El Pescador Lodge - Belize
Orvis-Endorsed Destination of the Year Award
Fly and Spin Anglers are Welcome. Light Tackle Saltwater Fishing.
El Pescador Lodge is 2.6 miles north of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize's largest island. Its oceanfront location is serene and private, but close enough to town to walk, bicycle, or take a golf cart or water taxi. El Pescador Lodge has been in business for more than forty years.
2026 Rates: Packages start at $5,614 per person for 7 nights and 6 days guided fishing.
El Pescador Lodge
El Pescador's 400-square-mile fishery has year-round resident populations of bones, permit, and tarpon. The Lodge specializes in inshore, shallow water flats fishing. Sight cast the flats from the Mexican border north to the barrier reef in the east and the Belizean mainland in the west and south.
The Bonefish grounds are 10 to 20 minutes from the Lodge. You'll mostly bonefish from the bow of a 23-foot panga, but four or five flats can be waded. Bones run from 2 to 5 pounds and are plentiful.
The tarpon flats are 30 minutes from the Lodge, 3 to 8 feet deep, and quite extensive. They have good tarpon fishing year-round, and reef fishing for tarpon is good from mid-May to mid-August.
Permit are found on the bonefish flats, some of the shallow-water tarpon flats, and in waves coming over the reef. They range from 4 to 30 pounds, with most being around 8 to 10 pounds, and are found in large schools.
Jack Crevalle, barracuda, cobia, and snook are also found on the flats and in the surrounding mangrove lagoons.
El Pescador is an Orvis-endorsed operation. It caters to every ability, from beginner to expert, and meets high standards of great service, great fishing, and experienced professional staff.
The Fishing Program:
Adam Courvelle with a nice permit.
Season: The Lodge is open year-round and specializes in light tackle saltwater flats fishing.
Boats: Shallow-draft, 23 ft. open pangas with four-stroke, 90-HP engines. One or two anglers per guide and skiff, depending on the package.
Guides: Local, experienced, English-speaking guides. Anglers get in up to eight guided hours each day. If you want to fish for more than 8 hours, you’ll need to leave earlier in the day and pay your guide $50.00 in cash for each additional hour of guided fishing. For safety reasons, the guides must return to the Lodge no later than 5:00 p.m.
Private Casting Lesson: Each evening, fly casting instruction and extra tips for local species take place on the dock in front of the Lodge from 3 to 5 p.m.
A Fishing License is not included in the package - $25 USD.
Fishing Equipment: Gear is not included. Demo gear may be borrowed, subject to availability. Terminal tackle and flies are sold in the onsite shop. Our confirmation packet includes a detailed packing list.
A Typical Fishing Day
6:00 a.m. - Cooked-to-order breakfast service begins.
7:00 a.m. - Guides are ready to depart at the agreed-upon time (flexible). Before leaving the
dock, you and your guide will plan for the day. Your guide will review your tackle, flies, line,
leaders, lures, etc., to see if you need to add any items for the day.
Midday - Choose from a freshly prepared shore lunch or various packed options. Soft drinks
and beer are included with all guided fishing. For safety reasons, the Lodge limits each angler
to six alcoholic beverages in the boat per day.
Late Afternoon - You’ll return to the dock, evaluate the day with your guide, and make a tentative plan for the next day’s fishing.
The bar opens at 2:00 p.m., and snacks are served from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m., a family-style dinner is served.
