Most fly anglers head to Belize in search of the big three: bonefish, permit, and tarpon. In terms of saltwater fly fishing, it’s one of the best locations to consistently have opportunities at a grand slam. However, there’s an abundance of other species willing to take a fly, like snappers, jacks, and the most sought-after, common snook. With a little bit of exploring, fly anglers can find healthy populations of snook, with some growing to impressive sizes. Here’s everything you need to know about Belize’s most overlooked fishery.
About Snook
The common snook can be found from the coast of Florida south to the beaches of Brazil. Throughout their range, they inhabit backwater mangroves, river mouths and estuaries, and nearshore reefs. Adults can reach up to 50 inches in length, with the largest ever caught weighing 53 pounds 10 ounces. This record fish was caught on the lower Parismina River in Costa Rica. In Belize, the common snook can be found throughout the mangrove islands, shallow-water lagoons, and rivers that meet the ocean.
Fly Fishing for Snook in Belize
While snook can be found throughout Belize, the two key spots to target them are coastal rivers and mangrove lagoons.
River Snook Fishing
The coastal rivers of Belize consistently hold the biggest snook. The abundance of bait and lack of fishing pressure consitently produce fish in the 40-inch class—a true trophy. River snook can be found throughout Belize often congregating near estuaries—areas where the river meets the ocean. In these areas, tides and currents will wash bait around making an easy meal for a snook. Esturaies, however are not the only areas where snook can be found.
Snook are a euryhaline fish which means they are able to survive in salt, brackish, and freshwater. As a result they can be found throughout the various rivers in Belize, not just near rivermouths. Regardless of where the snook are in the river, to target these trophy-sized fish, a 10-weight rod paired with a sinking fly line is the best setup. The sinking line allows you to reach fish holding in deep holes, and a 10-weight has enough power to deliver large flies and land these powerful fish. Common flies are baitfish patterns like the EP Minnow.
Mangrove Snook Fishing
If you prefer sightfishing to snook over blind casting, then opt to fish the various mangrove islands and lagoons found in Belize. These shallow water refuges act as nurseries for many juvenile fish species that use the intertwined root systems for cover and protection. Snook will use the same cover as an ambush point, looking for an easy meal among the plethora of bait. But catching these fish can be tricky, often requiring casts a few inches off the bank. A good side-arm cast goes a long way when fishing around mangroves, allowing you to zip the fly underneath overhanging branches where snook may be sitting.
While most of these snook are smaller than their river counterparts, often between 20 and 35 inches, anglers will occasionally encounter trophy caliber fish. Generally an 8-weight rod is preffered for this style of fishing, although a 9-weight does have the extra power to pull fish away from mangrove structure. Pair this setup with a floating fly line and baitfish patterns like EP minnows, clousers, and decievers.
Overlooked Opportunity
While a majority of fly anglers come to Belize in search of gin clear flats fishing, snook offer angling opportunities that should not be overlooked. These fish will readily eat a streamer pattern, and will double over a fly rod in short order. Whether a DIY trip or a guided stay in Belize, if you have the opportunity to snook fish, don’t pass it up.
