Through the Guides Conservation Captain Q&A Captain Alexander Gomez

San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize

Who taught you how to fish the flats and how old were you when you started?

My father taught me how to fly-fish. I am a third-generation fly-fishing guide. My grandfather is the original fly-fishing guide on Ambergris Caye. I was six years old when I first started going out fly-fishing with my dad.

Why does conserving and protecting Belize’s flats fishery matter to you?

Protecting and conserving the flats and the fishery is essential to the survival of sustainable tourism in Belize because it is the only fishery that does not kill or harm the sport fish, and it enhances not only the survival of the fish but also the habitats for future generations to come. Think of it as having the quintessential goose that lays the golden eggs.

Have you seen the fishing in your area change over time? If so, how?

Yes, I have seen the fishery change both for the good and bad. Good because we have outlawed the use of gill nets and that has now secured a healthier fish population and there has been a rise not only in fish and fish sizes but also bigger schools of fish. Bad because irresponsible development has encroached not only on their habitats but also protected marine reserves which have been set aside for the future of a healthy fish population.

What do you see as the biggest threat to the flats fishery in Belize?

The biggest threat I see to the flats fishery is irresponsible destructive developments encroaching on the flats that we have fished for generations, that added with the fact that no one and I mean ABSOLUTELY none of our elected leaders have done anything or even try to do anything to help protect this vital resource to our country. Even with what is illegal, such as building on a marine reserve, you would think that a brand-new ministry with the title “Blue Economy” that talks about protecting our natural resources would be involved, but no, not a single bit.

Tell us about Cayo Rosario. What makes the flats around Cayo Rosario so good for fishing?

Cayo Rosario is a very important part of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve because it is an important feeding ground for huge schools of permit and bonefish with occasional tarpon. The south side of the flat is a huge long white sand flat mixed with a limestone flat that extends out on the north side with a mangrove island in the middle. This is the perfect combination for a nutrient-rich environment that feeds and sustains a plethora of species. Also, most of our flats are mud flats. Cayo Rosario is one of the only crystal-clear pure-white sand flats where anglers can walk for the elusive permit, and because it is stable ground, even on windy days when the weather is bad and blowing, the flat stays clear due to its sandy bottom and does not get blown out and murky the way a typical mud flat would. Honestly, the reasons are endless but these are the top reasons.

How would the development of Cayo Rosario affect you and other local guides?

The development of Cayo Rosario would have a devastating effect and impact on not only the fly-fishing guides but also the future flyfishing guides on our island and the country itself. With all the loss of habitat, where will the future guides fish? People don’t fly to islands to fish around buildings, and with that loss of clients there will be a huge loss of revenue, not only for the guides but for the country itself. Fly-fishing after all is a huge cash cow for Belize and brings millions in by sustainable fishing.

To destroy one of the most pristine, productive and most beautiful permit flats in the WORLD would also affect the way Belize conducts business and protects its natural resources because if we allow one destructive developer to illegally build on what is a marine reserve then what is to stop other destructive developers from following? What does a marine reserve actually mean to Belize? Are we really protecting our natural resources or are we just talking about it? This is the message we will be sending out to world if we let these atrocities take place. This is how it will affect our whole country, if we let them do it in one marine reserve, they will do it in any and all!! The destruction of a marine reserve would be irreparable to the whole country.

What is your best advice for catching permit on fly?

My best advice for catching permit is to be as stubborn as they are! You have to keep at it. They are known to be the most picky and finicky fish in the ocean, so as an angler never stop looking, never stop casting, and never give up. There is an old saying, “If you want a lot of good fishing days then you have to fish a lot of days,” and that is never more true than when fly-fishing for permit.

Where should an angler cast the fly if the permit is following a ray?

When casting to a permit following a stingray, my best advice would be to lead (if possible—all situations are different) the stingray by maybe a foot-and-a-half to two feet then wait for the stingray to get almost on top of the fly. When the stingray is mere inches from the fly, slowly pull it out so it looks natural, as if the stingray flushed out whatever your fly is trying to mimic.

What is your most memorable day on the flats?

My most memorable day on the flats would have to be my first day as a professional fly-fishing guide. The freedom and the thought of getting on my boat to hunt the most elusive gamefish on a fly rod filled me with so much joy, love and passion for the sport, and it’s made me so grateful for my waters. That’s why I’m so passionate about respecting and protecting it. This fishery should be continued to be passed on to other generations.

What gives you hope for the future of Belize’s flats fishery?

What gives me hope for the future of the fishery of Belize is its people. I mean it when I say most Belizeans do believe in protecting our God-given beautiful natural resources. For such a small country, we are blessed with so many unrivaled, unparalleled fisheries and fishing habitats. Most Belizeans know this and understand this and will fight tooth-and-nail for what is rightfully ours to protect and that gives me hope for the future.