The waters surrounding San Pedro provide several distinctly different fishing experiences. You can sight-cast to bonefish, permit and tarpon on the flats, fish sheltered mangrove areas for snook and juvenile tarpon, or head toward the reef for snapper, jacks and other species.
The right trip depends on your experience, the species you want to pursue and what the weather, tides and water are doing that day.
When you book with Captain Nato’s Charters, you fish with a member of the Verde family—a Belizean fishing family with decades of experience on these waters.
A Belizean family from a working fishing village
Captain Nathaniel “Nato” Verde and his family come from Sarteneja, a traditional fishing village on Belize’s northern coast.
Nato began fishing as a child and started working as a fishing guide in the 1990s. Today, the guiding team includes Nato, his brothers Ezequiel and Tayo, and Nato’s son Hazi.
This family connection is an important part of the experience. The guides did not learn about fishing only as a tourism activity. They grew up around working fishermen, boats, seasons, weather and the everyday realities of making decisions on the water.
Whichever Verde family member guides your trip, the objective is the same: provide patient instruction, treat guests respectfully and adapt the day to their experience and the conditions.
Fishing trips available from San Pedro
Fly fishing the flats
Fly-fishing trips pursue bonefish, permit and tarpon—the three species associated with a Belize flats Grand Slam.
The 23-foot flats boats accommodate two anglers fishing comfortably. A third guest may join, but the anglers rotate rather than casting simultaneously. Flats fishing requires space, careful boat positioning and clear communication between the guide and angler.
Experienced freshwater anglers should expect an adjustment. The equipment is heavier, the wind is more influential and saltwater fish are generally moving rather than holding in one river position.
If you are coming from trout water, read [You Fly Fish Trout—Here’s What Changes When You Come to Belize] before your trip.
Reef and bottom fishing
Reef and bottom fishing provide an approachable option for beginners, families and guests who prefer conventional tackle.
Possible catches include snapper, jacks, barracuda and other reef species. The guide assists with tackle, bait, handling fish and explaining what to do.
Availability and catch depend on the day’s conditions, legal restrictions and fish behaviour. No particular species or number of fish can be guaranteed.
Fish and snorkel
A fish-and-snorkel trip combines time fishing with a snorkeling stop. It can suit couples, families and groups whose members have different interests.
Tell Nato about your group before booking, including children, swimming ability, fishing experience and whether anyone would prefer to snorkel rather than fish.
Neighborhood Fishing
Neighborhood Fishing uses the same fishing boats but stays close to San Pedro, generally within approximately 15 minutes of the departure area.
It is a lower-commitment option for guests who want to spend time fishing without travelling far from town. The precise fishing area and target species depend on conditions and what the guests want to pursue.
Spearfishing, conch and lobster experiences
Spearfishing trips use breath-hold or freediving methods rather than scuba equipment.
The location, equipment and species must comply with current Belize fishing regulations. Spearfishing is prohibited inside regulated marine reserves. Conch and lobster experiences are only available during their respective legal seasons and when all applicable size, location and licensing requirements can be followed.
Read [Is Spearfishing Legal in Belize? What Visitors Need to Know] before booking this experience.
Captain Nato explains how he plans a fishing day
“First, I ask what you want to fish for. Then I look at the month, tide, wind, clouds and what the water is doing.
“If you want permit and bonefish but the day is cloudy and windy, we may not have the visibility we need on the open flats. Instead of pretending the conditions are good, we look for sheltered water behind the mangroves. There we may have opportunities for tarpon, snook, jacks or other species.
“Bonefish are here throughout the year. February through August can be good for permit during the drier months. From October through February, cold fronts can produce lower tides that create opportunities for baby tarpon and snook.
“The month gives us a starting point, but it does not control the fish. The tide and conditions on the actual day still matter.”
This is why it helps to tell Nato your priorities before booking. If you are open to more than one species or fishing method, the guide has more room to adjust when conditions make the original plan difficult.
Bonefish, permit, tarpon and the Belize Grand Slam
Bonefish
Bonefish opportunities exist throughout the year. That does not mean every day or location produces the same conditions. Wind, tides, water clarity and fishing pressure still influence the experience.
Permit
Nato identifies February through August as a productive period for permit, corresponding largely with Belize’s drier months. Permit remain challenging even under favourable conditions, and seeing or casting to one does not guarantee a catch.
Juvenile tarpon and snook
Nato favours October through February for juvenile tarpon and snook. Cold fronts can lower water levels and change where these species hold and feed, particularly around mangroves and sheltered areas.
Grand Slam
A traditional Belize flats Grand Slam means catching a bonefish, permit and tarpon in one day. It can happen during different parts of the year, but it should be treated as an ambition—not a promise.
Catching bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook in one day is generally described as a Super Slam.
For a month-by-month overview, see the [San Pedro fishing calendar]. Use it as a planning guide rather than a guarantee of what will happen on a particular day.
What happens when the weather is difficult?
Clouds reduce visibility on the flats, while strong wind affects casting, boat positioning and safe travel. Conditions that are poor for one type of fishing may still provide opportunities elsewhere.
Nato’s general approach is to adjust the fishing area or target species when it is safe and practical. Sheltered areas behind mangroves may provide alternatives when open-water conditions make permit or bonefish sight-casting difficult.
When winds exceed approximately 24 knots, or when steady rain and heavy cloud make the planned trip unsafe or impractical, the trip may need to be rescheduled.
Nato explains it this way:
“We do not cancel a trip lightly. If we cancel, the guide also loses the day’s work. But safety comes first, and there are days when rescheduling gives the guest a fairer opportunity than forcing a trip in conditions that are not workable.”
Guests should provide a working WhatsApp number and check for weather or pickup updates before leaving their accommodation.
Where does Captain Nato pick up guests?
Pickup may be available from beachfront accommodations between the southern part of Ambergris Caye and Las Terrazas in the north when weather and sea conditions permit.
Nato explains:
“We can pick up guests from Las Terrazas north of San Pedro down through the southern part of Ambergris Caye. We do not normally travel farther north for pickup.
“If you are staying beyond Las Terrazas, it is best to take a taxi to our San Pedro dock or come south to the Castaway area, where we may arrange a closer meeting point. We confirm the exact location before the trip.”
The principal meeting dock is near the San Pedro International Ferry Terminal on Nurse Shark Street. Final arrangements should always be confirmed directly because beachfront pickup depends on the weather.
Boats and fishing equipment
Captain Nato’s Charters normally operates:
- Four 23-foot Guatemalan and Mexican-style flats boats
- 60- and 70-horsepower motors on the flats boats
- One 25-foot boat with a 200-horsepower motor for reef fishing, Caye Caulker and snorkeling trips
- Locally cut bush-stick push poles for traditional flats-boat positioning
The same flats boats may be used for fly fishing, Neighborhood Fishing and spearfishing trips.
Fishing rods are maintained and replaced regularly. Confirm the equipment included for your specific trip, particularly if you intend to fly-fish and prefer a particular rod weight or want to bring your own tackle.
Fishing licences
A valid fishing licence is required and is not included in the trip price. Guests purchase the licence separately online through Coastal Zone Belize.
Complete this before the trip and keep a digital or printed copy available. Ask Nato for the correct purchasing information if you are unsure which licence applies.
Additional rules govern protected species, marine reserves, equipment, conch, lobster and other regulated fisheries.
Tipping your fishing guide
According to Nato, tipping is expected on guided fishing trips. A customary range is approximately US$50–$100 per day, depending on whether the trip is a half day or full day and the service provided.
A tip recognizes the guide’s preparation, instruction, boat handling, equipment care and effort throughout the day. It should not be treated as a payment for guaranteeing a particular catch.
Before you book
Tell Captain Nato:
- Your preferred dates
- Number of guests
- Ages of any children
- Fishing experience
- Preferred fishing method
- Priority species
- Half-day or full-day preference
- Where you are staying
- Whether anyone wants to snorkel
- Any mobility or seasickness concerns
Captain Nato can then recommend the most suitable trip and explain the price, capacity, pickup arrangement, licence requirement and current conditions.
If this will be your first charter, read [First Time Fishing in San Pedro: Here’s What to Actually Expect].
Book a fishing trip in San Pedro
Captain Nato’s Charters offers private fishing experiences for experienced anglers, beginners, couples and families. The trip is planned around your interests, but the final fishing area and target species may change with weather, tides and water conditions.
Contact Captain Nato’s Charters with your dates, group size, accommodation and the type of fishing you want to experience.