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Fishing in Belize

39 species across 23 spots

Belize offers fishing across 23 spots with 39 species in marine, freshwater, brackish, freshwater waters. Suitable for beginner to expert anglers.

Best months: April‑june, March-may, May-july, September-november

Top Spots

Hol Chan Marine Reserve8 species

One of the most visited reef sites in the Caribbean, Hol Chan offers easy access to schools of Royal gramma among its spur-and-groove formations.

Belize Barrier Reef5 species

World‑renowned reef system teeming with lantern bass; best found near the Hol Chan Marine Reserve where the fish congregate around sponges.

Great Blue Hole, Belize3 species

While famous for its depth, the surrounding reef rim around the Great Blue Hole is a haven for large grouper, including Serranus goliath, especially during the calm seasonal windows.

39

Species

23

Spots

Species

39
Serranus goliath

Serranus goliath

Serranus goliath

Very Common
Great Blue Hole, Belize
Royal gramma

Royal gramma

Gramma loreto

Very Common

marine

Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Yellow podge

Yellow podge

Pseudogramma xantha

Very Common

marine

Belize Barrier Reef – Great Blue Hole Outskirts
Lantern bass

Lantern bass

Serranus baldwini

Very Common

marine

Belize Barrier Reef
Acrostalagmus galeoides

Acrostalagmus galeoides

Acrostalagmus galeoides

Very Common
Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Malacoctenus erdmani

Malacoctenus erdmani

Malacoctenus erdmani

Very Common

marine

Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Ochetobius elongatus

Ochetobius elongatus

Ochetobius elongatus

Very Common

freshwater, brackish

Belize Barrier Reef
Stephanoma phaeosporum

Stephanoma phaeosporum

Stephanoma phaeosporum

Very Common
Belize Barrier Reef
Black snapper

Black snapper

Apsilus dentatus

Very Common

marine

Belize Barrier Reef
Cambeva difficilis

Cambeva difficilis

Cambeva difficilis

Very Common

freshwater

Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Bonefish

Bonefish

Albula vulpes

Very Common

marine, brackish

Turneffe Atoll
Centropomus fasciatus

Centropomus fasciatus

Centropomus fasciatus

Very Common
Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize
Tessellated blenny

Tessellated blenny

Hypsoblennius invemar

Very Common

marine

Belize Barrier Reef
Maya gambusia

Maya gambusia

Gambusia echeagarayi

Very Common

freshwater

Lake Maya
Chrionema squamentum

Chrionema squamentum

Chrionema squamentum

Very Common

marine

Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Inshore lizardfish

Inshore lizardfish

Synodus foetens

Common

marine, brackish

Ambergris Caye Inshore
Polka-dot cusk-eel

Polka-dot cusk-eel

Otophidium omostigma

Common

marine

Great Turneffe Atoll
Blackspot porgy

Blackspot porgy

Archosargus pourtalesii

Common

marine

Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Spottedfin sole

Spottedfin sole

Trinectes fonsecensis

Common

marine, brackish

Belize Barrier Reef Flats
Twospot sea bass

Twospot sea bass

Centropristis fuscula

Common

marine

Great Blue Hole, Belize
Yucatan pupfish

Yucatan pupfish

Cyprinodon artifrons

Common

marine, freshwater, brackish

Upper Rio Hondo (Yucatan Peninsula)
Gulf butterfish

Gulf butterfish

Peprilus burti

Common

marine

Turneffe Atoll, Belize
Longspined porcupinefish

Longspined porcupinefish

Diodon holocanthus

Common

marine

Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Splendid snaggletooth

Splendid snaggletooth

Astronesthes splendidus

Common

marine

Belize Barrier Reef Drop‑off
Cynodonichthys elegans

Cynodonichthys elegans

Cynodonichthys elegans

Common

freshwater

Caye Caulker Waters
Scrawled cowfish

Scrawled cowfish

Acanthostracion quadricornis

Common

marine

Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Ambergris Caye
Acrostalagmus caulophagus

Acrostalagmus caulophagus

Acrostalagmus caulophagus

Occasional
Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Stephanoma italicum

Stephanoma italicum

Stephanoma italicum

Occasional
Great Blue Hole, Belize
Slender snipefish

Slender snipefish

Macroramphosus gracilis

Occasional

marine

Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize
Roosterfish

Roosterfish

Nematistius pectoralis

Occasional

marine

Caye Caulker
Paperbones

Paperbones

Luciosudis normani

Occasional

marine

Great Blue Hole
Peristedion riversandersoni

Peristedion riversandersoni

Peristedion riversandersoni

Occasional

marine

Belize Barrier Reef, Great Blue Hole Area
Coelophrys arca

Coelophrys arca

Coelophrys arca

Occasional

marine

Turneffe Atoll, Belize
Yucatan flagfish

Yucatan flagfish

Garmanella pulchra

Occasional

freshwater, brackish

The Blue Hole (Cenote)
Veracruz whiff

Veracruz whiff

Citharichthys abbotti

Occasional

marine

Cayos de la Ciénaga, Belize
Forked jawfish

Forked jawfish

Stalix dicra

Occasional

marine

Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize
Guyanan croaker

Guyanan croaker

Pachypops fourcroi

Uncommon

freshwater

Southern Belize Barrier Reef
Bullet tuna

Bullet tuna

Auxis rochei

Uncommon

marine, brackish

Ambergris Caye, Belize
Bahamas sawshark

Bahamas sawshark

Pristiophorus schroederi

Uncommon

marine

Belize Barrier Reef – Turneffe Atoll