“we live in a magical world, a world of wonder, a world of beauty
to see it to feel it, to experience this wonder
this magic, this beauty
all we have to do, is open our hearts
open our eyes
And breath it in, like we did once long ago
when we looked upon it, with the eyes of a child.“
~ Eyes of a Child by Michael Traveler
Copied from Facebook’s Traveler On the Backroads

To our Dear Friends,
Christmas is almost here and it has been a few months since our last fishing tales, Mike H has been writing them, we just have not found time to get them out.

Today, December 21st is also the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Today in Belize, sunrise was at 6:18 am and sunset will be at 5:23 pm this evening, a total of 11 hours and 41 minutes of sunshine. Tomorrow we know that the days will start getting longer, starting in minutes and moving to hours more of sunshine next spring – tomorrow will be brighter for longer. We were thinking what a good motto to believe in, no matter what happens in life, we need to remember that tomorrow will be brighter and every day following the brightest lasts a little longer.

We are still taking reservations for spring of 2022 – migratory Tarpon time, and also Permit, Bonefish, Snook and every other fun species to fish for. If you have not planned your 2022 Flats fishing get-away, there is still time. Please contact your favorite agent or us by email or toll free: 1-888-275-4843 to get more information or available dates.

We wish you a very Happy Holiday season as our intro will be short so you have time to read the last few months of fishing and touring excursions.
Please continue reading below for Mike’s latest “Fish Tales”. We look forward to seeing you all soon.
Best regards,
The BRL Office Ladies

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BRL Fish Tales ~ August to November 2021

NOVEMBER 24, 2021

During this period the weather has been cool with temperatures from 68 to 80 most days and winds 2-12 mph from the northwest to the northeast, mostly cloudy with some heavy rain and then beautiful sunshine.

Blaise and Matthew fished BRL Nov 6-12. On Monday Blaise had a 125 lb Tarpon on for about 45 minutes. The Tarpon ran the fly line out to the backing and then ran under the boat and broke his 11 wt. rod in two. The guide tied the rod together to continue the fight for another half hour. Blaise got into the water and wrestled with the fish while Matthew shot a beautiful video of the match ~ true Tarpon tale. Another day during their week, they fished and snorkeled the reef. The highlight of the day was swimming with a big Loggerhead turtle for about ten minutes. The following day, they hooked a big Tarpon just down river from the Lodge sadly, this tarpon got away before being landed and photographed, as on one jump the Tarpon landed on the fly line and broke it. During the same day, Blaise and Matthew cast to three schools of Permit with several follows of the fly but no takes. Both anglers landed some Bonefish of about three pounds each. One morning right after breakfast they had their COVID Rapid Test (all negative results) before going fishing. That day they got into lots of Permit with many chases but no hookups. Up-river from the lodge the guys got good hits from 80-90 pound Tarpon. Blaise and Matthew mentioned that highlights of their trip were the very active Tarpon of all sizes, several schools of Permit and the whole experience at the lodge.

Jessie and Andrew, from The Huna, fished five days at our Long Caye Outpost and three and half days from the main Lodge. The first day they landed eleven Bonefish, three Cudas, lost a nice Snook and pulled the fly out of a Permit’s mouth, oops but happens often. Over the week, they landed fifteen to twenty more Bones, eighteen Ladyfish, a fifty pound Tarpon, and Jessie landed a seventeen pound Snook, many small Tarpon, including fourteen in one day. On the last half day of fishing an eighty pound Tarpon ran out Andrew’s line and then broke off. Jessie also celebrated her birthday at The Outpost and Yvonne her cook, made her favorite, Strawberry Shortcake, do I hear someone say yummy!

Diane and Dave fished BRL for three days. Having fished many other places in Belize over the past 40 years, Dave wanted NO big Tarpon on this trip. One day they got into a school of Ladyfish and caught fifteen of them. Another day Dave got his wish for no big Tarpon and they caught eighteen Small Tarpon. They also caught Spanish mackerel, saw Bones and landed and released quite a few. They especially “had a great time with all the Ladyfish and small Tarpon action”. The day they caught their 18 small Tarpon was very special to Diane & Dave, because it was exactly 18 years ago that their same guide, John, had also taken Diane & Dave to Manatee.

It has worked out very well for our guests getting their COVID RAPID TESTS right here at the Lodge just after breakfast, thereby losing no fishing time. All guests have been vaccinated and have tested negative and returned home on time as scheduled.
Note: Belize Diagnostics is ready to administer all COVID Rapid tests for the 24 hour present USA requirement and can also preform PCR tests for our Canadian guest requirements.

September 15 thru October 31, 2021

Mick K got a GHOST GRAND SLAM; hooked but not landed Permit, Bonefish and Tarpon. Mick has landed at least 30 Grand Slams over the years while fishing at Belize River Lodge and believes BRL is the best place in the fishing world to get the Grand Slam. Fishing with Mick this time was Mark F who landed his very first Tarpon, about 30 pounds on a fly, the Puglisi Finger Mullet. They landed several Bones, Snook and small Tarpon and saw and cast to many very big Snook. Mark F mentioned to Marguerite: “It took me 40 years and half way around the world to land a Tarpon on a fly for the first time” and then before leaving also mentioned that “Ever since COVID, I have never felt safe anywhere except while I was here.”

Jim L and Todd K fished together at BRL. Jim caught his very first Bonefish on a fly. Todd caught a grand Slam: a Permit, Bonefish and an 80 lb Tarpon. While Tarpon size is not a requirement of a slam, it was a very nice tarpon for Todd’s “slam”.

Ben F and photographer Kalle B fished here for two days on a fam trip. Ben caught a Back Country Grand Slam; a ten pound Tarpon, two pound Bonefish and a fifteen pound Snook; good fish action for a few days of seeing what BRL is all about.

The “L” family of twelve were here for six days and two milestone birthday celebrations – Cal’s 90th and Genie’s 40th. Ninety year old Cal and son Mike fished every day. They fished the Flats and Rivers and landed many small to medium Tarpon and several nice Snook. A big Tarpon after twenty minutes broke the leader next to the boat while another big Tarpon jumped across the bow. They said: “The Tarpon and Snook population in Belize are just fine! We had great fishing and catching days and a couple of slow days”. On their last day Mike told Marguerite and Mike H, “Today we caught 26 tarpon but John said to only report that we got 15 because they wouldn’t believe us.” Guide-Captain John has a good sense of humor!

The others family members in the “L” party kept active daily on sightseeing Belize. They went on day tours with guide, Randy, which included the Belize Zoo and the Maya sites at Altun Ha, Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, Lamanai and a Butterfly Farm, Barton Creek, Mangrove Cathedrals, Antelope Falls and Rappelling a Waterfall, Snorkeling the Barrier Reef and Horseback Riding. They all enjoyed Randy’s expertise and descriptions of the Birds, Maya Sites and Belize History and Culture. This was the perfect week of a family enjoying Belize, whether fishing, touring or both, and the time visiting with each other.

Jeff W and Mark R fished BRL’s Long Caye Outpost for three days and then two days at the main lodge. They landed more than forty fish including Bonefish, Tarpon, Snook. One day they landed twenty six fish, seventeen being Ladyfish, often referred to as a “poor man’s tarpon” LOL, too funny how these old saying refer to something. Another day up the Belize River and Black Creek they jumped several small Tarpon and lost an approximate 100 lb Tarpon on light spinning line at the Falls.

Todd C’s party of six fished Long Caye Outpost for four days. They caught Permit, Tarpon 10-25 pounds, some Snook, Bones and Barracudas. They enjoyed the Long Caye experience with the long fishing days, flexible fishing times, fishing very early and late, saw fish all day, including some big Tarpon in the nearby channel with some hits but no hookups on these big ones. Quotation: “Best trip ever!”

All BRL guests have tested NEGATIVE for COVID within seventy two hours of their flights back to the US. They get a printed copy and an emailed copy of their results before departure from the lodge.

August 22-26, 2022

Craig, a repeat BRL fishing friend, made his return trip after missing 2020 and spring of 2021. His good friend, Geoff, joined him on this summer trip. They had fun and dusted off their casting arms.

Over the week, Craig and Geoff fished for it all, saw and had opportunity to cast to Bonefish, Permit, Snook, Tarpon and Jacks and had the full gamut of weather, sunny days to heavy overcast till noon days and calm to windy days and fishing followed the weather. Even with all of the weather changes, Craig and Geoff hooked quite a bit and during the week landed Bones, Tarpon and Snook. They casted to schools of Bonefish and Permit, some days lucks with Bones, however, Permit swan away. During the trip, a Snook hit on a Bonefish fly, I guess, if you are hungry, you eat.

Three days prior to departure, both guests got their COVID Rapid Test (negative) and then left for fishing at 8:00 a.m. They spent most of the day fishing at the river mouth and nearby in the bay as a big school of Jacks and Tarpon were feeding in the bays – Craig and Geoff jumped six Tarpon. Geoff landed one at 70 pounds, however, the fish went under the boat and broke his 12 weight rod, but what a way to break a rod on an uncontrollable 70 lb tarpon. Their guide, Mike T, tore his pants as he went into the water to help hold the fish and the broken rod for photos before release – what a tarpon tale. Both anglers also landed three Jacks each before moving further across the bay. They landed three Tarpon sized from three to twelve pounds, then jumped five more with a couple break offs. The Black Tarpon Snake was a popular fly.

Craig and Geoff enjoyed Mike T, their guide and mentioned that he was calm, knows where the fish are, is patient and gives good directions.

Aug 28 to Sept 01

John and Tommy fished with their guide, Pedro. The first day they landed a big Jack and broke off some others and John landed four Bonefish. The second day Tommy landed his first bonefish ever and one snapper, congrats to Tommy on your first Bone. One overcast day, little sun and a lot breezy, Pedro took them to the Sibun where they jumped six Tarpon and landed a medium sized Snook. Crazy enough, they caught a Barracuda in Fabers Lagoon, which is more brackish water. The gentlemen loved the lodge, the food, and the friendly and very efficient service. They especially enjoyed the fish sandwiches for lunch and even got the recipe from our BRL cooks. Besides enjoying the fishing they also appreciated the overall experience and ambience of their stay at the Lodge.

Belize River Lodge opened its doors in 1961 as Barothy’s Caribbean Lodge Ltd with Mike and Marguerite taking over, managing and hosting guest since 1986. In all the years we have figured out that the Bones, Permit, Snook and Tarpon are on/around the flats always, however, winds, weather, tides or lack there of, can make all species of fish very jitterish and not feed. No matter what the weather, our BRL guides will work hard to get you into fish with a positive attitude, they really do love being on the water and fishing. And we are happy to say that with all of the changes in the world, we are still here, hosting guest and fishing and touring Belize! We look forward to seeing you next year.
Warm regards,
Mike and Marguerite

“Deep in the wild mountains, is a strange marketplace, where you can trade the hassle and noise of everyday life, for eternal Light.“
~ Milarepa

In Belize, we trade the wild mountains for the beautiful Caribbean Sea.