Permit Fishing in Punta Gorda Belize

For those wanting to focus on permit on the fly, whether it is catching your first permit or your largest permit, then the pancake flats of Punta Gorda (PG) is the perfect choice.  

You should know that the fishing in Punta Gorda is 90 percent permit fishing.  While there are opportunities for tarpon and snook in the rivers, with bonefish and jacks in the lagoon, the goal of fishing in PG is catching permit.

The fishing is done primarily from the most comfortable supar pangas in Belize.  The pancake flats are located a short 20-30 minute boat ride from town, while the lagoon is a 40-45 minutes.  The river is the closest fishery to PG and the out lying Cayes - the Sopadillas are a lengthy hour plus.  Regardless of where your guide takes you, you will be impressed with the abundance of permit and there willingness to eat your fly.

Permit fishing Capital

Many locales in the Caribbean claim to be the Permit Capital of the World, but few of them have the fishery to back up the claim.  With the interesting system of pancake flats, the large northern lagoon, and the unique phenomenon of floating crabs, allows PG to hold the title of Permit Capital.

You can expect to see schools of permit cruising and feeding along the turtle grass edges of the flats, with larger singles or doubles tailing and cruising on the pancake flats.  In the lagoon, the mud colored bottom helps anglers easily see the fish from great distances and target them with deliberate and accurate casts.

celebrated permit guides

For nearly 20 years the Garbutt brother's - Scully, Oliver, Eworth, and Dennis have been guiding anglers from all over the world.  A few years ago, their dream of owning and operating their own lodge came true when they purchased the marina on the edge of Punta Gorda and constructed their rustic, yet extremely comfortable lodge.  

They have since grown, and now their Uncle Vic, cousin Yogi, and friend Alex all take permit anglers to the prime pancake flats of the Port of Honduras Marine reserve.  

Each of these guides has a fun and energetic personality.  They are welcoming and patient. Most importantly, they will put you on fish.

unique permit fishing

Uniqueness of a fishery is something we are always looking for.  When we find an fishery that hasn't been experienced any where else, we are very excited to share it.  The permit fishing in Punta Gorda Belize has one such fishery.

It seems that when the stars align, the tides flow just right, and when the permit want to play anglers in PG can experience permit fishing unfound anywhere else... Permit eating floating crabs.  

You have to see it, to believe it.  What's even more unbelievable is the size of the permit that feed in this way.  According to the guides, it is uncommon to see a fish under 15 pounds and it is more common to see fish over 20 pounds.

You should be cautioned thought - This phenomenon does happen, it is very difficult to predict when it will happen.  There are tides cycles that are more likely to produce this special event, but it there are no guarantees that it will happen as predicted.