| Species |
Description |
|
|
Sphyraenidae family, 1 genus, 20 species |
Great
|
Sphyraena barracuda. Long and slender
with brownish/gray/green color on top, shading to silver on sides and white on
belly. Scattered spots on lower side, large mouth, sharp teeth. Found along
mangrove shores and in open water. Contrary to popular notions, attacks snorkelers,
swimmers and divers only rarely, usually in connection with an attempt to take a speared
fish. Feeds on smaller fish. Average size in
southern Belize is 7 pounds. Favorite local eating
fish. Trolling and light tackle - can also
be caught on the fly. Best
fishing locations. Seasons. Suggested
gear and tackle. |
| Billfish |
Istiophoridae family, 3 genera, 11 species |
Blue Marlin
|
Makaira nigricans. Dark blue above, 15
vertical rows of pale blue spots on side. Fin tips pointed. Deep
bodied. Found outside reef in warm waters (often near drop-offs), and
highly migratory, following the seasons and ocean currents to remain in warm
waters. Great sport fish, but marlin has not been heavily fished in the Placencia
area. Feeds primarily on surface-dwelling fish and ocean squids. Average size
200+ pounds in southern Belize waters. Trolling, experienced anglers only. Best fishing locations. Seasons.
Suggested gear and tackle. |
Sailfish
|
Istiophorus platypterus. Slender with
high, sail-like dorsal fin. Dark blue shading to white with vertical rows of blue
spots on sides. Found both inside and outside reef. Extremely
warm-water oriented, migration to warmer waters often caused by slight water temperature
changes. Short life span. Great sport fish, but has not been heavily fished in
southern Belize. Feeds on smaller fish (flying fish are favorites) and
squid. Average size 100 pounds in southern Belize
waters. Trolling, experienced
anglers only. Best fishing locations. Seasons. Suggested gear and tackle. |
|
|
Albulidae family, 1 genus, 2 species (recent
research indicates that the most common species, Albula vulpes, may
actually encompass two or more species) |
Bonefish
|
Albula vulpes. Slender, spindle-shaped
body, conical snout, bluish back, silvery sides with dark streaks on upper sides.
Found on flats, mangrove areas and river mouths. Feeds on invertebrates in shallow
water. Average size 5 pounds in southern Belize
waters. Good sport fish (catch and
release only). Fly fishing or light tackle. Best
fishing locations. Seasons. Suggested
gear and tackle. |
| Dorado (dolphin) |
Coryphaenidae family, 1 genus, 2 species |
Dolphin fish
|
Coryphaena hippurus (also known as
Mahi-Mahi - not to be confused with the mammal). Compressed tapering body,
brilliantly blue-green in color (color fades rapidly after boating). Small black
spots on head and body. Found near the surface in open water. Follows ships,
floating objects and large mats of floating sargassum. Feeds on fish, squid and
crustaceans. Excellent food fish. Average size
in southern Belize is 35 pounds. Trolling. Best fishing locations. Seasons. Suggested gear and tackle. |
|
|
Carangidae family, 32 genera, 140 species |
Crevalle
|
Cranx hippos. Blunt head,
top is
yellowish green to blue/black, silver with yellow tones on sides and belly. Small
scales, spot on lower rays of pectoral fin and patch of scales on chest. Powerful
swimmers. Found in shallow flats, near shore, open water and rivers (the older the
fish, the further offshore the Crevalle is likely to have traveled).
Spawning during the full moon periods in April and May
attract schools of whale sharks in the Gladden Spit area off the Placencia
coast of southern Belize. Average size
10 pounds in southern Belize. Trolling or light tackle. Best
fishing locations. Seasons. Suggested
gear and tackle. |
|
Trachinotus falcatus. Deep-bodies, blunt
snout, silvery gray, often with circular black patch on side. Found over flats close
to reef, and in lagoon and river channels and holes. Average
southern Belize size 10 pounds. Good sport fish (catch and release only).
Primarily fly-fishing, can also be caught on light
tackle, but with live or cut bait only. Very
spooky, clear line works best. Best fishing locations. Seasons.
Suggested gear and tackle. |
|
|
Scombridae family, 15 genera, 49 species |
|
Thunnus
atlanticus. Dark blue back with white belly, low second dorsal and anal fins.
Found near the surface in open water outside the reef to a depth of about 650 feet.
Average size 12 pounds in southern Belize. Good sport and eating fish.
Feeds on smaller fish. Trolling, light tackle
and on the fly. Whale sharks can often be
found around schools of feeding blackfins in the summer months off the
southern Belize coast. Best
fishing locations. Seasons. Suggested
gear and tackle. |
King
|
Scomberomorus cavalla.
Iridescent green back, clear dorsal fin, lateral line that curves downward at soft dorsal
fin level. Large, sharp, blade-like teeth. Tend to travel in small schools and
be found near surface in open water inside and outside reef. Average
southern Belize size 10 pounds. Feeds on smaller fish (shad, small jack and herring-like fish).
Trolling and light tackle. Best fishing locations.
Seasons. Suggested gear and tackle. |
|
Katsuwonus pelamis.
Dark blue on top shading to silvery white on belly, dark longitudinal lines on lower
side. Found in open water to depths of 860 feet during day and on surface at
night. Average size 12 pounds off southern Belize
coast. Good sport and eating
fish. Feeds on smaller fish. Trolling and light tackle. Best fishing locations. Seasons.
Suggested gear and tackle. |
Serra
Spanish
|
Scomberomurus
brasiliensis. Silvery with 3 rows of orange spots on side, 47-49
vertebrae
(rather than 50-53 found on the Spanish Mackerel, Scomberomorus maculatus).
Found near the surface in open water outside the reef. Average size 2 pounds in
Placencia area. Good sport and eating fish. Feeds on smaller fish.
Trolling and light tackle. Best fishing locations. Seasons. Suggested gear and tackle. |
|
Acanthocybium solandri. Blueish green
shading to silvery white, long beak-like snout, vertical blue bars along upper side,
lateral line curving downward below first dorsal fin. Wahoo tend to travel singly,
rather than in schools. Migratory following warm weather and water. Found near
the surface in open water outside the reef to a depth of about 650 feet. Average
size 25 pounds in southern Belize - not heavily targeted
for sport fishing in Belize. Good sport and eating fish. Feeds on
smaller fish (flying fish are a Wahoo favorite). Trolling and
light tackle. Best fishing locations. Seasons.
Suggested gear and tackle. |
|
Thunnus albacares. Dark blue shading to
pale yellow to silver-white, with yellow dorsal and anal fins. Found near the
surface in open water outside the reef to a depth of about 650 feet. Migratory
following warm weather and water. Averages 30 pounds in
southern Belize.
Excellent sport and eating fish. Feeds on smaller fish. Trolling and
light tackle. Best fishing locations. Seasons. Suggested gear and tackle. |
|
|
Serranidae family, 3 subfamilies, 62 genera,
449 species (Sea Bass are hermaphrodites, that is, individual fish are able to change sex
under certain circumstances) |
|
Epinephelinae subfamily |
--Black
|
Mycteroperca bonaci (also known as a "gag
fish"). Body somewhat elongated, gray/brownish color, rectangular dark
gray blotches on sides of body. Found in coral reefs and other hard-bottomed areas
at depths of 33 to 100 feet. Average size 15 pounds in
southern Belize.
Feeds on smaller fish. Trolling, bottom fishing and handlining. Best fishing locations. Seasons.
Suggested gear and tackle. |
--Nassau
|
Epinephelus striatus. Moderate size,
light olive/tan to reddish body, dark mark on front of head, small dots around eye, dark
vertical bars on side of body. Capable of rapidly changing colors from white to
banded to very dark. Found over hard bottoms such as coral reefs in depths of up to
300 feet. Average size 10 pounds in southern Belize
- becoming rare. Feeds on smaller
fish. Trolling, bottom fishing and handlining. Best
fishing locations. Seasons. Suggested
gear and tackle. |
--Red
|
Epinephelus morio. Moderate size, reddish
brown, small spots on side of head. Found near shore to depths of approximately 360
feet. Average southern Belize size
of 7 pounds. Feeds on smaller fish.
Trolling, bottom fishing and handlining. Best fishing
locations. Seasons. Suggested
gear and tackle. |
--Tiger
|
Mycteroperca tigris. Somewhat elongated,
greenish/black in color, brown spots on cheeks, pale narrow lines on back, yellow-orange
color inside mouth. Found over coral reefs and rocky bottoms. Average
southern Belize size is 15
pounds. Feeds on smaller fish. Trolling, bottom fishing and handlining. Best fishing locations. Seasons. Suggested gear and tackle. |
--Yellowfin
|
Mycteroperca venenosa. Similar in
appearance to Black Grouper, but without squarish blotches or yellow margin on pectoral
fin of Black Groupers. Found over coral reefs and to depths of approximately
450 feet. Averages 15 pounds in
southern Belize. Feeds on smaller
fish. Trolling, bottom fishing and handlining. Best
fishing locations. Seasons. Suggested
gear and tackle. |
|
|
Lutjanidae family, 21 genera, 125 species |
Cubera
|
Lutjanus cyanopterus. Oblong body, dark
gray back and side with slight pink/red tinge. Rounded anal fin. Found around
reefs and rocky bottoms in all water depths up to 130 feet. Feeds on fish and
crustaceans. Average size 30 pounds in southern
Belize. Night fishing
only. Bottom fishing or light tackle. Best fishing locations.
Seasons. Suggested gear and tackle. |
Mangrove (a/k/a Gray)
|
Lutjanus griseus. Oblong, moderately
compressed body. Grayish green in color. Found around mangroves, grass beds,
shallow rocky areas and coral reefs to depths of 60 feet. Feeds on fish, mainly at
night. Good eating fish. Averages 1 pound in
southern Belize.
Light tackle and fly fishing. Best fishing locations. Seasons. Suggested gear and tackle. |
Mutton
|
Lutjanus analis. Oblong body, greenish
back and upper sides, lower side slightly pink/red. Two blue lines on each side of
the snout. Found along mangrove shores, in lagoons and rivers over sandy bottoms
containing plant matter, and over reefs. Feeds on small fish, crustaceans and
mollusks. Average size 12 pounds in southern Belize in open water, 3 pounds around
docks and beaches. Good eating fish. Light tackle,
fly fishing and bottom fishing. Best fishing locations. Seasons.
Suggested gear and tackle. |
Queen
|
Etelis oculatus. (Locally
known as "Red Snapper") Red with large eyes and a deep notch in the
dorsal fin. Found in deep water (440-1,475 feet). Feeds on
smaller fish. Average size 20 pounds
in southern Belize. Good eating fish. Bottom fishing.
Best fishing locations. Seasons.
Suggested gear and tackle. |
Yellowtail
|
Ocyurus chrysurus. Elongated body,
deeply forked tail, upper body blue/gray with yellow spots, yellow line along mid-side
area of fish. Found along coral reefs in water up to 60 feet. Feeds on fish
and invertebrates. Average size 1 pound. Good eating
fish. Bottom fishing, handlining, light tackle and flyfishing. Best fishing locations. Seasons.
Suggested gear and tackle. |
|
|
Centropomidae family, 3 genera, 22
species. |
Common
|
Centropomus undecimalis. Slender body
with fine scales, yellow/brown or green/brown upper body, silver sides and belly.
Found in coastal marine and brackish waters, may also enter fresh water. Feeds on
fish and crustaceans. Average size 8 pounds in
southern Belize. Good sport and
eating fish. Fly-fishing or
light tackle. Best
fishing locations. Seasons. Suggested
gear and tackle. |
|
|
Megalopidae family, 1 genus (experts differ
on whether there are one or two tarpon genus), 2 species. Tarpon are related to
ladyfish, bonefish and eels. |
| |
Megalops atlanticus. Very large
elongated body, silvery color, large hard scales, large mouth with bony jaws. Found in inshore waters around mangroves and brackish estuaries (sometimes
entering fresh water). Can survive in water with very little oxygen (such as
low-oxygen marshes and estuaries). Feeds on live fish (shad and similar looking
forage fish). Average size 25 pounds in Monkey River,
Southern Lagoon at Gales Point and Placencia Lagoon, 75
pounds in Inner Channel off the southern Belize coast, and 150 pounds and up in Deep River/Punta Ycacos
mid-December through end of January. Good sport fish (catch and release
only). Fly fishing or
light tackle. Best fishing
locations. Seasons. Suggested
gear and tackle. |
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