Belize isn’t a big country. But in the eyes of the saltwater fly fisherman it is huge.
Belize is a small English speaking country in Central America bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east, dense jungle and mountainous terrain to the west and just over a two hour flight from Houston or Miami. The coastline of this Caribbean nation stretches a total of 170 miles north to south, is home to the world’s second largest barrier reef (185 miles in length); and a short boat ride from the mainland, providing protection for the nearly 1,000 square miles of pristine flats and around 450 Cayes (pronounced “keys”). Belize is one of the most prolific saltwater fly fishing destinations in the world, with strong populations of bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook, along with jacks and barracuda. Belize is what we call an “opportunistic fishery”; multiple fish species can be encountered at any time on the water, multiple rods each rigged differently should be carried.
Belize is one of The Fly Shop’s favorite flats fishing destinations for anglers looking for: shots at multiple species, easy travel to and from, no language barrier, safe, and an absolutely gorgeous Carribean landscape. We also like the fact that Belize has aggressively pursued sustainable tourism and enacted many progressive environmental protective measures including banning gill nets, protecting bonefish, tarpon and permit with a national catch and release law, as well as banning single-use plastics like plastic bags, styrofoam, and single-use cutlery. Tourism in Belize represents 40% of total export of goods and services, 18% of their GDP, and creates tourism connected jobs in excess of 15,000, Belize takes care of its people, the environment, so that we can enjoy it. We like that!
Wondering what flies you will need for your Belize fly fishing trip? Checkout our blog post, “Best Flies for Belize”.
Poor Man’s Rest: The Legacy of Belize’s First Fishing Lodge
Poor Man’s Rest: The Legacy of Belize’s First Fishing Lodge is the interesting and untold story about both fishing and the history of the oldest fishing lodge in Belize. It is a study of the advancement of angling tourism in this small Caribbean country, the personal family chronicles of the current owners, and the ways in which the lodge and these families have – over time and generations – played a vital role in the growing conservation ethos in what has become one of the most popular fly fishing destination in the world.
How did a young boy jumping ship in the 1800’s lead to the banning of gillnets in Belize in the 21st Century? Could the sinking of the Titanic really have been significant in developing tourism in Belize?
This is a tale about people as much as it is about place. It is a local story. It’s about family. It’s about passion; passion for fishing, for hard work, for protection places and pastimes that impact people and, indeed, an entire country and beyond. It’s about the past, the present, and the future. – Michael Caranci