The Fauna on Southwest Caye

From our base on Southwest Caye, we will have the opportunity to see a diverse range of tropical birds. Some of the bird life includes osprey (the Billy hawk), sea gulls, brown-footed and white-footed boobies, frigate birds, hawks, mangrove warblers, and white-crowned pigeons.

We will definitely have a chance to see and sample the main staple for Belizean fishermen, the queen conch, and (in season) the spiny lobster.

For bonefish, you want to have a 7, 8, or 9 weight rod, nine-foot or slightly longer depending on the size of the fish and the flies you are using. A 5 or 6 weight stream fishing rod will do for smaller bonefish and can be great fun, but you will wish you had heavier gear if you hook into a 3 or 4-pound fish. Effective bonefish flies are Crazy Charlies #4, #6, #8 in gold, tan & pink; Horror’s #4, 6, 8 in orange, and Snapping Shrimp #4, 6 in tan. A heavier tippet of 10-12 lb will hold up well in the shallow coral and rubble-strewn waters. The heavier rod weights will work for jacks and barracuda as well. If you plan to fish for tarpon we suggest 10, 11, or 12 weight rods.

Apart from matching the right reel to the type of fish you are going after, the most important thing is a reel that can handle the harsh saltwater conditions. You need to be religious about washing your reel in freshwater each day, particularly if you are using the reel you bought for trout fishing at home. Many of the fish you will hook are fast and unbelievably strong, therefore your reel should hold a minimum of 150 yards of backing, and 20 to 30 pounds test or more for tarpon. A weight-forward tapered floating line is good for bonefish – you will want a sinking line as well for tarpon. If you are serious about your fly-fishing you should bring an extra line with you. Nine to twelve-foot leaders are fine – heavier and shorter leaders are easier to use within the difficult, windy conditions that are often encountered on the Belize reef. 2X & 4X for calm conditions in shallow waters and 1X, 0X, or 02X are also okay.

Barracuda, grouper, jacks, snapper, mackerel, and tarpon are some of the more prized fish we catch with spin-casting gear or simple bait-trolling rigs. Fly-fishing for bonefish is best at Glover’s Reef. It is catch and release only and you will need to bring your own gear.

Here are some suggestions on what to bring:

Tackle

The type of tackle that you bring with you will depend on what type of fish you want to catch and how serious you are about fishing. With many hundreds of miles of fishing grounds, Belize is a superb sport-fishing destination. In Belize, bonefish, tarpon, barracuda, jacks and king mackerel are most common. Permits are also a prime catch but can be very difficult to find.

If you are bringing your own equipment the following list of items may be useful:

• Small spin-casting rod and reel (6-12 lb test)
• 100 yds of 20-50lb test fishing line for hand-line fishing
• 5-10 wire leaders
• A small assortment of single hooks and a very large hook for trolling bait
• Silver/pink/green trolling and casting spoons, large Rapalas, or Tomic plug.
• A variety of weights

Discover Scuba

For those who’d like to try diving for the first time, we can arrange Discover Scuba courses or diving sessions with advance notice.

Scuba Diving Rates (average rate): $75 USD for a single dive, $125 USD for a 2-dive package with BC and regulator, $165 USD for a 3-dive package with BC and regulator.

Scuba Divers, Please Come Prepared…

• Dive cards are required by the operator; please bring them with you along with a credit card for payment.
• BCD sizes need to be submitted to us ahead of time.
• If a wetsuit rental is needed, sizes will need to be submitted ahead of time.
• Guests should have their own snorkel & mask ready for the dive.
• Diving costs will be paid directly to the dive operator. Our guides will facilitate this activity by connecting guests with the operator on arrival.