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If you had to pick one tropical destination to fish the rest of your days, the little country of Belize would certainly sit high atop anyone's list. The Caribbean nation has been well chronicled over the years in this magazine - and for good reason.
Belize is a fly-fishing wonderland, replete with some of the world's most productive waters, which teem with tarpon, bonefish and permit. Productive fishing grounds stretch the entire length of the country, from the northern border with Mexico to the southern line abutting Honduras.
A hotbed of activity over the past decade, Belize has undergone much development, and its vast natural resources have been heavily promoted in recent times. But a disturbing trend emerged: Commercial fishing was on the rise, and it was seeping into the fisheries associated with the country's flats.
In a bold move to protect these valuable fisheries, the Belizean government proposed legislation that would make any kind of harvest of bonefish, tarpon and permit illegal. And today, after many months of lawmakers ironing out the details, the catch-and-release legislation has been finalized, with enforcement spread among four governmental agencies.
It should prove to be a great thing for Belize and its fish - and it should ensure that visiting fly-anglers can expect excellent fishing for years to come. If you've never traveled to this friendly little country, you ought to give it a try. To make your planning a little easier, here's a rundown of what you can expect throughout the various regions.
Remote Beauty Hallmarks Turneffe
One of Belize's most unique (and perhaps most famous) regions lies among the turquoise waters around Turneffe Atoll. Turneffe is a large collection of mangrove islands approximately 30 miles long by 12 miles wide which lies directly east of Belize City.
Vast networks of flats, creeks and lagoons pulse throughout the shallow interior of the atoll, while enormous hard-bottomed, wadable flats line its eastern perimeter, bordering the Caribbean. Swimming among all this water are literally thousands of bonefish, tarpon and permit.
Accessible only by boat, Turneffe requires an approximately hour-long ride out of Belize City. When the wind is up and off the sea, the ride can be sporty - but the remote nature of this region adds to the elements of privacy and seclusion, not to mention unspoiled fishing.
"There's very little development on Turneffe, and it's probably the most remote of the fisheries in Belize," says Craig Hayes, owner of Turneffe Flats lodge, one of two fishing resorts located on the atoll. "I remember when I first came here in 1977. It was quite a wild place back then. We opened the lodge in 1981, and it was quite Spartan too!"
