7 minute read
Saltwater Tropics
SALTWATER
TROPICS
There’s so much to love about fly fishing in the tropics. Pristine flats under the warm sun. The ability to see the fish at a distance in the crystalline waters. Placing the perfect cast and watching it smash the fly. The reelscreaming runs and powerful fights. Cold beers and good conversation at the end of a great day. Now that’s a VACATION.
Call an Orvis Adventures expert today at 800-547-4322 or visit orvis.com/adventures
Main image: Simon Perkins, Orvis president, lands a permit while fishing with Scully Garbutt out of Copal Tree Lodge in southern Belize. Photo: Will Hereford
GROUP TRIP
20
22
INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION OF THE YEAR
LODGE LODGE
COPAL TREE LODGE PUNTA GORDA, BELIZE
800-547-4322 copaltreelodge.com
Set in the verdant hills above the Caribbean coast, Copal Tree Lodge is a sanctuary from the everyday world. The definition of agritourism-chic—a jungle lodge, organic farm, and a 12,000-acre nature reserve—Copal Tree Lodge offers the best in local food and culture, active adventures, wildlife viewing, saltwater fly fishing, and world-class hospitality perched above the Rio Grande River and just a short boat ride from the Caribbean Sea. Cast for tarpon and snook on the river and in the mangroves, fish the flats for permit, or when the weather permits, head out to the white sand beaches of the Sapodilla Cayes for bonefish.
EL PESCADOR LODGE & VILLAS AMBERGRIS CAYE, BELIZE
804-661-2259 elpescador.com
Chase the angler’s grand slam. El Pescador has a long history on Ambergris Caye and is the perfect location if you’re dreaming of the angler’s grand slam, diving on and around the world-famous barrier reef, or just relaxing in a tropical paradise. Facilities feature a recently renovated and expanded main lodge, several villas suitable for families or groups, three swimming pools, a fly shop, plus a bar and restaurant. The surrounding turtle grass and sand flats offer a tremendous bonefish population, a world-class permit fishery, and year-round sight-fishing for tarpon, making El Pescador a perfect destination for first-time saltwater anglers and seasoned veterans alike.
NEW
LODGE LODGE
BLUE HORIZON LODGE PLACENCIA, STANN CREEK, BELIZE
800-547-4322 bluehorizonbelize.com
NEWLY REMODELED!!! Blue Horizon Lodge was founded in 1997 by legendary Belizean fly-fishing guide Lincoln Westby, who picked the location because of the ultra short boat rides to some of the most famous permit flats in Belize. Our location allows anglers to maximize their time on the water during the most favorable tide cycles. The entire fishing program is determined by the tide, not the clock. Our new lodge features many of the original buildings with a fresh redesign that incorporates the modern comforts this generation of traveling anglers has come enjoy and expect including private cabanas, hot water showers, AC, and high speed internet (island wide). We cater to dedicated and beginner anglers alike, and pride ourselves on the satisfaction of all our guests.
CASA VIEJA LODGE ESCUINTLA, GUATEMALA
305-854-4665 casaviejalodge.com
The lodge was established more than 20 years ago as a private getaway for one of Guatemala’s most well-known sporting families. In 2013, lifelong anglers Kristen and Captain David Salazar opened the lodge to anglers from around the globe. Now known as the #1 billfishing destination in the world, anglers can expect to raise 12-15 billfish per day, per boat, year-round. Casa Vieja offers the best in family fishing experiences with its nine-boat classic sportfishing fleet and 19-bedroom hotel that accommodates up to 37 guests. After a long day of fly or conventional fishing, anglers can unwind with deluxe accommodations, gourmet dining, and five-star services. Casa Vieja has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to conserving the fishery. The lodge promotes the conservation of sailfish and marlin by following best practices to ensure that landed fish are released healthy. Since 2018, the lodge has been at the forefront of the Kick Plastic campaign and eliminated all single-use plastic bottles.
GROUP TRIP
LODGE
THE XFLATS XCALAK, MEXICO
800-547-4322 thexflats.com
The XFlats, a luxury fly-fishing lodge, is affectionately referred to as “Permit Heaven” by many of our return guests. The nickname holds true as the surrounding Caribbean and Chetumal Bay flats are plentiful with the elusive permit. Xcalak is also appreciated widely as a diverse flats fishery. An extremely healthy bonefish population makes for great fun for fly anglers of all levels. Tarpon, snook, barracuda, triggers, and jack crevalles are also common catches. Our boats depart our private dock daily each with two seasoned guides to ensure productive and safe flats exploration. The eight-room lodge is beautiful, private, and air conditioned with every room fit with a balcony looking over the Caribbean flats. All meals are prepped and cooked in-house for that seafood-infused traditional Mayan cuisine. OUTFITTER: THE REEL BAJA Baja, Mexico | 480-882-0935 or 888-287-4076 thereelbaja.com
NEW OUTFITTER: FLY FISH UTILA Islas de la Bahia, Honduras | 970-946-9313 flyfishutila.com
Let Us Be Your Guide
Call: 800-547-4322 Visit: orvis.com/adventures
For an exhaustive look at the entire Helios™ 3 lineup, including our highly regarded new Blackout series, visit orvis.com/flyfishing-fly-rods
EXPERIENCE SALTWATER FLY FISHING AT ITS BEST IN THE BAHAMAS
DISCOVER NEW TRIPS AND ORVIS-ENDORSED PARTNERS— OUR LINEUP IS ALWAYS GROWING.
The Orvis Adventures team can help you explore a variety of Bahamas packages perfect for novice and expert anglers searching for a unique experience saltwater flats fishing. A short flight from multiple Southeast US cities, the Bahamas have more than 500 miles of clear, productive flats making it one of the best locations in the world for sight and wade fishing. Bonefish are plentiful, and the primary focus, but other sought-after saltwater flats species including permit, tarpon, barracuda, mutton snapper and jack crevalle are also abundant.
Contact an Orvis Adventure Guide today! Call 800-547-4322 orvisadventures@orvis.com orvis.com//fly-fishing-trips-bahamas
SALTWATER FLY-FISHING SCHOOLS
INSTRUCTION, GUIDED FISHING & ACCOMMODATIONS
FLORIDA EVERGLADES SALTWATER SCHOOL*
INTRODUCTION TO SALTWATER FISHING
MULTIPLE 2023 DATES PRICE: FROM $1,685 per angler
SOUTH CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY SALTWATER SCHOOL*
INTRODUCTION TO SALTWATER FISHING
MULTIPLE 2023 DATES PRICE: FROM $1,660 per angler *These schools do not include lodging
MULTIPLE 2023 DATES PRICE: FROM $3,900 per angler
BELIZE GRAND SLAM FLY-FISHING SCHOOL LEARN TO FLY FISH FOR BONEFISH, TARPON, AND PERMIT
MULTIPLE 2023 DATES PRICE: FROM $5,250 per angler
These schools fill up quickly, and we are always adding new destinations. Visit orvis.com/schools for the most up-to-date information.
ONE CARRY-ON FITS MULTIPLE RODS, REELS, LINES & GEAR.
AS TOLD BY CARRY-IT-ALL CREATOR & FORMER ORVIS CEO PERK PERKINS GET YOURS AT ORVIS.COM
“Early evening in a Salt Lake City airport bar, waiting out a layover inbound for the Bahamas. Must have been 2009. I can’t bear the thought of arriving at a long-anticipated destination and my gear not arriving too, so I’m looking down at three carry-ons. One for rods. One for reels, a jacket, and more bonefish flies, leaders, and tippet than I’d probably need. A third backpack carried that laptop I couldn’t seem to get away from in those days—all while knowing full well I’m only allowed two pieces of carry-on luggage. Had to be a way to consolidate a trip’s worth of tackle into a single convenient unit, so I finished my Mount Gay and started scribbling on a bar napkin. Six marked-up SLC bar napkins later, the idea for our industry-original Orvis Carry-It-All was born. I keep two loaded at all times, one for graband-go freshwater trips and one for the salt. I still haven’t managed to ditch the laptop, though it’s used more for checking tides and weather patterns now. And in spite of retirement, they still remember my name at the Help Desk.”
