Fishing
Cruises:
At Belize River Lodge, we are proud to be the pioneers in
developing live-aboard cruises within Belize. Each
mothership comes with it's own crew, Captain, Guide, Chef,
and flats skiffs. For the truly adventurous sport fisherman
or cruising aficionado, this is the ultimate safari.
This is the most successful and versatile way to travel
to remote locations in order to fish the FLATS, mangrove
channels, rivers, coral reefs, and cayes of Belize for
PERMIT, BONEFISH, TARPON, SNOOK, BARRACUDA, JACK, SNAPPER,
and many other species of game fish. GRAND SLAMS are common
on these trips.
Living
aboard one of our comfortable motherships allows you to
visit a variety of fishing grounds not otherwise accessible
in this, the last uncrowded region left in the Caribbean.
Fishing is from comfortable 23 Panga flats skiffs.
Experienced and hard working guides assist you in fishing at
your own pace... .early, late, or all day. No long runs in
the skiff, since your captain has anchored your mothership
in a calm protected area near the fishing. Unbelievably good
snorkeling is usually close. At the end of the day, retire
to your luxurious floating resort to relax and enjoy one of
the spectacular sunsets which are only available in the
tropics. Enjoy refreshments in the fully air-conditioned
comfort of your yacht. You will easily forget about diets
this week as you enjoy excellent meals prepared by our
on-board chef. This is truly the ultimate
get-away-from-it-all fishing vacation, no schedules to keep.
We take care of all the details, you fish and relax.
You
may want to try our TRADITIONAL FISHING CRUISE, which
depending on weather, fishing conditions, and your
interests, covers the areas from Hick's Caye to Southern
Long Caye, and the Turneffe Islands. The traditional fishing
cruise is a minimum trip of 6 night/5 days. Or try our
SOUTHERN BELIZE CRUISE, which was developed in 1987, and
begins at 7 nights/6 days. This Fishing Adventure covers
South to Bluefield Range and provides greater access to
Permit and Bonefish. Tarpon and other species of fish are
also caught.
Our VACATION CRUISES are similar to fishing cruises but
with less emphasis on fishing. Usually, one skiff is towed
behind the motor yacht and used for fishing, snorkeling,
exploring the reef, cayes, beaches, and shore areas. More a
family type cruise or for the two couples looking for a very
relaxing get-away-from-it- all vacation.
In an effort to offer our clients the very best in
facilities and equipment, we are constantly upgrading. The
motherships Cristina & Blue Yonder accommodate four people
and crew.
For the discriminating sport fisherman, we have the
luxurious Cristina,
an air conditioned 58' Hatteras Yacht-Fisherman. This vessel
is the best equipped in all of Belize, and it offers the
absolute ultimate in personal
accommodations,
comfort and safety at sea. The Cristina has two guest
bedrooms, a master with a queen which can be converted to
two single beds, and a guest room with two single beds.
There are two private bathrooms with hot & cold freshwater
showers. A large salon area to relax in, offers a CD player,
color TV, and VCR; also an enclosed dining area with a wet
bar, and ice maker. The fly bridge with comfortable seating
offers great views.
Another
choice to fish the same fantastic area is
Blue Yonder,
a 52' Chris Craft motoryacht. This Air Conditioned Vessel
features two bedrooms with two single beds in each. It has
two bathrooms, one with a freshwater, hot and cold shower. A
large salon/dining area to relax in offers a radio/cassette
player. An open air aft deck, with table and chairs, is a
wonderful place to relax and enjoy cocktails. The fly bridge
offers a great place to watch sunrises and sunsets.
A Typical Mothership Cruise
A typical day depends upon you, your friends, and your
crew. As there are no schedules to keep, fishing times are
very flexible. Please remember that the average guiding day
is 8 to 10 hours.
Arrival Day You are met at the airport by a staff
member, and taken to the Lodge to check in. Mothership
boarding time is approximately 4:30 PM. After boarding your
mothership and meeting your crew, you and your fishing mate
can settle into your room, unpack, and sort gear, with a
cocktail. Meanwhile the captain will be setting sail for one
of the nearby cayes, approximately two hours, where you will
anchor for the night. Upon setting anchor, your chef will
serve an appetizing dinner. After dinner, you can sit on the
aft deck or fly bridge, enjoying the evening and discussing
the upcoming week.
Day
1 thru Day 5 -This is where your options begin.
1st Option, Early Bird: A day could start early at
sunrise with coffee, tea, or juice. Fish near the boat for
one to two hours. Early morning fishing can be some of the
best fishing of the day. Then return to the boat for
breakfast. After breakfast, you can head back out to fish
until midday, then return to the boat for a nice relaxing
lunch in air conditioning. After a leisurely lunch, maybe a
siesta, you can head back out for an afternoon of fishing.
Return to the boat for cocktails, dinner, and a nice
relaxing evening.
2nd Option: A day could start with sleeping in and
forgetting the stress of the outside world. Have a mid
morning breakfast, and then head out to fish until lunch.
Return to the boat for a nice relaxing lunch in air
conditioning. After lunch, resume fishing, and then return
to the boat for an enjoyable dinner and watch the sunset.
Note: Both of these options are 9 to 10 hours of fishing
per day. Mothership Travel time is daylight hours only.
Whatever you choose to do, let your guide and chef know, so
they can plan for your day. Just remember, you, along with
your captain and crew, are in control of your trip.
