The Fishing

Saltwater anglers enjoy fishing the waters of Turneffe Atoll because of the wide variety of species available to anglers on a year round basis. Turneffe Flats is one of the few places on earth where fisherman can expect to have a good shot at the saltwater “Grand Slam.” Numerous times every season guests come back boasting of landing bonefish, permit, and tarpon all in one day. Turneffe’s unique fishery is a great spot to consider for both beginner flats anglers as well as experienced fly rodders. From wade friendly ocean flats to leeward lagoons or interior flats, the atoll has every style and species of saltwater flats fishing available in the Caribbean. All boats at Turneffe Flats are standard 16’ Dolphin Super Skiffs with poling platforms and reliable motors.

BONEFISH

Although typically smaller in size than Bahamian bonefish, they are found in large numbers. The majority of the fishing at Turneffe Flats is done wading the ocean side of the island on hard-bottomed white sand or turtle grass flats looking for groups of schooling bonefish. While the ocean side flats are a wade fisherman’s dream, some of these fish can be a bit spooky at times. This technical style of fishing really hones your skills and keeps the interest level high. Fishermen also have the luxury of getting out of the wind by concentrating their efforts in mangrove lagoons or inner flats in calmer water. Most of this interior flats bonefishing is done from the skiff, and anglers typically encounter a bit bigger and more solitary fish when compared to the schoolers on the reef side of the atoll.

TARPON

Tarpon are another species that is prevalent at Turneffe Flats Lodge the majority of the year. While Turneffe should not be considered an exclusive tarpon destination, there are year round opportunities for resident baby and juvenile tarpon around the atoll. These fish are most often targeted in the mangroves and secluded areas of the lagoon both sight casting and throwing to rolling fish. During the summer months (May – September) larger adult migratory tarpon filter through the island’s flats, creeks and channels, and offer shots for real trophies in the 50-150 pound range. Tarpon will infrequently show themselves laid up or cruising both the flats and along the reef as well – making for an exciting incidental surprise while targeting bonefish or permit.

PERMIT

Many anglers visit Turneffe Flats just for the permit fishery. What really makes the experience unique is the wading opportunities on the atoll. Unlike most fisheries in the Caribbean, permit will feed on the shallow flats giving anglers reasonable odds at having shots at fish.  Guests will also have the opportunity to fish the more standard style done from the skiff in the deeper flats and channels surrounding and in the interior lagoon of the atoll. Like many permit fisheries in the Caribbean, anglers should expect consistent opportunity for schooling permit in the 5-15 pound range, and a few shots at larger and more solitary specimens over twenty or even thirty pounds. Presentations can involve small crabs in very skinny water for dedicated feeding/tailing fish, or spawning shrimp patterns in deeper water for more active cruising targets. Regardless of the fishing conditions for the week, the Turneffe Atoll  always yields numerous opportunities to tag perhaps the greatest of all saltwater flats trophies.

OTHER SPECIES

The interior of the Turneffe Atoll offers miles of mangrove-lined bays, creeks and lagoons to fish for various snappers, jacks and barracuda. This can be some very exciting saltwater fishing with either a fly rod or spinning gear. Along the reef, wading anglers can expect to take shots at snappers and jacks by casting deceiver patterns or poppers into the surf. Parrot fish and Triggerfish can also be found along the reef feeding on coral and small crustaceans. Although both species can often be over looked they are actually quite sporty and abundant. Spending some time during your stay at Turneffe targeting other species is always fun and usually rewarding.

THE GUIDES

The guides at Turneffe Flats have a reputation as being some of the best in the business. If you have fished often throughout Belize, you will recognize such names as Cabral and Westby – both big names in the Belizean guiding community. They are real deal generational guides – many of which have fished Turneffe for over twenty years.

RENTAL EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE

The lodge is equipped with quality rental gear including Sage Rods (8, 10, 11 weights), Abel and Hatch Reels (left and right hand retrieve), as well as Patagonia and Simms flats boots for those who don’t want to bring their own gear. The lodge also has a nice fly and gift shop that carries flies, terminal tackle, sunscreen and some souvenirs.

Accommodations

The lodging at Turneffe Flats is as nice and comfortable as you will find in any dedicated fishing lodge, and consistent updates have heightened comfort and freshened up each of the lodge’s cabanas and villas. Guest rooms accommodating 18 anglers per week are about 450 sq. feet and have ample room for guests to unpack and feel at home. All rooms are centrally air-conditioned and each room includes a large, private bath. Furnishings include two queen-sized beds.

Each of the lodge’s eight double occupancy cabanas has its own verandah overlooking the turquoise water of the western Caribbean. Three villas (Reef Villa, Garden Villa, and Pelican Villa) offer a little more square footage, a common area with kitchenette, satellite TV and three bedrooms. The Garden Villa also has a small exercise facility on the bottom floor as well as a meeting area that works well for business or family oriented gatherings.

The main lodge is a fully air-conditioned facility where guests take meals and relax at the bar. The bar is well stocked with liquor, red and white wine, and of course Belikin, the local beer. There is also a fairly extensive tropical cocktail menu that is a must try during your stay at the lodge. Three meals are served daily and consist of traditional Belizean flare of seafood and fresh local produce. There is a beautiful swimming pool, outdoor bar and two large upper and lower decks attached to the lodge that are great spots to enjoy the gorgeous view and a cocktail. A gift / fly shop is adjacent to the main dining room and sells souvenirs, some flies and terminal tackle, sunscreen, and a few other necessities you may have forgotten.

The property sits on a gorgeous sandy point on the northeastern side of Turneffe Atoll with an idyllic view of the reef out front. The grounds surrounding the property are always well manicured and well kept, and there is not another soul around other than the other handful of guests at the lodge. If you have not had enough fishing after a full day on the water, the expansive flat in front of the lodge is home to several happy schools of bonefish for you to chase in the late afternoon. Some of the best bonefishing sessions occur unguided, after cocktail hour, as the sun is fading over the island.

CAPACITY

18 anglers per week, with additional lodging for non-anglers

Travel

Guests at Turneffe Flats fly into the capital of Belize, Belize City. Belize City is serviced by Delta,  American and United Airlines from most major U.S. cities. Once in Belize City, guests are met and escorted to the dock in the city harbor to board a comfortable, forty-eight foot, closed cabin power boat for a ninety-minute and scenic ride to the island. Turneffe Flats Lodge can easily be reached in half a day with a direct three-hour flight from Dallas, Houston, Atlanta or Miami.

Sample Itinerary

Turneffe Flats Typically operates on a seven night / six day package based on a Saturday – Saturday itinerary. Package costs are based upon this schedule, however three night / two day and four night / three day itineraries are available under some circumstances. Please inquire for details.

SATURDAY

Travel to Belize City. Upon arrival in Belize City, you will be met and escorted to the Raddison Hotel and Marina for the ninety-minute boat ride to the island. No guided activities planned on day of arrival.

SUNDAY – FRIDAY

Fishing, Diving, Snorkeling, Swimming, Kayaking, Bird Watching, Beach Combing, Napping, Eating and Drinking Days!

SATURDAY

After breakfast guests are transported by boat back to Belize City for commercial connection home.

When to Go

Turneffe Flats is open year round, and Turneffe Atoll enjoys excellent fishing conditions more or less all season long. Belize has a subtropical climate that is uniformly hot and humid, although it is tempered by the trade winds. The dry season is from February to March with another brief spell during August, while the hurricane season is from late July to October. Temperatures during the summer months can become extremely warm, and anglers who are especially bothered by heat may want to consider avoiding the summer heat. However, do know that Turneffe Flats does have comfortable fully air conditioned facilities to get out of the heat on a hot summer day.

A comfortable southeasterly trade wind blows throughout most of the year, and tends to pick up in February and March. June is called the ‘rainy season’ in Belize but this relates primarily to the mainland rainforest and has little effect on the coastal regions. On rare occasion during the winter months, cooler temperatures and northerly breezes can be tougher on anglers, but for the most part Belize is a very consistent wintertime fishery.

May – August are considered prime tarpon months for migratory fish exceeding one hundred pounds. For those snook anglers, the wintertime months are the best time to find this elusive species on the flats or in the mangroves.

Non-Angling Activities

Turneffe Flats caters to non-anglers with its first class dive package, adventure atoll package, and the “R&R” package. Guests not interested in fishing are well entertained while spouses and travel partners are off on the flats.

DIVING PACKAGE

Belize consistently ranks among the top Caribbean dive destinations and Turneffe Flats is ideally located to take advantage of some of the best diving in Belize. Over 60 sites around the Turneffe Atoll are within easy reach, and Lighthouse Atoll, home of the famous Blue Hole, is only an hour’s boat ride away. As the largest coral atoll in the Caribbean, Turneffe offers varied underwater terrain of spur and groove formations, sandy ledges and sheer walls providing spectacular dive sites to suit every level of diver.

The eastern side of Turneffe is protected by 35 miles of reef. It shelves gradually to about 60 ft. where spur and groove formations meet the wall. Nutrients produced in the mangroves are dispersed on the reef by the tides and gentle currents causing huge concentrations of feeding fish on this side of the wall. On the west side of the atoll, the mangroves of Turneffe provide shelter from the swells and large waves. A gently sloping bottom lies at 30-50ft and large reef formations cover the white sand bottom. The reduced wave action allows sponges and soft corals to grow magnificently and sea feathers of 5ft tall are common.

In the North, the reef is buffeted by the Caribbean swells and trade winds but on the calmest of days divers can explore these almost untouched areas. Schools of mutton snapper, atlantic spadefish and permit hover 80ft above the sea floor and blue and rainbow runners make close passes. Turneffe’s most southern point is dotted with a variety of popular sites that are featured in many of the Belize dive guides. The Elbow is probably the most famous site here and the ocean current over deep reef attracts big schools of pelagic fish. The other sites vary enormously as you move up the southwest or southeast side with everything from patch reef nurseries, dramatic coral formations to steep drop-offs.

Throughout the Turneffe Atoll, you will see a variety of hard and soft corals as well as all of the Caribbean tropicals, eagle rays, sharks, turtles, dolphins, moray eels, and occasionally whale sharks in addition to large schools of permit, horse eye jacks and dog snapper. Most diving is done from a forty-eight foot Custom Dive Boat. This is a large, comfortable, shaded boat allowing us easy access to the entire Turneffe Atoll as well as the Lighthouse Reef. A limited number of guests mean that there are seldom more than six divers sharing this spacious dive boat.

Instruction is available at Turneffe Flats through their PADI Instructors if you are a first time diver and want to learn. Certifications include Open Water Referral and Advanced Open Water Certification (Underwater Navigation, Deep Diving and 3 elective dives) as well as a full range of Specialty Courses. ‘Discover Scuba Courses’ are also available for those who wish to experience SCUBA for the first time.

ATOLL ADVENTURE PACKAGE

Explore the wonders and beauty of the Turneffe Atoll at your own pace. Snorkel, bird watch, or pursue a number of other fun and informative activities. If you feel like it, stay at the lodge and lounge on the beach. Every day offers a great new adventure and a perfect opportunity to relax – that’s what the Atoll Adventure is all about.

Choose from a variety of daily-guided activities led by one of the Atoll Adventure guides, all of who are informative and fun. Turneffe Flats’ twin-engine, canopied boat is at your guide’s disposal for exploring the reefs, mangroves, creeks and lagoons that make Turneffe the largest and most biologically diverse atoll in the Caribbean.

With at least 60 species of birds at Turneffe, birding is another highlight. You may also want to tour the atoll searching for manatees and dolphins or enjoy an afternoon kayaking. The Atoll Adventure Program is a very flexible and is tailored to fit the particular interests of each group.

Of course, exploring the 300 square mile Turneffe Atoll can itself be an adventure. Turneffe has a fascinating history, including Mayan fishing and trading settlements dating to 400 A.D. Turneffe was also a favored hideout for Blackbeard, one of the notorious pirates of the Caribbean. For most guests, learning about the history of Turneffe as well as the fascinating history of Belize is one of the more enjoyable parts of their visit.

Other Atoll Adventure activities include: snorkeling, night snorkeling, Mayan ruin tours, mainland tours, manatee, dolphin, and crocodile tours, flats walking tour and Mayan cooking class.

“R & R” PACKAGE

“Rest and Relaxation” – This package is ideal for those who wish to relax and enjoy the beauty and serenity of a private tropical island. There are hammocks under the palm trees in which to relax and shore walks, sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling are all readily available. This package does not include any organized activities but an inland tour of the Mayan Ruins or Belize Zoo can easily be arranged during your stay.

Rates

RATES

(Based on shared room / shared guide. Please inquire about rates for private room/boat)

January – June

7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing:$5280 per angler

4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing:$3080 per angler

July – December

7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing:$4630 per angler

4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing:$3080 per angler

DIVING PACKAGE

7 Nights / 6 Days: $3545 per diver

4 Nights / 3 Days: $2100 per diver

ATOLL ADVENTURE/SNORKELING PACKAGE

7 Nights / 6 Days:$3220 per person

4 Nights / 3 Days:$1995 per person

“R&R” PACKAGE

7 Nights / 6 Days:$3000 per person

4 Nights / 3 Days:$1710 per person

COMBINATION FISHING/DIVING PACKAGE

7 Nights / 6 Days:$5460 per person

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Accommodations at Turneffe Flats Lodge; Ground from Belize City Airport to boat dock; Boat transfer to Turneffe Atoll; Meals; Non-alcoholic beverages; Use of on-site amenities including pool, internet, kayaks and the gym

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

Airfare to Belize City; Beer and Liquor; Gratuities; Equipment rentals; $40 Blue Hole Entrance Fee (Diving Packages); Park Entrance Fees and Fishing License; Any required Accommodation in Belize City in the event of delay; Additional Water Transfer Charges (Non-Saturdays and Wednesdays); Any additional tours/sightseeing days; $35 (US) or $70 (BZ) Belize Departure Tax

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Tailwaters Travel must adhere to the cancellation policies of the guides, outfitters and lodges which it represents. Turneffe Flats Lodge’s policy follows: A refundable 25% deposit is required to secure all reservations. Final balance is due 60 days prior to departure. All fees are refundable up to sixty (60) days prior to departure minus a $100 cancellation fee per rod. Within sixty days of departure, all funds are non-refundable unless a replacement client is found. Refunds of deposits/payments made on credit cards will be charged a 3.5% service charge to fully compensate Tailwaters Travel for all bank charges incurred. Refunds or credits are not given for fishing time lost due to inclement weather. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgement that registrant has read and accepts the cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses.