Sport Fishing in Belize should be on the bucket list of every serious fisherman. The diversity of the types of fishing you can enjoy along with the seemingly endless list of fish that you can catch can be a bit overwhelming.
Following is a short list of just some of the more popular fish you can catch while in Belize”
Flats and Shallow Water
Bonefish – when most people think of flats fishing the first fish that comes to mind is fly fishing for Bonefish. These fish are incredibly fun to stalk and catch. They typically weigh between 3-5 pounds but put on a battle of fish 3x their size.
Permit – Permit has quietly become one of the most sought after fish for the avid fly fishermen. They are very wary and your presentation has to be near perfect to get one to take your fly. Most Permit in Belize are under 10 pounds but occasionally we get them into the high teens.
Tarpon – Tarpon are known worldwide as one of the premier Sport Fishing species. These fish can grow to well over 100 pounds and fight like no other fish in the shallows. Get even a 25 pound Tarpon on your line and you will fell like you have hooked a freight train.
Snook – Snook are in our waters all year long and love hiding out in the shallows and backwaters. Like many of the other fish on the flats, Snook need to be stalked by the fisherman.
Reefs
Barracuda – Cuda for short, is a large, predatory fish known for its fearsome appearance and ferocious behaviour. Barracuda can reach up to 53 pounds. They are a very curious fish and will tend to take a look at any lure presented to them. If they don’t strike on the first cast then you will want to try another lure or look for another Barracuda.
Mackerel – Fishing for Mackerel in Belize can be very productive. These fish can get up to 3 ft in length and 30 pounds with an occasional fish larger than that. They put up a good fight and can surely wear out a fishermen who is not ready.
Groupers – Nassau Groupers are the most prevalent of Groupers found in the waters of Belize. These fish can grow up to 55 pounds and are a little over 3 ft in length. The fish are considered predators and are very aggressive and put up a very good fight.
Deep Sea Fishing – Beyond the Drop
Marlin – Marlin are found in the Blue Water that is found past our blue water just past the barrier reef. Marlin aer one of the most prized game fish in the world and are targeted at different times in our waters. In April of 2021 a fisherman caught a Marlin in Belize that weighed 362 pounds.
Wahoo – also known as Ono (which in Hawaiian means delicious) is a regular visitor to the deep waters around Belize. These fish are extremely fast which make them a highly desired sports fish.
Mahi Mahi – also known Dolphin or Dorado, can be found close to the surface of the water. A trophy Mahi-mahi is one that is over 40 pounds with the world record being almost double that weight at 72 pounds. These fish are great fun to catch and are perfect for the first time angler or kids.
Tuna – Blackfin Tuna are found year round in the waters of Belize. These fish travel in schools and when found can create total chaos in a charter boat. Double and triple hookups are common and the action can be non stop. Most Blackfin Tuna that you will catch will run about 10 pounds
Sailfish – Sailfish are abundant in the open ocean around Belize. These fish are a highly prized game fish as they are considered the fastest swimming fish in the world. Sailfish can grow up to 9 ft in length and weigh up to 200 pounds.
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