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Unlike most renowned fishing destinations in Central America, Belize has just one coastline instead of two, like Mexico or Costa Rica. But, this doesn’t mean the fishing isn’t fantastic as Belize is home to one of the most extensive barrier reefs in the world plus the Turneffe Atoll.
Between the numerous coastal lagoons, small islands, mangroves, sand flats, Turneffe Atoll, and the deep waters beyond it, Belize has it all when it comes to saltwater fishing, both inshore and offshore.
Believe me, there aren’t many trophy saltwater fish species you can’t catch in this fantastic South American country, but to catch them, you’ll need a little more info.
Join me as we take an in-depth look at all the fantastic fishing Belize offers.
- Learn what are the amazing fish you can catch in Belize
- Where and when to catch them?
- What are the best fishing methods?
- Where to stay for a fishing vacation in Belize?
Top Fish To Catch In Belize
Pretty much every prized inshore and offshore fishing species lives in the waters of Belize, and the best part about it is that you can target them all in just one week of fishing.
Since inshore and offshore saltwater fishing differ, I have split the best fish to catch into the inshore and offshore species categories.
Best Inshore Fish To Catch In Belize
- Tarpon
- Permit
- Bonefish
- Snook
- Barracuda
If you love sight casting with a spinning or fly rod, then the flats and mangroves of Belize will blow your mind. You’ll see hundreds of bonefish daily, good numbers of permit, and tarpon in the 50 lbs range too – and that’s in one day if you’re with the right guide.
Not only is the fishing amazing, but the natural surroundings are about as beautiful as they get. Crystal blue water rushes over sand flats or mangrove line channels from lush rainforests. You couldn’t ask for more!
Best Offshore Fish To Catch In Belize
- Blue Marlin
- Sailfish
- Wahoo
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Dorado
If you love offshore fishing then this lineup of species will blow your mind and the best thing about it is that you don’t have to run very far to find them. When you cross the reef, the depth changes to 2000ft within one nautical mile, meaning the fish sit close in.
You can even spend half a day fishing inshore and half a day offshore; that’s how close the fishing grounds are to each other.
Where To Go Fishing In Belize
Belize’s coastline runs for 174 miles and features hundreds of islands (cays), lagoons, river channels, reefs, and many more hidden areas.
So, how do you find the best fishing when there are so many options out there? You need a little insider help. Here are the best places to go fishing in Belize.
Ambergris Caye & San Pedro
Ambergris Caye and San Pedro sits right on the edge of the Belize barrier reef and is one of the best places to fish in Belize if you want to target both the inshore and offshore fish species this country offers.
The inshore waters around Ambergris Caye and San Pedro are home to vast numbers of tarpon that range from 20 to 80 lbs. If you’re there in the late spring and early summer, you’ll also find migratory tarpon between the 100 – 200 lb range, giving you quite a tussle.
This area is also famous for its large number of permit and bonefish and big jacks, snook, barracuda, and lots more. Plus, the edge of the barrier reef is just there, so you can be in deep waters hunting for pelagics in no time.
Turneffe Atoll
Turneffe Atoll, about 50 miles out to sea from the capital, Belize City, sits outside of the Belize Barrier Reef. Turneffe Atoll is home to the best saltwater fishing in the country, as it is about as remote as the fishing gets in the country and is a protected marine area.
The inshore fishing on the Turneffe flats will have you casting at permit, tarpon, and bonefish all day long, and the offshore fishing is a stone’s throw away over the breaking waves. You’ll find marlin, sailfish, tuna, wahoo, and dorado within minutes of leaving the atoll and entering the deep.
Long Caye
Long Caye sits just outside of Turneffe Atoll and it offers the most remote fishing available in Belize and some of the best too. Long Caye is pretty much a tiny island with barely any human inhabitants and a ton of beautiful flats for inshore fishing.
If you want to find the biggest permit, bonefish, and tarpon in Belize, then Long Caye is the place to be. Tarpon up to and over 150 lbs live on the flats of Long Caye as well as 5lb plus bonefish and a lot of enormous permit. In fact, Long Caye is recognized as one of the most productive tarpon flats in the Caribbean seas.
When To Go Fishing In Belize
Now that we have covered the where to go, let’s talk about the when. The great thing about the inshore fishing in Belize is that you can do it all year round.
That being said, every fish has its peak fishing time, and the best time for bonefish is between September and January, for permit there are two periods, August to October and March to June. If you want to catch a tarpon over the 100 lb mark, then June to August is the best time to be there and fish for smaller tarpon under 100 lbs from October to December.
If you want to take some offshore action, the best time to be there depends on the species you’re after. For blue marlin, you’ll want to be visiting between November and June, and the same goes for other species such as wahoo, dorado, and sailfish.
Finally, the most productive time for catching Yellowfin Tuna in Belize is between July and August.
Best Methods For Catching Fish In Belize
When you’re inshore fishing in Belize for tarpon, permit, and bonefish, you’ll either be wading or being poled around on a skiff by a local guide. Take note that most of the flats fishing lodges in Belize are fly fishing lodges but will also accommodate spin fishing.
The amazing thing about the inshore fishing in Belize is that it’s all sight fishing, meaning you won’t cast until you see a fish.
I don’t know about you, but when I see a tailing permit or a school of 60lb tarpon coming towards me, my heart is in my mouth, and seeing one eat your fly is about as exciting as fishing gets.
For offshore fishing, you’ll be on a sportfishing boat trolling lures with or without bait to raise sailfish and marlin or tempt some dorado, yellowfin tuna, or wahoo to come and take them.
How To Book Your Fishing Trip To Belize
Booking a fishing trip to Belize couldn’t be easier; contact one of the recommended lodges below.
El Pescador Lodge, Ambergris Caye
El Pescador Lodge is a stunning fishing lodge that sits right on the beach on Ambergris Caye, and they have been in the business of delivering fishing trips of a lifetime for years. The accommodations, food, and guides are all world-class.
Another alternative, with the opportunity to book a guide, is the Tres Pescados Fly Shop on Ambergris Caye. This fly shop can host charters and has recently opened a second location in Southern Belize in the beautiful village of Hopkins.
Turneffe Flats Lodge, Turneffe Atoll
Turneffe Flats Lodge sits on Turneffe Atoll and couldn’t be a better home away from home to fish from. The lodge will organize everything from guided inshore fly fishing to diving, snorkeling, and offshore fishing. The accommodation is excellent, as is the food and service.
Long Caye Outpost Lodge, Long Caye
Sitting on the small island of Long Caye, the Long Caye Outpost Lodge comprises just 3 double bedrooms in a local cottage and is the perfect palace for anyone who wants to do some serious inshore fishing.
The lodge is right on the beach and is pretty much a fishing-only destination unless you’re happy to swim in the sea, hang out on the beach, and snorkel every day.
The lodge provides excellent boats, gear, and guides to have you hooking the giant inshore tarpon, permit, and bonefish that call Long Caye home.
The Fishing Regulations In Belize
Everyone must have a fishing license in Belize, whether you’re fishing off the beach for bonefish or trolling on the edge of the reef for tuna.
The license isn’t expensive, and they are straightforward to get. You can either buy one online at the Belize coastal zone official site or you can buy one at the fishing lodge you’re staying at.
Lining Up
Thanks very much for reading my article. I hope you enjoyed it and have all the information for booking a fantastic fishing trip to Belize.
It truly is an incredible country and you should explore more than just the fishing as the snorkeling and diving on the reef are out of this world plus the inland jungles are fantastic to explore too.
You can read more of my articles on fishing vactionas worldwide, including the northern neighbor Mexico for dual coastline fishing, and the suberb sailfishing opportunities in Guatemala.
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