"The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions of hope." ~ John Buchan | |
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"Today I will walk out, today everything negative will leave me, I will be as I was before,
I will have a cool breeze over my body.
I will have a light body, I will be happy forever, nothing will hinder me.
I walk with beauty before me. I walk with beauty behind me.
I walk with beauty below me. I walk with beauty above me.
I walk with beauty around me. My words will be beautiful.
In beauty all day long may I walk."
~ Traditional prayer of the Navajo People
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"If I should die, Before I finish my list, Please understand, It was my only wish, To enjoy the journey, And catch some fish."
~ Dan L.
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Thank you to our guest and Guide-Captains for sharing their photos, with us and on social media. | |
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BRL Fish Tales
December 2021
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DECEMBER 31, 2021
The weather in December was near perfect for productive fly fishing on our Rivers, Coastline, Flats, Mangrove Cayes and Reef. The average winds in December at BRL were mostly 6 to 10 mph from the North and Northeast with one high of 18 mph and dead calm periods some days. Daytime temperatures were 70 to 80 degrees. Days were mostly sunny or partly cloudy with very few rain showers. Notable expressions voiced by some anglers on return to the lodge were: "Best day of my life". "Best two days of my life". "Best week of my life". "The guides were the best and most helpful with our casting'. "My first Bonefish is a fish of a lifetime, a feeling of pride that made it the most spectacular fish I have ever caught".
Lots of Snook 4-16 pounds, Baby Tarpon 3-25 pounds and Bonefish were caught. A few Big Tarpon were landed, photographed and released including 66, 77, 82, and 115 pounders. Many other big ones were cast to, jumped and fought for up to an hour before escaping.
Some unforgettable fishing action for those anglers and their fishing buddies:
Shortly after arrival from the airport in the afternoon, Bruce M. and Rand S. had a big Snook on for quite a while before losing it. Over the next few days Bruce and Rand, conventional tackle anglers, caught Tarpon, from small ones to 115 pounds, Snook, Bones, Barracudas, Snappers, Jacks, Ladyfish, Bay Snook & Tuba (two large river cichlids). We have lost track but we figure this is Bruce and Rand’s 15th+ trip to BRL and fishing with guide Pedro.
Dan L. had Bonefish on his life list of to do’s. The first one caught was sixteen inches then four more on his first day. Dan also caught a 24 inch Snook and landed a Grand Slam: a 22 lb Sook, 18 inch Bone and a 66 pound Tarpon. Dan wrote us a long letter documenting his fishing pleasures, both here at BRL and elsewhere, ending with this little poem "If I should die, Before I finish my list, Please understand, It was my only wish, To enjoy the journey, And catch some fish."
Gary M. was spin fishing and Mark H. fly fishing. They landed two big Jacks, hooked a big Snook which ran under the boat and straightened the hook. They then landed four Snook, two at 20 pounds each, two big Tarpon and jumped several more. They had a "Grand Adventure, new style".
Harry and Jennings H. fished together for a week splitting their time between BRL and the Outpost. Son, Jennings, successfully landed and released a 77 pound Tarpon and two others at 20 pounds. Father and son missed their first three Snook then caught a nice one. They casted to many Tarpon over the week, some takes, some not, some jumps and some landed, both Harry and Jennings mentioned "Great day, did not expect such a long fishing day". Mid-week, Harry and Jennings fished their way with Guide-Captain John to BRL's Long Caye Outpost for a few days. Out at LCOL they "saw and caught tons of Bonefish". They loved the staff, food, service and accommodations. Both enjoyed fishing with their guide John and mentioned a return trip in the future.
Dave B. had a "great first day fishing with guide Pedro as he got into lots of Bones, two Snook and one Cuda". Other days he caught four Tarpon 15-20 pounds, four Snook, one Bay Snook, an eight pound Gray Snapper, Ladyfish and many small Jacks. On the last half day before going to the airport he landed ten small Tarpon, some up to 30 pounds and lost a few more. This is an example of the convenience of BRL near the international airport. Half day fishing, morning or afternoon can be scheduled based on airline arrival and departure times.
Tom P. and Rodney N. fished separately, three days with Pedro and three days with John and then switched guides for the next three days. Tom got a Grand Slam; 2 pound Bone, 28 inch Snook and a six pound Tarpon. Rodney then caught an 82 pound Tarpon and Tom caught a 113 pound Tarpon. They also hooked and lost another big Tarpon, caught 18 Bones, three Snook, three Jacks, and eleven Tripletails. Tripletails in the bay on Dec 13! What a day and now we know the migratory Big Tarpon are here!!!!
Looking forward to early 2022 Big Tarpon fishing at BRL. Hope to see you in 2022 and several new airline flights are coming non-stop to Belize, very convenient!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Warm regards,
Mike Heusner
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AIRLINES
GETTING TO BELIZE
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Belize is getting easier to fly to than ever before. All flights to Belize land at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) in Ladyville, just minutes from Belize City. A BRL representative meets you at the airport and transfer you to the Lodge to get checked in. Below are the airlines and routes currently flying to Belize.
Alaska Air
Seattle (SEA), WA and Los Angeles (LAX), CA
American Airlines
Charlotte (CLT), NC; Dallas (DFW), TX; Los Angeles (LAX), CA; and Miami (MIA), FL
Copa
Panama City (PTY), Panama
Delta
Atlanta (ATL), GA; Minneapolis (MSP), MN
Frontier Airlines
Denver (DEN), CO and Orlando (MCO), FL
Southwest
Denver (DEN), CO and Houston (HOU), TX;
Sun Country
Minneapolis–Saint Paul (MSP), MN
TAG Airlines
Guatemala City (GUA), Guatemala
Tropic Air
Cancun (CUN), Mexico; Flores (FRS), Guatemala; Guatemala City (GUA), Guatemala ; Roatán (RTB), Honduras and San Salvador (SAL), El Salvador
United
Chicago (ORD), IL; Denver (DEN), CO; Houston (IAH), TX; Los Angeles (LAX), CA and Newark (EWR), NJ
WestJet
Toronto (YYZ), Canada
(Service to Belize City ends on Sat Apr 30 2022 and resumes on Tue Nov 1 2022.)
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Long Caye Outpost
Our little piece of paradise
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Belize Travel COVID-19 Updates
January 13, 2022
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Belize River Lodge is Gold Standard certified; and while BRL has always maintained clean and sanitary conditions, we “upped” our game to keep you, our guest, our crew and ourselves safe and healthy.
We understand the travel requirements are changing often and quickly and can be concerning, please know that BRL:
- All BRL Crew (management, staff and guides) is vaccinated and working on booster shots.
- BRL maintaining our Gold Standard COVID protocols
- As travel changes occur, a negative COVID test is needed within 24 hours of flight time. BRL has set up for testing done as required on-site at BRL to keep you fishing. Both Covid Quick tests for US guests and PCR tests for Canadian guests are available.
- We are going with the flow with a smile on our face, we are happy to be open and will make any changes as seamless as possible for you, our guest.
TRAVELLING AND ENTRY INTO BELIZE
Belize has polices in place to make sure you, our guest, and Belizeans are safe during these trying times.
Starting on February 15th, everyone entering Belize will need to purchase mandatory Health Insurance, not expensive US$18 per person, just another step. This was announced on Thursday, January 13th and more details will follow as soon as we know.
All travelers visiting Belize Must book a stay at an approved hotel/tourist accommodation (Gold Standard) and hotel or lodge must make arrangements for transportation to/from airport to hotel/lodge. No worries, BRL is an approved Gold Standard hotel and tour operator and we also transfer all guests to/from airport to the Lodge.
ALL travelers, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, entering Belize from other countries will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test.
All travelers entering Belize at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) will be required to present a Negative Covid-19 test.
(a) A PCR test taken within 96 hours prior to arrival in Belize
(b) An approved Antigen Rapid Test taken within 48 hours prior to arrival in Belize. Only approved, by Belize, antigen rapid tests are SD Biosensor; Surescreen; Sofia 2; Abbott Panbio; and Carestart.
- If no test is presented, a COVID-19 test will be administered at the airport for a fee of USD$50 per passenger.
- Children under the age of 5 years will not be required to present a negative test; but children 5 years and older will be required to present a negative test.
(c) December 6, 2021: Anyone who has travelled from Botswana, Eswaniti, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa or Zimbabwe shall be put into mandatory quarantine for a period of ten days at a government designated quarantine facility in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry responsible for health.
(d) All travelers entering Belize through Land and Sea Borders have other restrictions and protocols and will need to check before time of entry.
Note: We are required to point out that at any point if you test positive for Covid-19 while in Belize, you will be placed in mandatory quarantine for a minimum of 10 days and are asymptomatic- New health insurance will cover these expenses.
When you arrive in Belize, if you are asked by Belize Immigration, you will be staying at Belize River Lodge, a Gold Standard Hotel.
Hotel: Belize River Lodge
Contact: Marguerite Miles
Lodge phone #: 011-501-225-2002
Manager Phone #: cel #: 011-501-663-2759
Town: Ladyville
District: Belize
Re: COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS WHILE IN BELIZE
During your Belizean visit, you must adhere to all health and safety protocols in Belize including
- Wear your mask/face covering at all times (required by law)
- Sanitize often
- Maintain social distancing
- Enjoy your trip!
*The protocols are subject to change as the situation evolves. All updates will be emailed as soon as possible.
Vaccination Card: Vaccination cards or a negative COVID test will be required to enter all public buildings. If moving around Belize, touring &/or other, you may be asked to show proof of vaccination or if not, than a recent negative COVID test.
Curfew: Belize is observing a curfew, which does not affect fishing time. The Lodge is private property, so you can move around the BRL property without issue. If someone wanted a night on the town, the hours of curfew need to be observed. Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 pm to 4:00 am daily and Friday and Saturday: 12:00 am to 4:00 am daily
Belize River Lodge continues with our Gold Standard “boutique fishing lodge experience”- smaller groups to adhere to social distancing.
RETURNING TO THE USA ~ CDC REQUIREMENTS
December 6, 2021 USA Update
A negative Rapid Antigen COVID-19 test within 24 hours of your return back to the USA. BRL will arrange with Belize Diagnostics to come out to BRL within the 24 hours of your departure from Belize, either right after breakfast or after fishing before appetizers to administer your COVID-19 test. Your results are ready before Belize Diagnostics leaves and you are given a printed copy of your results. For our Canadian guests, PCR tests are also available.
For Rapid Antigen tests,
Belize Diagnostics is paid US$75.00 per person, directly in cash.
For PCR tests,
Belize Diagnostics is paid US$200.00 per person, directly in cash.
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"Sometimes people describe my hair as gray, but I prefer the term silver, for I will never grow gray. Gray is a mind-set, a metaphor for growing old,
but silver is vibrant and alive, a celebration of life."
~ Marty Norman, Generation G
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