You Won't Belize It!

I found myself sitting in our barn on a hot summer morning with Joel C. and Jim G. discussing ways to add value to memberships, and increase fly shop sales when the idea of hosted member trips was floated. I had thought about this concept before but had never gotten beyond the idea stage.

After much discussion, we set several ground rules for selection of a location….great destination for targeted species; the destination’s “in season” has to match our off season; ideally small enough that our group would fill their capacity; a unique destination….not just another bonefish trip.

My wife and I had vacationed in southern Belize earlier in the year, and I had taken a day to chase permit. While having no luck catching a permit, I was really impressed by what I saw as far as ecology and numbers of fish. I’ve travelled a fair amount and have never before seen the combination of shallow flats surrounded by deep water…not just one or two, but hundreds.

With this information we had a possible destination. After several days of searching and checking with industry sources for reviews we settled on Tarpon Caye Fishing Lodge as the location of our first destination trip. It fit all of our criteria, small (max capacity 10 anglers), unique location (on a small private island surrounded by permit flats), focused on fishing (day organized around fishing)…and they wanted to work with us.

So, we began a whisper campaign to see if there was interest, talking with members we knew liked saltwater fly fishing. After talking with only a dozen or so members we had our group of 8 set for the inaugural HomeWaters Hosted Trip.

On March 8th Ed K., Dave H., Leigh S., Mike E., Jim G., John R., Joel and myself arrived in Belize for 3 days of fishing. While the lodge/camp was not luxurious, it was clean and comfortable and perfectly situated. Our lives for the next three days revolved around fishing. Our typical day consisted of a 5am wake up and a muffin and cup of coffee. We were normally making our first casts as the sun rose. We would return to the lodge for breakfast between 9 and 10 am, take a short rest.

Jumping TarponThen armed with a sandwich, head out again until dark. Over three days we averaged more than 10 hours a day on the water. Of course, if you wanted to take a longer siesta between the morning and afternoon fish the guides were very accommodating to your wishes.

In three days of fishing I lost count of the number of shots I had at permit. It had to be at least 20, if not 30 or 40. There were numerous shots that were less than 50 feet to tailing fish. Even though the opportunities were plentiful the catching was not. I had one take in three days.

Hey Mike, it’s Joel, mind if I take over? So far, Mike has given a very good description of what to expect at Tarpon Caye and how we ended up there. The island sits 15 miles offshore from Placencia Village (about a 1 hour boat ride), keep in mind that once we arrived on the island, the only time we left was to fish. The time each day seemed to fly by. Each day when the sun was setting and we were motoring back to the lodge, it seemed hard to believe that it was already the end of another day.

This may be the best location in the world for numbers of permit. At times, they seemed to be everywhere. The nature of the shallow, narrow flats within feet of steep drop-offs to blue water seems the key. And the flats are everywhere! The permit seem to feel at ease so close to an escape route and deep water, and are not at all shy to come into some very shallow water.

We saw dozens of tailing fish, which will get your adrenaline flowing in a hurry, believe me. The technique is generally to spot tailing fish from the boat, then get out and wade into position for a cast over hard bottomed and shallow flats, very easy wading. It was amazing how close we could get to many of the fish, when they were “rooting”, they were much less aware of a pale American sneaking up on them.

Casts were short, most anyone who fly fishes can get in comfortable casting range by wading. However, permit are permit, and even after countless “perfect” casts, I was yet to hook a fish. Until the last day that is! I will spare you the details for now, but with an assist from Mike, and great eyes (and two short dives) from our guide Curt, I was able to finally hook and land a 12 pound fish that threw everything but the kitchen sink at us. What a thrill that I can only compare to my first hole in one, as good as it gets for a fly fisherman. I’m afraid these fish are now a new addiction.

As for bonefish, they are plentiful around some islands and the smaller guys are easy pickings. We saw some larger bones that acted more like permit, very spooky but catchable if that is your goal.

Everyone but Mike and I at least hooked Tarpon (most are 50-60 pounders) and I believe 4 out of 8 of us landed a tarpon. In our defense, we targeted permit most of the time. My only regret of the trip was not spending a few more hours trying to hook the “silver king”. Next time… Much of the tarpon fishing is done in deeper lagoons with sink tip lines.

When the packs of fish were “blitzing”, they would chase bait to the surface in a rush, and that’s when it was game on. There are places to find tarpon in shallower water (I had 2 great shots one afternoon) but you better ask the guides about it as they were mostly focused on permit and tarpon in deeper water.

All in all, Tarpon Caye is a great destination for the semi-adventurous fly fisherman who wants to eat, sleep, and fish hard. That’s why we were there, and that’s why we will be going back again next year! Everyone that made the trip this year wants to return.

Thanks Joel….let me wrap this up….We are in the process of securing two dates next March, and will be filling the available slots on a first come first serve basis. If you are interested in joining us, please call or email either Joel or me for more details.Maybe we’ll be drinking a Belikin and sharing stories at the dinner table with you next year?! We are confident that you will be happy you made the trip.

Mike and Joel - By the way, don’t take just our word for it here are three short reviews from fellow members that made the inaugural journey with us:

Member Leigh S.

This is an amazing trip, about as different from a day at Doc's water as it can get. A lodge on an island 15 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico [sic], where our party and the staff represented the entire population. And speaking of the staff, you couldn't ask for a nicer, more accommodating group of folks. This isn't an elegant lodge; the rooms are basic, the showers tepid (and incredibly refreshing after a hot day in the sun) and the food really tasty but not gourmet (although the shrimp curry was pretty close). This is all about the fishing, and a great day is hooking a few and landing one, but doing so in an incredibly beautiful environment, and learning skills that are unique to the salt water world. Can't wait to do it again.

Member Jim G. - Mission Accomplished!

A spectacular adventure to Belize that commenced with a magnificent Tarpon within the first 20 minutes on the water. Fun and easy travel to Tarpon Caye Resort; a staff that's friendly and eager to please; delicious meals; hardworking experienced and freaky good guides all make for the kind of fishing trip a gang of HomeWaters members had in early March. Thanks to Mike & Joel for coordinating this package, we all found the experience to exceed our expectations.

I’ve never had so much fun chasing a fish as I had on Permit. These fish will humble you in an instant and yet another shot presents itself so you can be humbled again and again! I must have missed 3 dozen shots at permit in the 3 days I stalked them.The Tarpon are big and a ball to battle on a 10 weight. My 1st ever on a fly and the trip was a success at 7:00AM on Day 1! Bonefish are there for the taking so your Grand Slam is a real possibility as long as the Permit and your fly converge.This is definitely a trip to put on the short list. Would I go back? Absolutely, I’m repackin' my gear already!!!

Member David H.

“It’s a long haul (13 and 17 or so hours door to door for me) to get to Tarpon Caye, but Belize is beautiful and the people are truly delightful. Fishing was challenging but I did have at least a dozen legitimate shots/casts to permit (usually to several fish at once). Permit casts were not hard (my casting is average at best especially for longer distance) and hunting them down was really fun (the guides are amazing at finding permit). But permit don’t take a fly just because it’s there (that’s an understatement), and they spook and disappear really easily. Needless to say, our group had a great time together, and it was fun to get to know some other members.”