Placencia, Belize Recommended Fly Fishing Gear List
Tarpon:
Belize is not famous for tarpon fishing but we have plenty. We have baby tarpon back in the mangroves to fish which can be 150 pounds or more. For our larger (40 pounds and bigger) tarpon we recommend a 10-12 weight rod, with a reel capable of holding a minimum of 200 yards of 30 pound backing. For baby tarpon we recommend 8 to 10 weight rods. You will need a variety of fly lines depending on where you are fishing. In the shallower areas a floating line with an intermediate sink tip or sometimes just a full floating line is needed. For deeper areas down to about 20 feet a full intermediate sinking line is needed and for the real deep areas (20 to 80 feet) use a fast sinking line like a Teeny T-400 or T-500. If you only bring one rod bring a 10 weight with a clear sink tip line. Tarpon leaders, either self-made or store bought with 20 pound class section, with 40, 50 or 60 pound fluorocarbon bite tippet are used. Bring extra fluorocarbon tippet spools. We recommend backups for rods (at least) because if you break one you can’t find another locally.
Recommended tarpon flies:
Gummy minnow (Gummies seem to work better than anything else, but when the time is right, any of the others will work well. Gummies and Clousers are at the top of the list for a reason - they work!)
Clouser (size 2 to 3/0) - chartreuse/white, olive/white, and brown/white
Flashtail Clouser
Cockroach (3/0)
Black death (3/0)
Laid up tarpon (1/0)
Tarpon bunny (chartreuse, black, red or purple)
Flashtail whistler (smaller sizes for baby tarpon)
Surf candy
Haskin's Tarpon Neutralizer
Bonito deceiver
Enrico's anchovy and sardina
Permit:
The Placencia area offers some of the best permit fishing in the world. If weather conditions are right, you can expect to see numerous permit and get multiple shots each day. Our local guides would rather fish permit than any other species because they are so exciting. Our permit range in size from just a few pounds to 30 pounds. We recommend rods from 8 to 10 weight, and tropical floating lines. Leaders are 8 to 12 feet and from 12 to 18 pounds. Fluorocarbon leaders are best. We recommend when fishing for anything you always have a rod rigged and ready for permit. You never know when one will show up and you’ll want to be ready.
Recommended permit flies:
(All crabs can be tied in olive, brown, tan or combinations. You don't need all of these. Pick a few in sizes 2 and 4.)
Chernobyl crab
Turneffe crab
Del's permit crab (merkin)
Olive fur crab
Kung-fu crab
Bauer's fur crab olive
Rag head crab
Enrico's crab
Some of the bigger shrimp patterns also work
Bonefish:
People think Belize bonefish are small, but we have plenty of bigger ones up to about 8 pounds with the occasional bigger fish. The recommended rod is an 8 weight, but if its not windy you can get by with a 7 weight (or even a 6). Use any of the standard bonefish tapers (full floating lines) with 10 to 12 foot leaders with fluorocarbon tippet.
Recommended bonefish flies:
(any of the standard bonefish patterns will work- think primarily white and tan but it does not hurt to have flies in shrimp, pink, chartreuse or olive mostly in sizes 6 or 8 with a few larger.) * denotes all you really need.
Crazy Charlie*
Skinny water Charlie (no eyes-also called a blind Charlie)*
Gotcha*
Bonefish Clouser (for the times bonefish are hitting baitfish)*
Magnum mantis shrimp
Enrico's spawning shrimp
Boggle head - tan, olive, orange (size 6)
Taller's beware (size 6)
Mini crystal shrimp - pink or chartreuse (size 8)
Matthews TDF shrimp - olive and white (size 6)
Mini-puff
Bonefish bitters
Any of the crab patterns
Snook:
Eight weight rods with a bonefish line, and a 10 foot leader with heavy fluorocarbon tippet. Snook have sandpaper mouths, just like tarpon.
Recommended snook flies:
(snook flies are usually tied in yellow/red, white/red or all white combinations but other colors work well)
Gurglers
Crease flies
Poppers
Flashtail whistlers
Flashtail Clousers
Deceivers
Other Fish (Jacks (Crevelle, Long-tail, yellow-tail, horse-eye), Spanish Mackerel; Kingfish; Barracuda; Bonita; Blackfin tuna; Yellow-fin tuna; snappers; groupers):
There are a multitude of other fish you WILL find in the waters near Placencia. Some of these can be a blast because you can catch lots of fish as fast as you can cast and retrieve. These fish can be caught on most of the flies listed but Clousers (chartreuse/white and olive/white with flash) in various sizes will work for most. For large barracuda you will want typical barracuda flies- big and long with 3/0 hooks and Tyger wire (30 pound). Attach the wire to your leader with a small black swivel for trolling flies. Barracuda like the fly moving very fast.
General Gear:
Polarized sunglasses with rose/copper and amber lenses (for the cloudy days). Good sunglasses are essential if you want to see fish. Much of the fishing is sight casting. (We recommend HaberVision).
Sunglass retainer
Sunglass cleaning wipes
Waterproof bag
Fishing gear bag
Finger stripping guards
Sun gloves (if you are concerned about burning)
Line cleaner (saltwater can really gum up fly lines. Keep them clean for better casting. Use a stripping guard with some line cleanter/lubricant while casting.)
Hat (either a hat with a full brim or a baseball type or both)
Rain coat
Wading shoes
Sunscreen (SPF 50)
Insect repellant
Pliers / wire cutters
Camera (in waterproof bag or container)
Swim shorts
Quick dry long-pants
Quick dry long-sleeved shirt
Blanton rigged and ready rod bags (not required but they sure keep your rods safe)
Written by Phil Byrna (1/6/07).