By late winter many of us feel the need for sunshine, sand in our toes, and a tailing fish or two on a saltwater flat. A trip is even better if the experience can be shared with non-angling companions.
With two decades of experience planning trips for the spring break season, we know plenty of tricks and tips to help you choose, plan, and enjoy a great spring break trip. From knowing which lodge to choose if you have young kids or where to venture if you want nightlife and plenty of dining options, here are our 8 Top
Destinations for Anglers and their Non-Angling Companions.
Belize
Home to a massive barrier reef, mountains, jungles, and rivers, the tiny country of Belize is big on fly fishing and adventure. Whether you’re looking for a fishing-focused adventure, a first-time saltwater experience, or the perfect couples or family vacation; fly fishing in Belize truly offers something for everyone. From exploring the jungle and cave diving or river tubing to beach-combing and Mayan ruin tours, a spring break trip to Belize can cater to any desires and can be had for any budget.
Mexico
From the waters of Baja and the Sea of Cortez to the protected flats of Ascension Bay on the Yucatan, Mexico may offer the most diverse fishing options of all the destinations. Roosterfish, sailfish, permit, bonefish and tarpon; dozens of species like Jacks, barracuda, sharks, amberjack, snook, snapper, and grouper all offer outstanding action on a fly or light tackle in Mexico’s waters. With so many lodges and opportunities for non-anglers, a spring break trip to Mexico can check all the boxes.
Bahamas
Closer to the US than any other destination, many of our Bahamas trips are ideal for anglers and non-anglers. We offer many Bahamas packages perfect for novice anglers searching for a great first saltwater flats fishing trip for bonefish and several other species. It is also our preferred destination for large bonefish and sizeable permit in spring, summer, and fall. With snorkeling, diving, beaching, and many other activities, the 100,000 square mile archipelago of Bahamian islands seem tailor-made for a spring break fly fishing trip.
Cook Islands
Slowly getting on the radar of traveling anglers, the Cook Islands are home to large bonefish and several other species. But, Aitutaki is also home to some of the most pristine, white-sand beaches and water the color of a bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin. It is an ideal destination for devout anglers, couples, and families alike. Non-stop flights run from Los Angeles to Rarotonga, which makes this destination easy to get to from the United States, which means you can be sipping that cold drink out of a coconut much sooner than you think.
Costa Rica
Already a popular year-round destination for various ex-pats, where anglers can enjoy a variety of fly fishing from offshore sailfish to jungle tarpon. The country’s waters are healthy and full of fish, the beauty is staggering, and the sluggish pace of life seductive. A peaceful oasis in the middle of an otherwise tumultuous region, this tiny nation draws 1.5 million visitors every year to fish, hike to a volcano, explore the many national parks, whitewater raft, zip-line, and many other non-angling activities.
Cuba
Travel to Cuba with Yellow Dog Flyfishing is 100% legal. We offer a wide selection of lodges and fishing programs in Cuba—some are ideal for anglers with non-angling companions, while others are strictly for adventuresome and intrepid anglers. That said, a trip to Cuba is also about visiting the country and seeing a destination that in many ways has not really changed much since the late 1950’s. Our expertise in Cuba is based on many years of personal, first-hand experience so let us help you discover this fascinating destination.
Seychelles
As a destination for the saltwater flats angler, the diversity of fish species found in the Seychellois islands, the seclusion, the epic scenery, and the overall action, make these saltwater fisheries truly unlike any other found on the planet. Nonanglers enjoy a wide array of activities while anglers will find bonefish in extraordinary numbers, several different types of trevally, milkfish, triggerfish, bumphead parrotfish, permit, and dozens of other reef and flats species. As for the incredible Giant Trevally action that is found throughout the islands, we can confidently say that there is nothing else that compares in the entire world of fly fishing.
