Hi all,

a couple of friends and myself are going to be graduating from university in june and are exploring the possibility of a four or five week trip to central america around june/july/august for some fishing before we start (looking for) jobs.

the rough idea at the moment is to start in Xcalak in the south Yucutan, before heading across the boarder into Ambergis Caye, onto Caye Caulker and then mainland Belize, probably ending up in Placencia. we'll mainly be going for bonefish but with the amount of time we've got will definitely go for permit as well and maybe tarpon.

being students though we're going to be tied to a budget but we've travelled central america before and are very familiar with how everything works and are perfectly happy roughing it with the accommodation so the money we save on that means we should be able to do a few guided days.

mostly though we'll be doing DIY fishing so would be extremely grateful for any info anyone might have on the DIY potential of the places mentioned above. does anyone know of any particular spots that we could go and check out or have some tips that you think would help?!

thanks very much for your help

Alex

__________________
"Good roads lead to bad fishing"

Hi Bristolbone,

If you have time, money etc you might like to have a look at Hopkins Village in Belize. It's about 30 mins south of Dangriga and I think about 2 1/2 hours drive south ( 30 mins in a plane) of Belize City.

I have been down there a couple of times with Mat Mchugh but really like it as it has a real out of the way feel to it there along with some cheap accom.

There aren't many opportunities to DIY fishing there but if you are thinking of hiring a guide there are some good ones there. There are baby tarpon and snook in the nearby river which is a great added extra especially if the weather is poor. You should see a lot of permit which are the main quarry.

There is also a place called tarpon caye that if you hit it right will hold a lot of the bigger tarpon but it is a fair boat ride away but worth it just to see the big rollers! I think there is some accom there.

Pete

Eat, Sleep, Fish - A new not for profit ezine

__________________
www.devonschoolofflyfishing.com - Fly Fishing in Devon

I second Hopkins - I'm going back there for the second time in less than two weeks, this time to focus on fishing as my wife can't join me.... Try the glovers reef atoll resort, its very affordable indeed and a boat ride from dangriga - rustic camping and lots of cheap fishing options. Hopkins itself is fantastic as is sit tee river village, which is where the above poster (i believe) refers to. Jungle jeanies is a good cheap lodge in hopkins, the owners are canadian and will be full of advice on guides etc.

PS - any experience belize fisherman reading this - i'd appreciate any advice on lures and flies to buy before i depart! I will be taking a SW fly and also a light-medium spinning setup so i have some various angles covered for fishing inside the reef. Thanks!

Hi Breaking,

For permit the fly nearly all the guides in Hopkins go for a Bauer Crab in olive. I found it hard to get Bauers in the UK but there is a small shop in Hopkins owned a daughter of one of the guides (Lincoln) who has a few.

For baby tarpon and snook the guides liked the good old chartreuse clouser and it worked really well.

Pete

Eat, Sleep, Fish

__________________
www.devonschoolofflyfishing.com - Fly Fishing in Devon

CaYe caulker has a split by a bar you can drink lizard juice and fish into at night. You have every chance at a big fish here. You can swim across the split and fish around the island. Go to Haywood curry on the island and he can sort you out with raf or parnel.Parnel is the best permit guide there or raf and his brother are very good bones baby tarpon. Other than the split or fishing off the jetties for small jacks and bones it's not really a DIY location unless you are just pissing about, which you can have plenty of fun with. You'll need a boat to take you out to the flats and lagoons. Let rusta take you out to his pets :-) have fun. I backpacked through south America in 2001. Amazing experience I'm sure you will love it.

Pete - thanks for your tip. Don't mean to hijack this thread, but the shop you mention in hopkins. do you have any more details for them? I'm looking to hire a rod and reel and will try to contact them. I'm going in 2 weeks time for a week at Glovers Atoll, but they can't provide me fly tackle. If you can't help don't worry, I'll enquire via the lodge owners in hopkins, they should know someone.

Thanks for all the info guys.

Hopkins Village and Glovers Reef both sound promising. Will have to check them out. Especially like the sound of the "rustic camping and lots of cheap fishing options" !

@FryFly, when i was last in Caye Caulker I was always told about what could be caught in the split at night but unfortunately didn't have a rod and was travelling with non-fishers. Will be a lot better prepared this time! As you said, a lot of fun can be had pissing about and fishing from the jetties and that will probably be our main source of fishing when we're there as Caye Caulker has a lot more going on than other places we're going to so we'll also use our time there to go diving etc.

__________________
"Good roads lead to bad fishing"

Well the diving is pretty special there so I'm sure you will have a great trip. Haywood owns a Jetty with a light on it. would be worth popping in saying hello. Perhaps a Belikin or two in hand

Hi Bristolbone,

If you head to Hopkins then LLoyd Nunez is a great guide. He lives in the village and any bar/shop will be able to point you in his direction. The other place to try is a place on the way to the marina called Beaches and Dreams. They do good food and also have some guides too.

Breaking,

If I remember rightly the shop is on the crossroads (the only one!) in the village opposite the bar called King something or other. I think Lincolns daughters shop is sort of everything place that does hairdressing, sells a few flies and some T shirts. I was surprised they did flies!

Beaches and Dreams might be able to help or put you in touch with someone but as you know it is a bit relaxed there!

Hope thats helps!

Pete

Eat, Sleep, Fish

__________________
www.devonschoolofflyfishing.com - Fly Fishing in Devon

Yes that's very helpful, thankyou. I'll be there in 8 days! Can't wait. Got my week booked at the Glovers Atoll Resort for 300 bucks, a cabana over the water surrounded by fish and flys (sandflies!)

Dreaming about Judy's Burrito's in Hopkins....