Our adventure today takes us out scouting for fishing gear and swimming in the ocean at Boca del Rio.  Marcy and I thought something that might really be fun for the boys, is to introduce them to dock fishing.  So we're headed to Captain Sharks to check out what we need to do, to get the boys set up with fishing gear. 

Before getting started, we headed to Briana's Place for lunch.  This is a little local hangout, which serves a variety of local dishes ranging from (grilled chicken, steak, stewed beef, pork and chicken), with all the classic side dishes (rice & beans or beans & rice).  Here in Belize, if you order rice & beans, they are combined.  If you order beans & rice, then each one is served separately. 

501-661-2676
Back Street, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize
www.facebook.com/CaptainSharks

The menu is written on a chalk board behind the service counter.  Our lunch for two adults and two kids (shared a plate), to include 4 lime juices was $22.50 USD.  The food was super yummy and the price was right.  This is a great spot, located in the center of town (across from Super Buy on Back Street), if you are looking for cheap local food - while out sightseeing.

Quality time with my grandson Romen, is one of the highlights in my life.

After lunch we headed to Captain Sharks in San Pedro.  Captain Sharks has a full selection of fishing poles, reels, lines, lures, and weights for just about any type of fishing.  When choosing a fishing poles for kids, pay attention to length, weight, usability, along with taking note of what the pole is made of.  Before choosing a fishing pole, it's recommended to choose your fishing reel first.  Choose the fishing reel that best fits your child's fishing experience.  So let's see what Captain Sharks has!

How To Choose A Fishing Reel For Kids
When it comes to choosing a reel for children, there are two preferred choices

1. Closed-Faced (spincast or push-button) reels
2. Open-Faced (aka spinning) reels

Closed-Faced Spincast Reels - Spincast reels are attached to spinning rods and feature a push-button mechanism that activates the reel’s line release. This can make for an easy and simple casting process with little complications.  As a result, many beginner fishermen often start on this closed-faced style.  This angling option is very user-friendly and a great choice for children under 6 years of age or kids who can’t regularly practice their casting. You can easily find spincast reels individually or featured in rod and reel combos designed specifically for children. Some rod and reel combos even come with designs featuring popular cartoons and characters, so your little angler can add some personality and flair to their fishing setup.

Open-Faced Spinning Reels - As your child advances in their expertise and learns to cast with greater ease, you can then move them up to using an open-faced design. Spinning reels, best suited for children over the age of 7, can be a great option for youngsters whose interest in the sport of fishing grows with age. Having your child use a spinning reel can also make for an easier transition to more “adult” fishing setups and can give their equipment more of a mature feel.

Salt Water Fishing Tip - Spinning reels can be the better option for beginner fishermen taking to saltwater. They are much easier to clean and the reel’s open design features less surface area for salt deposits to collect and cause mechanical problems.

How To Choose A Fishing Rod For Kids
Choosing the best fishing rods for your children, can help you capture some quality family fun.  Building a fishing starter kit for your "Little Angler" can be a fun activity for both of you to enjoy. One key fishing essential is your child's fishing pole. Having a fishing rod that’s best for their skill level and physical stature can help make their time (and yours) more enjoyable.

When searching for a fishing pole, there are a few qualities you should look for to ensure their equipment is kid-friendly.  Things to consider are length, weight, usability, and durability.  Some good poles to consider are:

Top Pick: Zebco Dock Demon
Best Value:  Ugly Stik Dock Runner
Fisherman's Choice:  Ugly Stik GX2 Youth Combo
Best Overall: Plusinno Kids Fishing Pole Combo for Youth Fishing
Best for Beginners: Lil' Anglers Jimmy Houston Fishing Combo Kit
Best for Older Kids: Shakespeare Ugly Stik Youth 2-Piece Fishing Rod/Reel
Best Complete Kit: Lanaak Kids Fishing Rod & Reel Combo Kit
Best Tangle-Free: Kid Casters Tangle-Free Fishing Combo

Rod Length & Material
Once you have the reel style chosen for your child’s fishing pole, you can then focus on the rod length. You will want to aim for a rod length that is just long enough so that your child can comfortably handle the equipment.  For small children, with no fishing experience, the best pole length is about 4 to 5-1/5 foot.  As your child becomes a bit more experienced, be sure to adjust their rod length accordingly.  We recommend a pole that is about 6 to 6-1/2 feet in length.  Try to select a rod that is lightweight, yet made with tough materials such as: graphite, fiberglass and composite blends.  Children can put alot of stress on fishing gear, so having a durable rod and reel is key to extended fun on the water.

501-226-3370 (or) 501-226-3156
P.O. Box 153, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize
www.facebook.com/CaptainSharks

Captain Sharks sells fishing rods and reels starting at $90.BZD ($45.USD) up to $600.BZD($300.USD)  There is a wide selection of fishing assessories, lures, weights, hooks, and bobbers. The boys got a kick out of the "Big Game" fishing lures, Jaymin said they look like dog toys.

Kid Friendly Fishing Accessories
If looking for additional gear, look for gear that will survive well. To accent your child’s fishing pole, you may want to add some casting plugs for practice, as well as some snap swivels and bobbers to fill their first "Little Angler's" tackle box.  There are even bobbers that cover the hook end of your fishing line through the cast, adding some additional safety precautions to your child’s fishing ensemble. Many child rod and reel combos may come with some fishing accessories but adding to their tackle assortment (helps to add) excitement to their fishing experience.
You don’t need to buy expensive fishing gear for kids to start fishing. Even a simple setup can catch a ton of fish. The key is to keep the fishing kit small and light — light pole, light reel and kids will have more fun and catch more fish.

• Hooks - Start with a small hook. Although it seems like a big hook would work better, a little hook is much more effective at catching the smaller fish and can still hook the big ones.
  
• Weight - Next, put a little split shot weight just a few inches above the hook, followed by a small bobber.
• Bobbers - Smaller bobbers are more sensitive, so choose one that’s just big enough to hold up the weight of the sinker.  Clip the bobber about a foot from the end of the line. By keeping the bobber pretty shallow, you’ll avoid snags and keep your bait visible to fish that are looking up to feed.
• Fishing Line - Six-pound test is universal, but anything between 4 (to) 8 pound test line will works great.

Fishing off the dock is a great activity for kids, while on vacation in Belize.  Captain Sharks has a variety of "name-brand" combination fishing pole sets, along with a variety of accessories for you to choose from.  

Next on our agenda for the day was swimming in the ocean at Boca del Rio. This is a popular spot for many tourists while on vacation.  The boys love it here, they can literally spend hours playing in the sand and splashing around in the water. 

Jaymin loves birds and his favorite bird at the moment is Pelican's.  Marcy and I decided (something the boys may find enjoyable), is feeding the Pelican's next time we come to the beach.  They seem to love the fish scraps, so maybe we can find some cheap fishing bait for our next visit.

Pelicans are the largest of all the aquatic birds and are famous for the large pouch of skin hanging from their lower jaw.  The brown pelican is very prevalent in Belize, and can be found all along the coastal beach areas.  They seldom fly far inland and do not go far from the shore out to sea.
The brown pelican is a large bird with brown-gray feathers overall and a wide white band on either side of its neck. The long beak is pale yellow with a pouch of bare skin beneath the lower jaw.
Sometimes brown pelicans gather in flocks of up to 50 birds to roost and feed together. They feed almost entirely on fish, which they catch by diving from heights of up to 65 feet (19.8 m). They plunge into the sea scooping up a beak full of water and fish. With the water in its pouch, it is too heavy to fly so it sits on the water’s surface, waiting for the water to drain away before it can swallow the fish. The sound of the splash as the pelican hits the water can be heard up to half a mile away. A series of air pockets in its chest help to cushion the force of impact and protect it from injury. The air pockets in the chest are part of the bird’s lungs.
Pelicans that live in freshwater lakes work in groups forcing fish into a school by beating their wings on the water. Then, using their beaks, they scoop the fish into their pouches.
The brown pelican mates in the spring, building its nest in shallow depressions on the ground, lining it with feathers, and surrounding it with a wall of soil. Some nest in trees, building their home with reeds on a stick platform. Both adults share in incubating three eggs for approximately four weeks. The chicks are naked when they hatch but have a coat of down within two weeks. The parents feed their young with regurgitated fish. The brown pelican has few enemies, but it is greatly affected by pesticides.

It is estimated today that about 5,600 acres are devoted to coconuts throughout the country of Belize, mainly in Orange Walk, Stann Creek and the Cayo districts.  Coconut oil accounts for an income of $5/million, coconut water brings in $4/million, coconut milk powder provides $3/million, and other by-products $1/million.  The production provides work and income for about 500 people and exports exceed 850,000 coconuts a year.  So grab yourself a fresh coconut while in Belize, better yet pick up a gallon jug of fresh coconut water from some of the street vendors.

This is the Boca del Rio beach area, on Ambergris Caye.  We have our favorite spot picked out for each visit, nestled in-between these two coconut palms.

This ends our adventure for today and what a great day this has been together.  We hope you enjoy our blog and all the things there is to do with kids while vacationing in Belize.

Today we took off to do some bird watching south of the island.  It was a little overcast, basically a dreary day (and honestly), we didn't expect to see many birds.  Wow!!!  I couldn't have been more wrong about that statement.  Let's share some of what we saw. 
Before heading out, we decided to stop at Ms. Susana's (La Divina Providencia), right around the corner from Belize Budget Suites.  Many of our guests (at the hotel), really enjoy eating here when they first arrive to the island.  La Divina Prvidencia is both a restaurant and a grocery store.  So when our guests first arrive (by stopping at Ms. Susana's), they can not only grab a bite to eat, but pick up a few groceries for the following morning as well.  The food is amazing, and the prices are definitely amazing too.  Ms Susana caters to locals, and many of our guests are here to back-pack Belize and experience it as a local as well. 

Ms. Susana came over to the table to greet us, it was exciting to get to see her after months of pandemic madness.  Everyone has a little local hangout (that's close to home), where they enjoy some of their favorites.  La Divina Providencia is that place for us.  It's close to the hotel (just around the corner), the food is great, the prices are great and it's a family owned business just like us.  We've gotten nothing but great reviews and comments (from our guests), thanking us for helping them to find this wonderful place.

The boys each tried their favorite drink, Romen had watermelon juice and Jaymin had a banana smoothie.  Drinks were delicious and the boys fist bumped to a amazing tasty moment.  

After a most delicious lunch, we headed south of the island.  Our first two birds that we saw were a "Hooded Oriole" and a "Tropical Mockingbird".  Both birds are very common on the island (we have them around the house), so no big surprise to see these first off. 

All of us had our eyes pointed up, scanning the tree tops and bushes.  Out of Marcy's peripheral vision she spotted movement, and quickly blurted out:  "What bird is that?"  As I looked up (I began to laugh), it was a Tropic Air plan flying by.  "Cessna", I told her, "That is what they call a Cessna".  We both enjoyed a good laugh, for this most unusual bird sighting.

We pulled the golf cart off the road and headed toward the beach.  Here we saw a number of "double-breasted cormorants", sitting on old dock posts, a boat-billed heron, a few brown pelicans, seagulls and ducks.  The boys always need help spotting the birds, as they usually don't know exactly where we're looking.  Marcy pointed them in the right direction, and they quickly saw all of them.

What is interesting about this habitat, is the red mangroves that we saw growing at the beach shoreline.  Belize is home to 4 different species of mangoves.

1. Red mangove (Rhizophora mangle)
2. White mangrove (Laguncalaria racemosa)
3. Black mangove (Avicennia germinans)
4. Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus).

The ones you see in this photo, are called "Red Mangroves".  Why are mangroves important?  There is a number of reasons (but for the purpose of this blog), they are important because of the habitat they provide for many birds. 

White Ibis - American White Ibis, in Belize. The white ibis is a medium-sized bird. It is about 60 cm (2 feet) tall and has a wingspan of about 90 cm (3 feet). The white ibis breeds in large colonies that may include other wading birds.

Great Egrets - It is the most widespread of all the herons in Belize. The great egret feeds in all the shallow waters of Belize. This large bird coils its sinewy neck, ready to spear prey. Prey includes fish, aquatic invertebrates and reptiles.

Tri-Color Herons - These herons are the only dark-colored ones with a white belly. Tricolored herons are one of the herons in Belize that are the most abundant. When stalking prey, the Tricolored heron will go deeper into the water than any other heron.

Great Blue Herons - The Great Blue Heron is the largest and most widespread heron in Belize. It is a large bird, with a slate-gray body, chestnut and black accents, and very long legs and an "S"-shaped neck. Great Blue Herons are very tall and stand 38-54 inches.

Reddish Egrets - The Reddish Egret is a small heron. It is a resident breeder in Central America, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Gulf Coast of the United States, Mexico and Belize.  In the past, this bird was a victim of the plume trade.

Red Knot Sandpipers -  This medium-sized sandpiper has black, brown and gray scaled upperparts, a red-brown face, neck, breast and sides, and a white lower belly. It has a slightly curved black bill. The wings show white bars in flight. Diet includes insects, larvae, mollusks and crabs.

As we drove along the south end of the island, purple martin swallows flew overhead.  They were so fast, and often so many (in a flock), their movements were fast and jerky, as they suddenly flew upward and downward with the wind.  As we continued on, Jaymin spotted a black vulture on a tree post.  We backed the cart up to get a closer look, which didn't seem to disturb him one bit.  These were the same type of birds we saw on our bird tour (up north on Ambergris Caye) a few weeks ago.  Next Marcy spotted a Yucatan Woodpecker, drilling into one of the power poles along the sandy road (south of the island).  

Purple Martins - the Purple Martin, the biggest swallow in North America, by the way, is one of the earliest migratory visitors to Belize, showing up from between July to late August. We see them in large numbers because, when they are not breeding, they hang out in huge flocks and roost together in great numbers.

Yucatan Woodpecker - The Yucatán woodpecker is found in Belize, Honduras, and Mexico, and ranges over the entire Yucatán Peninsula. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.

Black Vultures - Are most abundant at low elevations. They breed in dense woodlands but usually forage in open habitats. They roost in undisturbed stands of tall trees, including sycamores, pines, hickories, oaks, junipers, and bald cypress. The total population is extremely large with at least 10,000 mature individuals.

As we continued heading south on Ambergris Caye, we came to the site known as the Marco Gonzalez Maya Site.  It's located near the southern tip of Ambergris Caye, about 6 miles south of San Pedro and is surrounded by dense jungle. It covers an area of approximately 8 acres on a small area of elevated terrain.  Over 2,000 years ago, the area would have been much larger as evidenced by archaeological debris underlying mangrove stands.  Before sea levels rose, the area is thought to have been beaches and a direct access to the sea.  The rise in sea levels over the past 20 years has significantly altered the land mass.
Prior to Covid-19, there was a booth at the entrance, and trails that allowed you to walk to the site.  Now, however, the trails are overgrown and visits to the site are difficult, especially during the rainy season.
Ambergris Caye was home to an estimated 20,000 Maya traders at the height of their occupation of the island. There are 18 sites recognized on the 25 mile long island and none of these sites had been preserved.  By April 1, 2011, the paperwork was signed with the Belizean Government, making the Marco Gonzalez the first Maya Site National Park on Ambergris Caye.   The development of the site is a huge undertaking. NICH has estimated the cost at $1.5M USD for the Visitor/Educational Center, footbridge, parking lot, restrooms, security buildings, etc. In the desire to go "green", wind and solar power is being explored to compliment local electricity. Composting restrooms and recycled plastic "lumber" for the boardwalk are being discussed. Grants and donations are being sought to make this dream come true.

The Marco Gonzales Maya Site was boarded up when we got there.  With this pandemic, there just hasn't been enough funding to support keeping it open.  Someday when the pandemic is over, we hope to go back to the site and take a walking tour.  This site (unlike many others in Belize), was built using conch shells and much of it is submerged under the water table, making it hard to excavate.  So we'll save this adventure for later.

This was a great afternoon spent bird watching on Ambergris Caye going South.  We certainly saw way more birds than expected.  This pandemic has been hard on many, and available cash is hard to come by.  We try to pick adventures that cost very little money, and yet provide quality time with both the boys.  Bird watching is an activity that does just that (it costs nothing, except the gas), and has become a highlight for Marcy, Romen, Jaymin & myself.  We promised the boys, before ending our bird-watching tour, that we'd stop and get them a special dessert.  So our last stop of the day, was to try out the Turtle Cheesecake at Black Orchid Restaurant.  We had seen a post on Facebook, of this cheesecake and thought this is just too good to be true (so the next time we're out), we need to check this out.  Black Orchid Restaurant is located about 2.5 miles south of the center of San Pedro, and about 1 mile south of Belize Budget Suites.

As we pulled up to BLACK ORCHID RESTAURANT, one of the waitresses came outside to greet us (wearing a mask), "Are you the lady bringing 2 boys in Belize, here for cheesecake?  "Yes", I told her, and "We're excited to check this out."  This chilly afternoon seemed like the perfect opportunity for a cup of hot green tea, along with a quick visit with Judyann Horton (general manager - who runs the show), just a wonderful person and so dedicated to her mission.  We absolutely loved our experience at the restaurant, the staff was warm and inviting and made us feel right at home.

The staff at Black Orchid Restaurant gave the boys pirate hats, crayons and a treasure map to color while waiting for their Red-Velvet Cake & Turtle Cheesecake.  Of course, we got creative with the whole pirate thing, and a whole slue of pictures transpired right at the table.  

Though we came in for the cheesecake, the boys really enjoyed the red velvet cake more, while Marcy and I devored the cheesecake.  Romen got a little cranky towards the end and made Marcy apologize for taking bites out of his cake (giggle).  Both were absolutely delicious and we can certainly recommend these two wonderful desserts to anyone looking to partake of something truly scrumptious. 

Today we're going up North of Ambergris Caye, to take the boys on a bird watching tour.  We don't know what we're going to see, but let's check it out.  Before we make the trek up north, we decided to stop for a little snack.   303-Belize, is a palapa restaurant up north, one of our favorite hangouts.  It's the closest thing you'll get to a ski-resort in Belize.  The boys enjoyed the beach, the swings, the food, and all the birds.  

While we were having our snack at the restaurant, we were able to see six (6) different birds, right from our table.

Lunch at 303-Belize, was a great start to our bird watching adventure.  After our bite to eat, we hopped back on the cart and headed north (to Secret Beach).  We wanted to see what kind of birds we would see in the bushes and waters around this area.

As we approached Captain Morgan's Resort (to the right, reef side), we spotted several Roseated Spoonbills feeding in pond waters.  Slightly behind the Roseated Spoonbills in the grass, was a group of (10-15) large black birds.  We pulled the cart around to take a closer look, apparently they were feeding on something in the grass.  Marcy recognized them first off, those are Black Vultures!  They didn't seem to be bothered by us staring at them, as they pranced around airing out their wings, to cool down.

Spotting a Roseate Spoonbill (to me), was the highlight of the entire trip.  I have been wanting to see this bird for sometime.  I am simply fascinated by their pink color, and felt they are one of the prettiest birds on Ambergris Caye because of it.  So to spot these, was a real find (at least to me), and made the entire trip today worth it.

Roseate Spoonbill - Can be found in lagoons, flooded rice fields, and shrimp farms.  They are a fairly common resident along the coastal belt here in Belize.  They nest in Shipstern Lagoon and on the cayes in Chetumel Bay.  
So you might ask, how do these birds get their pink color? 
Spoonbills eat shrimp, shrimp eat algae, and the algae make their own red and yellow pigments, called carotenoids. Some scientists believe that the pink coloration that roseate spoonbills acquire as they mature is due to their diet of carotenoid-rich organisms like shrimp. The more they eat, the pinker they get.

Black Vultures - Can be found in nearly every habitat in Belize, except unbroken dense forest and open ocean.  The vulture most likely is to be found feeding in urban areas and on beaches.  It nests in the cavities of dead trees and is a very common bird to see on Ambergris Caye.

As we continued up north (eagle eye) Marcy, spotted a juvenile crocodile in a "water ditch" alongside the road.  This of course added some excitement to the trip, the crocodile was not amused at being gawked at (from afar), so he submerged underwater for some privacy.

The Morelet's Crocodile - Is a small crocodile, seldom exceeding 10 feet in length. These larger animals can be considered dangerous to humans. This crocodile primarily inhabits freshwater lakes, rivers and ponds. The female will build a large nest of twigs and rotting vegetation and lay up to 3 dozen eggs.  The Morelet's Crocodile eats a variety of prey, including aquatic invertebrates, fish, small mammals and birds. These crocodiles are normally shy and timid, though the larger ones should be considered dangerous to humans.
Prior to 1981, the Morelet's Crocodile was hunted heavily in Belize for its hide. At the time of the passing of the Wildlife Protection Act, the number of crocodiles was few. The population has since rebounded and they can be found in most of the lowland interior rivers and ponds.

As we continued on, we spotted sandpipers in the mudflats.  This was also an exciting find.  Practically right in front of us and so small we hardly even noticed them, if they hadn't moved.  This is a very tiny bird.
Western Sandpipers - Can be found in shrimp farms, rice fields, sandflats, mudflats and beaches.  They are common to very common autumn transient in coastal lowlands and cayes.  As with most shorebirds, they congregate at shrimp farms, where a thousand or more can be seen on some days in autumn.

We were able to see a number of herons on our bird tour going north.  On the way to Secret Beach, we saw an 1) Agami Heron  2) Great Egret  and 3) Great Blue Heron.  All of these were spotted along the low ponding water/mangrove area along side the road going to Secret Beach.

Agami Heron - Not being an experienced birder, I have searched my book through and through several times and the only bird that comes close to what I saw was the Agami Heron.  They are typically found on the mainland in dry season.  The only thing close to it is the Tri-Colored Heron, but the bird I saw had red on his neck.  They can be found in dense foliage along edges of swamps, rivers, lagoons; best seen on exposed shorelines in dry season.  Nests in mangroves.
Great Egret - Can be found mostly in unforested areas with standing water.  They nest in small colonies on small mangrove islands.  They are a common winter visitor here in Belize.
Great Blue Heron - Can be found in most wet areas that are not densley forested; especially common at shrimp farms and shallow lagoons.  Fairly common winter visitor in lowlands throughout, including cayes from August to May.

These birds can be found in estuaries and other coastal areas, inshore and offshore waters, mangrove cayes.  They nest in large colonies in mangroves.  There is a large nesting colony on Man-o-War Caye, and a smaller colony on Half Moon Caye.  They are common all-year round and can be found along the mainland coast, and on all the cayes.
How can you tell the difference between a male or female Frigatebird?
Simply look at the chest feathers.  Females have white chest feathers and males have black chest feathers, along with a red pouch.

These birds are called the "pirates of the sky", because they steal the food from other birds.  Often in flight, they will swoop down and grab a tasty lunch from an un-suspecting gull.

This was a great day together.  Bird watching is an enjoyable activity for people of all ages.  The boys got a kick out of trying to see, who could find the next bird.  The more you learn about birds, the more enjoyable it is, and the more you slowly become hooked on the entire experience.  We will definitely be doing this again.  Often the excitement for each adventure - is not knowing what you're going to see.  Today was a day well spent together, the boys enjoyed it immensely.  Thus ends another adventure for (2) boys in Belize.

Hope you enjoyed our first post, we're going to have many more just like this one.