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The only English-speaking country on mainland south of the Rio Grande,
Belize earned its independence in 1981. Formerly known as British Honduras,
the country measures 8,865 square miles, slightly larger than Massachusetts.
On the Caribbean Sea south of the Yucatan Peninsula and bordering
Guatemala, Belize measures about 174 miles long by 62 miles wide with a 321-
mile coastline. Two major rivers and numerous streams feed a rich lowland
coastal plain broken by lagoons. More than 450 small islands, called “cayes,”
and four coral atolls dot the waters off Belize.
St. George’s Cay Resort occupies part of an island about seven miles
across the bay from Belize City on the mainland. St. George’s Cay measures
about a mile long and 100 yards wide and once housed the Belize capital
before it moved to the mainland. Now, the island serves mainly as a place to
get away from the city.
“St. George’s Caye Resort is a great location for people to come with their
families because we have so many activities close by,” said Heather Sellors, a
resort spokesperson. “We do whatever we can to make our guests
comfortable so they enjoy their stay. Our private residence island offers
complete relaxation. We’re well-known for snorkeling and diving.”
Near St. George’s Caye, more than 30 islands lined with mangroves dot
sparkling flats separated by deep channels. Nearby, the second longest
barrier reef in the world stretches about 199 miles. With a tropical climate,
people can fish all year long for many different species.
“We can catch a lot of species in many different ways in a short time,” said
Capt. Richard Young who runs out of St. George’s Caye Resort. “This is one
of the best areas in the world to fly fish for tarpon, bonefish and permit, but
anglers can catch many species in a day.”
One of the premier destinations for fly fishermen, the Belize flats hold
numerous bonefish in the 2- to 5-pound range and permit topping 20 pounds.
Tarpon may exceed 200 pounds. Besides casting shrimp- or crab-pattern
flies, anglers can tempt tarpon with live bait or cast MirrOlures or Rapalas
lures. At night, tarpon in the 20- to 40-pound range, gather under the dock
lights at St. George’s Caye Resort.
“This area is very well-known for tarpon,” Young said. “The peak time for
tarpon is May through July when we find them up on the flats, but we can
catch them all year long. At other times, we fish them in the channels between
the mangroves and flats in water about 10 to 30 feet deep. We usually find
permit from May through July. In other months, we don’t see permit schools as
big and have to search more for them, but they are around.”
The mangrove islands and mainland river deltas harbor good snook
populations with some specimens topping 25 pounds. The best snook action
occurs from October through December.
Less than two miles from the resort, the bottom drops off quickly. Anglers
fish along the reef wall for hogfish, amberjack, snapper and black grouper or
troll for barracuda, king mackerel, wahoo, dolphin and billfish. Anglers can
often catch fish in the morning, bring them back to the resort for lunch and
either fish another way or do something else that afternoon.
“We don’t have to run far from the lodge to start trolling,” Young said.
“Sometimes, we even catch sailfish along the reef walls. We also catch a lot of
bigeye and blackfin tuna. The best time for tuna and wahoo is in the winter,
but we catch them all year long. We catch blue and white marlin throughout
the year, but don’t get them in big numbers.”
The resort can house up to 30 people in air-conditioned thatched
cabanas. Larger groups can book the 2,500-square-foot conference center
for special events. Besides fishing, resort guests may swim in the pool, play
volleyball, take sailing, snorkeling or diving lessons, go kayaking, take a
massage or walk down the beach to the St. George’s Caye Aquarium. At
night, more adventurous souls may opt for a crocodile hunt – strictly with
flashlights and cameras only!
The resort staff can arrange mainland tours to see Mayan ruins, visit
caves or zip line through the rain forest canopy. Some people take the Howler
Monkey Nature Walk to see the largest primates in the Western Hemisphere,
visit the Belize Zoo or take in other attractions in the capital city.
For information, call St. George’s Caye Resort at 800-813-8498. On line,
see www.belizeislandparadise.com or www.GoodDiving.com.
Belize earned its independence in 1981. Formerly known as British Honduras,
the country measures 8,865 square miles, slightly larger than Massachusetts.
On the Caribbean Sea south of the Yucatan Peninsula and bordering
Guatemala, Belize measures about 174 miles long by 62 miles wide with a 321-
mile coastline. Two major rivers and numerous streams feed a rich lowland
coastal plain broken by lagoons. More than 450 small islands, called “cayes,”
and four coral atolls dot the waters off Belize.
St. George’s Cay Resort occupies part of an island about seven miles
across the bay from Belize City on the mainland. St. George’s Cay measures
about a mile long and 100 yards wide and once housed the Belize capital
before it moved to the mainland. Now, the island serves mainly as a place to
get away from the city.
“St. George’s Caye Resort is a great location for people to come with their
families because we have so many activities close by,” said Heather Sellors, a
resort spokesperson. “We do whatever we can to make our guests
comfortable so they enjoy their stay. Our private residence island offers
complete relaxation. We’re well-known for snorkeling and diving.”
Near St. George’s Caye, more than 30 islands lined with mangroves dot
sparkling flats separated by deep channels. Nearby, the second longest
barrier reef in the world stretches about 199 miles. With a tropical climate,
people can fish all year long for many different species.
“We can catch a lot of species in many different ways in a short time,” said
Capt. Richard Young who runs out of St. George’s Caye Resort. “This is one
of the best areas in the world to fly fish for tarpon, bonefish and permit, but
anglers can catch many species in a day.”
One of the premier destinations for fly fishermen, the Belize flats hold
numerous bonefish in the 2- to 5-pound range and permit topping 20 pounds.
Tarpon may exceed 200 pounds. Besides casting shrimp- or crab-pattern
flies, anglers can tempt tarpon with live bait or cast MirrOlures or Rapalas
lures. At night, tarpon in the 20- to 40-pound range, gather under the dock
lights at St. George’s Caye Resort.
“This area is very well-known for tarpon,” Young said. “The peak time for
tarpon is May through July when we find them up on the flats, but we can
catch them all year long. At other times, we fish them in the channels between
the mangroves and flats in water about 10 to 30 feet deep. We usually find
permit from May through July. In other months, we don’t see permit schools as
big and have to search more for them, but they are around.”
The mangrove islands and mainland river deltas harbor good snook
populations with some specimens topping 25 pounds. The best snook action
occurs from October through December.
Less than two miles from the resort, the bottom drops off quickly. Anglers
fish along the reef wall for hogfish, amberjack, snapper and black grouper or
troll for barracuda, king mackerel, wahoo, dolphin and billfish. Anglers can
often catch fish in the morning, bring them back to the resort for lunch and
either fish another way or do something else that afternoon.
“We don’t have to run far from the lodge to start trolling,” Young said.
“Sometimes, we even catch sailfish along the reef walls. We also catch a lot of
bigeye and blackfin tuna. The best time for tuna and wahoo is in the winter,
but we catch them all year long. We catch blue and white marlin throughout
the year, but don’t get them in big numbers.”
The resort can house up to 30 people in air-conditioned thatched
cabanas. Larger groups can book the 2,500-square-foot conference center
for special events. Besides fishing, resort guests may swim in the pool, play
volleyball, take sailing, snorkeling or diving lessons, go kayaking, take a
massage or walk down the beach to the St. George’s Caye Aquarium. At
night, more adventurous souls may opt for a crocodile hunt – strictly with
flashlights and cameras only!
The resort staff can arrange mainland tours to see Mayan ruins, visit
caves or zip line through the rain forest canopy. Some people take the Howler
Monkey Nature Walk to see the largest primates in the Western Hemisphere,
visit the Belize Zoo or take in other attractions in the capital city.
For information, call St. George’s Caye Resort at 800-813-8498. On line,
see www.belizeislandparadise.com or www.GoodDiving.com.
Belize offers abundant fishing
opportunities for every taste
opportunities for every taste
TOP: Capt. Richard Young of St. Georges Caye Resort shows off a big
barracuda he caught while fishing in the Caribbean Sea near St.
Georges Caye, Belize. LOWER LEFT: Ashley Norman lands a Spanish
mackerel she caught while fishing in the Caribbean Sea with Capt.
Richard Young of St. Georges Caye Resort. LOWER RIGHT: Ashley
Norman admires the ancient Mayan ruins of Belize.
barracuda he caught while fishing in the Caribbean Sea near St.
Georges Caye, Belize. LOWER LEFT: Ashley Norman lands a Spanish
mackerel she caught while fishing in the Caribbean Sea with Capt.
Richard Young of St. Georges Caye Resort. LOWER RIGHT: Ashley
Norman admires the ancient Mayan ruins of Belize.
A skiff skims across the flats of Belize near St. George’s Caye. These
flats hold good concentrations of permit, bonefish and tarpon with
snook seeking shelter under the mangroves.
flats hold good concentrations of permit, bonefish and tarpon with
snook seeking shelter under the mangroves.