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 A small yet pretty permit goes safely back to grow big. The main event at Steppingstones is boat fishing with one of our fantastic team of local licensed guides. The charge is US$350 per day ($375 in the high season) for a boat for up to two anglers, and two non anglers can also go along. Days usually start around 7am or earlier, and finish at around 5pm or later. Our guides are anything but clock watchers, and are dedicated to giving you a wonderful time. They all speak good English, and their 25ft boats are well maintained and comfortable for fishing. We supply your guide with his lunch and refreshments. How your fishing day works The guide will come right to our dock to pick you up early in the morning. You should take with you all your fishing gear, food for the day and plenty of drink. We supply a packed lunch for your guide, and can do the same for you if you prefer. Don’t forget suntan oil and GOOD insect repellent. Citronella based concoctions are a waste of time - you need Jungle Formula or Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard. Out on the Cayes you will generally find bugs to be not much of a problem, but up the rivers and in the mangroves you need protection, especially early and late.  Steve Polley and Ian with a Port Honduras Jack Crevalle. Listen to the opinion of the guide on where to go and how long to stay in a spot. He knows – he’s done it before. Take heed particularly if the weather is doubtful. You do not want to get caught out in rough weather.  Ariel’s close encounter with a 70lb nurse shark, caught by Steve Polley off our dock The Reef and the Cayes The jewel in the Belizean crown is our barrier reef - the world’s largest living barrier reef. This is a protected fishery in parts. (Belize is amazingly environmentally-conscious as a country with around half the land mass having protected status.). However most of the reef within easy reach is open for fishing, although nowhere in Southern Belize is heavily fished. You have the southern part more or less to yourself and the chances are you will see few if any other anglers. From Steppingstones, your guide will take you the 40 minutes or so by skiff out to the reef . You have a number of choices. Trolling outside the reef with 30lb class outfits with small konas and large Yo-Zuri and Rapala minnows, for tuna and kingfish, or trolling inside the reef for snapper, barracuda, mackerel small tuna species, using light spinning gear with small Yo-Zuri or Rapala minnows. (Be warned that wooden Rapalas will be torn to shreds in short order - Yo-Zuris are tougher.) You can also flyfish for bonefish and permit as most of the best bonefish flats are out on the reef. If you wish, you can combine fishing with snorkling, and with a little advance warning your guide will go equipped to cook you a shore lunch - featuring of course your very own “Catch of the Day”.  Steve Wade happy with another Jack Crevalle from Port Honduras. Southern Belize is world famous for its year-round permit and bonefish. This is mainly in the Bay of Honduras about one hour by skiff. These two species regarded by fly fishermen as two of the three “blue riband” species of the Caribbean and are found anywhere on the extensive sand and grass flats in the bay. Fly anglers have returned from the Bay having had up to 15 shots at a permit which is an extremely high shot rate for this exceptionally wary fish. For non-fly fisherman, bonefish can of course also be taken on small lures but permit being fussy eaters are best tackled with freelined live crab. The third “blue riband “ species the tarpon is to be found in both our river mouths, but fly fishermen will prefer the seclusion of the lower reaches of Deep River for a shot at a mega fish. Trolling minnows or a small livebait will give you the chance of a three figure tarpon on the right day. Monkey River Fly casting, lure casting and trolling for tarpon, jacks and snook mainly, a beautiful jungle river offering very good sport in tranquil surroundings, fishable even when the weather is rough at sea. Mangroves Casting and trolling for whatever comes along; in the mangroves anything is possible - up to 10 species in a couple of hours is quite achievable, though not necessarily big fish. Within a day you can cover both mangroves and Monkey River.  Kathy Denton with a barracuda. A 45 minute ride south with the guide by skiff. Here you have a maze of narrow mangrove-lined waterways full of fish. The usual cast of characters are present plus some enormous jewfish (giant grouper). If you hook one of these it is like hooking the Isle of Wight Ferry (or Rhode Island Ferry if you’re American). These fish grow to many hundreds of pounds and are a prized local delicacy. If of course you manage to land it. The tarpon in Deep River grow to well over 100lbs and are not fished for that much. Further up river you will move into lush and beautiful subtropical jungle where few anglers venture. There are tarpon and jacks plus some snook. The snook must rate as the lure anglers' best friend. They will readily take a wide range of lures, grow well into double figures, fight like hell, and if they miss your lure, or throw the hook they’ll come back and have another go! All can be caught on lures or flies. The fish tend to get smaller (and more of a challenge to catch) the further up river you go, so swap your 30lb class outfit for a 20lb or even a 12lb outfit and get ready for fireworks. They are also a prime candidate for your evening barbecue. Sight-casting a lure to tarpon as they rise to breathe can be heart stopping, but the stunning scenery and wildlife alone makes a run up river well worth the half hour it takes. Look out for howler monkeys, tapir, iguana, crocodiles, armadillo, parrots, humming birds, toucan, ibis, frigates, fish eagles, buzzards, vultures, plus various herons, and even our own beloved cormorant amongst the profusion of bamboos, ferns and hard wood trees. You will also see wild orchids in flower if you are lucky. But hands off! They are heavily protected.  Hard fighting permit abound in our waters. Grab your rod, down the cabana steps, six paces and cast? Yep, that’s where the action starts. Right in front of you you’ll find white sand, and crystal clear water stretching out to Greater Monkey Caye about half a mile in the distance. The bottom here is sand, sloping away to turtle grass and then out in the deep water channel, rock. Right in front just out of sight we even have our own mini reef! Within casting range you have a profusion of species - various jacks, snappers, mackerel, needlefish, and of course barracuda lurking around in wait. You will come to regard barracuda as an excellent light tackle sport fish ready for a fight whenever you are. For the most part, fishing from the shore all you need is a light spinning rod, a decent fixed spool reel loaded with 200 yds of 20lb test line (braid for preference), wire leader and a few small spoons. The Double Dancer has proved a consistently successful spoon along the shoreline, but any small slim heavy-ish spoon will do. Small minnow plugs and poppers will also work, as will medium sized flies. Whatever lure you use keep it high in the water as most of the fish feed close to the surface. If you want to fish with bait, sardines are easily caught with our cast net. Small pieces of sardine legered on light tackle off our dock will yield a variety of snappers, yellow tails etc. If you fancy some arm wrestling, a deadbait on a heavy wire leader will eventually attract in stingrays and small nurse sharks, which although not dangerous to bathers, need to be treated with respect when unhooking. Stingrays run to 50 or 60lbs and should be beached and the line cut.  Kathy Denton with a bull shark. As the day warms up, the fish tend to move away from the shoreline into deeper water, but still within casting range. So your best shot is first thing. Walk along the shoreline about 300 yds to the right, and you will find the water here is deeper. Look for light coloured patches in the water which are sand surrounded by turtle grass. These are favourite fish-holding spots and snappers and barracuda lie in wait on the edge of these areas. Fish often feel insecure on clear stretches of sand because they are highly visible to predators, so they tend to stay close to the edges for safety. By now it is probably time for breakfast or at least an early morning cup of coffee. (remember you sacrificed your coffee to get out on the beach that bit sooner)  Steve Wozniak with 15lb cobia. To venture further afield, you will need a boat. We have two Ocean Scrambler XT Angler kayaks, which are easy to use even for the beginner, will carry one person, with a payload of up to 200lb plus, and with plenty of space for your tackle. Lifejackets are supplied of course. We also have two peddalos which are fun for fishing too, especially for youngsters. If you are feeling energetic you can paddle out to Greater Monkey Key, where you will find shallow crystal clear water to fish and snorkel in Look out for turtles, dolphins, and manatees, all of which are seen from time to time. If you see or hear a huge splash it is probably a giant manta ray or eagle ray feeding. Bonefish and permit run through the area in front of Greater Monkey Key fairly frequently.  Bob Bisan and Jack Wadkins with a fine brace of barracuda. We can rent you the right tackle and lures at a modest cost, and your guide will be very happy to show you the ropes. We'll also give you a few tips and show you how to handle the gear before you set out, so you won't feel like a complete novice. We recommend trolling out on the reef for the beginner - a sure fire way to catch fish and take home some really great memories - and of course those trophy shots! Species Availability  E=excellent; G=good; F=fair; blank=n/a |