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To truly enjoy a unique fishery, such as offered by The Three Amigos, you need a world class guides, and we have them. With years of experience on these flats, you will be in the best hands you could ever find. Our guides are local, licensed captains and tour guides that specialize in flatsfishing these waters and will tailor your trip to make it the fishing vacation of a lifetime.
With the benefit of The Host, our motherboat, you will wake up every morning on new flats. This is a service that no land based lodge could even dream of offering. That means we get to start earlier and finish later than anyone else. There’s no one telling us where to go. We go where the fish are, and we’ll be moving, while you dream of tomorrow’s catch in your air conditioned berths.
Permit, Bones, Tarpon and Snook – as well as seasonal species such as Tuna, Dorado and Wahoo will be available.
We have a guide boat for each pair of anglers, and have done extensive exploration to focus on the wadeable flats to allow one angler to wade into the waters of the flat while the other fishes from the boat. Or, if you prefer, both anglers can wade with the guide instructing and spotting . Nothing quite matches the thrill of casting into tailing, Permit or Bones while wading. You can get closer to the fish than on board, and catching sight of a tailing fish is one of the great joys of the sport. Remember, much of our fishing is done while wading, if that’s what you want to do, but both wading and fishing from the boat offer unique experiences for the angler.
Our fishery reaches from Central Belize all the way down to the Bay Islands of Honduras. This is prime Permit water and much of it is wadable. There are also ample 
Bonefish populations in these flats and, unlike Northern Belize, these waters contain the Big Bones. We have landed bones in excess of 10 pounds and the “small ones” we hit are around 5 pounds. There are no “Baby Bones” down here. We do have the occasional school of “mudding” fish, but we tend to pass them by, because the Tailing, Permit and Big Bones are why we are here. There are also plenty of surprises, depending on the season. So, in a nutshell, you’ll encounter the three “glamour species,” for sure. But don’t forget the Jacks. While they fail to get the ink that the others do, a nice big Jack can be the highlight of any angler’s day.
The fishery is so vast that it is necessary to divide it into two separate sections. We can either fish the North (Southern Belize) or the South (The Bay Islands) of the fishery. Each fishery offers far more than can be covered in a single week – hence, so many of our return customers. Due to the size of the fishery, we’ll choose either to head North or South based on the season and your goals. We use the best guides in each fishery so you will always be with an experienced local who knows the waters well. Once you are ready to book your trip, we’ll discuss the best options, based on your goals, the current conditions and the time of year.
And don’t worry. We have hundreds of flats to choose from that can only be reached by "The Host". You’ll have them all to yourselves.
While Permit continue to be the Holy Grail for Anglers, the ability to make casts to fish that are not continually being “pounded” by other boats, lodges and guides increases your chances for success. This, combined with the added benefit of being able to wade for one of these beauties, heightens the experience. Unlike the Northern reaches of Belize, the Permit you will cast to down here eat mostly crab patterns. This is quality Permit water, so bring plenty of crabs and bitters. We’ll cover this more intensively in the gear section.
Permit fishing is never easy. That’s what makes them so highly prized, but you will have plenty of shots on either the Northern or Southern fishery. And the truth is, many of these Permit will never have seen a fly. Let’s just say that improves your odds. Hell, it’s almost a fair fight!
Oh, and remember, weed guards on your flies. That will save you a thousand headaches along the way.
No pun intended, but Bonefish are the backbone of any fishery. That’s true here, as well. There are areas in our fishery where we have landed 10 pounders, and they are tough fish. They’re gonna give you a fight. But importantly, they are still here in large numbers for you to see, cast into and catch. Here the Bones are still found in ample pods and schools, and many of these school fish average a good four to five pounds. Again, as we said before, we aren’t taking you out to catch Baby Bones, and while there are muddling bones in smaller sizes, we generally aim for the big boys. But, if you want the thrill of your first bonefish run, you can cast into the schools for a quick bit of gratification.
Also, because of the nature of the flats we fish, we often cast into waters with Bones and Permit intermixed. When the Permit are around, the Bonefish often get overlooked, but get a nice 8 to 10 pounder on your line and you’ll want to just enjoy the ride – oh, and as an added bonus, you’ll actually forget about the Permit for about 15 minutes. Again, don’t forget about the weed guards…
When it comes to tarpon, we tend to fish out of the guide boat. The flats and the lagoons that hold tarpon tend to be deeper and softer. These waters also often hold Snook. Big Damn Snook. While Tarpon can be seasonal, we have rookeries in both the Northern and Southern ends of our fishery. These fish will give you plenty to laugh about come cocktail time. Tarpon fishing is an acquired skill and your guides will be happy to help you learn the needed techniques to land these thrilling fish.
In addition to Bones, Permit, Tarpon and Snook, you’ll have a shot to cast into a variety of non-traditional flats fish. These fish (Dorado, Wahoo and Tuna) tend to eat Tarpon style streamers. And, yes, you’re not reading a typo – or listening in to one of Bob’s hallucinations. We do, in fact, get these fish in certain areas on a seasonal basis, right in some of our flats where we fish Permit year round. So we’d suggest you bring some wire!!!
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Of all fly-fishing disciplines, saltwater flats-fishing is one of the most challenging, and THE most rewarding and at Three Amigos, we are qualified, prepared and happy to teach you all the skills you’ll need for success. All you need to bring is a desire to learn, have fun and enjoy. So, without further ado, let’s review the basics. These basics are written specifically to apply to our fishery, but they will serve you well in practically any flats environment.
We have put a great bit of time and energy into finding new wading flats, and today you have many new and better options than the traditional “flats boots.” We suggest looking into companies like Simms, Merrill, New Balance or Solomon. These manufacturers, and many others, have introduced “low-cut, wet wading sneakers.” These are far more comfortable (and pick up far less sand and marl) than the older styles. Find a pair and be sure to get them a size or so larger because you will definitely want to wear one or two pair of lightweight wool socks. And we can’t stress that enough. Wool. Not cotton. Never cotton. It might cost you a little bit to buy the new shoes, but trust us, after using these new shoes you will never, ever want to return to the old “marlwalker” or “xmas island” footwear again. We’ll be doing a lot of wading on beautiful, firm and expansive flats – there will be days when you and your guide can spend the majority of the day stalking permit, bones, etc. on foot.
As most of our fishing is (or can be) wade fishing, we really encourage you to look into the new footwear technologies. It will make your trip so much more comfortable and enjoyable.
A significant factor in saltwater flatsfishing is the wind…the wind is a constant variable on the flats…sometimes small… sometimes big….most time more than manageable with the able assitance of your guide and the instructive staff on the motherboat. The keys to the wind are ..first…the right rod and line combination and second…practice and instruction on the water. Too many times ‘the wind’ is more of an issue ‘between your ears’ than between you and the fish you are casting to. This all takes time but after a week on the flats with the Three Amigos you will have skills that you did not have when you first stepped on board….remember…’everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die…’…well when it comes to learning the needed skills on the flats you must be prepared to move through the learning process in order to develop the requisite skills, but once you’ve got them then you can truly enjoy this sport for the rest of your life.
All flylines are not created equal….just because the package says it’s a bonefish taper doesn’t mean they are all the same. People will spend over a thousand dollars on a great new rod and reel and then buy one flyline for 50 bucks and think that’s the end of it….do yourself a favor and visit your local shop…they will often have several demo lines for you to try….find the one that you like….this is very subjective…make sure it feels good to you. If you do not have a good local shop you can go online and spend the extra few dollars for a second (or third) line….remember that this 50 bucks can make all the difference between success and disappointment…. and is nothing compared to the money you spend on gear, beer and travel . The more you experiment the more you’ll learn and the more confident you’ll become. Contact bob@threeamigosflyfishing.com for specific recommendations based on your specific needs and remember PRACTICE before you come down and you’ll have a more productive, enjoyable trip. Saltwater flycasting is difficult…not impossible…. it becomes much easier with a little preparation.
If you could only have one rod, we suggest that it should be an 8 weight or a 9 weight. We prefer the 9 if limited to a single rod because that weight gives you the added punch when the wind comes up… and it will. But when wading the flats sometimes you’re gonna want to use a 7 or an 8, based on conditions. The choice is subjective based on the action of the rod, the skills of the angler and the prevailing weather. The reel in the flats is also very important. On a trout stream you only use the reel to hold the line, but in the flats the reel will need to have a very smooth drag and about 200 years of backing. You’re going to need it even when a “small” bonefish takes off on that first blistering run. Do not skimp on your reel.
At the Three Amigos we have demo rods for your use. We have partnered with Rio Lines and Temple Fork Outfitters and we feature the brand new Bob Clouser signature series flyrods from Temple Fork Outfitters and the Bob Clouser Tropical Lines from Rio.
So, bring your own gear, but know that we’ve got your back if you don’t own a full kit or the situation calls for changing gear.
Over our years of saltwater flats fishing, a few lessons have crept into our thick skulls. Perhaps the most important, at least in our experience, is this: make the first cast your best cast. In a fishery as diverse and bountiful as the ones you will be exposed to, it is easy, very easy, to get lulled into a false sense of security. What we mean is that it is normal to expect a few dozen, even hundreds of shots, during a day of flatsfishing. Knowing that you’ll likely have many shots, you might think, “what’s the big deal with the first cast?” We’ll, we’ll tell you. You just never know when the next fish may be a 20 pound permit or a 10 pound bonefish. As a result, it pays to always be vigilant. Really, the next fish you see may be the fish of a lifetime. So it pays to be ready.
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When that special fish shows itself to you, the very best chance you will have is the very first cast. This cast gives you the chance to surprise the fish, before it gets spooky. There’s a reason that the big ones are “lifetime catches.” They’re smart. And by your second or third cast, it’s going to get the sense that something is amiss. And then, your fish of a lifetime is gonna be caught by someone else down the road. So practice making that first cast count. Practice in your backyard. Your neighbors might giggle a little bit, but they just don’t know what they’re missing.
“Make your first cast your best cast,” is a useful mantra to have in mind as you board your guide boat in the morning. Use it and live by it and you will realize those dreams of landing the big one, rather than talking about how that dream fish got away.
Remember, when you see a fish, you cast! Then, as you strip and you lose sight of your fish, remember this – the fish is often looking for your fly. Even if you can’t see the fish, keep stripping. Many times we’ve lost sight of a fish that was 60 or 70 feet away, but by continuing to strip, the fish had the chance to keep following. Or, maybe another fish starts to follow, and guess what? The fish eats a mere 10 feet from your rod tip. This has happened so many times that it has become a standard procedure. Keep stripping as IF there was a fish. Which brings us to the next important skill we will develop – seeing the fish and reading the water.
This is, undoubtedly, one of the more difficult skills to master and your guide will be your eyes until you learn to “see” by yourself. Polarized glasses are an essential tool, but your eyes have to learn how to see the fish. Each day on the water you will see twice as well as the day before. This is a law. So listen to your guide and throw where he tells you. One of the best moments of our trips is when a client sees one the guide missed. Happens often towards the end of the week.
When you cast to a fish, you want one of two things to happen. One, the fish eats and you land him. Or, two, the fish spooks. That may seem counterintuitive, but it’s not. If you spook the fish, you will learn to make a more delicate and precise presentation on your next cast. What you do not want is to make a cast so far off target that the poor fish never even notices your fly. That’s another powerful mantra for flatsfishing – The Fish Eats, or The Fish Spooks.
No one dies. The balance of power and nature remain unaltered. No wars are started by a take or a spook. This is fishing, after all. And it’s a way of life. You can win, but never loose if you think of it as a great learning curve.
We advocate and practice a strict policy of catch and release. We’re hunting glamour species. And, after all, and the end of a round of golf, would you eat your prize clubs? On board The Host you will enjoy all the fresh fish you want, but protecting these new, pristine fisheries is a responsibility we take very seriously.
What you can expect from Three Amigos is to have your guide put you on fish. When you need them to, they’ll tell you where to cast, and help you learn the techniques that will allow you to drop a fly into the water as delicately as you are able. We’re your teachers. Every fish you catch will truly be yours. As we’ve said before, with "Three Amigos", it’s all about the fishing.
Obviously, the weather has an impact on any fishery and on any trip, and while The Three Amigos can do a lot, we can’t (yet) control the climate. But the beauty of being on a motherboat like The Host is that if the weather is off, we can move. This is something that no lodge can do. We can use our mobility as an asset, but no one can control the weather – but with The Host, at least we’ve got options.
JUST IN CASE… we will have flies, leaders and tippet spools for sale on the Host…this is the only case where you will need any extra money other than for tips….all our demo rods and reels are available to you as part of your trip.
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Captain Chris Van Leeuwen, better known as “kiwi Chris”, was formerly at the helm of “Coyote II” at Fins’n’feathers in Guatemala. Chris hails from New Zealand where he began his career in charter fishing. Chris has fished a great deal of the premier bill fishing venues in both the South Pacific and European arenas before stepping out to the Americas. Chris was one of the first to arrive in the Galapagos Islands to chase monster marlin, but decided he was more suited for the fast-action, double-digit release of billfish that only Guatemala has to offer. Kiwi has been fishing the waters off the Pacific Coast of Guatemala for more that five years now and has proven himself as a top notch sport fishing captain.
Captain Kiwi’s laid back personality makes him a pleasure to fish with, but he’s anything but laid back when it comes to adding up the releases.
You may find more info about Billfishing and Kiwi Chris at www.rodsandreelssportfishing.
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Licensed and approved by the government of Belize
