Belize - Turneffe Atoll

Turneffe Island is 30 miles offshore from Belize City and is a haven for fly fishermen of all skill levels.  At Tailwaters, we have hand-selected an assortment of flies specific to Turneffe Atoll.  Our custom fly assortment equips anglers with flies for bonefish, tarpon, permit, as well as other assorted reef species like jacks or triggers that may be around.

Turneffe Flats is a very diverse fishery with excellent opportunities for bonefish as well as permit, snook and juvenile tarpon year round.  Anglers want a 7-8 weight rod with a floating line for bonefish and a 9-10 weight with floating line for permit and tarpon.  During the early summer (May - September) you may want to consider bringing an additional 10-12 weight loaded with a floating line for migratory tarpon.  Having a dedicated rod and reel outfit for each species allows for tremendous convenience not having to re-rig for multiple applications.  Plus, you never know when a big tarpon will float by when you have a permit rod in your hand (without time to get rigged).  

BONEFISH: 

A nine foot, eight-weight rod is the standard universal bonefish rod used by the vast majority of all anglers worldwide. You want a rod that has enough fortitude to deliver the fly in windy conditions. However, the ideal bonefish rod also has enough feel in the tip section to allow for more delicate and accurate presentations at closer casting ranges. Some experienced anglers will also bring a 7 or even a 6 weight rod in the event the wind lays flat, especially on Turneffe Flats where the bonefish are generally a bit smaller than fisheries like the Bahamas. 

PERMIT: 

A nine foot, 9 or 10 weight rod is the standard issue permit rod.  Depending on the conditions and the types of flies used, many experienced anglers will opt to go with a sturdy 9 weight, while the 10 weight is more effective on super windy days. Fishing for permit usually dictates casting heavy, wind resistant flies, and larger specimens can take up to an hour to land. If you decide to go with the 9 weight, be sure you choose a fast action model with a lot of backbone. 

TARPON: 

For summertime migratory fish above eighty lbs, we encourage anglers to use a 10-11 weight. 100+ lb tarpon can take well over an hour to land (much longer if fought improperly); a larger rod is much easier on the angler as well as the fish.

BONEFISH:

Reels with a superior drag that will accommodate up to 175-200 yards of 20 lb dacron backing are suggested for your bonefishing outfit. A weight forward floating line is all that is required for all bonefishing.  In addition to the standard bonefish and redfish taper lines, there are many new fly lines with tropical tapers by Scientific Anglers and Rio that work well.  

PERMIT: 

Reels with a superior drag that will accommodate up to 250 yards of 30 lb Dacron or 30-50 lb gel spun backing are suggested for your permit fishing outfit. A weight forward floating line is all that is required for nearly all permit fishing applications. 

TARPON: 

Reels with a superior drag that will accommodate up to 300 yards of 30 lb Dacron or 50+ lb gel spun backing are suggested for your tarpon fishing outfit.

BONEFISH:

A weight forward floating line is all that is required for all bonefishing.  In addition to the standard bonefish and redfish taper lines, there are many new fly lines with tropical tapers by Scientific Anglers and Rio that work well.  We recommend 175-200 yards of 20-30 lb dacron backing for your bonefishing outfit.

PERMIT: 

A weight forward floating line is all that is required for nearly all permit fishing applications. In addition to the standard bonefish and redfish taper lines, there are many new fly lines with tropical tapers by Scientific Anglers and Rio that work well.  We recommend approximately 250 yards of 30 lb dacron backing, or 30-50 lb gel spun backing, for your permit fishing outfit.

TARPON: 

A weight forward floating line is required for the vast majority of the fishing for both juvenile and adult tarpon. We suggest the Tarpon taper lines by Scientific Anglers or Rio as your standard fly line.   We also recommend up to 300 yards of 30 lb dacron backing, or 50+ lb gel spun backing, for your tarpon fishing outfit.  

If your trip is in the summertime and you are interested in targeting adult tarpon, we also recommend bringing an additional spool or reel loaded with a sinking line. Although not mandatory for most situations, an intermediate or full sinking line can have many worthy applications.

BONEFISH & PERMIT:

Average Turneffe Flats bonefish are not particularly large, but  can be leader shy at times. Normally 9-10 foot 8 lb tapered leaders work fine.  At other times you can get away with 10-12 lb leaders and tippet, so you should have these on hand. For permit we recommend fishing 10-12 foot 16 lb test tapered leaders most often. There are times when you can get away with 17-20 lb test, while sometimes you will need to downsize to 12 lb. For this reason, you should have additional leaders and tippet material on hand. We also always recommend using fluorocarbon tippet material as it is more abrasion resistant. 

TARPON

Unless you are interested in setting IGFA records, we recommend simply rigging your tarpon leaders with straight fluorocarbon. A 5-6’ section of non-tapered fluoro is super strong and easy to tie with a loop to loop connection onto your fly line.  When fishing for baby tarpon in the backcountry mangroves, you are constantly hanging up in the trees.  For this reason, fishing class leaders can be troublesome as you will always be breaking off flies in the mangroves.  It is more practical to use class leaders when fishing the flats away from the mangroves if you prefer.

Straight Fluorocarbon Recommendations:

Juvenile “Baby” Tarpon:  40-60 lb Straight Fluoro

Adults (May -September):   80 lb Straight Fluorocarbon 

Class Leader Recommendations:   

Juvenile “Baby” Tarpon:  16 lb Class - 40-60 lb Shock

Adults (May - September) 16-22 lb Class - 80 lb Shock  

Quality wading footwear is a must for many scenarios on Turneffe Atoll.  There are times in the lagoon around Turneffe when you are only fishing barefoot from the skiff. Other times, especially when targeting bonefish, you will encounter grassy coral ruble flats that definitely require proper wading boots with excellent traction, ankle support, and protection. 

Some anglers prefer the simplicity and convenience of easy on-off zippit booties, but most anglers prefer to have more substantial boots at Turneffe.  Do not forget Guard Socks with your wading boots as well!

Backpacks, slings, hip, or chest packs are great for carrying fly boxes, a camera, leaders and tippet etc. while wading. Consider buying one that can hold an easily accessible water bottle. Fishpond, Patagonia and Simms all make practical packs in different styles, sizes, and price points. Packs are really not needed for permit or tarpon fishing ... but do come in handy on extended wading sessions for bonefish.  A boat bag is important for carrying your tackle and gear with you on the boat each day. Running in the boats over open water oftentimes sprays saltwater mist into the boat, so you should have some type of waterproof or water resistant bag with you in the boat for storing cameras, lenses, tackle, flies, extra reels, spools, sunscreen, rain jackets, spare reel parts, bottled water, snacks, or anything else you don’t want to carry on you while fishing. Everything stays dry, salt free, and out of the humidity.

A high quality, lightweight rain jacket is another essential piece of clothing while on the flats.  Howler Bros, Sitka, Patagonia and Simms make great lightweight jackets that will keep you dry during tropical rainstorms or while crossing choppy water on a lengthy boat run.

Turneffe Flats is almost always hot and humid regardless of the season or time of year.  When packing, keep in mind that the lodge dress code is extremely casual.  Clean and dry fishing clothing are always acceptable at the dinner table.  Other than your fishing related clothing, a couple of tee-shirts, and a pair of casual shorts or pants, we recommend only one set of street clothes for travel days.  Pack lightly!  The key to staying comfortable on the flats is to remain cool while protecting yourself from the sun.  Lightweight clothing with plenty of ventilation is recommended.  Odds are you will continually get wet all day long while wading, running in the boat, or during a rain shower.  You want your fishing clothing to shed water and dry quickly. 

SHIRTS

Fishing shirts should be cool and dry quickly, have breathable flaps that allow air to circulate through, and should be easy to pack and maintenance-free. Howler Brothers, Patagonia, Free-Fly, Sitka, and Simms make several different models and styles both in short and long sleeves. If you are bothered by the sun, we recommend the long sleeved versions, especially in late Spring and early Summer. Proper fishing shirts also should be equipped with chest pockets for storing small items like tippet material or a cleaning cloth for sunglasses and camera lenses.

SHORTS & PANTS

Fishing shorts should also be made of a synthetic quick dry material. We suggest shorts with pockets and belt loops for accommodating pliers. Sun protection, rather than warmth, is the primary function of long pants when fishing in the tropics. Biting sea lice can also be deterred by wearing pants while wading. They will protect you from the sun, are wind resistant, and dry quickly. Some pants have removable pant legs that zip off to become shorts.

The tropical sun is very intense even on cloudy days. Pack some sun block and lip balm with a minimum of 30SPF. We carry a number of great sunscreen products at the shop. Make sure to check out our selection of Tailwaters branded hats.  Head and neck tubes by BUFF or Black Strap are a comfortable, lightweight, and breathable garment that functions similar to a bandanna and will keep UV rays off of your head, neck, and ears.  Similarly, sun gloves will protect your hands.

This is your most important piece of equipment for flats fishing, which is primarily sight- fishing. Without the ability to see the fish you are stalking, you put yourself at a great disadvantage. Copper, brown, and Igniter lenses are the best choice for this type of fishing. Yellow lenses are great for mornings, late afternoons, and cloudy conditions. Always bring two pairs of polarized sunglasses in case you lose or break a pair.  Smith and Costa make a variety of stylish frames to choose from. We can special order bifocal or trifocal lenses for many of these frames with enough advanced notice. A lanyard or “croakie” is also invaluable in order to keep from dropping or losing your glasses.

Items like nippers, hemostats, and hook hones are necessities in every fishing pack. The tools can be kept on a retractor or on a lanyard.  Although your guide should be equipped with pliers, we recommend a quality pair of corrosion resistant pliers as an essential tool when fishing the saltwater... especially for big game. Quality pliers aid in hook removal, cutting heavy monofilament, and tying big game knots. All pliers should be kept in a sheath and have a check-cord to avoid dropping them overboard. Don’t forget to bring a synthetic belt to be worn in order to accommodate your pliers’ sheath.

We recommend roller style, soft-sided duffel bags for nearly all our travels.  Ideally you have a bag that adheres to airline size restrictions but it is still large enough to fit a couple of rod tubes, tackle, boots and other gear.  If you have a particularly large bag, we advise you to communicate with your commercial carrier as well as the TSA regarding any baggage weight restrictions that might be applicable.   

We carry many excellent sets of luggage by Patagonia, Simms, and Fishpond.  These bags are the ideal size, bulletproof, and are equipped with efficient roller systems.  Some models also have separate compartments for storing wet boots or even rod tubes.  Don’t forget to mark your luggage with appropriate personal identification bag tags.

There are multiple accessories often overlooked when planning any angling adventure.  Items like gravel guards, a lens cloth, first aid, sun gloves, stripping guards, insect repellant, water bottles and measuring tapes are just a few.