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Guatemala Sailfish

Tim Herald
|  
  • Tim Herald

Billfishing’s Finest

by Tim Herald

Guatemala has emerged over the past decade as the sailfishing capital of the world. When the bite is hot, it is not uncommon to release 20-30 big Pacific sailfish, that weigh 90-120 pounds each, in a day, and often mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna, and marlin are added to the catch for variety and table fare. It is a short flight with good connections from virtually anywhere in the US, and makes for convenient and easy travel.

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Recently I led a group of WTA clients down to Guatemala for 4 days of fishing. We chose late April and early May as we wanted to catch sailfish, but wanted to hedge our bets for a variety of species. We really wanted to catch some mahi and tuna, and May is a prime month for marlin.

 

We made the easy flight to Guatemala City, and transferred to our very nice lodging that was about 90 minutes away. All of our trips offer resort or private villa accommodations, all ground transport and great food. They are inclusive outside of tips once you get to Guatemala City. The eight of us had two boats, and we all stayed in a villa with a great cook, waiter and maid. The house was great, and we had a very nice back yard with pool and beach access.

 

The next four days, we fished from about 7AM-4PM, and caught a lot of fish, especially for not being in “prime” sailfish season that is generally thought of from January to March. For fishermen who want to catch a good number of sailfish plus some other species, anytime from November to June can be very good.

Another great thing about fishing Guatemala is that the seas are generally very gentle, and often you don’t have to make long runs to get into the action. No one had any problems at all with seasickness.

 

We trolled with standard sailfish technique using a spread of teasers and baits, and once a fish was raised into the spread, baits would be presented to the aggressive fish. The first day we had a pretty diverse bag with each boat releasing around a dozen sailfish, putting a few mahi in the cooler, and one boat caught a handful of tuna and released a very nice striped marlin.
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That evening our cook made some incredible fresh mahi, and we ate like royalty.

 

This would be the norm for the duration of the trip. We released a good number of sails each day, we always caught some mahi and tuna for the cooler, and some of the mahi were really big. We had a number of mahi in the 5’-6’ range, and it is always a blast to catch these beautiful, delicious and acrobatic fish. My biggest mahi was actually one of the two highlights of the trip for me personally.

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On day three, we got a radio call from our other boat that they were really into the tuna, and we needed to get there. Once we made the short run, the other boat was leaving, but we got a real treat. There was an area of probably 10 acres just covered in spinner dolphins (literally hundreds of them) that were enjoying an easy feast of baitfish and putting on a show for us. With all the baitfish, it was a piece of cake to troll small cedar plugs and hook into 10-20 pound yellowfin tuna almost as fast as we could get one fish off and the lines back in the water. Our other boat put about 15 in the box and we filled our cooler pretty quickly as well. As we began to troll for sailfish again, one of our mates sliced up a fresh yellowfin, mixed up some soy sauce and wasabi, and I was in absolute heaven eating sashimi until I couldn’t eat another bite.img_7195

 

On the last day, we had a blue marlin come into the spread, and it was my turn on the rod. It took a while, but the big fish finally ate my bait, and as soon as she was hooked, she made an incredible run of about 250 yards before the line popped, and it was over much quicker than it started. There was a lot of excitement on our boat for a few minutes, but it was not my day for a marlin release.

 

Late that afternoon, when my turn came back around, I asked our first mate if I could try to catch a sail on one of the small spinning rigs we had setup for mahi. None of us were fly fishermen, but I thought this would be an added challenge. When I got a big sailfish on the smaller rig, I was to find out how true that was. Instead of a 5-10 minute fight on the larger conventional tackle, it took me close to 30 minutes, a lot of sweat along with burning arms and back muscles before we could release my last sail of the trip. I know when I go back, I will be using a rig like that more often. It was a blast and much more challenging using the smaller spin outfit.

 

Speaking of going back, I booked another couple of boats and 4 more days for next year as soon as I got home. There will be eight of us making a return next spring, and I can’t wait. If you like to fish at all, this convenient and affordable trip may just end up being the trip of a lifetime. It’s definitely the most fun four days of fishing I have ever experienced, and I look forward to sharing the experience with new people and helping others plan their own Guatemala adventures.

Check out these quality Guatemala listings for more info:

http://worldwidetrophyadventures.com/outfitters?adventure=8&species=0&location=Guatemala

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Wyoming’s Preference Point Deadline Is Approaching: October 31

Wyoming’s Preference Point Deadline Is Approaching: October 31

Preference Point Deadline: October 31, 2025

The deadline to purchase Wyoming preference points is October 31. If WTA is already managing your TAGS applications, you’re all set. If not, don’t miss the chance to secure points this year. It’s the perfect time to talk with a TAGS consultant to start a new portfolio or grow your existing one.

Wyoming’s system is unique. Unlike other states, you don’t automatically receive a preference point if you’re unsuccessful in the draw. Instead, you must log in after July 1 and purchase your points separately. Building points is critical if you want a shot at drawing a Wyoming tag. Over-the-counter opportunities are a thing of the past. Today, only 25% of non-resident tags are issued randomly. The other 75% go to applicants with the highest point totals.

If you want to hunt big game in Wyoming, building preference points isn’t optional…it’s essential.

Watch Wyoming Video

While preference points are an investment in the future, don’t let that keep you from starting now. While Wyoming has units that require 18+ points, there are also good opportunities to hunt sooner. There are elk, deer, and antelope hunts that can be drawn with 0–3 points. Think about it this way—the more points you have, the more options you have.

View Wyoming TAGS Hunts

If you’re serious about trophy-class western hunting, Arizona should be a top priority. With coveted Desert and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep tags, the chance to draw world-class mule deer permits, and outstanding opportunities for Coues deer, the Grand Canyon State offers some of the most exceptional big game hunting in North America. However, drawing a tag is no easy feat—Arizona’s structured, bonus point-based draw system is designed to reward persistence.

That’s where WTA TAGS comes in.

We do more than help you apply—we help you draw. And once you do, we ensure you make the most of it by connecting you with the state’s top professional outfitters, giving you the best possible shot at success.

Deadline to Apply: June 3 for Deer and Sheep. Draw Post Date: Late July for Deer and…
Frozen Arrow: A South Dakota Bison Hunt

Frozen Arrow: A South Dakota Bison Hunt

Bison are the West’s enduring icon, roaming the plains by the millions before nearly vanishing, only to return through ranch conservation efforts. Today, 90% of them live on ranches, where hunters help fund and manage herds. I’d seen bison in parks, but bowhunting one was the dream. South Dakota’s open country felt right, so I called Worldwide Trophy Adventures, and they set me up with a top-notch outfitter.

The hunt required unique gear. South Dakota’s winter can be brutal. We expected windchills to drop into the -30° F range during our trip, cold enough to frostbite fingers in minutes. I packed heavy wool layers, insulated boots, and fingerless gloves under mittens, knowing I’d need to pull them off to shoot my bow. WTA handled all the logistics. All I had to do was get there.

I drove from Michigan, loaded with empty coolers for meat and space for the hide and skull. The outfitter’s setup was a cluster of small houses around a central lodge, clean and warm with cozy beds. We ate home-cooked dishes in the lodge, hearty meals that fueled our long, frigid days. My guide, Shannon, was excellent. He loves his job and hunts hard, even during nasty weather.

We planned the hunt over beers in the lodge that first night. Bison are solitary, not in herds this time of year, making them tough to find. We’d glass from high points, then stalk on foot. Although the terrain seems flat, it’s full of dips and ridges that bison use to get out of the wind.

Day one, we glassed from a hill, scanning miles of icy grass. Nothing. After a few hours, we got intel on a bull near a watering tank an hour away. We drove out and huddled in a low, swampy area to make a plan. Just as Shannon said, “Bison can appear out of nowhere,” one crested the ridge behind us. We ducked into the reeds, barely hidden. He closed to 45 yards, his long horns gleaming in the blowing grass, but the strong wind made a bow shot a low-percentage opportunity. We chose to let the bull walk, opting to wait for better conditions and a more ethical shot.

We spotted him a mile out with three cows. Shannon set up a brand-new, custom screenprinted bison decoy along a tree line. We hid in a blowdown, hoping to draw him close enough for a shot. The bull came right to the decoy but stayed 60 yards out. Again, it was too windy to shoot. He moved off fast, trailing the cows. We attempted other stalks, but the cows’ sharp eyes kept us pinned out of range. Beat, we headed back to the lodge for a hot meal and playoff football, planning to pick them up in the morning.

Day two was -30° F with wind chill, but the wind had laid down substantially and calmer air meant I could reach further with my bow. We picked up the bull and his cows early. One cow locked onto us, staring for minutes, forcing a slow crawl through a frozen marsh. We closed the distance, but they fed away and out of the area. I couldn’t believe how slow they looked yet how fast they moved through the landscape.

We picked them up again, grazing in a huge open area with a single tree line cutting through it. Using the trees as cover, we crept up, tree by tree, to avoid the watchful eyes of those wary cows. When we snuck within range, I slipped off my mittens, the cold burning my fingers, and nocked an arrow. The first shot hit the bull’s heart. His massive body barely flinched. A second arrow struck true, moving him left and behind a cow. He was mortally wounded, but I wanted to end things quickly. I nocked another arrow and sent it through his lungs. He dropped in 30 seconds after my last shot. My nerves were shot, my whiskers frozen, my fingers numb, but I had dropped a great bull bison with my bow.

The dead bull was beautiful. His horns, wide and tall like goalposts and worn smooth, were unique, Shannon said. His thick coat puffed dust when I slapped it, his blood frozen on the icy ground. Bison are an American icon and taking this one with a bow was amazing.

I took my bull to a nearby butcher, and within 24 hours, it was ready. They showed me the broadhead slashes in his heart, clean and lethal. The meat filled my coolers, the skull went to a taxidermist in Michigan, and the hide’s being tanned for mittens and hats—wonderful reminders of the hunt.

The cold was the toughest part of this hunt, colder than anything I’d experienced, but it made it unforgettable. For a bison hunt, this one’s hard to beat.

Learn About this Bison Hunt Watch the Hunt

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