Fly Fish For Permit In Belize With Tarpon Caye Lodge
Fly fishing for permit in one of the least pressured fisheries in the Caribbean. Guided and DIY fly fishing packages available.
Southern Belize has a long history of permit fly fishing, and Tarpon Caye Lodge sits 15 miles off the coast of Placencia in an area known as “Permit Alley.” Our fishery is a vast expanse of mangrove atolls, lagoons, and flats with deep-water access near one of the healthiest reefs on the planet. It is arguably some of the best permit habitat that exists.
We fly fish for permit from poled Panga skiffs and on foot, looking for wakes, pushes, and the elusive black tail that haunts some fly anglers' dreams. Although our fish see little pressure, they are still permit, and they will test your game. They can be fickle when they want, requiring long, accurate presentations in windy conditions. On the right days, they can also be forgiving (as far as permit go) giving anglers good chances at coming tight. Days of seeing more than 200 permit are not uncommon here.
Whether you want to experience a fully guided Belize permit fly fishing trip or prefer to do it yourself, Tarpon Caye Lodge should be at the top of your list of places to visit.
Permit anglers tend to fish hard, and days at Tarpon Caye are built for it. Start the day early looking for tails on our Home Flat. After breakfast, you'll meet your guide at the dock, load the skiff, and head out for a full day of “torture” which will be interrupted with moments of elation.
A day of permit fishing here can mean seeing hundreds of fish, but seeing permit and catching permit are two very different things. Some shots develop slowly, giving the guide time to position the boat and the angler time to get ready. Others happen quickly. A tail flashes, a school pushes onto the flat, or a single appears closer than anyone expected.
You'll get shots you wish you had back. You'll make good presentations that get ignored and bad ones that somehow get followed. Occasionally, everything lines up. Those are the moments permit anglers travel for, and around Tarpon Caye, the goal is to put you in position for as many of them as the day allows.
When the skiff returns to the lodge, you can join the others at the lodge and grab a cold drink and swap stories. Or grab your rod, walk out onto the flats, and keep looking for permit on your own before and after dinner. Most diehard permit anglers already know which one they're going to choose.
How We Fly Fish For Permit In Belize
We permit fish both from poled Panga skiffs and on foot. Pangas make a great fly fishing platform in Belize because they handle a chop comfortably, float shallow, and are simple to maintain. We utilize our fleet of Pangas to cover water and fish areas where wading isn't an option.
Wading is a different game than fly fishing from a boat. You lose visibility because you're lower to the water than you are on a skiff, but you gain stealth. Everything seems to slow down on foot. There are fewer variables to control, and shot making becomes simpler.
We typically fish crab and shrimp patterns on floating lines with leaders built for the conditions. Long casts help, especially when it's calm, but distance alone doesn't catch permit. The ability to make a quick, accurate presentation in all conditions, move the fly correctly, and stay in total control of the situation is paramount.
When To Fly Fish For Permit In Belize
Permit are a year-round fishery at Tarpon Caye, and there really isn't a bad month to come looking for them. The fish live here. What changes throughout the year are the conditions we fish them in, and every season has its advantages.
Winter and spring typically bring cooler temperatures and more wind. Wind can make casting more demanding, but it also breaks up the surface and gives anglers a little more concealment. As conditions warm and winds settle, calm days can make permit easier to see from a long way off, but those same fish often have a much better look at you.
The best time to fly fish for permit in Belize depends as much on the conditions you prefer to fish as the month on the calendar. If your goal is permit, tell us. We'll spend our days looking for them.
Where We Fly Fish For Permit At Tarpon Caye Lodge
Tarpon Caye Lodge sits 15 miles off the coast of Placencia in southern Belize, in the heart of an area known as Permit Alley. From the Home Flat to miles of surrounding shallow water, we have access to excellent permit habitat in nearly every direction.
Belize Permit Fly Fishing Trips
Some permit anglers want a fully guided experience. Others want the freedom to grab a fly rod and figure it out on their own. Tarpon Caye offers guided and DIY permit fly fishing trips, allowing you to pursue permit the way you want to fly fish for them.
Guided Permit Fly Fishing Packages
4-7 Night Packages (Double And Single Occupancy Rates Available)
Daily Guided Fly Fishing Charters
All Meals, Belizean Alcoholic, And Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Ground And Water Transfers From/To Placencia
DIY Permit Fly Fishing Packages
4-7 Night Packages (Double And Single Occupancy Rates Available)
Use Of Kayaks And Paddle Boards
All Meals, Belizean Alcoholic, And Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Ground And Water Transfers From/To Placencia
