Offshore Fishing in Belize
Belize is the only English-speaking nation in Central America, and aside from beautiful beaches and popular Mayan ruins, this nation is also known for its sports fishing. Saltwater fishing in Belize comes in two forms: fishing the shallow flats from off shore, or hiring a guide to show you areas around and away from the many reefs and islands where trophy deep water fishing is the name of the game.
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Environment
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The natural environment around Belize offers unique offshore fishing opportunities. There are large "flats" where the water is only a few feet deep even hundreds of feet from shore, allowing anglers to walk out and cast for fish that like to stay near shore or where the river mouths meet the water. Many small islands, as well as the Belize Barrier Reef, also offer an incredibly unique environment for saltwater fish.
Fish Species
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There are many popular species of sports fish that can be caught when fishing offshore. In the barrier reef and atoll area, anglers can chase grouper, tarpon, barracuda and bonefish. For anglers who want giant trophies, charters can go further out and find marlin, sailfish and sharks that weigh many hundreds of pounds. There are several popular species of tuna in the deeper waters, as well.
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Types of Tuna
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Anglers pursuing offshore fishing in Belize have their choice of four different species of tuna. Bluefin and blackfin tuna (some of which have been known to get as heavy as 800 pounds) swim in deeper waters; yellowfin tuna and albacore also inhabit these waters, although albacore are usually only caught in the months of February, March and April.
Fishing Seasons & License Requirements
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A fishing license is required for all visitors who intend to fish for freshwater or saltwater fish in Belize. Bonefish and tarpon are catch-and-release species in Belize, but other species can be caught and cooked. While fishing is open all year round, the best times to go offshore fishing in Belize are May through July, when there is virtually no danger of a cold snap creating poor angling conditions.
Reefs & Atolls
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The Belize Barrier Reef provides an environment where fish can flourish. There are many local fishing holes located around small atolls off the coast. Some of the most popular atolls for fishing in Belize include the Turneffe Islands Atoll, Lighthouse Atoll and Glover´s Reef Atoll. There are specialty charters for each one, and often a deal can be made for housing at a fishing lodge with the paid charter to explore these atolls in search of trophy fish.
Finding a Charter
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Finding a charter isn't difficult in Belize. The best bet is to look at local charters near the area you will be wanting to fish. A paid fishing charter guide in Belize City is going to know those waters, while charters from Ambergriscaye Island will know the local atolls better than one from further south.
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References
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- Photo Credit beach in belize image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
