Belize

[Michael Phillippe]

I’m planning on my first trip to Belize this winter. I’ve heard mixed reviews of El Pescador, and wondered if anyone has had recent experience. Based on Zach’s interview of Lori Ann Murphy it sounds like it has the variety I’m after.

[R Black]

I fished Belize this summer. It was a family trip so we stayed at a resort not specializing in fishing. We were just up the beach from El Pescador. There is a fly shop in San Pedro with guide trips so I booked with them.

The guide I fished with was fine and I would use him again. He did tell me that the El Pescador guides work all year with about twenty days off. According to him they are mostly burned out and grouchy.

I wanted to begin learning to tarpon fish so we spent most of the day on some good tarpon flats. Had two long shots at 50-60 pound tarpon but no eats. They were very spooky. In the afternoon we fished bones. Almost all of them were very small.

[Jay Waide]

Micheal,
I went to Belize for the first time this past September. Unfortunately, I don’t have feedback in regards to El Pescador. I assume I booked with the same shop (Tres Pescadores) Randy did and I did not have a positive experience. I arrived on the tail end of a bad storm and received no correspondence from the fly shop after sending an email regrading conditions, and the first of my two full days of fishing was cut short due to bad conditions with a promise of extra hours the second day. (I did not get those extra hours) To avoid a lengthy rant, I’ll just say the guide and shop service lacked in several areas that I consider pivotal for a successful and enjoyable guide trip. I would NOT recommend the shop or the guide (Albert) that I fished with. I will be back, as I saw the potential of the fishery, I just won’t fish with Tres Pescadores fly shop or Albert. Hope this helps.

[Gerard S]

I haven’t been to El Pescador, but went to Turneffe Flats.
It was an OK trip, not mind blowing and the fishing was somewhat disappointing. The guides said it was because of the weather!
Bonefish were very spooky and few and far between on the flats. We were taken to the “honey hole” where there were plenty of 1.5-2ibs bones at about 6-10ft depth, but harldy what I would call “flats fishin”!
Permit were around in shoals of 20-50 which would divide up. There were usually in the same place daily and often there was a queue (line) of boats waiting to have a cast at the one shoal. A number were caught and it was towards the end of the week that (as I understand) one or two were caught on the flats rather than in shoals in deeper water.
It was mid April and the Tarpon had not arrived. So fish species was limited. We did catch a sea going croc though!!!

Turneffe is lovely, and run by lovely people. The guides are different. They give very little feedback and are not what I would call helpful. We actually fired one, which is a first for me. Some of them gave little or no advice to flies type, size etc…if any it was “use heavier”. We had been warned that they were “shy” which I can accept, but really you want more than just a “taxi” especially at the prices been charged and the expected tips. That is not too say they were all like that-we were a group and 2 out of the 5 guides were definatly more outgoing and helpful than the others. Some of our American cousins who evidentially go the Turneffe Flats on a regular basis have their regular guides and are very happy.

I’m not sure I’d go back. A pity because it is a beautiful spot.

Regards
Gerard

[Allan Dozier]

Michael, I have been to El Pescador for a weeks fishing twice in the past several years. It’s a very nice place and well run. The fishing is generally good but as you know anything can happen. Just based on my experience, Belize is a good place to catch your first permit but not the best for tarpon. I think the tarpon fishing is better in SW Florida and the Keys but like I said that is just based on my experience. You will definitely catch bonefish. Catching bonefish there is like catching bream here in a farm pond, you will probably catch all you want in the first couple of days and will want to target something else. They will probably be small but numerous. If they spook just wait and they will usually circle around again. The guides know the waters but don’t expect the competence or effort you will find in the Keys. For instance, be prepared to cast with any wind direction because positioning the boat may seem like an afterthought to some of the guides. In their defense of that, those pangas are pretty heavy. You should also plan on bringing all the equipment and all flies you might need. Give me a shout if you need anything else.

I plan on living forever, so far so good.

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