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The
extraordinary beauty of Glovers Reef Atoll
makes this trip an absolute must for those who are interested in combining
a sense of adventure with some outstanding fly fishing. Located 30 miles
off the coast of Belize, the Glovers Reef Atoll is a 17 mile long by four-mile
wide inter-connecting reef that sits in the middle of a cobalt blue sea.
Rising from 1200 feet of water, the reef and surrounding shallow water
flats act as a huge structure base that attracts virtually every species
of fish that swims in the Caribbean.
Guests will fly from the International Airport in Belize City down to
the coastal town of Dangriga. The scenic flight is only 15 minutes and
before you know it, you’re on the ground in Dangriga. From there,
a waiting taxi will run you down to the waterfront where you’ll board
the water taxi for the 90 minute boat ride out to Glovers Reef. On the
boat ride out, it is not uncommon to run into a pod of dolphins or a surface
crashing school of tuna.
The bonefishing out at Glovers Reef is fantastic and we bring guests from
around the world to this remote destination specifically for the bones.
The flats and reefs around the four islands within the atoll hold excellent
numbers of bonefish. Large schools of 200 or more bones will be encountered
as well as much smaller schools, along with singles and doubles. The average
size is between two and three pounds, with much larger fish being very
common. The largest bonefish caught last year by one of our clients out
at Glovers Reef was 10 pounds. On the other side of the reef from the
bonefish flats, there are a series of beautiful grass flats where permit
come in on the incoming tide to feed.
The
aerial display of a hooked 25-pound barracuda will make even the most
avid fly rodder tremble with excitement. Large numbers of jacks, snappers,
and grouper will also be encountered when one spends a week with a fly
rod in hand, out at Glovers Reef. What separates Glovers from so many
other fly fishing trips is the ability to combine a day or 2 of bluewater
fly fishing with the more traditional flats fishing. Now in its second
year, our Bluewater program has yielded some incredible results. Wahoo,
Kingfish, Black Finned Tuna, Dolphin, and several species of sharks were
all caught on a fly rod by our clients last year.
For
a day or two of Bluewater fly fishing, just add $175 per person per d |
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The
incredible biodiversity of Glovers Reef has recently been recognized by
the United Nations, which named Glovers as a World Heritage Site.The Belizean
government in turn designated much of the area as a National Park where
commercial fishing is completely banned. Catch and Release fishing is
however, welcomed and the game wardens who work out at Glover Reef are
very familiar with us and our commitment to catch, photograph, and release.
The permit are here year round and are fairly concentrated within a two
to three mile area. In the late spring, the tarpon come into Glovers Reef
to spawn in the shallows. Late May and early June are the best times to
fish for the “silver kings” when staying at Glovers. One of
the unique aspects of fly fishing out at Glovers Reef is the unbelievable
size and numbers of the huge barracuda that live out there. Nowhere else
in Belize will you encounter so many big ‘cudas on such a consistent
basis. For the experienced saltwater fly rodder, these fish can’t
be passed up and are spectacular treat on a fly rod.
Our guests stay on Usher Caye at the Marisol Resort when fishing out at
Glover Reef. Our host and on site owner is Eddie Usher. Eddie is an old
friend of ours and has been dealing with us for many years. Even though
his resort caters primarily to divers, he’s very familiar with the
needs of fly rodders.
The accommodations at Marisol consist of 5 wooden cabanas spread out around
the property. Ceiling fans, running water, and electricity combine to
make the cabanas very comfortable. The bar is at the end of the pier and
sits over the water. We’ve had guests enjoying a beer at the end
of their fishing day, only to see a small school of large bonefish spill
onto the flat next to the bar. After a mad dash and a couple of false
casts, FISH ON! The food at Marisol is nothing short of fabulous. Lobster,
conch, and a wide variety of fresh fish, from grouper to kingfish are
served daily. The fresh baked breads and fruits will make anyone forget
about their diet. For those who want to get off the beaten path, this
trip will dazzle you. The fishing is that good! |
