headlines Archives - Pacificfins Resort

September 29, 2023September 29, 2023

Cast & Blast in Guatemala

A frequently asked question we get from hunters is, Is there any hunting in Guatemala?

Yes, it is possible to fish and hunt in Guatemala and what makes it even better is the geographical distance from our resort – 45 minutes. Our region offer opportunities for both activities, allowing individuals to enjoy a diverse outdoor experience. Some may call it “Cast & Blast”, but we call it “Live the Pacific Fins Experience”.

Guatemala is the most incredible and exotic place for duck and dove hunting. It’s widely known for its beautiful virgin landscapes and outstanding flora and fauna sightseeing. Worldwide hunters will be in love with the different types of hunts we can offer (duck hunting and dove hunting), and the variety of species they’ll find. You can see Blue and Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Whistlers, Shovelers, etc. The tours take place on the South coast of Guatemala, near the BEST PLACE in the whole world for Billfishing.

The hunting areas provided have been very well scouted and guarantee a great hunt. There are different hunting tours with experienced hunters who will be by your side, top-of-the-line services, and awesome hospitality; everything to make sure you have the best of times and a trip you will never forget.

Guatemala hunting includes generous duck bag limits which are strictly abided. Limits are 25 ducks per day. Duck Hunting season is from November to February, and Dove Hunting season is from May to December.

The Duck Hunting tours take place in private freshwater ponds with amazing scenic views of the volcanos. On the other hand, in the Dove Hunting tours, you can gaze at the beautiful local agricultural cropping lands.

The properties where you will hunt are amongst the very best in the region.

We provide water transport, decoys placed by field staff, Berretta shotguns, water boys, and blinds. Depending on the tour you choose, hunters will be placed in different strategic spots, all provided with cold drinks, snacks, and an emergency kit.

The Duck hunting tour is from 4:00 am to 2:00 pm, and the Dove Hunting tour is from 5:00 am to 2:00 am. After the hunt is over, the hunters and the team will enjoy our delicious local foods and drinks to recharge and get to know a little bit more of our culture, and the wonderful hospitality of our people and listen to the team’s stories.

We want to make this the best hunting experience you ever imagined by mixing a great hunting adventure and all our country has to offer as well as its unique landscapes and wonderful weather. These tours were created by two extremely passionate Guatemalan hunters with the purpose of sharing their love for hunting and the beauties their country has to offer you.

WHAT TO BRING

Packing for this Guatemala South Coast duck hunting combo is very simple. The weather is practically the same the whole season (78-90F).

– Breathable pants for hot weather, light shirts (long or short sleeves), cap, hiking or rubber boots.

– Light – weight clothing in camo or earth tones, ball cap and sunglasses, hearing and eye protection, and sunscreen are musts.

– If taking trophies home, bring 2-gallon zip-locks, pen or marker, and tags for properly labeling your trophies. Contact your USDA-approved taxidermist prior to travel to discuss taxidermy and import.

For more information, please contact us:

888-431-5556 or [email protected]

September 14, 2023September 14, 2023

Serial Griller: Matt Moore Returns to the Invitational

Pacific Fins is excited to welcome back Serial Griller, Matt Moore to the 8th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational.

Author. Entrepreneur. Cook. Musician. Host. Pilot. Adventurer. Southern Gentleman.

These are just some of the words used to describe Nashville, TN based Matt Moore. Moore’s work has garnered critical acclaim as far reaching as the BBC and CBC to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Atlanta Constitution, Chicago Tribune, People, Southern Living, Redbook, Esquire, Men’s Journal, TODAY, CBS, VH1, FOX, Hallmark, The Art of Manliness, and countless others. As a chef, Moore specializes in updated Southern cuisine with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences. He’s also a cast-iron and wild game enthusiast with extensive experience working over live fires.

His first book, Have Her Over for Dinner, a Gentleman’s Guide to Classic, Simple Meals was named one of the year’s best cookbooks by The New York Times. His follow-up, A Southern Gentleman’s Kitchen (TIME INC Books) was released to wide praise and acclaim in the spring of 2015. His best-selling, The South’s Best Butts (TIME INC BOOKS) was named the #1 cookbook of the year by The National BBQ and Grilling Association in 2018. Moore’s recent work, Serial Griller (HMH 2020), has also enjoyed best-selling status with a focus on live-fire grilling throughout America.

Fast forward to today, Matt is back with a new cookbook “Butcher on the Block”, focusing on butchers across the country to combine the worlds of barbecue and grilling.

When he is not cooking, traveling, or writing, Moore is busy running EastWest Bottlers, a boutique fragrance and apothecary company he founded in 2011. To date, Moore maintains a distribution of over 200 retail specialty stores where his fragrances and books are sold. He has negotiated distribution and license agreements in over 30 countries, including big-box stores such as Belk, Dillards, and Bloomingdales – securing license products for Fortune 500 brands, as well as luxury European brands.

For those who love to grill, which I know the majority of us do, Matt’s new cookbook, “Butcher on the Block” is currently available for purchase online or at your local stores.

August 31, 2023August 31, 2023

8th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational (SOLD OUT)

We realize many anglers focus on freshwater destinations – places like Alaska, Canada, and the American West during the summer months. But what many don’t realize this region hosts good numbers of blue marlin, plenty of dorados, and yellowfin tuna during the so-called “Off Season” (summer and early fall).

During this time of year, our blue-water fishery becomes more diverse. Water temperatures heat up, but our climate remains pleasant. We consider the summer (June – September) to be prime time for Dorado and Yellowfin tuna. You can catch these species many days until your arms completely falls off. To hear guests return to the dock catching 25 Dorado and 15 Yellowfin plus several sailfish in a given day is pretty normal in the Guatemalan summer months. And let’s not forget about Marlin. The summer is a great time for our blue marlin fishery, also.

Summertime is superb for family fishing, a father-son/trip, or a corporate excursion. The calm Guatemalan waters offer a wonderful time to take that trip and experience what this country has to offer.

We are always open to guests that can’t make a trip during other months.

June Fishing Report :

June 1st – 30th: Gypsy – 116 sailfish raises, 95 bites and 69 releases. Blue Marlin: 4 raise, 3 bite, 3 releases. Dorados: 39. (14 days of fishing).
June 2nd – 30th: Chechos – 207 sailfish raises, 170 bites and 114 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 4 raises, 2 bites, 1 release. Blue Marlin: 5 raises, 3 bite, 3 releases. Dorados: 41. (15 days of fishing).
June 1st – 28th: Knotwork – 39 sailfish raises, 34 bites and 27 releases. Blue Marlin: 2 raises, 1 bite, 1 release. Dorados: 8. (5 days of fishing).
June 1st – 20th: Sirena – 39 sailfish raises, 34 bites, 26 releases. Blue Marlin: 1 raise, 1 bite, 1 release. Dorado: 12. Yellowfin Tuna: 1. Wahoo: 1. (5 days of fishing)
June 23rd – 30th: Uno Mas – 28 sailfish raises, 21 bites, 12 releases. Blue Marlin: 1 raise, 1 bite, 1 release. Dorado: 3. (2 days of fishing)
June 1st – 30th: Maverick – (Boat Maintenance).

July Fishing Report :

July 2nd – 23rd: Gypsy – 69 sailfish raises, 58 bites and 37 releases. Dorados: 19 and 17 yellowfin tuna. (6 days of fishing).
July 21st: Chechos – 15 sailfish raises, 14 bites and 9 releases. Dorados: 1. (1 day of fishing).
July 15th – 30th: Knotwork – 69 sailfish raises, 54 bites and 37 releases. Dorados: 4 and 14 yellowfin tuna. (7 days of fishing).
July 9th – 21st: Sirena – 15 sailfish raises, 14 bites and 17 releases. Dorados: 5. (2 days of fishing).
July 22nd: Intensity – 9 sailfish raises, 9 bites and 6 releases. Dorados: 3. (1 day of fishing).
July 1st – 31st: Maverick – (Boat Maintenance).

8th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational

Get ready anglers! The 8th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational just got bigger. Which means is shaping up to be the biggest in Guatemala’s history. It’s no surprise we have this turnout. Last year’s event was our largest and the vibe after that one indicated that 2023’s event will surpass it.As last year, we will have a woman’s division. Yes… we will have several ladies competing for a beautiful trophy from Kingsailfish Mounts.In the coming weeks, we will be making announcements about the tournament and the special guests that will be part of this year’s event. So, if you think last year’s tournament was one for the record books… we can’t wait for this one!

June 23, 2023June 23, 2023

“Reel in the Fun – 8th Annual billfish Invitational”

The newsletter you’ve been waiting for! The 8th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational Tournament.

The 7th annual tournament generated a record 2023 sailfish raises, 1725 bites and 1078 Sailfish releases. 11 blue marlin raises, 1 striped marlin, countless dorado and yellowfin tuna. Making the tournament the largest in the history of Guatemala!

The objective for this tournament is to create awareness for the benefit of conservation of sailfish, being a resource of great importance for the country. In this event, like the previous ones, we had different celebrities of international stature and personalities that contribute to sport fishing in the region. There was 35 brands and entities supporting sport fishing in the country, as well endorsed by the National Fisheries Association in Guatemala. The tournament will consist of three days of fishing and will have anglers from the US, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Guatemala. This tournament gives the opportunity for amateurs and professional anglers to compete to be the team that releases the most sailfish, marlin, dorado and yellowfin tuna.Awards: Top Professional Team (1st, 2nd & 3rd), Top Amateur Team, Top Captain, Top Pro Lady Angler, Top Amateur Lady Angler, Top Marlin, Dorado and Yellowfin Tuna.Plus, a crowd favorite, a calcutta for those brave enough to bet on their skills and luck.

The 2022 Guatemala Billfish Invitational was the biggest yet. We had 8 lodging locations at capacity. It’s no surprise with such high anticipation that always builds throughout the year. So, if you think last year’s event was one for the record books… just wait till this December.We started to receive reservations and we highly recommend for those that want to participate in this year’s event, to contact us and secure your spot. Due to limited capacity, you don’t want to be left out of this amazing fun, but competitive tournament.

Tournament dates: December 7th – 11th, 2023.
For more information, please contact us at 1-888-431-5556 or [email protected]

June 9, 2023June 9, 2023

April & May Fish Madness – Fishing Report

The month of April and May produced stellar fishing. Anglers that traveled to Pacific Fins sure had one heck of a time and got to “Live the Pacific Fins Experience”.

Some days we raised 20+ fish and some days close to 60. You know when that happens seasoned anglers and weekend warriors become a little more inspired to try out a sail on fly. With that many shots, why not – bring out the Nautilus reel/Biscayne rod combo!

Marlin activity started to become a norm and it will continue through the summer months (Marlin Season). The supporting cast: dorado and yellowfin tuna have been plentiful. Don’t expect for yellowfin tuna and BIG dorado to disappear anytime soon. They will be here waiting for you!

With summer around the corner and the subject of where to travel during summer break, traveling to Guatemala is more affordable than many other spots around the world. Guests have expressed after you factor in fuel, hotel, meals, and local charters… traveling to Pacific Fins is a much more affordable vacation.

So, whether it’s for summer or the upcoming season, we highly suggest you book soon. Many have started to reserve into the months ahead and you don’t want to miss out on an experience of a lifetime.

April Fishing Report :

April 1st – 30th: Chechos – 441 sailfish raises, 362 bites and 210 releases. Blue Marlin: 15 raises, 4 bites, 3 release. Dorados: 71 and 14 yellowfin tuna. (26 days of fishing).
April 5th – 30th: Knotwork – 272 sailfish raises, 228 bites and 156 releases.
April 1st – 3rd Sailfish on Fly: 22 raises, 10 bites, 7 release. Blue Marlin: 17 raises, 11 bites, 7 release. Dorado: 34 and 8 yellowfin tuna. (25 days of fishing).
April 1st – 30th: Gypsy – 267 sailfish raises, 199 bites and 112 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 87 Sailfish raises, 27 bites, 5 releases. Blue Marlin on Fly: 4 raises. Dorado: 25, and 7 yellowfin tuna. (21 days of fishing)
April 1st and 3rd: Uno Mas – 27 sailfish raises, 22 bites and 12 releases. Dorado: 1 and 2 yellowfin tuna. (2 days of fishing).
April 1st – 28th: Sirena – 87 sailfish raises, 73 bites and 51 releases. Blue Marlin: 3 raises, 3 bites, 2 releases. Dorado: 6. (8 days of fishing).
April 10th – 29th: Mojo – 156 sailfish raises, 121 bites, 76 releases. Blue Marlin: 2 raises, 2 bites. 12 dorado. 4 yellowfin tuna (9 days of fishing).
April 21st: Fresh Catch – 9 sailfish raises, 9 bites and 7 releases. Dorado: 4. (1 day of fishing).
April 25th: Danmark – 19 sailfish raises, 15 bites and 19 releases. 2 dorado. (1 day of fishing).
April 29th: Tranquility – 5 sailfish raises, 4 bites and 2 releases. Blue Marlin 2 raises, 1 bite, 1 release and 6 yellowfin tuna (1 day of fishing).May Fishing Report :
May 1st – 28th: Chechos – 231 sailfish raises, 196 bites and 117 releases conventional plus 34 sailfish raises, 16 bites and 7 released on fly. Blue Marlin: 9 raises, 5 bites, 5 release (INCLUDING A DOUBLE!!!). Dorados: 45 and 1 yellowfin tuna. (20 days of fishing).
May 1st – 31st: Knotwork – 186 sailfish raises, 152 bites and 98 releases. Blue Marlin: 1 raises, 1 bites, 0 release. Dorado: 28 and 4 yellowfin tuna. (13 days of fishing).
May 1st – 31st: Gypsy – 176 sailfish raises, 149 bites and 105 releases. Blue Marlin: 5 raises, 2 bites and 2 releases. Dorado: 48. (16 days of fishing)
May 5th: Sirena – 26 sailfish raises, 23 bites and 14 releases. Dorado: 3. (1 day of fishing).
May 10th-13th: Mojo – 33 sailfish raises, 15 bites and 10 releases. Blue Marlin: 1 raise. Dorado: 1. (4 days of fishing).

May 11, 2023May 11, 2023

Unfathomed hosted trips – Just Awesome!

“This is my 3^rd trip to Pacific Fins, and as expected, it was amazing. Each trip has had its own unique features, but there is always the common thread, which is an epic experience. Transportation to and from is always with great ease and clearly organized. When you arrive at the resort, it is obvious how much care and attention goes into it. The grounds are always manicured and the entire resort including the rooms are very clean. The service is absolutely first class and the food rivals any top rated restaurant. And of course there is the fishing, which is top notch. The Captains and Mates are very knowledgeable, professional, and polite. They will accommodate the most experienced person to the beginner, and will let you be as much involved as you want with the fishing experience. I highly recommend this resort to everyone looking for a first class fishing experience and at first class resort! I have already booked a return trip, this time with my family.” – Will Crook.

What an amazing trip hosted by Pacific Fins Ambassador, George Gozdz. We had a mixed group of guys that were veterans of the blue water and others who wanted to have a taste of what Guatemala’s fishery is like. For those seasoned anglers and even those weekend warriors, Guatemala has a reputation for making dreams come true.

Sailfish, dorado, and yellowfin tuna were the main attraction. Everyone enjoyed a hot sailfish bite, big dorados, and yellowfin tuna.

After three rod bending days at Pacific Fins, it was time to move to the next step on the itinerary. The nice thing about how George’s trips are setup, the ladder part of it involves the chance to unwind and relax our muscles at the beautiful hotel, Casa Santo Domingo in Antigua. So on the last day… breakfast at Pacific Fins and a short drive to the ancient city.

When catching lots of fish is not enough… you get pampered by flying into Pacific Fins to start the party faster.

First timers catching billfish get the plunge.

“They Keep getting better! Our hosted trip to Pacific Fins was nothing short of amazing. We had a great group of guests that were welcomed with incredible fishing, food, sight seeing, and all around good time. Bucket list items were checked off with impressive catches of dorado, sailfish, and yellowfin tuna. Topping the trip off was time well spent in the old city of Antigua. We experienced the rich culture of Guatemala. ” – George Gozdz

In Guatemala there is a demonym called “Chapin” and it’s not offensive. We can start to call George a Chapin for the many times he has traveled to Guatemala. From all of us George, CONGRATS again on your success!

It’s no surprise these trips book in record time and this is why we are announcing Fall 2023 Unfathomed hosted trip.

Our next adventure which has only 6 spots left, October 10th – 15th, 2023.

This is an all-inclusive adventure with 5 nights and 3 full days of offshore/inshore during prime fishing. In addition to Pacific Fins, we have added a night stay/sightseeing in the old capital city of Antigua on the day we arrive. We will be lodging at one of the best hotels in town, Casa Santo Domingo.

Price: $3900 per person (includes night in Casa Santo Domingo)

Due to limited space and demand, we highly recommend to secure your spot!

For more info, you can contact us at: 888-431-5556 / George Gozdz 772-284-5922 or [email protected] / [email protected]

April 22, 2023April 22, 2023

March Madness – Fishing Report

You can’t mention “Spring Break” without thinking of a fishing trip. Guests who traveled to Pacific Fins in March were greeted with really good numbers.This is the time of year many love. It’s when not only you get intense sailfish action, it’s when the man in the blue suit aka blue marlin start to be more abundant as well.Yellowfin tuna will be active around spinner dolphins, and dorado will be in the larger class (Pics below don’t lie).

Plus, you can’t never rule out a striped marlin in the spread.For those looking to travel with family, March through June is a great time to be here. It’s also months that book 10 to 12 months in advance. Which is why, I always advice those that couldn’t find a spot to start planning for the following year.We still have a few spaces available, want to be part of an epic season? Call your fishing partners, grab your passports, pack your bags, and head to Guatemala!

March Fishing Report :

March 1st – 30th: Chechos – 306 sailfish raises, 261 bites and 166 releases. Blue Marlin: 4 raises, 3 bites, 0 release. Dorados: 41. (20 days of fishing).
March 2nd – 30th: Knotwork – 314 sailfish raises, 273 bites and 163 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 7 raises, 4 bites, 1 release. Blue Marlin: 2 raises. Striped marlin: 1. Dorado: 30, 2 yellowfin tuna, and 2 Rooster fish. (22 days of fishing).
March 3rd – 31st: Gypsy – 205 sailfish raises, 142 bites and 72 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 77 Sailfish raises, 22 bites, 7 releases. Blue Marlin: 4 raises, 2 bites, 1 release. Dorado: 17, and 1 yellowfin tuna. (21 days of fishing)
March 2nd – 28th: Uno Mas – 199 sailfish raises, 152 bites and 87 releases. Blue Marlin: 3 raises, 2 bites, 1 releases. Dorado: 12. (13 days of fishing).
March 17th – 29th: Mojo – 164 sailfish raises, 123 bites and 81 releases. Blue Marlin: 5 raises, 3 bites, 2 releases. Dorado: 10. (9 days of fishing).
March 3rd – 5th: Mijooo – 20 sailfish raises, 17 bites, 10 releases. 5 dorado. 1 roosterfish (3 days of fishing).March 6th – 26th: Sirena – 72 sailfish raises, 57 bites and 35 releases. Dorado: 13. (7 days of fishing).
March 15th: Fresh Catch – 23 sailfish raises, 23 bites and 11 releases. (1 day of fishing).
March 16th: Captain Hook – 55 sailfish raises, 46 bites and 33 releases. (1 day of fishing).
March 17th – 22nd: Fishy Business – 42 sailfish raises, 32 bites and 20 releases. Striped Marlin: 2 raises, 1 bites, 1 releases. Dorado: 2. (3 days of fishing).
March 17th – 22nd: Danmark – 40 sailfish raises, 33 bites and 22 releases. Dorado: 3. (13 days of fishing).
March 24th – 25th: Intensity – 22 sailfish raises, 18 bites and 12 releases. Dorado: 1. (2 days of fishing).

April 4, 2023April 4, 2023

January / February Fishing Report

January is a great time of year to fish our waters. Though, this past January mother nature decided to throw us a fastball. Not a curveball… a fast ball! What do I mean? abnormal strong currents did not allow bait to concentrate in one particular area for a long period of time, which resulted in subpar fishing.

About 7 years ago, we had the same isolated currents wreak havoc by pushing the bait further from our zones. One day you mark fish and the other day you end up scratching your head on where did they go. The currents were so strong that in a 24 hour window bait got pushed 20 to 30+ miles away.

Now, with all this going on, we still had very good fishing days. We caught plenty of sailfish, dorado, yellowfin tuna, blue marlin, and striped marlin. It was just the second half of the month that this came to develop.

The good news is everything’s back to normal. Keep your eyes out for the next newsletter, as you will see March reports get RED HOT.

Looking to put Pacific Fins in your travel plans? we highly suggest to lock in those dates as soon as possible. Fall 2023 dates are filling up fast and so is the 2024 season!

January Fishing Report :

January 2nd – 31st: Chechos – 207 sailfish raises, 170 bites and 117 releases. Black Marlin: 1 raises, 1 bite, 1 release. Dorados: 57 and 6 yellowfin tuna. (18 days of fishing).
January 2nd – 23rd: Knotwork – 169 sailfish raises, 148 bites and 109 releases. Blue Marlin: 4 raises, 3 bites, 1 release. Dorado: 69 and 17 yellowfin tuna. (20 days of fishing).
January 3rd – 31st: Gypsy – 147 sailfish raises, 118 bites and 72 releases. Dorado: 43, and 1 yellowfin tuna. (15 days of fishing)
January 5th – 20th: Maverick – 55 sailfish raises, 38 bites and 25 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 13 raises, 12 bites, 5 releases. Blue Marlin: 5 raises, 4 bites, 4 releases. Dorado: 16. Yellowfin tuna: 2. (8 days of fishing).
January 3rd: Mijooo – 31 sailfish raises, 24 bites, 19 releases. 2 dorado. (1 day of fishing)
January 5th – 20th: Sirena – 72 sailfish raises, 63 bites and 51 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 1 raise, 1 bite, 1 release. Striped Marlin: 1 raise, 1 bite, 1 release. Dorado: 10. (6 days of fishing).
January 5th – 20th: Sirena – 72 sailfish raises, 63 bites and 51 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 1 raise, 1 bite, 1 release. Striped Marlin: 1 raise, 1 bite, 1 release. Dorado: 10. (6 days of fishing).
January 1st – 5th: Uno Mas – 70 sailfish raises, 61 bites and 42 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 1 raise, 1 bite, 1 release. Dorado: 8, Yellowfin Tuna: 1. (6 days of fishing).

February Fishing Report :

February 1st – 28th: Chechos – 227 sailfish raises, 192 bites and 120 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 11 raises, 6 bites, 1 release. Blue Marlin: 11 raises, 8 bite, 1 release. Striped Marlin: 4 raises, 3 bites, 1 release. Dorados: 51 and 5 yellowfin tuna. (23 days of fishing).
February 1st – 28th: Gypsy – 131 sailfish raises, 109 bites and 72 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 17 raises, 6 bites, 5 releases. Blue Marlin: 7 raises, 2 bites, 1 release. Blue Marlin on Fly: 1 raise, 1 bite, 1 release. Dorados: 42. (22 days of fishing).
February 1st – 28th: Knotwork – 226 sailfish raises, 190 bites and 133 releases. Blue Marlin: 8 raises, 4 bite, 1 release. Dorados: 59 and 5 yellowfin tuna. (26 days of fishing).
February 1st – 28th: Sirena – 56 sailfish raises, 47 bites and 32 releases. Dorados: 12 and 3 yellowfin tuna. (8 days of fishing).
February 1st – 28th: Uno Mas – 34 sailfish raises, 17 bites and 7 releases. Blue Marlin: 5 raises, 2 bite, 1 release. Dorados: 13. (7 days of fishing).
February 10th – 21st: Animo – 58 sailfish raises, 44 bites and 29 releases. Blue Marlin: 1 raise, 1 bite, 1 release. Yellowfin Tuna: 6. Dorados: 22. (7 days of fishing).
February 10th – 21st: Ecsta-Sea – 44 sailfish raises, 41 bites and 20 releases. (3 days of fishing)
February 14th – 24th: Mijooo – 58 sailfish raises, 44 bites and 29 releases. Blue Marlin: 1 raise, 1 bite, 1 release. Yellowfin Tuna: 6. Dorados: 22. (3 days of fishing).
February 14th – 26th: Captain Hook – 45 sailfish raises, 38 bites and 19 releases. Dorados: 2. (4 days of fishing).

Checked off your bucket list. Congrats to Mr. Cirar for releasing a blue marlin on Fly!

January 19, 2023January 19, 2023

LADIES, LET’S GO CATCHING!!

“This was our first hosted trip to Pacific Fins and it’s going to be a tough one to top. The staff at the resort did a phenomenal job accommodating each guest. The Captains and crew put us on more fish than we can count. Each boat caught double digit mahi everyday, plenty of sailfish and some marlin too! After two days of fishing half our group enjoyed the the town of Antigua and the other half hiked the active volcano, Pacaya. We even roasted marshmallows and baked a pizza. All in all was trip of a lifetime.” – Amanda and Emily Gale.

This past November, The Gale Force Twins, Amanda and Emily Gale, hosted their first ever trip to Pacific Fins. Twenty ladies took over the whole resort and couldn’t wait to hit the water. They had a mixed group of ladies that were veterans of the blue water and others who wanted to catch their first ever sailfish. For those seasoned anglers and even those weekend warriors, Guatemala has a reputation for making dreams come true. And on this trip… all the ladies experienced that.

Blue marlin, sailfish, dorado, and yellowfin tuna were the main attraction. Everyone enjoyed double digit sailfish releases, blue marlin, big dorados, and yellowfin tuna.

We love to hear all their stories once they returned from a day out on the water. Our Sailfish Pool and Marlin Bar are a popular spot where stories are exchanged by many.

After two rod bending days, it was time to move to the next step in our itinerary. The nice thing about how this trip is setup, the ladder part of it involves the chance to unwind and experience the many things Guatemala has to offer. Some elected to tour the ancient city of Antigua and others to hike volcano Pacaya. Pictures below will show some of the trip highlights.

Congratulations to Amanda and Emily Gale for organizing a remarkable trip with amazing people.

For those who missed out on this trip, we have great news! The Twins are announcing their second adventure at Pacific Fins.

Be part of the adventure, October 5th – 9th, 2023. This is an all-inclusive package (Ladies Only) with 4 nights and 2 full days of offshore fishing during prime time. In addition to Pacific Fins, Emily and Amanda have added a sightseeing in the old capital city of Antigua or hike volcano Pacaya – where you can roast marshmallows or bake your pizza!

Price: $3400 per person

Due to limited space and high demand, we highly recommend to secure your spot!

For more info, you can contact us at: 888-431-5556 or Ozzy Delgado at [email protected]

January 16, 2023January 16, 2023

Guatemala Billfish Invitational – Record Event!

The newsletter we have been waiting for… The 7th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational Tournament was recently organized from December 8th to the 12th, 2022. We are still on a high… WHAT AN EVENT!

Guatemala is a country that over the years has proven to have the best sailfish fishery in the world. It’s the perfect destination for many anglers to obtain multiple shots in one day and this event proved such statement.

Our main objective for this tournament is to create awareness for the benefit of conservation of sailfish, being a resource of great importance for the country. In this event, like the previous ones, we had different celebrities of international stature and personalities that contribute to sport fishing in the region.

There was 35 brands and entities supporting sport fishing in the country, as well endorsed by the National Fisheries Association in Guatemala.

The tournament consisted of three days of fishing with 102 participants from the US, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Guatemala. This tournament gives the opportunity for amateurs and professional anglers to compete to be the team that releases the most sailfish.

Among the celebrities who attended:

• Alex Avila: Former Major League Baseball Player.

•George Gozdz: Host of the Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel television show, Unfathomed and also a professional guide.

• Peter Miller, Host of Uncharted Water (Discovery Channel TV) professional fisherman and 3-time world sailfish champion.

• Matt Moore: World renowned chef and host of his show on the Food Network.

• Bob Dipiero: Renowned composer and singer of country music. He has composed songs that have been in the top 20 and 15 songs in the USA.

• Gary Burr: Member of the country music hall of fame in the USA and composer of songs for artists such as: Cristina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, LeAnn Rimes and Ringo Starr; among others.

The tournament in 3 days, generated a record 2023 sailfish raises, 1725 bites and 1078 Sailfish releases. 11 blue marlin raises, 5 bites and 4 released. 1 striped marlin, countless dorado and yellowfin tuna. Making this tournament the largest in the history of Guatemala!

Tournament Results

**1st Place Pro Team for a total of 7500 points, team Piragua.**
**Anglers: Danny Difabio, Austin Collins, Alex Avila, and Luis Perez. Congrats Captain Manolo Diaz for also taking home first place Captain. Team won overall prize money of $25,000!**

**Congrats to Piragua’s Captain Manolo Diaz, well earned.**

**2nd Place Pro Team for a total of 7100 points, team Intensity.**
Anglers: Peter Liechty, Blaine Arthurs, Ryan Foret, and Brent Tatford. Team won 2 daily calcutta’s totaling $11,000. Congrats to Captain Mike Sheeder and his crew for putting up a great fight to the end.

**3rd Place Pro Team for a total of 6500 points, team Chechos.**
**Anglers: James White, Helen Chamizo, Joaquin Chamizo, and Jayce Chamizo. Captain Carlos Diaz. Team won day 1 calcutta $5,500.**

**Congratulations to badass angler, Helen Chamizo for taking home First Place Lady Angler. She surely made a lot of guys look bad.**

1st Place Amateur Team for a total of 10,000 points. Yes! 10,000 points with 97 Sailfish Releases and 1 Blue Marlin, team Sirena with Capt. Chendo. Anglers: Kyle Jones, Wendy Ashley, Greg Fabrizzi and Kat Halpin.

1st Place Marlin with 1 blue marlin and 1 striped marlin release, goes to team Makina. Anglers: Steve Summers, Christine Summers, Stacey Wills, and Tim Wills. Captain Wicho Ramirez. Congrats to Steve Summers for personally catching the Grandslam (blue marlin, striped marlin and a sailfish).

**1st Place Dorado for a total of 127.4 pounds, team Allure.**
**Anglers: Sean O’Connell, John Logan, Alvaro de la Hoz and Tony Semaan. Captain Julio Morales.**

**1st Place Yellowfin Tuna goes to team Mijooo.**
**Anglers: Ozzy Delgado, George Gozdz, Phillip Weikert, Juan Manuel Cobar and Cole Sellers. Captain Joel Fajardo.**

**Gary Burr and Bob Dipiero made one of the nights special by performing an intimate concert for all the anglers.**

Another highlight that gave the 7th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational stamp of approval, we got the IGFTO (International Game Fish Tournament Observers). To have professional observers on the boats makes it clear to follow all rules by releasing the correct species and that the fish were properly handled.
The president Steve Hargett coordinated and assigned observers to boats each day. This organization promotes conservation therefore without a doubt accepted our invitation and donated $2,500.
Thank you Steve, Lisa, Reese, Robert, Rick, Kenny, Marci, Barbara, Terry, Art, and Julio.

We want to give THANKS to all our participating anglers for making this an amazing event. We are happy to see all having a great time, meeting and making new friends. From the kick-off party and Poolside Celebration to the neighboring resorts; (The Hook, Sailfish Oasis, Aeroclub, Intensity Sportfishing, Casa Del Rio, and several private rental homes) who took part in the Invitational. To the awards presentation at the awards dinner and all the parties and fishing in between. This is definitely a tournament that any novice or serious angler needs to be a part of. We are pleased to support the Billfish Conservation Project and the week-long festivities that generated much needed funds for a worthy cause – A total of $35,000 was collected.

In addition, we are going to be posting on our social media pages pictures that were taken during the event. Get ready as 2023 dates are: December 7th through the 11th, 2023. Trust me… we already have teams booked. Call or email us to be a part of this history making event. You don’t want to miss it in 2023!