Belize Tarpon Fishing

Tarpon are one of the most unique and beloved game fish across the globe. Typically found in warm coastal waters, they will also head offshore into the Gulf Stream to spawn in the summer months and do just fine in freshwater too. Their range is as far north as Virginia on the East Coast of the United States all the way down to Brazil and across the Atlantic along the west coast of Africa. Tarpon are living dinosaurs as their current design (megalops atlanticus) dates back almost 20 millions years. Whether it’s the spirited juveniles in mangroves or the full grown adult behemoths, few species can claim to be a prized game fish at every stage of their lives like tarpon.

Fly Rods
If you are fishing for smaller juvenile tarpon a 10 wt rod will do the trick as these fish tend to be in the 30-75 lb range. If you are visiting Belize between April and September and are specifically targeting the larger, migratory adult tarpon you’ll want an 11 wt or even 12 wt rod as these fish can be 100-150 lbs or more.

Fly Reels
When fly fishing for tarpon you’ll need a large arbor, corrosion-resistant saltwater reel that will hold a fly line plus approximately 200 yards of 20 lb backing. Surviving the first five minutes of a fight with a tarpon is key, so being able to slow a fish down with a quality drag system before it runs outside the reef or into a tangled mangrove is key

Lines & Leaders
A weight forward floating line is the standard for most saltwater flats fishing you’ll be doing, but if you are specifically after tarpon you’ll most likely want an intermediate sinking line as well.  Some days tarpon can be seen cruising in shallow water along the flats or around the sandy cayes, but other days you’ll simply need to blind cast to them near river mouths or lagoons where they are known to frequent. A tarpon leader typically consists of a 60#-100# shock tippet with a 16#-20# tippet.

Flies
Tarpon have such a varied diet there are several fly patterns that work well in Belize. Some of the most productive flies year after year are the cockroach, tarpon toad, black death, and various deceivers. Sizes range from 1/0 – to 4/0 depending on the size of the fish you are targeting. We will provide you with a full list of recommended tarpon flies for Belize once you book your trip with us as it can vary based on where you are fishing and what time of year you visit.

Tarpon are available in Belize throughout the entire year. Belize’s entire 240 mile long coastline is lined with mangroves, river mouths and lagoons which are the perfect habitat for juvenile tarpon to grow before they move on to bigger and better things. The consistently warm shallow water that is full of bait and access to the open ocean outside the reef for spawning and migration is a perfect combination for larger adult tarpon. The resident tarpon tend to be juveniles between 30-75 lbs, but the mature adults that migrate through can be 100-150 lbs.

Even though the resident tarpon are available throughout the year, there is clear uptick in numbers in Belize when the migratory tarpon roll through. This ‘tarpon season’ starts in April and continues through September most years, so if you want a shot at a 100+ lb tarpon that is the window you should aim for. Below is our Belize fly fishing calendar to give you an idea of the different seasons for all the flats species in addition to tarpon. We customize all of our Belize tarpon fishing packages so once we know what kind of experience you are looking for we will make sure you are in the right spot at the right time for the fishing you want to do.

1) Placencia 
The shallow waters off of the Placencia Peninslua in Southern Belize offer some of the best flats fishing in the entire world. This area is dotted with sandy cayes and shallow saltwater flats that stretch nearly 30 miles form Dangriga down to Placencia. Located inside the Mesoamerican Reef and surrounded by deeper 50-100 ft water, tarpon can often be seen cruising the flats looking for a meal or crashing sardines hiding in a shallow bay. There is even one island named “Tarpon Caye”, so that tells you tarpon have been there for quite some time! On the back side of the peninsula you’ll find the Placencia Lagoon, which is 4 miles long and 2 miles wide at it’s widest point. This area can be great for juvenile tarpon who aren’t quite ready for the open ocean yet. Just a short run south is Monkey River and another big lagoon, and tarpon are often seen rolling here.

2) Turneffe Atoll
The most remote and unique fishing destination in Belize offers great tarpon fishing throughout the year. The Turneffe Atoll measures 30 miles long and 10 miles wide and the middle is a massive lagoon lined with mangroves which many resident tarpon are happy to call home throughout the year. Due to the fact it’s 20 miles out to sea it also receives a lot of visits from the large migratory tarpon between April and September as they come and go on their annual spawning rituals.

3) Ambergris Caye
The most popular vacation destination in Belize also offers 400 sq mile fishery all the way to the Mexican border and over to mainland Belize. The Mesoamerican Reef is just half a mile away which gives them easy access to deeper water and on the other side you have protected lagoons and mangroves. This is a great spot for both resident juvenile tarpon and the larger migratory adult fish.

4) Punta Gorda
The southern end of Belize may not receive much foot traffic, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of fish here! Here you’ll find several flats, a massive lagoon that can be fished in almost any weather and the Rio Grande river mouth which are all regular spots for the silver king. Located on the north side of Amatique Bay which it shares with Guatemala, this spot if perfect for tarpon and snook.