New Belize Destination: Hopkins

We are pleased to unveil our new Southern Belize destination. Hopkins village is located a 20 minute flight South of Belize city in the Stann Creek district. This small fishing village is located a short run to some of the world's most prolific permit flats. Combine this with the countless lagoons that tarpon make their home and the ever present bonefish and you find yourself in an ideal saltwater fly fishing location. This destination will be part of our hosted fly fishing packages will several hosted trips running in 2010. We have just had UK fly fishing writer Toby Coe head down to Belize and check out the place and here are his thoughts:

Mat,

All of my nonsense about 'not being particularly fussed about permit' turned out to be exactly that as soon as I got to Belize. Like probably every other flyfisher that has ever seen that big black tail waving in the air, I was an instant convert. Although a remarkably unsuccessful one. Due to sheer ineptitude on my part, I didn't land any permit during my three days of fishing with Jim, although I got a lot of shots. However, Jim did have a nice fish of around 7-8lb.

I was amazed by the number and size of permit we saw on the flats. On our best day, we probably saw 40-50 permit, including a couple of shoals of around a dozen fish. They weren't small either - Jim reckons the average size of permit down there is about 10-12lb and we saw some clonking fish, including a really nice fish in the mid-20s that gave me a severe case of buck fever.

Caught a few bones too and saw bonito and jacks smashing bait, plus a heap of tarpon, both out around the cays and also in the creeks and mangroves. The sheer variety of fishing in the area really has to be seen to be believed.

Jim's house is fantastic! Beautifully finished, very comfortable and right on the beach. There are some great local restaurants and bars nearby as well. Hopefully the attached pics will help give an idea of what it's like out there!

Cheers, Toby

For trip information please check our Special Offers page.

Christmas Island keeps producing great catches

Hi Matt,

.............. anyway christmas island what can you say! Well firstly its a long way but dont let this put you off, its a wonderful place and a great adventure for all you fly fishermen/women. We stopped at The Villages a small complex of 6 chalets 50metres from the fishing boats. They were quite new clean and were of a good size with all that you reqire including a fridge of beer.

When you tell people about the this trip you get the same old questions how was the hotel, pool and food ? Well their isn't a pool or hotel and the food is quite basic but tasty. Remember you are in the middle of the Pacific and that flight only arrives once a week. The flight is on a small twin prop plane that can seat 20 people but its no worse than your usual flight to Spain or Greece.

Primarily this was a bonefishing trip but turned into 3 days bonefishing and 3 days blue water fly fishing . Yes if you want to fish for bones and GT's then you can and you will catch plenty with the average size being 2-4lb with some bigger fish in the 8-10lb bracket to be found, but to fish just for the bones would be doing the island an injustice as their is such a variaty of other species out their waiting to be caught....... and they are big so go prepared with heavy lines and plenty of spare poppers and lures, THOSE GT PULL LIKE MAD AND LIKE THE ROCKS.

During the trip we managed to hook and land bones with the biggest being in the 6lb bracket, giant trevally, bluefin trevally, golden trevally, skip jack tuna, baracuda and wahoo. We also lost big GT's ,Wahoo and one shark. The best flies seemed to be the standard christmas island special in pink, orange and pearl for the bonefish and the blue flashy decievers and abel anchovy for GT's and tuna with the lures and poppers being about 25-30g 100mm long again blue mackerel colours being most productive.

Mike Marao was our guide for the week that's him with the big smile. He will put you on the fish, spot the bones and knows were to fish in the ocean and nothing is a problem. Always on time, flexible and ready with advise should you require it.

So should you go to christmas island YES!
Would I go back YES IN A SHOT!

So that said its a big thanks to matt and mike for a great trip!

P.S There are no fishing tackle shops on Christmas Island so take extra line and backing ect. If you do forget somthing there are 2 shops in Waikiki.

cheers and good luck
John and Angela