belize regulations

[scubaboy63]

I will be traveling to belize this month for my annual trip and want to bring in a sling and a speargun via air.

Does anyone know the regulation on freediving with spearguns in belize?
Any problems getting through the airport and customs?

I own property and will build in the next few years. I am starting to bring down play toys and leave them each trip.

Currently in county:

mountain bike
scuba gear
fishing rods and tackle

Next on the list:

spearguns
boat
motorcycle

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks

[OceanEd]

Scubaboy:

I spend a year down there on my boat, diving. I was freediving and using a pole spear. I did see several Europeans on their cruising boats that were freediving and using Euroguns, but I do not know if guns are legal or not. I know you can not spear on SCUBA.

Where is your land, Placentia? If you want clear water for shooting, you need to go out to the passes in the barrier reef. All the water between the barrier reef and the mainland/islands is stained with tannin and you can't see anything.

We did well drifting through the passes in the barrier reef, on the outside of the reef, and especially at Glovers reef, which is the southern of the three atols offshore. We were getting a lot of hogfish, grouper, cobia, and jacks.

[Hank49]

Spearfishing with a gun is legal here. You can't use scuba. I've contacted Fisheries regarding species and apparently there are no restrictions that anyone's told me. Except that you can't spear in any or the designated marine sanctuaries. (Hole Chan, Glover's Reef, etc) Regarding coming in with a gun: you will have to pay duty on it if you can't prove you're leaving with it. Meaning I guess you have to leave a paper with them and show the gun on your way out, getting back your duty payment....which I would be amazed if it happened...so plan on paying like 30%.
It may be cheaper to just bring all your stuff one time in a container. That's what the guys I work with have done but they do have work permits coming in so...not so sure. Look me up if you want to go out around Placencia. I've been here for 5 years, have a boat and am getting it pretty wired.

Plus, the water between Placencia and the barrier reef isn't stained with tanan. It's not as good vis as over the reef but it's generally pretty good. I normally hunt the reefs about 8 miles out and farther. You reach the Victoria Channel and the vis improves by about 10-30 feet from the inner cayes. But I've never seen the water brown like the cenotes. (sorry Ed, maybe you're thinking of somewhere else?) Good luck, Hank

[OceanEd]

Hank:

When was Glovers made into a sanctuary? Has it always been that way? When we were there in about 1996 or 97 we were spearing, but then again there was really no one out there to say "No".

I've heard that Placentia has really grown up as a town. When I was there it was just the fuel dock, ice house, one concrete market, and a few houses and a little hotel. It sure was a beautiful place, though.

[Hank49]

Hank:

When was Glovers made into a sanctuary? Has it always been that way? When we were there in about 1996 or 97 we were spearing, but then again there was really no one out there to say "No".

I've heard that Placentia has really grown up as a town. When I was there it was just the fuel dock, ice house, one concrete market, and a few houses and a little hotel. It sure was a beautiful place, though.

Ed: not sure when Glover's was made a sanctuary but I was told by a person at Fisheries and I read it in a recent fisheries publication, that it is, and you can't spear there.
The whole penninsula going out to Placencia is booming. Amazing considering it's basically just a sandbar that grew some weeds and coconut trees. A cat 4 hurricane will do some major damage I fear. But most of the people moving in don't seem to fish. I don't see many boats at all when I'm out.
I had a good day Saturday. Got 5 good sized hogs (for here...5-7 lbs), a spanish mackeral and a decent sized cuda that was hanging under the boat eating guts as my buddy was cleaning fish. Got close to an 8 lb or so mutton snapper at about 50 feet but he spooked and I didn't get the shot.

[deepdestroyer]

I went to Belize once, there were big dog snapper and grouper everywhere. To bad I didnt have a gun. It was deff a beautifull place though, water was really clear. hopefully I will make it back there some day.

[OceanEd]

Hank:

I had heard that the whole penninsula was being built up. When we were there it was just one dirt road all the way out to the main highway and very little until you got to Belize City. Few houses and few people.

If you do get your cruising boat head south to the Rio Dulce in Guatemala and go up the river for a while. It can be a great trip, especially if you go all the way up to the top, through the lake, and then start exploring the tributaries up into the jungle. It's also a bullet proof hurricane hole if you need one. We spent an entire hurricane season up there, exploring.

One thing I wanted to do and never did was try to get the boat over the bar and into the Monkey River south of you. I thought that might be interesting.

[kabo123]

were in belize are you going?

I'm heading to amberis looking for property in june, love it down there.

I have family there if you cant find the answers to your questions.

kevin

[scubaboy63]

I am headed to the sittee river area. My wife and I purchased a couple of nice lots on the river one mile up from the sea two years ago.

This country has it all: they like americans, speak english, currently no capital gains tax, government based upon British Common Law, approx 40% of the country is protected.

I am headed down in 8.256895 days. But who is counting. This is a guys trip with the wife being very supportive about not going.

We traveled all over the country and felt sittee river was the best spot.

The big cayes are too developed, placencia is primed to be wiped out by a big blow, too wet south of placencia, I always avoid Belize City.

The barrier reef and the best atoll which is only partly protected (glovers) are within striking distance of my property.

Wow, I am sounding like a salesman. Sorry, but I am sold on Belize.

Many big fish to kill. Huge untapped blue water current south of glovers. Not many boats are tapped in.

If anyone is interested check out www.sanctuarybay.com

These guys are out of California and are doing in correct. 12,000 acres and only putting in abouth 225 lots. 10,000 protected reserve. I am looking at picking up another lot accross the river in this development.

Hopefully this development will build in quickly. I would love to finish out my working time in Belize. As a GM for golf and country clubs I need a nice one to go in so I can make some good $$. It sounds like Peter the owner of santurary bay is going to work with Pete Dye and build a nice course. The country is probably five years out from supporting the kind of club that I am looking to manage.

best to all.

robert

[Hank49]

This country has it all: they like americans, speak english, currently no capital gains tax, government based upon British Common Law, approx 40% of the country is protected.


We traveled all over the country and felt sittee river was the best spot.

The big cayes are too developed, placencia is primed to be wiped out by a big blow, too wet south of placencia, I always avoid Belize City.

The barrier reef and the best atoll which is only partly protected (glovers) are within striking distance of my property.

Wow, I am sounding like a salesman. Sorry, but I am sold on Belize.

Many big fish to kill. Huge untapped blue water current south of glovers. Not many boats are tapped in.



SSssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

[Hank49]

Hank:

I had heard that the whole penninsula was being built up. When we were there it was just one dirt road all the way out to the main highway and very little until you got to Belize City. Few houses and few people.

If you do get your cruising boat head south to the Rio Dulce in Guatemala and go up the river for a while. It can be a great trip, especially if you go all the way up to the top, through the lake, and then start exploring the tributaries up into the jungle. It's also a bullet proof hurricane hole if you need one. We spent an entire hurricane season up there, exploring.

One thing I wanted to do and never did was try to get the boat over the bar and into the Monkey River south of you. I thought that might be interesting.

I've heard the Rio Dulce is a great spot. My friend takes their charter catamarans down there in hurricane season. He learned his lesson the hard way after Keith wiped out almost all his boats. Never been up Monkey River yet either. There's a lot I haven't seen here to tell you the truth. I came here to work and spend too much time doing that. But I do get out every week on the boat.