Omar Arceo Takes Fly-Fishing Camps to Punta Gorda and Placencia

San Pedro’s Omar Arceo continues sharing his fly-fishing knowledge across Belize. This time, the “Doctor of the Flats” held training camps in Punta Gorda Town and Placencia, southern Belize. Participants learned about the importance of Belize’s fly-fishing industry, a multimillion-dollar sector of the country’s tourism industry. Arceo also emphasized sustainable fishing practices and marine conservation, which go hand in hand with fly-fishing.
The Punta Gorda camp was held from August 24th to the 28th through a collaboration between the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute and Omar’s Freelance Fishing. The group of 15 students received hands-on instruction in assembling and disassembling fly rods, casting techniques, essential knot-tying skills, and reading the water.
As is customary, the training included a field trip to nearby fly-fishing flats, where students applied the techniques they had learned. Arceo emphasized that proper casting is one of the most important skills participants must master to succeed at fly fishing.
Arceo then took the program to Placencia Village, where he partnered with the Belize Tourism Board to train four registered tour guides. “The camps have been a success, and I want to thank all the participants for their interest and everyone who has contributed to the training of the new fly-fishers,” Arceo said. “I am happy to be training the youths and adults of tomorrow, as we need new generations to keep this discipline and industry going.”
Arceo added that he has been able to offer the camps through generous donations. One recent contribution came from the organizers of the San Pedro Classic Fly-Fishing Tournament, held from August 6th to the 8th, who donated to Arceo’s Youth Fly-Fishing Program.
In July, Arceo conducted a fly-fishing camp in Caye Caulker, where he trained 14 students. That same month, he held another camp for 14 participants in Sarteneja Village in the Corozal District. A third camp was held in San Pedro and concluded shortly before the start of the annual San Pedro Classic Fly-Fishing Tournament.