Hello,
The year has started off well, with guests visiting both the main Lodge and Long Caye Resort. Fishing has been good some days, and when the weather is not so good, we are grateful for the baby tarpon and snook in the rivers. Below is our January/February fishing report and we hope you enjoy. We look forward to visiting with you all soon,
Warm regards,
Mike & Marguerite
FEB 5, 2012
FISHING REPORT – Slams, Big Bones and Late Large Tarpon
Two Grand Slams were landed this past week despite two back to back weather systems with cloudy and rainy conditions some days.
Fortunately at BRL we have the Belize River and the Sibun River as backup whenever weather conditions out on the flats are difficult. On a recent bad weather day, one boat in the Belize River landed a seventy-five pound Tarpon, jumped twenty five Baby Tarpon and landed four. These “Baby Tarpon” ranged in size from six to thirty pounds, averaging about fifteen pounds. They are the acrobatic jumpers that challenge the angler to keep one on for even a few minutes.
Spin fishing with deep divers and jigs in the rivers was also very successful for big Snook, and several beautiful twenty and twenty five pound Snook were boated (and weighed); most were released. Several other fishing days in the rivers also produced good Tarpon and Snook action.
A lady angler on her very first time Tarpon fishing quickly got educated during a twenty five minute Small Tarpon feeding frenzy. Yes, she finally boated a nice one.
Heavy overcast skies and sometimes rainy conditions did however dampen Permit fishing on the flats, though spending time on Bonefish flats, some first time salt water anglers landed nice four, five and six pound Bones.
Snook on the mangrove edges of the flats were especially obstinate some days, totally ignoring many well placed flies. Sometimes it took only one hungry one to start the action and then the obstinate ones seemed to come alive.
Puglisi Everglades, Clousers and Deceivers were the best producing flies for the sometimes elusive Snook and Small Tarpon, while Gotchas and Charlies worked best for Bones. On one very calm morning Mike’s Wiggle Jig on ten pound spinning gear out performed the Bonefish flies. Other game fish caught were Cubera Snappers, Barracudas, Ladyfish and some big and small Jacks.
All BRL guides have been getting great compliments for consistently putting their guests on fish even when conditions were difficult.
The big migratory Tarpon have not shown up yet, but we expect to start seeing them in the next few days. We are looking forward to again tagging some hundred pounders with satellite tags in March. Hopefully this time around, they will be the migrants so we can see where they go when they leave here later in the year.
Our MAYA 2012 fishing and tour packages are off to a good start this year and many hard core fishing guests are enjoying their first visits to our famous Maya sites. In 2012, a few guests have visited the sites of Altun Ha, Lamani, Xunantunich and Cahal Pech – all are very unique and we hope you will come visit with us again or join us for your very first time and “sea” a little of Belize.
It is easy to get to Belize: just about two hours from Miami and Houston, and just a little more from Atlanta, Charlotte and Dallas. Regular flights to Belize can be booked on AMERICAN, CONTINENTAL, DELTA, US AIR and TACA.
And Belize River Lodge is just fifteen minutes from the Belize international airport.
Mike Heusner
Update – February 20, 2012: Though the big migratory tarpon are still late in showing up, they are still expected any day. But in the mean time, guests are enjoying the bones, resident tarpon, snook and within the last week, two big permit were landed and more seen, casted to and spooked. More on the Permit in the next fishing report.
><(((*> Catch and Release – Tarpon, Bonefish & Permit <*)))><
BONEFISH IN CENTRAL BELIZE
& PERMIT, ALSO TARPON,
a saltwater Angler’s Dream – the Grand Slam
Belize River Lodge guides and guests, have been fishing and catching bonefish for over 60 years; from good Ole’ Vic’s days, through the KCS era and into Mike & Marguerite’s time. While we knew Belize had bonefish, as does Florida and the Bahamas, we have recognized that Belize’s bonefish are small in comparison to other countries, so we always said, “yes, Belize has bonefish, they are small, so young, but they feed, so young and stupid, which is good”.
Now, after being involved with Bonefish and Tarpon Trust (BTT) over the last 5 years (since 2007 when they were Bonefish & Tarpon Unlimited), we have found out, that while Belize’s bonefish are the same species found in Florida and the Bahamas, and while they are small, they are sure not young.
Quoting Dr. Aaron Adams from BTT, “a 16 inch (fork length) bonefish in the Florida Keys is approximately 2 – 3 years old. That same length bonefish in Belize is approximately 6-7 years old. The difference in growth rate appears to begin when the bonefish are still juveniles, and continues throughout their lives. For example, a 23 inch (fork length) bonefish in the Keys is 6 – 8 years old, but in the Caribbean is around 16 years old.“
To put this in perspective, at Belize River Lodge, we say that our bonefish average 3 lbs, which is about the 16″ fork length, so a BRL three pound bonefish is about six to seven years old. In the last two years, we have been seeing and landing more in the over 5 lb range and in December 2011, three bonefish were landed in the over 6 lb range. While not big in comparison to other countries, it is big to Central Belize where BRL is located, and we have a very healthy population Bonefish, as we have small to under a pound to larger over 7 lbs; and we see even bigger bones in schools.
Tagging Bonefish and Permit is the first step to the process. After tagging the fish, we hope for a large recapture rate, as this will provide the answer to the questions we have today. . . .
How large of an area do bonefish use? What is the size of the geographic area that needs protection to ensure a healthy bonefish population? What size geographical area should be used for management? To what extent do different populations mix (such as Belize City and Ambergris Cay)? If bonefish habitats are damaged, how far-reaching will be the impact?
Again quoting Dr. Adams “This information is essential as Belize develops a coastal and fishery management plan, which will include habitat protections, coastal development, etc. Tagging studies provide this type of information. The key is to get this information now, before the fishery is in real trouble, so we know what a healthy fishery is supposed to look like. If we wait until after the fishery has declined, we will only be measuring an unhealthy population.“
For Central Belize’s study to be at full speed, we need to tag more Bonefish and start to tag Permit, along with giving Bonefish and Tarpon Trust a little more support. Trying to get anglers involved with the BTT study, Belize River Lodge along with Frontiers International is hosting the first “Bonefish & Permit tagging Challenge” at Belize River Lodge. The focus is a fun competition to see who can tag the most bonefish and permit in five days of fishing and at no extra cost to you the angler. Belize River Lodge’s regular rates apply and you receive Frontier’s professional service to help plan your trip.
The Bonefish & Permit Tagging Challenge trip is scheduled for May 2012 with 5 days of fishing. Exact dates are arriving May 12, 2012, fishing May 13 thru 17 and departing on May 18th for a 6 night/5 days Lodge trip.
The cost of the 6 night/5 days Lodge fishing package is US$2,998.00 per person, based on double occupancy.
BRL Fishing Package Includes: Round trip airport transfers in Belize – meeting & checkout services, accommodations, air conditioning in rooms, daily housekeeping, all meals – including a box lunch, soda & drinking water, guided fishing, skiff & fuel, Belize Taxes of 9% Hotel Tax & 12.5% GST tax.
BRL Fishing Package Does Not Include: Airfare to & from Belize, fishing equipment & tackle, Belize Fishing License (US$25.00 per week, per angler), alcoholic beverages, tips to guides and staff, Belize Departure Tax (approximately US$39.75 per person – included in ticket or paid at Airport).
If you are interested in our Bonefish and Permit Tagging Challenge trip, but do not have rods, no worries. For those who do not have the right rods, BRL will loan our Sage demo rods for the week’s fishing. Please let us know if you need rods/reels when inquiring.
In addition to participating in a scientific study, your 5 days of fishing at Belize River Lodge will include:
• Welcome gifts for all participants.
Costa Del Mar sunglasses for three top prizes.
• Awards of hand carved wooden trophies for the most and biggest fish tagged of Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon. Carving will be out of beautiful zericote wood and carved by a well-known local Belizean artist.
• BTT membership for any non-members.
• Workshops and presentations on bonefish, permit, and tarpon fishing and science.
• An opportunity to advance our scientific understanding and knowledge through this event.
• Funding for more Bonefish and Tarpon Trust work later, as both BRL and Frontiers are donating to BTT. Belize River Lodge is donating $300.00 for every angler booked and Frontiers is also making a donation per angler.
• A fantastic time in a wonderful setting, with little hassle to you – all you need to do is contact Denise Schreiber or Barbara Alden at Frontiers Travel and they will do all the work. Frontiers’ toll free is 1-800-245-1950 and you can reach Denise by e-mail at dschreiber@frontierstravel.com and Barbara at balden@frontierstravel.com.
If May 12 thru 18, 2012 does not work for your schedule, then please check with us or your travel agent for dates that suite your schedule. Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit and Snook are fished year round at Belize River Lodge and the best opportunity to land your favorite species or a slam is if you are fishing with Belize River Lodge in Belize.
We hope that you will help us, to help the study of bonefish and permit, by joining in the above May trip. During the May challenge we will also be targeting tarpon, in order to get DNA samples. Again, if we DNA test these fish and they are recaptured, this opens up another range of study.
We look forward to hearing from you and hopefully visiting with you.
Warm Regards,
Mike & Marguerite
Belize River Lodge
PS
At Belize River Lodge, we have been trying to tag bonefish for a few years, however, and with less than 500 bones tagged, we had three recaptures this year. Exciting! Here is the link to the story written by Mick on the three recaptures.
Belize River Lodge
PO Box 459
Belize City, Belize
Central America
><(((*> Catch & Release – Bonefish, Permit & Tarpon <)))><
Phone Direct: (501) 225-2002 * Fax Direct: (501) 225-2298
Toll Free: (888) 275-4843
Website: www.belizeriverlodge.com
FISHING REPORT
DEC 28, 2011
Chip and Scooby fished half Friday on arrival, Saturday, Sunday and half day Monday before flying out. They jumped 33 tarpon, hooked 21, landed 15, landed quite a few bonefish and one over 6 lbs, and caught a variety package of 12 species with double hookups on Bonefish and Tarpon. Weather was mostly cool, overcast and windy at times with some rain. “Great weekend fishing trip” they said.
Cal & Bob lost over 600 pounds of Tarpon on the first day, before landing 2 small ones. The guide said: “Finally found the size you can handle.” Both had a great trip and said they were looking at dates for 2012.
While Tom was fishing and catching a Grand Slam of Bonefish, Snook and Tarpon; the three other people in his “fish and tour” party visited the ATM Caves, Xunantunich, Altun Ha and the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. On Sunday Sharon accompanied four other birders and me up the Belize Olde River on the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. More than 40 species of birds were counted, including the Pygmy Kingfisher and the Boat Billed Heron. About 15 crocodiles, dozens of iguanas and Howler monkeys were also seen.
Two separate groups also fished BRL’s Long Caye Outpost and caught Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit, Snook, Cudas, Jacks, Snappers and Ladyfish.
Eric caught a 15 pound Cuda on a bonefish jig the first day.
A big Tarpon tore the tail hook off Mike’s Yo-Zuri.
Mark caught a Tarpon, Snook and Bonefish Grand Slam, while a cruise ship visitor landed 4 Snook and 6 Bonefish for his first time fishing these species.
Howler Monkeys and big Iguanas in mating colors have been regular but silent visitors in the big old fig tree in front of the lodge. There are now two Crocodiles that frequent the dock and Manatees and Porpoises are now more regular visitors as the river clears up. The big migratory Tarpon are expected any day now; so we hope you will be here to enjoy all this.
Belize is easy to get to and it is just about 15 minutes from the international airport to BRL; especially if you just have time for a 4 day weekend like Chip and Scooby did.
American Airlines from Miami and Dallas; Continental-United from Houston; US Airways from Charlotte; Delta from Atlanta; TACA from Los Angeles via El Salvador.
From North America, Europe and Asia you might consider flying to CanCun as there is now the excellent ADO bus service from CanCun to Belize.
><((*> Catch and Release - Tarpon, Bonefish & Permit <*))><
