Half or Full Day Snorkel Tours Inside the Barrier Reef

Your tour departs from the Sittee River Marina travelling down the river passing through a forest of red mangroves that line the bank of the scenic river. We then proceed to the inner cayes where we will make two snorkeling stops at one of the many cayes and reef. Each tour guide has their favorite spots and will discuss them with you based on your interests and weather conditions.

 

You will be able to swim amongst a wide variety of brilliantly colored tropical fish. Your guide will swim along with you pointing out the many sea creatures that inhabit this reef system including lobsters, eels, lion fish, nurse sharks and rays.

 

Some of the stops include Bread & Butter Caye, South Water Caye and Peter Douglass Caye. At Peter Douglas Caye you will be given the opportunity to take a short walk on the island where you will see some native snakes (Boa Constrictor) locally known as “Wowla”. This Island is one of only a few Islands where you can find the four types of mangroves (red, black, white & buttonwood) inhabited in Belize.

 

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Included: Licensed and registered Belize Tourism Board operator and guides; registered and insured vessel in full compliance with Coast Guard regulations; ice cold bottled water and light snacks

Not Included: Marine Park Reservation fees if applicable. If you would like to take a packed lunch, you can pre order through The Curve Bar. Cooler boxes can also be filled with additional beverages of your choice (soda, juice, beer, etc).

Don't forget to bring: Sunscreen, sunglasses, swimsuit, towel, long-sleeved shirt, hat, underwater camera.

Best Time of Year to Fish in Belize

Belize has world-class game fishing that is only now being discovered by anglers. It is home to UNESCO’s World Heritage Site the Barrier Reef – the largest in the Western Hemisphere and the secret to the unmatched game fishing it offers to anglers. May, June, July, August and early September are considered to be the best fishing months in here primarily because there are good numbers of all three species available. Summer temperatures are in the low-to mid-90s and a steady trade wind generally makes the weather very comfortable.

 

Bonefish Season

The prized bonefish are present in equal numbers throughout the year in Belize and there is no clearly preferable season for bonefishing – in short bonefish are here throughout the year.

 

Permit Season

Permit are in Belizean waters throughout the year, although permit fishing tends to be more predictable when the prevailing winds are most consistent – generally in the winter, spring and summer. Some of the better permit fishing can be in the fall if the weather is not affected by cold fronts.

 

Tarpon Season

Tarpon fishing is somewhat seasonal since the tarpon is a migratory species. Tarpon numbers begin to increase in April and May and drop off a little in September or October. The best tarpon months are June, July, and August. However some resident tarpon are around throughout the year. Tarpon are regarded by some anglers as perhaps the ultimate challenge of saltwater fly-fishing. Although there are always some resident tarpon to be found, our migratory tarpon season extends from mid-April to October. 

 

Other Fishing

Another favorite sport fish, the snook, can be found in the small mangrove creeks around the country’s several atolls. Barracuda are a popular sport fish present in large numbers throughout the year. Local Reef fish species including snapper, grouper and jacks are also abundant throughout the year. Along the reef, wading anglers can take snappers and jacks by casting deceiver patterns or poppers into the surf. Spending some time during your stay here “chasing” other species is always fun and usually rewarding.

 

Catch and Release

Most local fishing lodges and resorts believe strongly in protecting the local fishery. With some exceptions, most fish at are released but this is at the option of the angler and his guide – after all – what can replace a fresh catch of fish barbecued on the beach?

 

An Angler’s Paradise

The country has an unmatched combination of environmental factors that come together to create the ideal habitat for a myriad of saltwater game fish. The most outstanding attribute is the Barrier Reef, that is second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Eight to forty miles off the coast, an intricate chain of mangrove studded islands and cayes provide the best habitat for a coral ecosystem. Coral water species demand a strict set of environmental criteria in order to develop. This is why large barrier reefs such as the Barrier Reef are not common.Video below shows self-guided bonefishing right off the beach in Belize.

The Outdoor TV Channel discovered Belize as major game fishing destination in 2011 and dedicated a seven part series anchored by Tom Brokaw and other noted celebrity anglers.

 

Fishing Licenses for Belize

If you’re going fishing, you need a license. Even if you’re going to be in a boat with someone who is fishing, but you are not fishing yourself, you still need a license. 

Fishing licenses are available at Sittee River Marina in the Tuba Shop.

Some of the Fish in Belize

Barracuda                                Blackfin Tuna

Bonefish                                   Bonito

Cubera Snapper                     Dorado

Gray Snapper                          Grouper

Jack Crevalle                           King Mackerel

Marlin                                       Mutton Snapper

Permit                                       Sailfish

Snook                                        Tarpon