This year’s “rainy season” was not very rainy at all and with such unusually low rainfall from June thru mid-September the Belize River remained clear and green. Heavy rains on Sept 21st, Belize Independence Day, caused the school parades to be cancelled after most students goat soaked.
Anglers fishing from the lodge that same day caught several nice Snook and Small tarpon in the river and near Belize City. Some more rains caused the river to turn olive green by Oct 2 and then brown a few days later. As of Nov 10th the river has still not flooded. The most productive fishing during this period was for Snook, Small Tarpon and Bones with many anglers landing their first of each of these species. A few Permit were landed and many big schools of these elusive game fish wee seen and cast to with just a few hookups.
Flies that worked best for Snook and Tarpon were the Half and Half heavy Clousers in chartreuse, blue & white and red & white, the all black Tarpon Snake, black Rabbit Toad; and Spawning Shrimp for Bones and Permit.
The Belize River, Black Creek,and the Sibun River produced the most Snook and Tarpon while the nearby Flats, Cayes and Mangrove shores produced Bones, Snappers, Ladyfish, Triple Tails, Jacks and many Barracudas.
Four anglers from Columbia, S.A. fished BRL Oct. 18-23. One day they boated and released at least 100 Snook, ranging from 4-24 pounds and kept four medium ones for the kitchen. Other days they fished for Permit, Bones and Small Tarpon. They boated 27 Small Tarpon ranging in size from 5-30 pounds and jumped dozens more.
Some angles also did inland tours from BRL for Cave Tubing, Zip Lining, Birding, the Belize Zoo and Ancient Maya Sites.
Even though BRL’s guides are considered some of the best in Belize, we are always trying to improve our guides and staff and during the last week of October, five BRL guides were trained in advanced fly casting and instruction. They were very excited for the additional instruction and in this way, BRL guides will be even better prepared to help you while fishing the flats.
More international flights to and from Belize have been added, so anglers now have more options than ever before to come fish with us at Belize River Lodge. Remember we are just a few minutes from the international airport, so no deep sea crossings and no small plane rides to get to BRL.
Mike Heusner
Catch and Release – Tarpon, Bonefish & Permit
