El Pescador Lodge
Belize
At El Pescador you can achieve the fly anglers' ultimate dream - a Grand Slam of bonefish, tarpon and permit. Belize's shallow water contains the only classic tarpon flats outside South Florida. Their flats are world renowned for offering the opportunity to sight cast to tarpon 12 months a year.
All El Pescador guides were born and raised on the island. The lodge prides itself on having some of the most experienced saltwater fly fishing guides in Belize. Many of their guides have been at this Belize fly fishing lodge for over 20 years, and now the second generation of El Pescador guides is in full swing! Most of them have been trained by their fathers and uncles with whom they typically spend several years learning the craft before captaining their own flats boat. El Pescador guides are excellent technical fly fishermen and will be happy to provide instruction during your fishing day.
Location:
El Pescador Lodge is located outside of the town of San Pedro, Belize on Ambergris Caye.
Fishing Program:
The bonefishing grounds are only minutes from the lodge. Most of the bone fishing is done from the bow of the boat, but there are flats that can be waded as well. The bones run from 2 - 5 lbs and are plentiful.
The El Pescador fishery has year round resident tarpon over 100 lbs. The tarpon are spread out over a 250 square mile fishery. In the late summer (July, August, September), they have the added bonus of a large migratory population, which doubles the tarpon numbers. Moon phases tend to effect tarpon more than other species. The guideline is to fish around the new moon. Remember, this is only a guideline, not a hard and fast rule.
The permit are found in large schools and range from 4 - 30 lbs, with the majority running about 8 - 10 lbs. Jack crevalle, barracuda, cobia and snook are also found on the flats and in the surrounding mangrove lagoons.
Non-guided fly fishing options: El Pescador maintains kayaks and canoes which provide access to an extensive system of lagoons behind the property, where you can fish for bones for a couple of hours in spectacular solitude. These boats are available at no charge to El Pescador guests. The lodge will give you some basic guidance and directions, and then you are off for your own bonefish and nature adventure!
You can also fly fish the lagoons for lady fish or snook, or go outside the reef into the deep water for tuna and wahoo. Troll the reef for king fish or barracuda. Jig the bottom for snapper and grouper.
Each day your guide will assist with casting and fly fishing instruction, and when you return to the lodge you may choose to join our evening casting workshops, where they will work on the tools needed to succeed in fishing the flats.
Catch and Release: Permit, bonefish and tarpon are always released; some snook, snapper, barracuda, & grouper are kept for the table.
Non-Angling Activities:
This beach-front location provides several amenities for your enjoyment after a great day of fly-fishing, snorkeling the reef, or inland adventure. Their experienced staff may help you arrange any number of activities including: a massage in the lodge massage room, a private fly-fishing lesson, a day of diving or snorkeling in a world-famous barrier reef, a round of golf on a private island, a cave tubing adventure or jungle river cruise to a Maya archaeological site.
Our facilities and services include the following: Restaurant and bar, 3 swimming pools, massage services, exercise room, complimentary kayaks, complimentary bicycles, fishing instructor / guides, SCUBA diving instructor, WI-FI, tour office, gift and sundry shop, the only Scientific Angler Mastery Series Fly Shop in Belize.
Ambergris Caye offers divers an un-Belize-able adventure exploring virgin reefs and cayes. When diving along the main barrier reef at Ambergris Caye, you will experience the vast canyons formed by large, living corals rising from a sandy bottom. These canyons are found just outside the reef at depths of 50 - 100 feet. The reef is usually found quite close to the Caye, no more than three quarters of a mile. The canyons are filled with caves and tunnels. Schools of snappers, grouper and nurse sharks are quite common. The occasional hammerhead or black tip shark gives divers a thrill.
The abundance of other marine life along the barrier reef is remarkable. You may encounter a school of porpoises or amber jacks. Spotted eagle-rays are often seen in groups of three or four while the rare manta ray usually travels alone. Turtles are common and you may spot a lone barracuda swimming in the open waters away from the corals. In the underwater wonders of Belize lives the second largest living barrier reef in the world is host to a variety of species including sharks, rays, eels, groupers, parrot fish, trigger fish, sea horses, turtles, shrimp, sea fans, coral and others.
Experienced Dive Master & Instructor: El Pescador’s resident dive master and instructor, Alonzo Flota, will guide you through this fascinating underwater kingdom. As an accredited PADI instructor, Alonzo offers dive courses ranging from 1/2 day resort courses to 3 - 4 day full certification courses. With over 10 years of experience, Alonzo specializes in working with small groups of two to seven divers to provide our guests with the personal attention that ensures a safe and memorable dive.
Accommodations and Meals:
The Main Lodge
The mahogany colonial lodge is right on the beach, facing the sea, surrounded by fragrant tropical flowering plants and the whisper of shady palms. Not only will you find the serenity and relaxation you are looking for, you'll have the convenience of being within walking distance of San Pedro Town and its gift shops, restaurants, bars and night spots.
Each of the thirteen guest rooms in the main lodge face the sea and are just steps away from the swimming pool adjacent to the beach. All have private baths, overhead fans and air-conditioning. Your hosts live on the premises to ensure warm, personal service around the clock.
The Private Villas
The villas are two story, 3-bedroom, 3-bath homes, designed in a lock-off configuration, which enables you to rent a 1, 2 or 3 bedroom villa to perfectly match your individual needs, while ensuring your complete privacy. El Pescador Villas have exotic hardwood floors and are furnished with lovingly handcrafted furniture of tropical hardwoods, bamboo, or traditional wicker. Interior walls are graced with paintings, crafts and tapestries by local artists. An exotic array of tropical flowers and greenery are tucked here and there to welcome you to paradise. From the splash of sunshine yellow on the exteriors to the rich wood trim and coral stone floors, each villa exudes casual tropical elegance.
Each two-story Villa features: Upstairs: Great Room with dramatic cathedral ceilings of fine Belizean hardwoods. Large open style kitchen with handmade ceramic tile counters, mahogany cabinetry, and appliances including dishwasher, trash compactor, convection oven and coffee machine. Breakfast Bar, spacious living and dining areas, floors of coral stone with agate and crystal inclusions, one bedroom is on this level, Full bath with exquisite ceramic tile and sink. Mahogany French doors open to wide covered veranda. Downstairs: Two full bedroom-bathroom suites. Each bedroom has private entrance from the beach, and opens to a covered stone patio facing the sea. And an outside shower.
Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Belize and transfer to El Pescador Lodge
Days 2-7: Full days of guided fishing
Day 8: Depart lodge.
Complete Trip Details
