Yellowstone Angler Hosted Trips to Turneffe Flats Lodge, Belize

James Anderson March 4-11, 2006

A tropical Island Paradise

We will be staying at our favorite fly fishing resort in Belize, Turneffe Flats.  In the nearly twenty years we've been taking trips to Belize and Turneffe Flats, there have been lots of changes, all for the better, but one thing that has remained constant is the wonderful fishing.   New cabins and a completely rebuilt main lodge are very comfortable.  With AC in all the cabins and lodge, there are none of the bug problems that confronted us years ago.  Turneffe Flats has always been the one of the best managed lodges in the Caribbean, with continual upgrades to boats, skiffs and diving equipment.   Their staff of fishing guides is second to none.  The guides all speak good English and are all very capable and knowledgable about the fishing.   It's a great place for beginners to get their start in fly fishing, but also a haven for expert anglers, especially those that are after their first permit.  The permit fishing has just gotten better and better over the years, and many anglers caught their first permit at Turneffe Flats this past year. 

Turneffe Flats is on a coral atoll thirty miles from mainland Belize, an easy run in the big sport fishing/diving boats the lodge utilizes.  Bonefish and permit flats are just minutes away and we have caught nice bones and permit while wading the flat right in front of the lodge.   A short five to ten minute run in a skiffs puts you on some of the best and most extensive bonefishg flats in the Islands.   There is over thirty miles of water inside the big lagoon  and countless islands and flats to fish for permit, bones and also channels where you'll find smaller tarpon on a year round basis.  In the spring (May and June) much larger tarpon show up in good numbers.  

To sum it up, Turneffe Flats Lodge is everything you could hope for in a remote island setting.  Exceptionally nice accommodations, wonderful food and hospitality, great guides, terrific fishing, and spectacular diving.  This is the creme de la creme of salt water fishing and romantic get-a-ways.

The Fishing

In March you can expect to catch bonefish averaging 2-3 pounds with some fish in the 5-8 pound range. There have been bones well over 10 pounds caught over the years but they are rare. The permit fishing at Turneffe is some of the best in the world.

Although the average permit is 8-12 pounds there are many fish in the 15-25 pound range with a few bigger (30-40lb) fish caught each year. Big permit are always a challenge, but with the new crab patterns and techniques we are using today they are being caught on a much more regular basis. 

Besides the grand slam of bonefish, permit, and tarpon, the Turneffe Islands have a wonderful variety of other gamefish you can catch.  Along the reef system you'll find barracuda, a variety of snappers including some big Cubarra Snappers, Jack Crevalle and even an occassional snook. 

Most of the bonefishing is done wading on beautiful ocean side white sand flats.  The guides will often fish from the boat until they locate some good schools of bones, then park the boat and wade fish the flats.  You'll fish to schools of bonefish that will number in the hundreds, but the best opportunities for big bones is finding them in smaller groups of 2-6 fish.   Along the deeper edges of the ocean side flats, permit can be spotted and caught, so if you are wade fishing, remember to bring along a few crab patterns and some heavier tippet.  You'll need the heavier tippet for sure if you hook a permit while wading, as they will immediately try to get back out into deeper water and the protection of the coral reef.   Sometimes you stop them, but most of the time you don't. Whatever happens, the one thing you can count on is that the confrontation will be thrilling.  

The best permit fishing is back among the islands in the main lagoon and along the big channels leading in from the ocean. The guides will have you fishing from the Dolphin Super Skiffs 95% of the time.   Then, when you do hook a big permit, you'll have a far better chance to land it, forcing the fish to fight in deeper water, away from the flats or coral.   Permit fishing at Turneffe provides anglers with the unique opportunity to cast to large schools of cruising permit.  Most of the time these fish are in the 12-15 pound class.  The larger fish are almost always solitary fish or in groups of two to four fish.   The most exciting fishing is having the opportunity to fish for a single big tailing permit.   There are lots of bars and edges of flats in the main lagoon where you'll spot these tailing fish.   Your guide will help you get into perfect position and tell you just what to do to catch the fish of a lifetime.  

Diving Opportunities

The Turneffe Islands have always been famous for the spectacular diving and snorkeling found there on this pristine atoll and reef system.  Turneffe Flats's divemasters know hundreds of fun dive sites, from shallow spots to snorkel inside the reef, to deeper dives like the famous "Elbow" off the Southern end of the island system, which is always packed with fish, from the top of the wall at 80 feet to the surface.  Spur and groove structure along the top of the wall presents fun opportunities to swim through these underwater canyons with schools of tarpon and even permit.  A thirty minute run across blue water puts divers out on Lighthouse Reef, where you can explore the famous "blue hole" or dive the many shallower spots along the reef.  

Gin clear water and wonderful visibility has always been an attraction to Belize divers.  Lateral visibility is often in the 100-200 foot range, unheard of in many other popular dive destinations. 

Most of the diving is done is 40-60 feet of water, and remember, you don't have to be certified to dive when you come to Turneffe Flats.   The divemaster can run you through a "resort" course where you spend one dive in shallow water learning the techniques, and then you'll be able to join the other divers on all but the deepest dives.  Of course you'll be under close supervision by your divemaster at all times.  

Doing a combo package allows you to split your time diving and fishing as you see fit.   Check the tides, and plan your day to fish those good low incoming tides for bones or hit the mid-incoming to high tides for permit, then plan your diving either in the morning or afternoon to correspond to your fishing time.   Or, if you prefer, take the whole day to dive, especially if you are making a long run, like out to Lighthouse reef.   It's your choice. 

Travel, rates and the weeks booked

Belize is easy to get to, with most flights coming in from Houston, DFW, or Miami.  You only need a passport to go and there are no health concerns traveling to Belize. 

The weeks we have booked are February 11-18 and March 4-11.   Right now we have at least six fishing slots left in the Feb. 11-18 week, but only two fishing spots in our March 4-11 week.   This is prime time for both the weather and the fishing, so we expect these spots to fill up quickly.   Let us know if you are interested and we'll hold the space for you until we get your deposit.  

The cost of the standard fishing package is $3622.00. This is based on double occupancy room and two anglers per skiff.  A fishing/diving combo package is available for only $160.00 more.  Then you and your partner can juggle the schedule, and fish or dive as much as you wish.   An Atoll Adventure package is available for non-anglers and this provides exciting things to do each day  like exploring the island system by boat, snorkeling, seeing the bird sanctuaries etc. The Atoll Adventure package is only $1773.00 per person.  Single supplement (your own private boat and guide) is available at a higher cost.  We'll be happy to detail all these costs for you.  Just e-mail us on this.  The only thing that isn't included is equipment, bar tab and gratuities.

If you can join us, we'll contact you with the precise itinerary and travel information you'll need to book your airline tickets.  Just let us know that you would like to go and we'll take care of the rest. 

Call or email us at jamesd@yellowstoneangler.com or kevney@yellowstoneangler.com if you think you can join us!

Read the packing list for Turneffe Flats!