The boats that you’ll be fishing from are 23-foot pangas, each of which is modified to some degree to reflect its owners’ ppersonality. These skiffs have evolved over the years and what we now use will draw very little water while still offering a high degree of stability should you encounter some rough water. Each boat has a generous casting platform and comes equipped with a first-aid kit as well as communications equipment.
The guides who work for us are truly the engine that drives this company and their passion for guiding will be evident soon after you get into the boat. Whether you’re a fly rodder or spin caster, our guides are familiar with the nuances of each method of fishing. Their reliability and adherence to safety will ensure that you get the most out of your trip with us. Our guides all speak fluent English so there won’t be any missed opportunities because of a language barrier.
Tipping
I get asked about guide tipping on a weekly basis and this is what I recommend. $15-$25 US per day per person is reasonable. If you feel that your guide taught you a lot and was very helpful throughout the trip, or if you caught that first permit or other “fish of a lifetime”, you can certainly tip more, and many do! I also advise that you tip the guide out at the end of your trip rather than at the end of each day. This way you’ll get a good overview of how hard he’s worked and what he’s taught you during the course of theweek. When the trip is over, your guide will always appreciate it if you open up your fly box and allow him to take a couple of flies. There are no fly shops in Belize so getting quality gear and flies is oftenvery difficult. Whatever you can spare will be accepted with a smile.
Ivan lives with his family in Placencia. Ivan fishes for lobster for half the year while the rest of the year he guides full-time. He has an amazing ability to put clients into a wide variety of fish and has been guiding for 12 years. Last year, 2 clients boated 18 different species of fish during a four-day trip. Ivan’s favorite fish to target is tarpon. If you’re fishing out of Placencia, make sure to visit Daisy’ Restaurant, which is run by Ivan’s wife. The food is great and the homemade ice cream can’t be beat.
Ivan works with BFFE out of Placencia, Glovers Reef, Southwater Caye, and Rangauna Island Bonefish Camp.
Eloy is one of the real gentlemen of the sea.
He lives in Monkey River but is one of the few
guides who can pretty much fish the whole country
with confidence. When National Geographic comes to Belize to film, Luce (Eloy’s nickname) is usually the first guy they call. An accomplished fly caster in his own right, Eloy lives to be in his boat, stalking fish. He’s been guiding for 22 years. When asked what his favorite fish is to chase with a fly rod, he responded, “anything that swims, mon!”
Eloy works with BFFE out of Punta Gorda, Placencia, Southwater Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Glovers Reef Atoll, Monkey River, and Ranguana Island Bonefish Camp.s. s.
Daniel lives in Placencia with his wife and children and has been guiding full-time for the past 6 years. It’s safe to say that Daniel has Permit on the brain and it’s really all he ever thinks or talks about. Permit, permit, permit! If you want to focus only on permit for the duration of your trip, Daniel is your man. He’ll take guests out to where the fish are and will educate clients about the permits habits and tendencies.
Daniel works with BFFE out of Placencia, Monkey River, Ranguana Island Bonefish camp, Southwater Caye and the Sapodilla Cayes.
Kurt lives in Placencia and has been guiding for “at least 18 years”. He can be found at the end of the fishing day, without fail, at J Birds Bar. He loves to rehash the fishing day over a cold Belikin while planning the next day’s fly fishing adventure. Some say that Kurt is lucky because of the number of “grand slams” that his clients landed last year, but there is no luck involved. Just the experience from a lifetime on the water and the numerous lessons learned.
Kurt works with BFFE out of Placencia, Southwater Caye, Monkey River, the Sapadillo Cayes, Glovers Reef and Ranguana Island Bonefish Club.
Wyatt lives in Placencia with his lovely Swedish wife, Carina. He’s been guiding for the past 8 years and before that was a commercial fisherman. He loves to chase tarpon and permit and always puts his clients onto fish. Nicknamed Urp, after Wyatt Urp, Wyatt has a new boat for the 2002-03 season so guests will be very comfortable when fishing with him.
Wyatt works with BFFE out of Placencia, Glovers Reef, Rangauna Island Bonefish Camp, the Sapodilla Cayes, and Southwater Caye.
Lloyd lives with his wife and family in the coastal village of Hopkins. Lloyd spent 7 years guiding for Lincoln Westby before branching out on his own. Lloyd has been guiding Will Bauer (the inventor of the Bauer Crab) for years and has helped Will land many permit in and around the Southwater Caye area. Lloyd is a permit guide through and through, and while he will occasionally help clients get into bonefish, there’s little doubt that guiding anglers for permit is what he enjoys doing more than just about anything.
Lloyd works with BFFE out of Southwater Caye, Whippari Caye, and Glovers Reef Atoll.
Noel
Nunez
Noel also lives in Hopkins with his family. But unlike his brother Lloyd,
when Noel is not out on the water guiding, he’s running his successful
bar and restaurant, the Watering Hole. If you’re ever in Hopkins,
stop by for a Premium Belikin and a bite to eat. Noel is happy to chase
just about everything that swims and his favorite species to target are
“dem bones mon”.
Noel works with BFFE out of Southwater Caye, and Glovers Reef Atoll
Ian lives south of Placencia in Monkey River. He learned everything he knows about fishing and guidng from his uncle, Eloy Cuevas, one of the best guides Belize has ever produced. Ian has been guiding for 6 years and has a knack for getting fly rodders their first permit. He likes to target both tarpon and permit and will fish as long as his clients can take it during the course of the day. He just won’t quit!
Ian works with BFFE out of Placencia, Monkey River, The Sapodilla Cayes, Port Honduras, Southwater Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll and Glovers Reef Atoll.
Julian lives and works on Whippari Caye, with his lovely wife, Beverly. Whippari is located 11 miles of f the coast of Placencia and Julian has been living on the island since he was a small boy. He’s been guiding fly fishermen for over 20 years and is one of Belize’s most experienced guides. There aren’t many flats in Southern Belize that Julain doesn’t know like the back of his hand. Julian prefers to chase “sickle fins” but will also put guests into tarpon if they want a change of pace.
Julian works with BFFE out Whippari Caye, Placencia, and Southwater Caye.
Omar lives with his very patient wife Judith and his 2 children in San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye. Omar loves to guide and a day on the water with him is a real pleasure. He’s been guiding for the past 12 years after a long career as a commercial fisherman. He loves to look for permit but spends a great deal of his time guiding for bones and tarpon. If you’re thinking of coming to San Pedro and would like to look for permit, you need to fish with Omar!
Omar works with BFFE out of San Pedro, Caye Chapel, and St George’s Caye.
Poncho lives and guides out of San Pedro. He’s been guiding for a long as he can remember and learned the business while guiding out of El Pescador for 20 years. Poncho’s sense of humour will have you in stitches and if you miss a good shot at a nice fish, he’ll just shrug his very broad shoulders and say, “we’ll find more. We always do”.
Poncho works with BFFE out of San Pedro
Nestor lives in San Pedro with his wife and young baby. He learned the guiding business by working with his uncle, Omar, for 3 years. He’s been guiding on his own for the past 4 years and has become a first rate guide. He’s fairly quiet and is very studious about getting clients in front of fish. His favorite species to guide for is bonefish and he’s got some
secret spots that he won’t even tell his uncle about!
Nestor works with BFFE out of San Pedro, Caye Chapel, and St Georges Caye.
Armando lives and guides out of San Pedro. He’s been guiding for 12 years and likes to chase tarpon and bonefish. He’s been known to motor to the mainland when he can’t find any tarpon on the flats. The man does not like to give up! Armando is often confused with Hank Williams Junior. He’s got a big bushy beard and eyes like a hawk.
Armando works with BFFE out of San Pedro
Wilber lives and guides out of San Pedro. He’s been guiding for 15 years and he really enjoys chasing bones and getting people their first hook up with the grey ghosts. He can be pretty quiet, until h starts to spot fish. Once he’s onto bones, it’s almost like your in the boat with a different guide. He’ll hop up and down and talks a mile a minute.
Wilber guides with BFFE out of San Pedro
Manuel Accosta
Manuel lives and guides out of San Pedro with his family.
He’s been guiding for the past 17 years. He likes to chase tarpon
and permit. Manuel is one of the most experienced guides in the San Pedro
village and has helped to teach many of the younger guides who are now
trying to break into the business.
Manuel works with BFFE out of San Pedro, Caye Chapel,
St. Georges Caye and
Bluefield Range.
Mario probably has more years on the water than any guide in Belize. He’s a true legend and over the past 25 years has taught many of the best guides San Pedro has to offer. He loves to chase tarpon and permit.
Mario works with BFFE out of San Pedro, Caye Chapel, St. Georges Caye, and
Bluefield Range.
Parnell lives and guides out of Caye Caulker. He has been guiding for the past 8 years. He loves to target tarpon and will go to great lengths to get guests into fish. His boat draws very little water and he can get into skinny water that most other boats would get stuck in.
Parnell works with BFFE out of Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel, and St. Georges Caye.
©copyright,2004, Belize Flats Fishing Expeditions
: contact : rich@belizeflatsfishing.com