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Deep South
Fishing:
Sapodilla Cayes,
Snake Cayes,
Punta Ycacos Lagoon, Moho, Rio Grande and Deep Rivers
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Punta
Gorda Town
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The Toledo District is the
southernmost district of Belize and runs from the Belize-Guatemala
border north to the general area of Monkey River Village. |
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The District's main
population center is Punta Gorda Town ("PG" as it's
known in Belize), which fronts on the Bay of Honduras. Some
people describe Toledo as the "end of the earth" -- but so what -- the
fewer people - the more fish.
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Inland, the
Toledo District is full of caves, rainforest, rivers, rice fields, the
Mayan Mountains and small Mayan villages that look much as they did a
hundred years ago.
Where to Fish
The Moho, Rio Grande
and Deep Rivers emptying into the sea are good fishing (tarpon and
snook) and beautiful kayaking waterways. (Deep River is known
for the big tarpon (100+ pounds) usually found in the river in January
and early February.) |
Kayaking on Deep River
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Agami Heron at Moho River |
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Several
cayes (islands) lie almost directly off the PG coast, including the
Snake Cayes and Albaloon and Frenchmen Cayes. Further north are
the Sapodilla Cayes, Punta Ycacos Lagoon, the flats off Punta Ycacos
and New Haven, and the area around Punta Negra, just south of Monkey
River. (Flats are wadeable with sand bottoms and sea grass.) |
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Permit at
Punta Ycacos Lagoon
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Local
guides provide this breakdown of Deep South fishing areas: |
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Moho
and Rio Grand: juvenile tarpon and snook - December through
January |
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Deep
River: 100+ pound tarpon - January, first part of
February |
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Flats: year-round,
best near Punta Ycacos Lagoon, Albaloon and Frenchmen's Cayes;
tarpon is good on the flats near Frenchman's Caye in
November |
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Sapodillas: bones, year-round |
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Punta
Ycacos Lagoon: permit year-round, and tarpon in November |
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Two
small freshwater lakes near Punta Negra are good for beginning
anglers with good quantities of small juvenile tarpon and
snook.
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Guides |
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Like
almost all fishing guides in the rest of Belize, Toledo fishing guides
have been fishing since they were children going out with their dads
to earn a little spending money catching and selling their fish.
Guided fishing days begin and end
based on the tides, the targeted fish, hours of daylight, wind,
weather and client preferences.
We are
working with the following guides in our Toledo fishing program: |
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Ovel Leonardo, Jr:
Ovel has been guiding since 1997 and
received formal fly fishing guide training from Orvis in 1998 and
Scientific Angler in the summer of 2002.
Ovel is single and has an associate degree in business from the
Toledo Community College. He's been fishing with his dad
since he was 9 -- partly out of self defense to escape the
clutches of his four sisters. Ovel's dad works for the
American Canadian Caribbean Line and fishes commercially
part-time. Mom, Kim Young Leonardo, is a homemaker.
Ovel has two boats, the Cool Runner I and the Cool
Runner II.
Ovel's favorite part of guiding is "the great big smile people get
when they land that first fish."
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John Young:
John is Ovel's uncle on his
mother's side and has been guiding since 1995.
John has the best fly fishing guide record for the El Pescador
South fishing lodge for the biggest permit ever caught by a guest
(35 pounds) and the lodge's very first Grand Slam since its 2002
opening.
John used to fish commercially and like
most of Belize's guides, that's where he
received his introduction to the Sea.
John is married to Dorna and his
three children, Julie Yvette, 21, Dianne,
17 -- and Baby Alfred, 2 months!
(John was out fishing with clients
the day Baby Alfred
was born -- and caught two permit that day!)
Permit is the name of his boat.
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 Alex
Leonardo: Alex
is also Ovel's uncle (dad's side) and has also been guiding since
1997.
Alex started fishing when he was a kid -- and never stopped
because he says he was "born to fish."
Alex also received formal fly fishing guide training from Orvis in
1998 and Scientific Angler in the summer of 2002.
Alex is married and has a son, Alex, Jr., 5 years old, the apple
of his mom and dad's eye. Mom is Celia Leonardo and Alex
named his boat after Celia - - the Sea Dreamer. |
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Fishing Toledo |
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Taste of
Toledo: If you'll be in
Placencia and would like to try a day or two of fishing down in the
Deep South, two days of guided fishing and two nights in PG (air
conditioned sea front room), 2 lunches, roundtrip air transport
between Placencia and PG, roundtrip ground transport in PG, roundtrip
ground transport between your hotel and the Placencia airstrip,
hotel taxes and service charges, plus sales tax on guided fishing and
lunches is $453 USD per person, based on two anglers, double
occupancy.
We'll get you to the
Placencia airstrip in time for the last flight from Placencia to PG at
4:25 pm on Day 1. You'll be met at the PG airport for
transport to your PG hotel, fish for a full day on Day 2, overnight in
PG that night, start fishing early on the morning of Day 3 and be back
at the PG airport in time to catch the last flight back to Placencia
at 4 p.m. We'll pick you up at the Placencia airstrip at
4:20 pm and get you back to your Placencia hotel well in time for
dinner that night.
(Note: the Taste
of Toledo does not include meals other than lunches on guided fishing
days, fishing or snorkeling gear, Placencia accommodations,
gratuities, alcoholic beverages, meals other than the two lunches on
the guided fishing days, personal items or souvenirs.)
South for the Winter:
7 days/6 nights/5 days fishing - $1,232 USD per person (based on 2
anglers), including the following:
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Roundtrip air transport between Belize
International Airport and Punta Gorda Airport |
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Roundtrip ground transport between PG
Airport and Seafront Inn |
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6 nights lodging at Seafront Inn
(seafront, air conditioning, cable television) |
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5 full days guided fishing (1 guide/1
boat/2 anglers) |
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Meals: continental breakfast and
lunch each fishing day (5 breakfasts, 5 lunches) |
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Hotel taxes and service charges, sales
tax on guided fishing and meals |
Does not include:
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International air |
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Belize departure tax ($20 USD per person) |
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Fishing gear or tackle, snorkeling gear |
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Meals other than as specifically
described above |
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Gratuities |
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Personal items |
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Souvenirs |
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Trip cancellation insurance |
Just the Fishing, Ma'am:
If you'll be in the Toledo District anyway and would like to
do some fishing, let us know and we'll be happy to set up a day -- or
six --or any number of days your heart desires. Rates are $250
USD per day per boat (2 anglers/1 guide), plus 8% sales tax.
Each day of guided fishing includes lunch.
Contact us
at
info@destinationsbelize.com for information on other Toledo
options including kayaking and camping trips, family land and sea
trips combining fishing and/or snorkeling or kayaking, Mayan ruins,
caving and jungle exploration.
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