Belize, located in Central America, is roughly 180 miles long and 68 miles wide—not much larger than the state of New Jersey. Every year, this destination welcomes thousands of anglers from around the world in search of permit, bonefish, and tarpon. Yet despite its relatively small size, not all destinations in Belize are created equal. Some areas require guides, while others are better for DIY fishing, and some are better for permit, while others offer opportunities at a grand slam. In this piece, we break down all Belize has to offer and where you may want to look depending on what you’re looking to accomplish.
Northern Belize
The northern part of Belize focuses around San Pedro and nearby Ambergris Caye. This area isn’t part of the mainland but rather an island east of Belize. To reach San Pedro and its surrounding fisheries, anglers typically fly to the main airport in Belize City before taking a puddle jumper to the island, although a boat ride is also an option. Once in San Pedro, angling opportunities are abundant.
This part of the country is widely considered one of the best DIY friendly fishing areas around. With plenty of resorts to choose from, anglers can bring their family and sneak away for a day or two of wading the beaches and lagoons in search of bonefish, tarpon, and permit. It’s also unique in that anglers have opportunities to fish the lagoons on the west side of the island or the flats and reefs of the east side. One of our favorite DIY locations for serious anglers is Rocky Point Permit Camp. This DIY lodge is located north of San Pedro and is one of the few places in the world where a barrier reef touches land, offering world-class fishing. Due to the reef, it’s nearly impossible to get boats into this part of the country, so wade fishing is preferred. Opportunities for permit, bonefish, tarpon, and triggerfish can be found a short walk from camp. In addition, the backwater lagoons offer a change of scenery and shots at juvenile tarpon and snook.
For those wanting a more curated angling experience, Blue Bonefish Lodge, located just south of San Pedro, is a great option. Their team of dedicated guides and world-class flats will consistently put you on bonefish, tarpon, and permit.
Central Belize
The central part of the country, near Belize City, is the most developed part of Belize, and the main hub for traveling anglers. While the city itself isn’t known for its incredible fishing, just 25 miles away is some of the best fishing in the country. Turneffe Atoll is the largest coral atoll in all of the Caribbean. Here, anglers can experience a truly remote part of Belize and a mix of shallow water flats and backwater lagoons. The diversity and abundance of habitat make this one of the best places in the country to reliably target a grand slam.
Southern Belize
If catching a permit is your number one goal when fishing in Belize, then you’ll want to head south to the town of Punta Gorda. Known as the permit capital of Belize, Punta Gorda is a small town fishing village, reminiscent of what “Old Belize” used to look like. While you can catch bonefish and tarpon, the guides and lodges in this area focus on permit, and for good reason. This part of the country consistently catches some of the biggest permit in the region, with fish over 20 pounds fairly common. Most guides in this region fish the pancake flats—circular flats off the coast that permit will cruise. It is also one of the few places where anglers can experience catching permit on floating crab flies. Though this isn’t guaranteed, when conditions align, permit look for crabs on the surface, creating one of the most electrifying takes in all of saltwater fly fishing.
