM

Okay, I'm going to Belize in February...that much I know. My wife and I are honeymooning there. Either at Turneffe, or Coco Plum or Isla Marisol, that part is not decided yet.
I've flyfished in lakes and rivers in the NW US, but never in the Caribbean. I've got a ton of 6 wt rods with light reels for freshwater action, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to need to gear up if I plan on playing bones and (hopefully) permit on the flats. So, here's the questions......

Any suggestions on rod/reel combo for fishing the flats? I don't want to spend a fortune considering it might not get used a ton after my honeymoon.

Patterns for flats fish? Any suggestions?

Has anyone stayed at any of the resorts that I mentioned above? They all boast amazing fishing and blah, blah, blah, but I'd like to hear a fishermans perspective.

Hey, any info would be awesome!

watfly · Jul-29-2009, 09:55 PM

Went to Turneffe Flats on my honeymoon in 2000. Great place, highly recommended. Awesome food and service. Just keep in mind that you are completed isolated on the island. Make sure your wife is game for that. They do have the Atoll Adventure program that your wife can do if she doesn't fish. Another good option is Ambergis Cay, a little more civilized (at least relative to Turneffe).

Your going to need something heavier than a 6 weight mostly due to the wind, not necessarily the size of the fish. I would recommend an 8 weight. You can get an Albright GP rod (I've actually casted it, decent rod) for $80, or an Albright A5 for $140. For reels, get an Albright GPX for $99 or a Redington CD off of Ebay for $80 or less, both well reviewed reels. Buy the Cabelas Prestige Plus Saltwater line for $40. This is about as cheap as you can go for new, serviceable equipment.

Have fun.

BiggestT · Jul-30-2009, 12:04 AM

X2 what Andy says.

watfly · Jul-30-2009, 02:12 PM

A little more info...and please keep in mind it was nearly 10 years ago, so take it with a grain of salt. I had the best luck on small (like #8) bonefish bitters in amber color. I also had good luck on a very small, and sparsely tied, shrimp pattern that was tied by one of the guides there. I'd call ahead and ask what the hot patterns are. The bonefish at Turneffe tend to be smaller (3 pounds) although the first one I caught was 8 lbs. Although don't let that fool you a 1 lb bone can still take you into your backing pretty quick. What these bones might like in size, they make up in abundance.

There is a very small flat right in front of the bungalows. These bones though are smart as hell since they have been fished so much, but hooking is much easier than landing due to the abundance of coral. I probably hooked a handful on my own on this flat, but didn't land one due to coral breakoffs. BTW, the lodge frowns on you fishing here if you're not on a fishing package already (I don't blame them).

Oh, which brings up another point, the flats around Belize are coral, not sand flats, you need to make sure you have hard soled wading boots.

I didn't get any shots at permit while I was there, but if you do you probably need a 10 weight for that. Maybe use a loaner from the Lodge for that. Keep it rigged for permit shots, but bonefish with the 8.

I highly recommend that you learn the double haul if you don't know how. Practice at home, in the wind, cast 60+ feet of line with no more than one false cast to a precise location. Your ability to cast will be the single most important thing for a successful trip. Not sure how you practice this, but you also need to learn to strip strike and not do the trout "raise the rod " strike. If you raise the rod tip you not only will miss the strike but you will spook the fish.

Capt. G · Jul-31-2009, 07:40 AM

What they said above plus I will put in my ２￥ from my three trips to Turneffe Island Lodge. I had a great guide my first trip, and requested him for my other two trips as well. I brought a #5, #7, #9, and #13 down there, and did most of my bonefishing with the 7 weight. I brought the #5 for FW fishing in the Monkey River, but actually used it quite a bit for bones when the wind was not howling.
As the others have mentioned, the bones in Belize are 1 to 3 pounds and are in schools of 50 to 100 fish, but after catching a dozen, my guide would take me searching for the solitary bigger fish (5 to 7 pounds).
What was said about practicing casting before you go is great advice--having 60 feet of flyline, plus leader, and a heavy (bead eye Charley) fly in the wind is no easy task.
I had several shots at permit, which I took with my 9 weight, but did not get one of the elusive fish on the　flats. I did get two permit on a crab imitation fly outside the reef (at a place they call the "Elbow", which drops off quickly to 800 feet deep), but I was told by another　guest that "that does not count".
Damn,　and I thought I was having a good time.

My guide took me to crushed coral flats, which requires good wading shoes (not barefoot!) , as well as sand flats, and some marl/mud flats, so I got to sample several different areas.

As for flies, any of the standard bonefish patterns that I bought at Bob Marriott's in Cali worked well, and there was also local tied flies at the lodge that were available for sale.

Perhaps the place you are staying has loaner/rental fly tackle--that would not be a bad way to go.

At night my guide took me into the mangroves, where I cast, and cast, and cast heavy "cockroach" tarpon flies till my arms almost fell off. I did manage to land several tarpon over 100 pounds, and got one that my guide estimated at 165 lbs on baitcasting tackle with a small Mirror Lure.

There is so much good fishing down there it would be hard not to have　a great time.

kevin.bonasera · Aug-25-2009, 11:34 AM

I use to live out on Turneffe Atoll at Turneffe Flats as the General Manager and now live in Bozeman MT. I would be happy to answer just about any question one might have about fishing around Belize.

coalminer · Aug-25-2009, 05:29 PM

Thanks guys for the info, you probably aren't checking back to this thread anymore. I've had no time lately to get on the computer.

In case you are checking back, we have booked our trip at Coco Plum Resort. I didn't read anything about that place in your responses, but I'm assuming I can apply alot of the tips that you've provided. Thanks again for the info! Good fishing!