9 reasons why Canadian anglers will love fishing in Belize

#3  The fish are exotic, hard-fighting and plentiful

Belize’s entire coastline is protected by an extensive barrier reef (it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the longest reef in the Western hemisphere), and between that reef and the shore, lie vast ocean flats, and this is where the action is. Fly anglers in search of a grand slam can sight-fish for tarpon, permit and bonefish in shallow, crystal-clear waters. The flats are also home to big barracuda, sharks and other species. And for more options, the flats are broken up by uncountable numbers of mangrove-lined islands and channels, where you can find baby tarpon (up to 40 pounds is a “baby,” by the way), plus hard-fighting snook, jacks, snappers and juvenile barracuda. And unlike some better-known tropical and sub-tropical angling destinations, the fishery is in good shape. In five days, my friend Phil Shook and I landed nine species of fish, all on the fly rod.