by Travis Baker, WTA OA & TAGS
As lead fishing consultant for Worldwide Trophy Adventures, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the globe in pursuit of my passion. This past April I spent a few days in the Central American country of Guatemala, better known as “the sailfish capital,” where I visited one of our long-time lodges and added a new one to the list. Guatemala often gets a bad rap as being too dangerous to travel to, but that couldn’t be any further from the truth. Once outside of heavily populated Guatemala City, you find yourself in a beautiful country full of active volcanoes, agriculture, and lush rain forests. I have sent dozens of satisfied clients here who have never had any issues with safety. In fact, most of them have returned. It’s no longer a secret that Guatemala offers, hands down, the finest fishing for pacific sailfish on the planet. The sheer number of fish in this region is mind blowing. You often hear reports of boats raising (fish coming to the teaser) 50-60 plus fish a day and releasing 30-40 plus fish a day. Believe it or not, those numbers are common and at times, considered an average day! Blue and striped marlin are also present at times, as well as mahi mahi and yellowfin tuna. There are limited inshore opportunities for roosterfish as well. The captains are a mix of local Guatemalans who grew up fishing these waters and Americans who have been coming here for many, many years, most of whom now call Guatemala their home. Boats range in size from 31’ – 40’ plus and are all equipped with state of the art equipment and conventional and fly fishing tackle. The season in Guatemala is a long one. You could actually have good fishing here all year long, but for the most part, it’s October – June. Plus, you seldom have to go far to find fish, often 10-25 miles from port, and the seas are typically calm. It’s also one of the easiest international billfish destinations to get to with several direct flights from Houston, Dallas, Miami, and Atlanta with no overnights or costly charter flights involved.
Bottom line is: if you’re looking to experience fast-paced action for sailfish, and an excuse to escape the cold weather of the north for a few days, look no further than Guatemala. Give our office a call to discuss options.
http://www.worldwidetrophyadventures.com/outfitters?adventure=8&species=0&location=Guatemala
