3 Holiday Fly Fishing Destinations for Families - Fly Fishing Insider Podcast

Short answer: the best holiday fly fishing destinations are the ones that work for the whole family, not just the angler. My three picks — Belize, Baja, and the Florida Keys — all put you on excellent fish while giving everyone else plenty to do. Each comes with 15% off when you mention the podcast.

When the holidays roll around I look for destinations that meet four criteria, so I get my needs met as both an angler and a vacationer:

High propensity to catch fish
Multiple species
Other things to do
Weather

Holiday travel has a lot to do with family and doing more than fishing. I prioritise the fishing, but I understand the real vacation is family time. Setting it up this way puts me somewhere that when I can fish, I'll be successful.

Iguana House Belize — San Pedro, Belize

A special place that offers tons of fishing and is genuinely beautiful for a family holiday. You're literally steps from miles of wadable flats when you wake up, which means the family is on the beach ready to swim, explore, paddleboard, and kayak while you fish. Catching crabs, watching shrimp, and seeing permit and bones swim past is a spectacular experience even for non-anglers.

I highly recommend the DIY package — a few guided days and a few on your own gives you the best of both worlds. They're also open to custom packages, so tell Chris and Mary Alice what you're after.

Catch rate: Belize is known for variety and density. You can target permit, bonefish, tarpon, snook, the occasional trigger, snapper and more. Genuinely high odds of quality fishing.
Species: Plenty to choose from — a mainstay of Belize.
Other things to do: San Pedro has shops, secret beaches, and tours, and you're a short ride from Belize City. You don't even need to leave the house for scuba, snorkelling, kayaks, and paddleboarding.
Weather: Doesn't change much through the year, so there's little to worry about. Warm — bring plenty of sun protection.

Mention the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast and get 15% off your booking.

Contact: Mary Alice and Chris at iguanahousebelize.com. Want to talk it through with me first? Email christian@flyfishinginsiderpodcast.com.

Learn more by listening to Chris and Mary Alice, the owners and operators:

El Gallo Fly Fishing Lodge — Baja, Mexico

A unique Mexican adventure with beautiful amenities and world-class fishing. You'll have amazing fishing for roosterfish, dorado, and a plethora of other species — but don't discount everything else: the views, whale watching, cruises, and local food.

Stay a week or a few days. Either way you'll be struck by the atmosphere the owner, Donnie Price, has built — a lodge experience that's welcoming to everyone rather than just hardcore anglers.

Catch rate: You will catch fish. The area is teeming. Most people fish from a panga targeting roosterfish and dorado, but you can do the same from the beach.
Species: Almost no limitation, with high numbers of the big two — roosterfish and dorado.
Other things to do: El Gallo is a bit remote, but Donnie can arrange whale watching, cruises, beaches, and local excursions.
Weather: Baja this time of year is lovely. Daytime temperatures are perfect if you need a break from the cold, and cooler evenings make for great sleeping.

Mention the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast and get 15% off your booking.

Contact: Donnie Price at elgalloflyfishing.com. Want my take on what it offers? Email christian@flyfishinginsiderpodcast.com.

Listen to Donnie talk about the fishery:

Dinsmore Fishing Charters — Islamorada, Florida

Islamorada is somewhere every angler should see once. It's hard to believe this place exists inside the United States and isn't top of everyone's list. One of the Florida Keys, with beaches, a diving museum, sea adventures, and fine dining — and let's not forget the incredible fishing.

Catch rate: The Keys hold volumes of fish, and your targets shift depending on which water type you fish. That's the glory of it — you have choices.
Species: Bonefish, permit, sharks, redfish and more.
Other things to do: It's the Keys, so key lime pie is mandatory. Visit the scuba museum, tour the town, people-watch, and enjoy the island on the beach. Endless options whether you want solitude or a night out.
Weather: Can be fickle, but hurricane season is the main thing to plan around.

Mention the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast and get 15% off your booking.

Contact: Captain David Dinsmore at dinsmorefishingcharters.com. Questions about Islamorada? Email christian@flyfishinginsiderpodcast.com.

Booking something bigger

If you're planning a destination trip that needs guides, boats, permits and transfers coordinated — or you're heading somewhere genuinely remote — the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast works with Frontiers International Travel, who've been booking sporting travel since 1969. Start at the Book a Trip page.

Closer to home, our Certified Guides & Lodges are operations we know personally and stand behind.

Fly Fishing Insider Podcast has a referral partnership with Frontiers International Travel. If you book after being introduced through us, we may receive compensation at no additional cost to you.

What to pack for a warm-water trip

Saltwater and sun are harder on you and your gear than most freshwater trips. A hooded sun shirt like the FORLOH SolAir, a wide-brim hat such as the Tarpon Straw Sun Hat or the Dorado, and a neck gaiter are the basics. Pack it all in a 5-Day Dry Duffle or 7-Day Dry Duffle, and rinse everything in fresh water at the end of each day — salt is brutal on hardware, zippers, and reel finishes.

Don't hesitate to reach me at christian@flyfishinginsiderpodcast.com to learn more about any of these destinations. Have a great holiday!

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