Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Belize (A Complete Guide)

Belize is one of the best fishing destinations that most vacationers don’t even consider. Knowing the best times and seasons to fish these rich waters can lead to even better fishing success than other anglers could dream of.

The best time to fish Belize is from March to November to sailfish, blue marlin, tarpon, and permit. Winter is best for bonefish, wahoo, snapper, and snook in Belize waters.

So let’s break down some of these species and when the best time to target them is.

Fish Species	Best Times & Peak Fishing Seasons
Bonefish	Fishing is best from December through March.
Sailfish	April through May is the peak, but good fishing can still be found into September
Blue Marlin	Sailfish fishing is from August through September.
Wahoo	The best fishing is November through March.
Snapper	Fishing is best from December through January.
Tarpon	The best fishing is June through August.
Jack Crevalle	Fishing is best from October through November.
Snook	The best fishing is November through April.
Permit	Year-round availability; June is the best month.

Belize is slowly but steadily rising to the top of Central America’s list of must-see fisheries. This small Caribbean jewel thrills fishermen of all types by providing a multitude of fishing chances.  It also has access to one of the world’s largest coral reefs as well as deep offshore waters! It’s safe to assume that a Belize fishing trip might be one of the finest things you ever do.

Best Times to Fish Belize

Tarpon

Best Months: June – August

Tarpon numbers begin to rise in April and May, then fall somewhat in September or October. The greatest months for tarpon fishing are June, July, and August. However, some tarpon remains in the waters surrounding Belize all year.

Tarpons may weigh up to 200 pounds and are known for putting up a good fight after they’ve been caught. Small baitfish, crabs, and shrimp are their main sources of nutrition. Tarpon is regarded by some anglers as the pinnacle of saltwater fly-fishing. 

Snook

Best Months: November – April

Snook will frequently move out of the mangroves and congregate around the mouths of channel cuts; it is during these times that snook fishing may become “fast and furious.

Snook is most commonly found in tiny schools, so pay close attention to any place where a strike or hookup happens. Snook fishing is also fantastic all year; however, low tides make casting to these fish simpler, so the months of November through April are the best if you simply want to land a lot of Snook. 

Bonefish

Best Months: Year-round availability; December- March is best

This species, sometimes known as the “ghost of the flats,” can be tough at times, but a well-presented fly will always result in a connection.

Don’t underestimate the force of these fish though; once hooked, they will almost always carry you to the backing. The normal size of a bonefish in Belize is 2-5 pounds, with some larger fish moving in singles or doubles, however, these fish may be quite timid and well-schooled in the anglers tactics on occasion.

Barracuda

Best Months: Year-round availability

The term “barra” is Belizean slang for “barracuda”:  Barracudas is a nocturnal fish and prefers a solitary life. Barracudas can swim at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour. This characteristic is important for both hunting and evading predators.

The barracuda is an underappreciated and acrobatic game fish that may be found in big numbers on the reefs and flats of Belize. Some fishermen prefer to troll for them, but they may also be caught by sight casting on the flats or throwing poppers into deeper holes along the reef. 

Blue Marlin

Best Times: August – September

With the deep water a stone’s throw away from shore, the marlin fishing in Belize is world-class.  the best chance to get one on your line is mid-August through September  While the best season for blue marlin in the area is from August to September, the species may be found in the ocean all year.

The blue marlin first appears in the warm Caribbean seas in June and stays until October. These colossal beasts are the highlight of every big game fisherman’s career. Blues may grow to be 15 feet long and weigh over 1,000 pounds. Beating a beast like this is the ultimate test of an angler’s endurance and strength. 

Permit

Best Months: Year-round availability; June is best.

Belize has hundreds of square miles of prime permit fishing grounds. To find the best permit fishing focus on the shallow bars and flats. The ideal permit flat is typically 1 to 3 feet deep, with the bottom consisting of a mix of turtle grass, hard coral, and sand depending on location.

Both places provide excellent options for sight fishing and trolling permit. They are abundant throughout the year with a slight peak in June. The waters of Belize produce some trophy permit on a regular basis, making this fish very popular with the locals.

Jack Crevalle

Best Months: October – November

The coast of Belize is home to a healthy and abundant jack crevalle population. You will find huge schools of Jack on the reef outskirts from early October until late November. These fish provide an excellent fight and make for excellent table fare. Trolling is one of the more popular methods of landing jacks. Locals recommend cut squid or baitfish for optimal results.

Snappers

Best Months: December – January

Belize offers many varieties of snapper. Mutton snapper, gray snapper, yellowtail snapper, dog snapper, and the notorious Cubera snapper are just a few of the snapper species.  The full moon brings snappers to the reefs of Belize to spawn in December through mid-January providing huge snapper hauls near-shore.

Making for an excellent night fishing opportunity, the method used by many locals, fishing by the light of the full moon in the winter months to get trophy size snapper. There are no catch-and-release restrictions in Belize for snappers, so if you capture a big one, you’re set for supper. 

Wahoo

Best Months: November – March

Wahoos are aggressive fish that will give you a good fight. Wahoos are one of the fastest fish in the water, with speeds reaching 60 miles per hour. They set off on blistering runs that have been known to blow out even the greatest reels once hooked.

If their breakneck speed wasn’t enough, they’re also fully armed with razor-sharp fangs. When you hook one of them, be prepared to battle. They will follow your lead and may achieve speeds of up to 60 miles per hour! The typical wahoo in Belize averages between 20 and 40 pounds, but they may reach 100 pounds or more. They’re also delicious to eat. 

Sailfish

Best Months: April-May

January through June, sails can be caught on a regular basis in Belize. Especially around the full moon weeks in April and May. Another great night fishing opportunity. Sails in Belize are solely for sports fishing. Locally, fish weighing up to 73 lbs. have been caught.

Sails are caught outside the reef and the ideal bait to use is live ballyhoo strung naked to a circular hook, with no skirt or lure in front of the bait. Rig your ballyhoo with a chin weight so it swims. You only get one shot with the sailfish, miss a strike, and all that’s left of your ballyhoo is the head. 

Recommended Fishing Charters in Belize

These Belize-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Type of Fishing Offered
Placencia Fishing Charters – Edlin	Inshore, Offshore, Nearshore, Reef & Wreck
Uprising Tours Fishing	Inshore, Offshore, Nearshore, Reef & Wreck
Waata Daag Fishing Adventures	Inshore, Flats, Nearshore, Reef & River
Freedom Tours – The Reel Deal	Reef & Offshore
Freedom Tours – Trolling Passion	Inshore, Offshore, Nearshore, Reef & Wreck
Reel, Grill & Chill Belize	Inshore, Flats, Nearshore, Reef & Wreck
Nano Guerrero Fishing Charters	Inshore & Flats

Seasonal Fishing in Belize (Monthly Breakdown)

January: 

The calm days of January are ideal for tarpon and bonefish. Snook and wahoo fishing are outstanding in January, as is reef fishing if the weather permits.

February:

The wind has a role in February fishing. Flats are teeming with fish if the water is calm enough. While the fishing for grouper, wahoo, and snook is fantastic, February is ideal for everything else except mahi-mahi and kingfish.

March:

March is a terrific month for bonefish, tarpon weighing 20-90 pounds, and permit and reef fishing.

April:

Larger, more aggressive tarpon (40-100 pounds) migrate onto the reef around April. This is a fantastic month for permit, sailfish, and bonito.

May:

May is a fantastic month for bonefish, permit, sailfish, and tarpon, which are now present on both the flats and the reef on Ambergris Caye.

June:

In June, mahi-mahi fishing is at the forefront. The good bonefish season lasts until October. Tarpon abounds on the reef and flats.

July:

Tarpon, which may weigh more than 100 pounds, are most abundant from July through September. There are lots of bonefish and some of the biggest permits to be found.

October:

Bigger and more aggressive bonefish, tarpon, and larger permits arrive in October. There are also larger schools of jack crevalle on the flats, as well as snook if the mainland rains.

November:

November flats are teeming with large tarpon, as well as bonefish and jack crevalle. It’s a great moment for wahoo.

December:

Barracuda, bonefish, jack crevalle, tarpon, and ladyfish can all be caught in December. It’s a fantastic time to catch wahoo and snook. 

Types of Fishing in Belize

There are three sorts of fishing you may do in Belize: reef fishing, deep-sea fishing, and flat-fishing. There are charters that can take you to all three, and you may bring your own gear or have it given for you for a price. Varied forms of fishing yield a different catch and a different amount of difficulty.

Reef Fishing/Easy:

Reef fishing provides opportunities for snapper, grouper, jack, and barracuda. Because the fish are so numerous on Ambergris, this is usually the easiest form of fishing to do. You will go within the spectacular Belize Barrier Reef. 

Deep-Sea Fishing/Easy to Moderate:

This style of fishing can range in complexity from easy to moderate. Blue marlin, white marlin, dolphinfish, tuna, king mackerel, black grouper, and wahoo may be found deep-sea fishing just a short distance past the reef.

Flat-Fishing/Hard:

Flat fishing is the most challenging type of fishing, with prospects of capturing bonefish, permit, tarpon, and snook in shallow, calm waters. If you’re more experienced, you may try your hand at barracuda and jack, in addition to the tarpon and snook described above.

Top Locations to Fish in Belize

Turneffe Atoll:

Fly-fishing the “flats” is highly recommended here. The Turneffe Atoll is the Caribbean’s largest and most diversified coral atoll. With your fly-gear in hand, you will be well situated to take advantage of all of Turneffe’s 250 square miles of wide flats, coral reef, and astonishingly rich marine ecosystem. 

Ambergris Caye:

Reef fishing is the most popular type of fishing for tourists to Ambergris Caye, and it is jam-packed with activity! On a regular fishing excursion, frequent catches include snapper, barracuda, jacks, and grouper.

Placencia:

The Placencia Peninsula, a small length of golden sand beaches along the Caribbean spanning 16 miles long but just half a mile broad, is one of the greatest sites in Belize to go fishing. Tarpon, bonefish, snook, and bonefish flourish in the warm seas around and around Placencia.

Belize Fishing Summary (Best Seasons to Fish)

Belize is famous for its numerous estuaries and productive healthy marine life, as well as its bountiful fishing grounds. There is definitely a reason for this, with anglers contributing significantly to the tourist industry, which accounts for one-third of the GDP.

Not only is Belize rich in fish and magnificent scenery to be viewed throughout your expedition, but restrictions have been put in place to ensure that fishing can and will continue to be a popular pastime on the island for years and generations to come. Remember that many restaurants onshore will just charge you a nominal price to prepare your catch for you to eat.

If Tarpon and Snook are crowned inshore, there are two analogous species in the deep that merit royal rank, and both are members of the Bill-fish family. Of course, we’re talking about marlin and sailfish. Every angler wants a piece of the action wherever you locate these beasts, and Belize fishing enthusiasts are no exception. The depth of the sea decreases to roughly 2,000 feet almost immediately once you get beyond the reef.

As a result, it’s a popular hunting site for some of the ocean’s most coveted critters. Marlin is known for its acrobatic abilities, leaping out of the water to come to the end of the line. Meanwhile, Sailfish will force you to work hard to get them to the surface. The beauty of these magnificent fish makes it a worthy battle.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Cancun, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Cozumel, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Tulum, please check out this helpful guide.