Saltwater Fly Fishing In Honduras

Mango Creek Lodge is situated on the island of Roatán, one of the beautiful Bay Islands of Honduras, in the Caribbean, around 65 kilometres just off the coast of the mainland. An island measuring just 77 kilometres long and less than 8 kilometres across its widest point, resting on an exposed ancient coral reef and unspoilt by development, it’s a true saltwater paradise for travelling rods, divers and eco-tourists, and welcomes thousands of visitors every year.

Surrounded by crystal clear waters and productive flats, comprising hard sand, turtle grass and coral, the Lodge is a small and intimate operation, voted one of the seven most romantic vacation spots in the world by GORP Travel, Outside Magazine. It’s a popular destination for anglers, non-anglers and families alike and anyone simply looking to get away from it all. Offering a unique combination of plentiful, healthy flats beneath a backdrop of lush, mountainous terrain, it offers anglers a wealth of opportunities for Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snook and all the other usual flats species.

With fishing pressure limited to only four boats per day and a rough rotation schedule on each flat, it’s a truly wild and remote piece of saltwater fly fishing heaven.

Premier Saltwater Flats Fishing Destination

Fly fishing is the emphasis of Mango Creek Lodge’s fishing operation, and the Lodge is Roatan’s premier saltwater fishery, presenting the opportunities for travelling rods to hook up with a coveted ‘Grand Slam’. Located in secluded Port Royal on Roatan’s East End, it’s just a stone’s throw away from some of the islands most productive flats. The famed ‘Breakfast Flats’ are visible from the Lodges front door, just a short sixty-second boat ride or ten-minute kayak paddle away.

Most anglers visiting Mango Creek choose to wade the turtle grass and coral flats; however, boat fishing from the Lodges Panga style boats around the islands mangrove canals and shorelines is equally as popular. Fishing with a guide, some of the most respected on the island with many years of experience fishing the waters of Roatan, you’ll be spotting, stalking and sight fishing for all the grand slam flats species, as well as a range of backup fish. All of the guides are English speaking and are at your service throughout your stay. If you’re relatively new to saltwater fly fishing or have a non-angling companion or family member who’d like to try their hand at it, the guides are more than happy to help coach them through it.

To find out more about fly fishing in Honduras at Mango Creek Lodge, visit our YouTube channel.

Fly Fishing Grand Slam

When fishing Roatan’s East End and the nearby islands of Morat and Barbaretta, the main target species are Bonefish, Permit, and Tarpon. However, you can also try your luck fishing for numerous other species like Barracuda, Jacks, Snapper, Grouper and Queen Triggerfish.

Bonefish

At Mango Creek Lodge, the primary target is Bonefish, and throughout Roatan, they are plentiful and often easily found. Most of the time, they can be spotted tailing in skinny water, cruising in shoals and mudding on the flats, most days providing consistent action. They average around 3lb to 5lb in size, and although rare, fish as large as 8lb to 10lb do get caught every season. Roatan’s Bonefish are generally larger than those found in other parts of the Caribbean; however, they can also be more challenging to land.

Permit

The Permit are one of the most sought after species for the saltwater fly fishing angler, demanding precision and patience. However, despite being alert, nervous and discerning, Mango Creek Lodge has a great success rate when fishing for them, and in 2007 in Salt Waters magazine, it was voted as one of the top-10 Permit hot spots in the world. When conditions are good, it’s not unusual to get 10 to 12 shots per day, with school sized fish between 6lb to 12lb. In addition, each season, trophy fish of over 30lb also get landed.

Although the Permit fishing can be good all year round, the most significant numbers of fish turn up between February and July. This is because their spawning season runs between March and April, and these months see them at their most aggressive and willing to take a fly. During this time, it’s not uncommon to see groups of fish on the flats in numbers of between 50 and 100 fish.

Tarpon

The Tarpon fishing at Mango Creek Lodge focuses on Roatan’s mangroves canals. Although they average between 15lb to 30lb, fish to over 50lb get landed every season and are spectacular fighters. A 25lb Tarpon on a 10-weight fly rod must be one of the most exciting things a fly angler can experience.

Although these fish are present all year round, their peak season runs from October to January, with November, the usual start of the rainy season, the most productive.

Snook

Snook are primarily a river and brackish water fish, but at Mango Creek Lodge, they are commonly seen on the flats and in the mangrove lagoons. The majority of the fish are typically about a foot long, although larger specimens of two feet or more get landed most weeks.

Family Fishing Holiday

As well as being known as a world-class saltwater flats destination, Mango Creek is also famed for its wide range of non-angling activities.

Scuba Diving

The Bay Island of Roatan, consistently rated as one of the top Caribbean dive destinations, is located within the largest coral reef in the eastern hemisphere. There are at least 12 quality dive sites situated in a minute of the Lodge, and unlike the tourist-oriented West End of the island, the East end features relatively untouched beauty.

The Mango Lodge dive sites include spectacular walls, holes, and crevices that dot the magnificent reef system. Hundreds of Caribbean fish and other saltwater creatures populate the local waters: Parrotfish, Damselfish, Tangs, Puffers, Jacks, Rays, Sharks, Lobsters, to name a few.

Eco Adventures

Roatan’s mountainous terrain and pristine reef make it an ideal place for an Eco-adventure. Located on the shores of Port Royal beneath the Port Royal Wildlife Refuge on Roatan’s secluded East End, Mango Creek Lodge offers an array of outdoor activities and adventures for all its guests, from Snorkeling, Kayaking and Hiking. The Lodge provides guests with the daily usage of snorkelling equipment and kayaks.

The best way to get a true sense of Roatan’s East End culture, history, and wildlife is by boat, and the Lodge offers several guided boat tours; it also offers guests who want to explore off their own back a range of small sailboats.

Relax In Style

If you prefer something a little slower-paced, why not simply kick back and relax in a hammock on your private cabana deck or lounge on our private beach? Enjoy a good book, sip a cold drink or a beachfront massage. The Mango Creek Lodge is also set amongst 22 acres of beautifully landscaped private property, with dozens of varieties of tropical flowers, palms, trees, and plants.

Accommodation

Mango Creek Lodge offers private, comfortable accommodation in Port Royal Harbour on Roatan’s East End, providing an intimate and enjoyable experience in a traditional Lodge environment.

Cabanas

Mango Creek Lodge’s signature accommodations are its over-the-water cabanas. Set on pilings over the waters of Roatan’s Port Royal, these beautiful rooms offer guests a comfortable and relaxing home base for their daily adventures.

Is there anything better than laying back and listening to the sound of the ocean and the gentle lap of the waves?

The cabana interiors feature Honduran hardwood floors, mahogany and cedar louvred windows, and unique, hand-carved decorative doors and furniture. Each room contains a queen bed, a single bed, a private bathroom, a hot-water shower, and reading lights.

The cabanas are wired for 110-v electricity and are fully screened. The exteriors of each cabana include a private deck equipped with a hammock, chaise lounge, freshwater rinse shower and a ladder for swimming/snorkelling.

The cabanas are not air-conditioned, but they are beautifully situated over the water and benefit from the evening breeze. Their proximity, coupled with the mild nighttime temperatures, provide a very comfortable sleeping environment. Each cabana is also equipped with a ceiling and floor fan to ensure guests comfort.

Main Lodge

The main Lodge features marble floors, mahogany and cedar louvred windows, and unique, hand-carved decorative doors and furniture. Two rooms contain a queen bed, a single bed, a private bathroom with a hot-water shower, ceiling fans and reading lights.

The other room in the main Lodge contains a king-size bed, private bathroom with a hot-water shower, ceiling fans and reading lights. Each room has French doors that open to a private balcony overlooking the lush landscape of Mango Creek.

The lodge rooms are wired for 110-v electricity and are fully screened to allow the ocean breeze to circulate.

The main Lodge also includes several common areas: a beautiful open-air patio, an enclosed patio, and a large lounge area and a private dining room.

Restaurant and Bar

Mango Creek Lodge’s restaurant and bar is the epicentre of the Lodge’s activities. Like our cabanas, this building is built on pilings over the water and provides expansive views of Roatan’s Port Royal Harbor, Lime Cay, and Breakfast Flats.

The restaurant serves three meals a day, all made from scratch and cooked by the Lodges in house chefs. The food is of gourmet Latin style, and the daily menu is set; however, it can be changed to suit any dietary requirements with advanced notice. All meals include non-alcoholic drinks and beer, wine and spirits.

A unique and popular extra activity is that you can take some of the fantastic Mango Creek recipes home with you, as the Lodge is now offering free cooking classes to all guests.

The restaurant and bar is a popular meeting place for guests to enjoy lively conversation with one another, share stories about the ones that got away, throw back a few cold Honduran beers, or play a board game.

Basic Wifi is available in the restaurant and some cell phone coverage is available throughout the resort.

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Itinerary

TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS

The below itinerary is flexible should you require additional fishing days or additional free days to explore; we can tailor this itinerary to suit you personally. Feel free to talk to our travel consultants who can explain all options available.

Day 1:

Depart Any international Airport (See Details)

Arrive Miami

Once you have arrived and collected your luggage, you will need to transfer/taxi the short drive to your overnight hotel. After check-in, you are then free to relax around the hotel or take a stroll around the local shops.

Overnight accommodation: Airport hotel (Twin Room) R/O

Day 2:

The next morning you’ll need to transfer/taxi back to Miami Airport ready to take your connecting flight to Roatan.

Depart Miami

Arrive Roatan

Once you arrive in Roatan you’ll be greeted by a representative from Mango Creek who will transfer you to the Lodge. The Lodge is an easy 30-minute drive and a 10-minute boat ride away. Once there you’ll be free to unpack, relax and prepare the next days fishing.

Overnight accommodation: Mango Creek Lodge (Twin Room) R/O

Days 3 to 8: Fishing Days

For the next six days, you’ll be fishing the Saltwater flats of Roatan. The main target species are Bonefish, Permit, and Tarpon. However, you can also try your luck fishing for numerous other species like Barracuda, Jacks, Snapper, Grouper and Queen Triggerfish.

One of the popular aspects of fishing at Mango Creek Lodge is that fishing days can be totally tailored around your schedule and you are free to fish at your leisure between sunrise and sunset.

Overnight accommodation: Mango Creek Lodge (Twin Room) R/O

Day 9:

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred back to Roatan to take your connecting flight home.

Depart Roatan

Arrive Miami, Depart Miami

Day 10:

Arrive Home

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Satisfaction Score 86%

"My wife and I spent a week at MC and had a very nice time overall. The staff was all very friendly and tried to be helpful. It's a very laid back place, so sometimes we had to go find someone if we needed something, they were always happy to help. There were more Bonefish around than I had expected and throughout the week we landed some nice fish. Would definitely love to visit again soon."

Quentin Hall

"Excellent and unique over the water accommodations, wonderful food and very good fishing for Bonefish and Permit. The local fishing guide was very knowledgeable and all the staff, especially Tita and Manny were exceptionally welcoming and couldn't do enough for us. Thanks to everyone involved in making our trip happen."

Matthew Daniels

"Combining fishing and a trip suitable for my partner isn't always easy, but Mango Creek ticked every box. I landed some nice Bonefish and Permit and although the fish were quite spooky, we landed fish on every session, nothing big but it was good fun. My partner loved all the facilities and found it ultra-relaxing - we'd definitely love to return one day."

Darren Burton

View all reviews

FISHING Seasons

The season runs from All Year Round.