Belize River Lodge 

Belize

Monkeys howling in the trees, snook lurking beneath the mangroves, and bonefish tails sparkling like diamonds beneath the noonday sun. These are only a few of the stories you’ll have to tell when you return from this outstanding Belize fly fishing trip. Over the course of the week, you will relish the details such as the way the permit pulled away from the school to follow, how the tarpon took and turned, and the subtle fragrance of the blossoming tree outside your window. Having operated in the region for more than twenty years, Belize River Lodge has a vast and varied saltwater fly fishing program that can target all of the region’s species, including bonefish, tarpon, permit, snapper, and snook. The habitats surrounding Belize River Lodge are equally as diverse, with nearby dark waters chock-full of large, rolling tarpon, upriver jungle fisheries with juvenile tarpon and snook, and a vast array of outlying cays and flats where permit and bonefish prowl. Non-anglers have countless options ranging from guided birding to touring Mayan ruins, not to mention visiting the spectacular Belize zoo and numerous other sites of natural and historic significance. For those interested in live aboard boat trips, Belize River Lodge offers a number of excellent opportunities that will take anglers to some of the least traveled and most productive flats in the Caribbean.

Location:
Belize River Lodge is located on the banks of the Belize River outside of Belize City.

Fishing Program:
Fly fishing for bonefish is a year-round pursuit in Belize. Belize’s bonefish tend to be smaller than in other countries, however, they are very plentiful. Bonefish within this ecosystem vary from 2 to 8 pounds, with the majority being approximately 3 pounds. As a note, bonefish are considered to be one of the most powerful fish, per pound, for their size.

The explosive snook, saltwater’s bass, can be found in sizes of 5 to 25 pounds. Snook fly fishing is also good year-round, however, low tides make casting to these fish easier, so November through April are the optimal months if you only want to fly fish for snook.

Tarpon, the silver king, is one of the most acrobatic fish sought by saltwater anglers. Tarpon are categorized in two categories, tarpon and large tarpon. Belize has a resident population of large tarpon, however in the spring and summer migrating tarpon visit these waters, making for larger numbers of these big fish. While you can fly fish for large tarpon year-round, the bigger tarpon are primarily found in the months of March through early August.

Tarpon from 5 to 80 pounds are found along the mangrove cays, along the flats and in the rivers. The tarpon areas of Central Belize are diverse making for very good tarpon fly fishing and a year-round fishery.

The Belize coast is known worldwide for its permit fishing flats. When fly fishing from the lodge or the live-aboard, permit range from 5 to over 30 pounds. The best time to fish for permit is when there is less wind, usually the months between April and September, or when your schedule allows. Permit fly fishing is very weather dependent and any day of the year can be good permit weather. To land a permit is the ultimate fisherman's trophy!

Snappers, jacks, groupers, cobia, barracuda and a large variety of other saltwater game fish can be caught year-round along the coast of Belize. While we refer to specific months above, please note that those months are typically higher concentrations of those particular fish, but all are found, cast to and landed throughout the year.

While all anglers like to measure success in landed fish, saltwater fly fishing should be viewed as landed fish plus the experience. Saltwater fish are very strong and acrobatic and tend to shake flies frequently. Even more frustrating to the angler, is when they make the perfect cast and the fish looks and turns away without biting. Saltwater fly fishing should be viewed in the number of fish seen, casted to, hooked, jumped and finally landed!

There are usually two anglers to a boat and people rotate fishing. Fly fishing from the skiff is one person at a time, rotation can be by caught fish, casts to fish or time. Typically if you are fishing for bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook, one angler gets to fish to the group until he either catches one or spooks them and then the next person gets the next group. The guides try to make sure that both people in their skiff fish equal time throughout the day. Wading from the lodge is minimal due to marl flats, however, if you are on a wadeable bonefish or permit flat, people can get out and fish.

Fisheries:
Belize River Lodge is located in central Belize, an area offering a very diverse saltwater fly fishing environment. The flats, cayes, reef, mangrove islands and channels, Belize River, Sibun River, Manatee River, Black Creek, and several other creeks & lagoons in between are the areas fished from the lodge in a normal five day fly fishing package. This is a very large area with a great variety of fishing conditions, fish species and scenery. Game fish species generally found in this area include permit, bonefish, tarpon, snook, snapper, jacks, barracuda, grouper and others. Visual Saltwater Grand Slams and Back Country Grand Slams occur every day. Landed slams will depend upon your skill, the fish and a little luck!

The coast of Belize is a complex system of river mouths, creeks, lagoons, flats, small cayes, mangrove islands and barrier reef. The ecosystem that exists here supports millions of crabs, shrimp, bait fish and other aquatic life, which is why there is an abundance of game fish.

Non-Angling Activities:
Belize River Lodge offers an extensive array of eco-tours. Snorkeling, horseback riding, and SCUBA diving are also offered.

Accommodations and Meals:
The Belize River Lodge rests quietly on the lush, green banks of the Belize Olde River, only 3.5 miles from the mouth of the river – the entrance into the Caribbean Sea and classic flats fishing. This beautiful historic mahogany lodge is situated amidst an abundant tropical setting. Balmy breezes rich with the sound of bird song drift among the private cottages creating a naturalist’s paradise. Relax and delight in Belizean hospitality and the delicious combination of fine Belizean-Creole cuisine. The lodge can accommodate up to sixteen people.
The "Guest House" is a two story mahogany building. It contains four rooms, each with two single beds, private hot & cold showers, ceiling fans, a/c and screened verandas overlooking the Belize Olde River.
The "Cottage" is set up for two groups of two or for a family of four. Each room has separate hot & cold showers, ceiling fans, air conditioning, and two single beds. Both are separated by a connecting door and share an open veranda. One of the cottage rooms has a cozy sitting area.

The "Bungalow" has two rooms, each with a queen and a double bed, private hot & cold shower, ceiling fan, air conditioning, and a large screened veranda, which allows the tropical trade winds to blow through. All of the lodge rooms are air conditioned and decorated with a tropical Belizean ambience. When you return from fishing, fresh purified water and ice will be ready in your room, and your bed will be turned down for you during dinner. Belize River Lodge’s accommodations offer excellent service with an old world charm.

From the Belize River Lodge's kitchen comes an excellent combination of the best Belizean, Creole and American cuisine. The Lodge cooks uses the freshest and finest ingredients (even coconuts off the trees in the front yard), and along with some of Mags' old family recipes, create some of the most memorable and tasty meals, which will have you asking for a few of her recipes. Remember, save room for coffee or tea and dessert!

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Belize City, transfer to Belize River Lodge
Days 2-7: Full days of guided fishing
Day 8: Depart lodge.

Complete Trip Details