Belize Honeymoon (And Fishing!)

[Billy Boy]

Hi Folks

It looks like I'm settling on Victoria Lodge, Ambergris Caye in Belize
for next year's fishing tri...eh hem sorry... honeymoon.

Has anyone fished here before or am i wasting my time?

Do you need a license etc?

ta

Will

[PanamaJack]

Hi Will
Not at all! Although I have to add my experience is from Turneffe Atoll out on the Barrier Reef. To some extent it will depend on when your wedding's planned for. Remember that area is subjected to hurricanes and between say late May and October the mosquitoes can be present in numbers.

You'll find most of the local guides, and it's worth using one initially anyway to get your bearings, will target Bonefish in shallow water with either fly or light spin gear. But Permit and Tarpon are also possibilities, as well as Jacks. Then, from the reef, you'll be able to catch a variety of Snappers.

You can also - well my friend foul hooked one - catch these. But you better not mention it to your soon to be wife!
Dave

[Billy Boy]

Thanks for that Dave.



I'm honeymooning last 2 weeks in mid-May - just have to hope its too early for hurricanes

Do you need a license if so are they easy to get hold of ?

and are there any general fishing restrictions out there?

Thanks

Will

[PanamaJack]

Hi Will
I'm certain we didn't buy licences.

In terms of building up a picture of the fishing on Ambergris Caye though it might be worth examining posts on places like the respective forum on either http://www.tripadvisor.com - often posts by people (like you) in these circumstances who want to fit some fishing on the side - or http://www.reel-time.com. The latter's very much a fly fishing forum, but what they catch on fly you can equally catch on bait and spin gear.

I don't know whether you intend to perhaps visit any of the Mayan ruins, up near the Honduran border during your honeymoon. If you do there's one, at the end of an hour's boat trip, that I recall had an association with - that thing again - crocodiles. I think the city's name was something to do with the submerged variety. Anyway the boat ride ends in a large freshwater lagoon. At certain times of the year they encounter Tarpon in that. Although whilst we were there I tried spinning with a small jig and was catching a species of Bass. They weren't Peacock Bass but I suspect a sub species - didn't have the tell tale 'halo' around the black tail spot.
Dave