Spearfishing in Belize
Including Ambergris Caye & Barrier Reef, Placencia Outer Reefs & Gladden Spit, and South Dangriga Barrier Reef & Tobacco Caye. On the map.
The vibe
Spearfishing here involves clear waters and abundant fish, but a licence is required to hunt. The dry season brings the highest water clarity, making it the preferred time for the sport. The activity is mainly practiced by locals and seasoned anglers, with few organized tours.
Spearfishing licence required
Ambergris Caye & Barrier Reef
Belize District
Serge Melki from Indianapolis, USA / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Off San Pedro, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef offers patch reefs, spur-and-groove formations, and sand flats with snapper, grouper, hogfish, and lobster. Clear, warm Caribbean water draws freedive hunters to one of Central America's most accessible reef zones.
Access. Local panga captains and dive shops on Ambergris Caye run half- and full-day spearfishing trips; gear rental is available in San Pedro. Hol Chan area has restrictions, but many outer reef patches are open.
Notes. Belize fishing license required (easy day/week license for visitors). Hol Chan Marine Reserve and other protected zones are no-take—confirm boundaries with your guide.
Placencia Outer Reefs & Gladden Spit
Stann Creek
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
The waters off Placencia open up to expansive barrier reef flats, deep channel cuts, and remote patch reefs that teem with predatory marine life. Spearfishers target healthy populations of invasive lionfish along the inner reef structures and navigate dynamic current-swept cuts.
Access. Local licensed fishing guides and independent boat charters based in Placencia village offer customized trips that cater to anglers and spearfishers heading out to the outer reef walls.
Notes. Foreign visitors must hold a valid Belize sport fishing license. Spearfishing is heavily regulated; it is primarily permitted for population control of lionfish using approved polespears or Hawaiian slings, and is strictly prohibited within the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve boundaries.
South Dangriga Barrier Reef & Tobacco Caye
Stann Creek
Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
This southern stretch of the Belize Barrier Reef features dynamic spur-and-groove coral formations, dramatic drop-offs, and healthy patches of sea grass where lionfish and large reef inhabitants thrive. Spearfishing here offers an immersive Atlantic-Caribbean experience targeting invasive lionfish and permitted reef species around isolated cayes and outer walls.
Access. Specialized fishing charters operating out of Dangriga town or Tobacco Caye can be arranged with local captains who possess the necessary commercial clearance or local knowledge for legally permitted spearfishers.
Notes. A valid Belize sport fishing license is required for all foreign visitors. Spearfishing using Hawaiian slings or polespears is strictly limited to lionfish and certain permitted species, while all no-take marine reserves and protected zone boundaries must be strictly avoided.
Turneffe Atoll
Belize District
Serge Melki from Indianapolis, USA / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
As the largest of Belize's three offshore atolls, Turneffe Atoll boasts an intricate maze of mangrove creeks, shallow flats, and sheer outer walls dropping deep into the Caribbean blue. The diverse marine habitats support an abundance of reef species, making it a scenic and challenging venue for sustainable culling and permitted spearfishing.
Access. Accessible via specialized dive and fishing lodges located on the atoll or via dedicated marine charters departing from Belize City or Placencia that specifically permit spearfishing gear onboard.
Notes. Turneffe Atoll is a designated marine reserve with specific zoned areas; a valid sport fishing license and reserve user fees apply. Spearfishing is restricted to authorized gear like polespears and is strictly targeted at invasive species and permitted catch outside of strict conservation zones.