Atlanticus Megalops, what a fitting name for such a formidable gamefish. The Tarpon has earned a reputation for being a fierce fighting, acrobatic animal. Books and videos have documented this great fish for decades, and anglers will continue to pursue this fish as long as it swims in the ocean.
Resident tarpon are a reliable source 12 months out of the year
Belize is known for its year round Tarpon fishing. And for good reason, we have resident fish up to 60 pounds that do not leave the area. Fly fishing for tarpon of this size can be a lot of fun, as multiple hook-ups and landed fish are common. After the first new moon in June, the �toads�, as we like to call them, begin to invade our waters. These fish are big�..up to 150 pounds. During the months of July, August and September, our tarpon population seemingly doubles with the arrival of these large migrating fish.
Belize's migrating fish can reach up to 200 pounds
On days when the moon phases cooperate with tides, it is not uncommon to cast to several fish between 125-175 pounds in a single morning. We find these fish in as little as 4 feet of water, so this is high adrenalin fishing. After hooking of these beasts, it is likely you will plea for mercy and request to be taken back to the bonefish flats. Of course, our guides live for tarpon, so your request may not be granted. During these months, all of our tarpon purists come equipped with heavy 11 and 12 weights and rely on our custom leaders to limit break offs. Manufacturers are designing tarpon-specific hooks now, and we recommend flies be tied with this in consideration.
A perfect backcountry specimen, flat calm water in the mangroves. These fish are hungry!
In addition to the large migrators, we have reliable backcountry style lagoons that provide shelter for many small tarpon up to 30 pounds. A lot of guests enjoy this type of fishing in tight quarters because they often get shots at HUGE Snook as an added bonus. These juvenille Tarpon in the lagoons are so much fun because they rarely even see a boat or fly, so they come charging to anything dropped near them. It is great fun to watch a group of 3 baby Tarpon minding their own business, then a fly hits nearby and one just goes airborne after it. These "Juvy's" get airborne quick and often. Belize is becoming more of a Tarpon destination every year, and for good reason... the combination of backcountry and the open Savannah flats can keep an angler busy for weeks. Get ready to do battle with some nice Belizean poons!!
