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A Belizean Fisherman's Guide to Belize
A Belizean Fisherman's Guide to Belize
A Belizean Fisherman's Guide to Belize

It was a perfect day! When we started off at the bridge at Joe Taylor Creek just outside of Punta Gorda, I wasn't sure if it would all work out. We were a group of four, the (almost) seventy year old mother, the four year old son, the husband who wanted to do some fun-fishing and myself, the content wife being there with those I love. I just wanted everybody to be happy. And of course there was John 'Jackie' Young, the captain and fishing guide.

 
John 'Jackie' Young fishing for sardines with a bait net in a calm bay near a mangrove caye in the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve in southern Belize.   John 'Jackie' Young fishing for sardines with a bait net in a calm bay near a mangrove caye in the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve in southern Belize.
John 'Jackie' Young fishing for sardines with a bait net in a calm bay near a mangrove caye in the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve in southern Belize.
 
A well sized yellow tail caught at a drop off in the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve in southern Belize.
A well sized yellow tail caught at a drop off near the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve in southern Belize.
   
We left Joe Taylor Creek and turned north. The weather was excellent, a few rain clouds could only be seen in the distance. We passed the mouth of the Rio Grande and Frenchman's Caye, a small island that houses an ancient Mayan ceremonial site. Our first stop was in a quiet bay at a Mangrove caye where Jackie threw out his bait net to catch some sardines. In the meantime we patiently watched the pelicans nearby and the fish underneath. As luck would have it, we saw a Manta Ray swim right by our boat. Since the movie 'Nemo' my son knows everything about fish and to see a live ray, well that alone made his day.

When we had enough Sardines for bait, we headed on a north-east track and stopped at a drop off Jackie knew that would enable us to catch some yellow tail and red snapper. Of course Jackie knows all the best spots in the area for permit and tarpon and snook and bonefish, but that was not our forté that day. Sure enough we did catch some yellow tail. I am convinced that for an amateur fisherman (or fisherwoman) it is the best fun to fish where you do have a good chance for a catch.

 
The Bonefish Hotel, Dangriga, Belize
The Bonefish Hotel, Dangriga, Belize
The Bonefish Hotel, Dangriga, Belize
The Bonefish Hotel, Dangriga, Belize
The Bonefish Hotel, Dangriga, Belize
 
West Snake Caye, an uninhabited island in the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve in southern Belize.
West Snake Caye, an uninhabited island located just outside the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve in southern Belize.
 
Punta Negra Lagoon, a fresh water lagoon and great Tarpon fishing place is located south of Monkey River Village, east of Punta Negra.
 
Punta Negra Lagoon, a fresh water lagoon and great Tarpon fishing place is located south of Monkey River Village, east of Punta Negra.
 
   
The beach south of Punta Negra in the Toledo District of Belize  
The beach south of Punta Negra in the Toledo District of Belize.
 
   
After a while, we headed on to West Snake Caye. A spectacular view welcomed us, the dark blue ocean that suddenly turns turquoise blue at the caye, the white sand beach and the palm trees. Like right out of a picture book. Swimming, lunch and some more swimming.

Then we headed further north to the coast just south of Punta Negra. There a small path leads through the brush from the beach to Punta Negra Lagoon. The lagoon is a great Tarpon fishing spot, it is a fresh water lagoon and the fish are locked in.

The non-fishing part of the family enjoyed some more swimming in the ocean along the beach. The water was not as clear here as at the caye, but just as warm and clean.

After a last stop at the Ranger Station of TIDE (Toledo Institute for the Development of the Environment) who oversees the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve, we headed back, all agreeing that this has been excellent. Jackie, I have to say, is one of the best boat guides I have ever met. It'll be easy enough for you to locate Jackie, for the people in Punta Gorda tell me that he is one of the best sport fishing guides in all of Belize.

 

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