belize river — ladyville and belize city
The river that reaches the sea north of Belize City. Tarpon and snook in the rivers, creeks and mangrove lagoons, minutes from the international airport.
The Belize River flows down from the interior and reaches the sea north of Belize City; one arm of it, Haulover Creek, cuts through the city. In the lower reach, near Ladyville and the international airport, the river, creeks and mangrove lagoons form a brackish-water system where tarpon and snook live. Local guides also work the Sibun River and Manatee River to the south, and Black Creek, especially when wind keeps them off the flats. Tarpon of all sizes, from juveniles to big fish, are found along the banks and in the backwaters. Fishing is from a panga, with fly, spinning or baitcasting gear, and can be combined with the flats and cayes near the coast.
best season
Tarpon all year, with the big fish from March to June. For snook, local guides point to November to April as the best period.
Local rules: CZMAI sport fishing license required, sold online, at the Belize City office or through agents. Tarpon is protected in Belize: catch and release only, and possessing any specimen is prohibited; the same goes for bonefish and permit. Snook are among the species designated for sport fishing in the CZMAI brochure. Use barbless hooks, as the CZMAI recommends, and release the fish without taking it out of the water. Confirm local rules.
- getting there
- Philip Goldson International Airport is in Ladyville, about 15 minutes from the river lodges. Belize City is right next door, and boats leave from the river and city piers.
- facilities
- Fishing lodges on the river in Ladyville; hotels and marinas in Belize City; and guides with pangas for the river and nearby flats and cayes.
- country
- Distrito de Belize, Belize
tip
Snook like shade and structure: cast tight to logs and roots. For tarpon, set the hook firmly and lower the rod tip when it jumps.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
what you can catch here
before you fish in Belize
The sport fishing license is issued by CZMAI (Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute), under the 2009 sport fishing regulations. It can be bought online on the CZMAI website, at the office in Belize City or from authorized agents (shops and operators). There are daily and weekly licenses; the annual one is only for permanent residents. In the official CZMAI brochure from 2019, the fees were BZ$20 per day, BZ$50 per week and BZ$100 per year: confirm the current price. In marine reserves there may be a separate use fee.
- Bonefish (Albula vulpes), tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) and permit (Trachinotus falcatus) are protected: catch and release only, and it is prohibited for anyone in the country to possess any specimen.
- Lobster closed season from March 1 to June 30; queen conch from July 1 to September 30 (or until the quota is filled); Nassau grouper from December 1 to March 31.
- In marine reserves, it is prohibited to use gillnets, speargun, and scuba gear for fishing; reserves have no-take zones and catch-and-release-only zones (such as Hol Chan, near San Pedro).
The rules and closed seasons in the rest of the app are Brazilian. Outside Brazil, the regulations of the country and province apply: confirm with the official agency.
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- market Belize River Lodge — FishingBelize River, Sibun River, Manatee River and Black Creek for tarpon and snook; tarpon from 5 to 80 lb in rivers, mangroves and flats; snook best from November to April
- official Belize Fisheries Department — Fisheries RegulationsBonefish, tarpon and permit catch and release only; possession prohibited; prohibited fishing gear in reserves
- official CZMAI — Sport Fishing Program Unit (licença de pesca esportiva)License online, at the Belize City office or through agents; legal basis: SI 115 of 2009 (CZMA Sport Fishing Regulations) and SI 114 of 2009 (Fisheries Species Designation Protection Regulations)
- official CZMAI — Sport Fishing in Belize (folheto)2019 brochure: license fees, authorized agents (including the Placencia Tourism Center), species designated for sport fishing, including snook, and good catch-and-release practices