Fishing· Turneffe Atoll· Other Caribbean
Belize Flats Fishing (bonefish, permit, tarpon)
17° 25.7′ N · 87° 48.6′ W
Belize is one of the world's great saltwater fly-fishing grounds: bonefish on the Turneffe and Tobacco Range flats, permit around Whipray Caye and the southern cayes, and migratory tarpon - all strictly catch-and-release. Position is the Turneffe Flats lodge as published by Ventura Yacht Agency.
Practical
Anyone fishing for sport needs a licence from the Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute (Moorings quotes US$25 per person per week, bought online). Bonefish, permit and tarpon may only be caught and released; at Glover's no fishing is allowed south of Northeast Caye and only catch-and-release north of it (VYA). Hotspots with sources: Turneffe flats (Travel Belize), Tobacco Range bonefish flats about 3 ft deep (Yacht Warriors), Whipray Caye guided permit fishing (Yacht Warriors; the Cabral brothers per Moorings), Port Honduras Marine Reserve (TIDE). Trolling inside the reef yields Spanish mackerel and barracuda; bottom fishing snapper and grouper; spearfishing only free-diving, never with scuba (Moorings). Respect closed seasons, no-take zones and spawning aggregation closures (e.g. Glover's seasonal closure December to February). Hire a licensed local guide for the flats.
Best for
Fly fishing for the 'grand slam'
Season
Year-round
Nearby
- Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve2.4 NM away
- Rendezvous Point Anchorage (Turneffe North)6.9 NM away
- Turneffe Lagoon Anchorage (deep-draft position)7.7 NM away
- Calabash Caye (Turneffe)8.9 NM away
- Mauger Caye Anchorage (Turneffe North)10.7 NM away
- Mauger Caye Light (Turneffe North)10.9 NM away
- Goff's Caye13.8 NM away
- Sayonara Wreck (Turneffe)14.1 NM away