🎣 Fishing Destination: Ambergris Caye – San Pedro, Belize

🏝️ About Ambergris Caye

Ambergris Caye is Belize's largest island and the Caribbean's premier saltwater fly fishing destination — a sun-drenched paradise where crystal-clear flats, pristine mangroves, and the Belize Barrier Reef (the second largest in the world) create the ultimate setting for pursuing the legendary Grand Slam: bonefish, permit, and tarpon in a single day.

Located off Belize's northern coast and centered around the charming town of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye has been attracting anglers since the 1970s when the fly fishing world discovered its exceptional fishery. With over 400 miles of fishable flats, year-round resident tarpon, abundant permit schools, and vast populations of bonefish, this Caribbean gem offers something rare: world-class sight fishing for all three Grand Slam species within minutes of comfortable lodging.

The island's strategic location provides access to an incredible diversity of habitats — shallow turtle grass flats where bonefish tail in ankle-deep water, deep channels where 100-pound tarpon roll, white sand flats where permit cruise in gin-clear water, and mangrove-lined lagoons teeming with snook. Add in excellent reef fishing for snapper, grouper, and barracuda, plus offshore opportunities for wahoo and billfish, and Ambergris Caye emerges as one of the most complete saltwater fishing destinations on earth.

With direct flights from major North American cities, English as the official language, experienced local guides, and infrastructure ranging from luxury resorts to boutique fishing lodges, Ambergris Caye makes Caribbean Grand Slam fishing remarkably accessible.

🌟 Why Ambergris Caye Is Special

• Grand Slam Central
  One of the best destinations on earth to achieve the coveted Grand Slam (bonefish, permit, tarpon in one day). Some lucky anglers even achieve the rare Super Grand Slam by adding snook or barracuda.

• Year-Round Tarpon
  Unlike most destinations, Ambergris Caye has resident tarpon populations present 12 months of the year (10-100+ lbs), with peak migratory fish arriving May-September. This is the only classic tarpon flats fishery outside Florida.

• Vast, Accessible Flats
  Over 400 square miles of protected shallow flats lie within short boat rides from San Pedro. World-famous spots like Savannah Flats, Mosquito Caye, Cangrejo Flats, and Long Caye offer pristine sight-fishing conditions.

• Legendary Guides
  Multi-generational Belizean guides like the Bradley Brothers (40+ years experience), along with lodge-based guide teams, provide world-class instruction and fish-spotting expertise. Many guides are bilingual and trained in fly casting instruction.

• Perfect for All Skill Levels
  From first-time saltwater anglers to permit addicts, the fishery accommodates everyone. Large schools of eager bonefish help beginners learn, while technical permit and powerful tarpon challenge experts.

• Crystal Clear Water
  Gin-clear Caribbean flats with white sand and turtle grass backgrounds make spotting fish a visual feast — seeing a permit's tail shimmer in 18 inches of water is unforgettable.

• Conservation Success
  Since 2009, Belize has mandatory catch-and-release for bonefish, permit, and tarpon. Guides report significantly more fish and larger sizes since the legislation passed, making Belize a model for sustainable fisheries.

• Easy Logistics
  Direct flights to Belize City, 20-minute puddle jumper flights or 90-minute ferries to San Pedro, English-speaking population, US dollar acceptance, and established fishing lodge infrastructure make trip planning easy.

🐟 Target Species of Ambergris Caye

🌤️ Seasonal Fishing Overview

Ambergris Caye offers excellent fishing 12 months a year, with temperatures varying less than 10°F annually (average 84°F). Rather than distinct seasons, the island experiences micro-climate changes.

🌺 Winter/Spring (January – April)

January-February:

• Winter patterns: Occasional cold fronts affect fishing (2-3 day windows)
• Calm days: Excellent for tarpon (40-80 lbs) and bonefish on flats
• Snook fishing: Peaks during cold fronts as fish move to shallow warm water
• Wahoo season: Excellent offshore opportunities
• Reef fishing: Weather-dependent but good when conditions allow

March:

• Transitional month: Weather stabilizes, winds become more consistent
• Bonefish: Active and feeding aggressively
• Permit: Excellent month as fish begin spawning patterns (Feb-May spawn)
• Tarpon: 20-90 lbs present on flats and in channels
• Reef fishing: Excellent for snapper, grouper, jacks

April:

• Prime time begins: Water temperatures perfect, weather stable
• Tarpon: Larger migratory fish (40-100 lbs) begin arriving
• Permit: Peak spawning season brings large schools to accessible flats
• Bonefish: Abundant in huge schools
• Best month for: Permit and completing Grand Slams

☀️ Summer (May – August)

May:

• Peak Grand Slam season begins
• Tarpon: Migration ramps up; fish 40-150 lbs increasingly common
• Giant schools: Bonefish schools of 200-300 fish on flats and reef edges
• Permit: Excellent numbers and sizes
• Conditions: Generally hottest month but calm, light breezes
• Sailfish and bonito: Begin appearing

June-July:

• Tarpon central: Peak season for numbers and aggression
• Best visibility: Crystal-clear water, perfect sight-fishing conditions
• Huge schools: Both bonefish and tarpon visible from boats
• All-day action: Fish active throughout day with early/late peaks
• Reef fishing: Good to excellent for variety
• Rain: Occasional showers (rainy season) but typically brief

August-September:

• PEAK TARPON SEASON: Highest catch rates and largest fish (many exceeding 100 lbs)
• Trophy permit: Large migratory permit common during this period
• Aggressive feeding: All species feeding heavily
• Grand Slam odds: Best statistical chance for completing Grand Slam
• Weather note: Hurricane season (June-November) but most storms miss Ambergris

🍂 Fall (September – November)

September-October:

• Still prime fishing: Tarpon remain plentiful and aggressive
• Large permit: Continue feeding heavily
• Bonefish: Bigger, more aggressive fish
• Jack crevalle: Massive schools appear on flats like "TIE fighters"
• Snook: Increase in mangroves with mainland rain

November:

• Transitional month: Migratory tarpon begin thinning but residents remain
• Heavy fish: Tarpon, bonefish, and jacks feeding aggressively before winter
• Wahoo returns: Excellent offshore opportunities
• Permit and bones: Still very active on flats

❄️ Winter (December)

• Cooling patterns: Occasional cold fronts (more frequent than mid-year)
• Resident tarpon: Still present in 40-80 lb range
• Barracuda: Excellent fishing
• Jack crevalle: Active on flats
• Bonefish and permit: Available when weather cooperates (calm days)
• Snook: Peaks in shallow, warm-water areas
• Wahoo: Excellent offshore

🎣 Fishing Techniques on Ambergris Caye

FLY FISHING TECHNIQUES:

SPINNING TACKLE TECHNIQUES:

🪶 Essential Gear & Fly Recommendations

FLY RODS:

• 7-8 weight: Bonefish (7 wt calm days, 8 wt wind/dual permit duty)
• 9-10 weight: Permit, light tarpon, jacks
• 11-12 weight: Large tarpon (40-150 lbs)

REELS:

• Saltwater-proof with sealed drag
• Bonefish/Permit: 200 yards of 20 lb backing
• Tarpon: 250-300 yards of 30-50 lb backing
• Smooth drag essential for powerful runs

LINES & LEADERS:

• Lines: Tropical weight-forward floating (primary); intermediate sink for tarpon/permit (occasional)
• Bonefish leaders: 9-12 ft tapered to 10-12 lb
• Permit leaders: 9-14 ft tapered to 16-20 lb
• Tarpon leaders: 9 ft straight 40-80 lb fluorocarbon

FLY PATTERNS:

Bonefish (3-4 dozen total):

• Gotcha/Crazy Charlie: Size 4, 6, 8 (pink/tan, orange/tan, chartreuse)
• Christmas Island Special: Size 4, 6, 8
• Lead-eye patterns: 30% of box for wind
• Bead chain eyes: 60% of box for calm shallow water
• Unweighted: 10% for ultra-skinny water

Permit (2-3 dozen):

• Crab patterns (80% of box):
  • McCrab/Merkin Crab: Size 1/0, 2 (tan, olive, brown)
  • Del Brown's Permit Crab: Size 2, 4
• Shrimp patterns (20% of box):
  • EP Mantis Shrimp: Size 4, 6
  • Peterson's Spawning Shrimp: Size 4
• 80% lead eyes, 20% bead chain

Tarpon (1-2 dozen):

• Tarpon Toads: Size 1/0-3/0 (black/purple, chartreuse, black/red, tan, white)
• Baitfish streamers: EP Peanut Butter, baitfish patterns (4-6" long, natural colors)
• Gurglers/Poppers: Size 2/0 for topwater action
• Generally unweighted

Bonus Species:

• Barracuda: Large chartreuse/white streamers, needlefish patterns
• Jacks: Poppers, large baitfish (any color works)
• Snook: Small tarpon patterns, white streamers

⚖️ Regulations & Permits

FISHING LICENSES:

Purchase locations:

• Online: Belize Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute (CZMAI) website
• Charter boats and guides (usually included or arranged for you)
• Fishing lodges
• Tres Pescados Fly Shop (San Pedro)

CRITICAL REGULATIONS:

⚠️ MANDATORY CATCH & RELEASE (2009 Law):

• Bonefish: 100% catch and release — NEVER keep
• Permit: 100% catch and release — NEVER keep
• Tarpon: 100% catch and release — NEVER keep
• Penalties: Fines and potential gear confiscation for violations

CLOSED SEASONS:

• Nassau Grouper: December 1 – March 31 (NO take/possession)
• Lobster: February 15 – June 14
• Conch: July 1 – September 30

COMPLETE BAN (Never harvest):

• All Parrotfish species
• Blue Tang / Surgeon Fish
• All Marine Turtles
• Whale Sharks
• All Marine Mammals
• Coral (all types)

MAY BE KEPT FOR TABLE:

• Snapper (check size/season limits)
• Snook (with license; size limits apply)
• Jacks (most species)
• Barracuda (small ones; check for ciguatera)
• Grouper (outside closed season; size limits)

PROTECTED AREAS:

• Hol Chan Marine Reserve: Catch and release only
• Mexico Rocks: Protected; release all fish
• Follow guide instructions — they know local regulations

🏨 Lodging & Guide Services

FISHING LODGES (Full-Service Packages):

El Pescador Lodge & Villas (Est. 1974)

• San Pedro; Belize's oldest fishing lodge
• All-inclusive packages with guided fishing
• Large guide team; Orvis endorsed
• Pool, spa, reef/diving options for non-anglers
• Price: ~$3,500-4,500+ per person/week

Blue Bonefish Lodge

• 4.5 miles south of San Pedro
• Boutique lodge; recently renovated
• Excellent guide team; shorter boat rides to flats
• More affordable than mega-resorts
• Golf carts for San Pedro trips
• Price: ~$2,800-3,800 per person/week

Belize Permit Club (Hopkins - Southern Belize)

• Specialized permit fishing
• Run by Tres Pescados Fly Shop
• "Permit Alley" access
• Also offers Ambergris Caye trips

INDEPENDENT GUIDE SERVICES:

GoFish Belize (Abner "Abbie" Marin)

• San Pedro-based; 20+ years experience
• Fly and spin fishing
• Reef, flats, and snorkel trips
• Full/half day options
• Price: ~$350-600/day

Tres Pescados Fly Shop

• Belize's premier fly shop
• Full guide service booking
• Retail gear if you forget something
• Local expertise; two locations (San Pedro & Hopkins)
• Day trips: ~$450-600

Bradley Brothers (Roberto, George, Luis)

• Multi-generational guides (40+ years)
• Legendary local knowledge
• Highly recommended by anglers worldwide
• Book directly or through lodges

ACCESS:

Getting to Ambergris Caye:

1. Fly: Belize City (BZE) → San Pedro (SPR) via Tropic Air/Maya Island Air (~20 min, $80-150 one-way)
2. Ferry: Belize City → San Pedro (~90 minutes, $25-45 one-way; San Pedro Belize Express/Water Jets)
3. Charter: Private boat transfers available

Getting Around San Pedro:

• Golf carts (rent $50-100/day)
• Bicycles
• Taxis
• Water taxis between docks

🧭 Summary

Ambergris Caye represents the pinnacle of Caribbean saltwater fly fishing — where the legendary Grand Slam is not just possible but genuinely attainable, where crystalline flats stretch for hundreds of square miles, and where year-round resident tarpon create opportunities found almost nowhere else on earth.

This is sight fishing at its finest: watching a school of 200 bonefish explode across white sand flats, seeing a permit's tail shimmer in gin-clear water, tracking a 100-pound tarpon rolling in a deep channel. The diversity is staggering — one morning you might pole across shallow turtle grass stalking tailing permit, spend midday in mangrove lagoons casting to snook, and finish the evening watching tarpon crash baitfish on the reef edge.

What sets Ambergris Caye apart is accessibility without compromise. World-class fishing lies minutes from comfortable lodges. Experienced Belizean guides — many third-generation flats fishermen — provide instruction for beginners and spot fish for experts. English is spoken. Flights are direct. The infrastructure is established. Conservation is law.

Whether you're a first-timer learning to spot bones or a permit addict chasing your 50th, whether you're fly fishing purist or spin tackle enthusiast, whether you want luxury resort or boutique lodge, Ambergris Caye delivers. Add in spectacular reef diving, Mayan ruins, beachfront bars, and Caribbean cuisine, and you have a destination that satisfies anglers and non-fishing partners alike.

The Grand Slam awaits in paradise.

📍 Quick Reference

Location: Ambergris Caye, Belize District, Belize
Main Town: San Pedro
Access: Fly to Belize City (BZE), then 20-min flight or 90-min ferry
Best Overall Fishing: April – November (but excellent year-round)
Peak Grand Slam Season: May – September
Peak Tarpon: August – September
Peak Permit: February – May (spawn); good year-round
Primary Species: Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snook, Jacks, Barracuda
Best Methods: Fly fishing (sight casting), spinning, wade fishing, poling skiffs
Regulations: Mandatory catch & release for bones/permit/tarpon
Special Features: Grand Slam fishing, year-round tarpon, vast flats, Belize Barrier Reef, English-speaking, conservation success story
Ideal For: All skill levels, from beginners to experts; couples (non-angling activities available); Grand Slam pursuers