When it comes to fly fishing in the tropics, Belize is one of the most DIY-friendly destinations. You can find flights for as little as $500 or less; there are plenty of resorts and lodges, and beachside flats offer a lot of opportunities for wade anglers. For those wanting to catch bonefish, permit, or tarpon, it’s the perfect destination. But like any DIY fishing trip, how you prepare will affect how successful you are on the water. You can study maps and plan your trip down to the hour, but the most important part is packing accordingly. The right packing list and gear will leave you ready to tackle the tropics, no matter what they throw at you. Here’s our complete packing list for a DIY trip to Belize.
Terminal Tackle
Terminal tackle is arguably the most important thing to pack for any fishing trip. Without the proper tackle, your chance of catching anything goes down dramatically. For a trip to Belize, your tackle should cover bonefish, permit, and tarpon—the most common species anglers search for.
Rods and Reels
Belize offers abundant opportunities for bonefish ranging from 2 to 5 pounds, as well as shots at juvenile tarpon and permit. For rods, we recommend packing an 8- and 10-weight rod paired with matching sealed saltwater reels. The 8-weight is an excellent all-around rod for bonefish, juve tarpon, and small permit. The 10-weight, on the other hand, serves as a dedicated permit rod, or for when larger tarpon are around.
As far as reels go, having a sealed drag is the most important feature. In an ideal world, you can wash your rods and reels off every day after fishing the salt. However, on a DIY trip to another country, that may not always be the case. The sealed drag keeps saltwater out of the drag’s internal components, leaving you with a reel that works every day.
When traveling internationally, it always helps to bring backup rods and reels. This way, if you break something early on in the trip, you have a spare to keep you fishing. Most other countries don’t have fly shops where you can easily get replacement gear.
Line and Leader
Flats species are notoriously spooky, requiring a stealthy presentation. In saltwater, the best way to go about this is with a clear-tip fly line and a long leader setup. This allows you to cast to fish without spooking them and gives you some leeway on a bad cast. You can also invest in a full clear fly line, although we find clear-tip lines easier to track in the water.
Your leader setup will change depending on what you are fishing for. In general, many of the premade saltwater species-specific leaders will work, paired with matching tippet. For bonefish, leaders and tippet ranging from 10 to 16-pound test are ideal. Your leader should be between 10 and 12 feet in length, depending on how spooky the fish are. Permit require a slightly heavier leader and tippet combo, with the most common ranging from 16 to 20-pound test. For tarpon, use a stout leader with a 16 to 20-pound test break section, ending with a 60 to 80-pound shock tippet.
Flies
If there’s anything to overpack for a DIY fishing trip, it’s flies, especially if it’s a new destination. You want to pack a wide range of flies, and multiples of each in case there’s a particular pattern the fish are keying in on. For Belize, bring a variety of small shrimp patterns for bonefish, crab patterns for permit, and staple tarpon patterns like a tarpon toad or bunny fly. Check out our grand slam fly list for a more complete breakdown of flies.
Apparel
Fishing apparel in the tropics should be lightweight, breathable, and protect you from the sun. Below is a list of essentials for fishing in Belize.
Sun Apparel
First and foremost, quality sun apparel is a must for fishing in the tropics. A complete sun system should consist of long-sleeve sun hoodies, pants or shorts, and accessories like neck gaiters and sun gloves.
For sun hoodies, we recommend lightweight, breathable options. Some of our favorites from fishing in Belize were the Columbia Terminal Tech Hoodie and the Wild Cast Sun Hoodie. Both options have excellent coverage as well as moisture-wicking technology to ensure you stay cool and comfortable on the flats. We recommend packing a sun hoodie for each day you plan on fishing.
For your legs, there are two popular options: shorts or pants. Each comes with pros and cons depending on your needs. Sun pants like the Columbia PFG Pro Guide Pants have excellent coverage, storage, and are fairly breathable. However, a pair of shorts will always be lighter and more breathable, just at the cost of sun protection and storage.
Footwear
In terms of footwear, the two main things to pack are a pair of wet wading shoes or boots and a pair of flip-flops. This covers all the bases when fishing in the tropics while saving space for other gear when packing. On the wet-wading front, make sure the boots or shoes you pack can cover plenty of ground without rubbing your feet. There’s nothing worse than realizing that new pair of boots is blistering your feet on the first day of the trip.
Gear
With terminal tackle and apparel covered, it’s time for a few bonus gear items worth packing.
Luggage and Packs
On a DIY trip, make sure the bags you pack your gear in are durable and somewhat weather-resistant. We prefer soft bags like duffles that allow you to cram in as much gear as possible, like this Columbia 80L duffel. It’s also waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about anything getting wet.
On the water, a good waterproof backpack or sling pack will keep your gear dry and organized. The PFG Snug Corner Backpack is a great roll-top, waterproof bag with more than enough storage, plus a rod tube holder for travel. We recommend using your fishing pack as your carry-on. This helps simplify your travel.
Bonus Gear
To get the most out of your DIY trip, there are a few bonus pieces of gear we recommend. Always pack a few good pairs of pliers for unhooking fish and cutting line. In addition, we recommend packing a camera to document the trip.
Another piece of gear that can open up a lot of water in places like Belize is an inflatable paddleboard. Check this like you would a regular bag, and use it to help reach flats out of distance for wade anglers.
Final Thoughts
DIY trips to new destinations are some of the most rewarding and memorable trips out there. You learn a new fishery, explore new places and cultures, and make some epic memories for years to come as long as you’re prepared. This packing list covers all your bases, no matter what you encounter on a trip to Belize. SO book a flight and get to exploring this world-class destination.
