Category: headlines

The Guatemala Sailfish Commission is partnering with The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) to develop strategic plans and projects for the protection of billfish in our region and for the development of a Big-Game Fish Tourism Industry for Guatemala!

If you recall from previous newsletters, our Mission with the Sailfish Commission is:

Promote the socioeconomic development of the Pacific Coastal region of Guatemala by developing Big-Game-Fish Tourism, taking an adequate and sustainable advantage of the natural resource that is the Billfish.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations’ global development network. Headquartered in New York City, UNDP advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

In October 2012, UNDP launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN, The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) develops and pilots a new approach and methodology for leveraging increased biodiversity investments.

Dr. Nelson Ehrhardt, who leads The Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science at The University of Miami has been invited to lead the project.

Niels Erichsen from Pacific Fins Resort & Marina led meetings this past weekend between Dr. Ehrhardt and the Minister of Fisheries, Sebastian Marcucci. These meetings resulted in cooperation agreements between the experts to formulate an integrated plan for the sustainability of the billfish population with the support of an expanding Recreational Fishing Development Initiative!

We look very forward to keeping you up to date on this exciting news through future newsletters.

Won One, Lost One

We had 2 groups fishing last week to “kick-off” our Marlin Guarantee Promo, August – October 2015 (with several more groups scheduled to arrive). RESULTS below!

The Marlin Guarantee is a “gamble” by our Lodge where we assure in 3 days of fishing you will get at least 3 Marlin Bites in the months of August, Sept and Oct if you join us.

And if you don’t:

1 to 2 MARLIN BITES:
50% of the value of your trip will be put towards a future trip with us (and it is transferrable).

0 MARLIN BITES:
100% trip value! Your party comes back for a FREE 3 days fishing, 4 night trip at your choosing.

In addition to catching sailfish and dorado:

1. Nick Lowe and his fishing buddy Dan raised 4 marlin, had 3 bites and released 2 Blue marlin on their stay with us. Even-Steven on this one!

2. David Barnes, Glen Chaves, Richard Sultenfuss and Niel McTague also fished with us. They raised 3 marlin, had 2 bites and released 0. These clients are now coming back at 50% of their cost in March or April of 2016. David said, “Enjoyed the trip – Lodge, staff, captains, all top notch.”

We believe strongly that August, September and October ARE 3 of the best months in Guatemala forMARLIN. And we feel strongly enough to guarantee it!

Will you join us this year for the promo?

Honestly, what do you have to lose?

The Central America Billfish Association (CABA) and the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (U of Miami) held their Bi-Annual meeting with the main players of the Sportfishing Industry within Central America. Attending this meeting were the Lodge Owners, Marina Operators, Charter Fleet Managers and Tour Operators involved in Sportfishing.

Hosting this event were our good friends from Crocodile Bay Lodge in Costa Rica. Thanks for the hospitality!

Dr. Nelson Earhardt updated the group of entrepreneurs and scientists on the conservation efforts and results achieved for each of the main countries involved – Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama. The key takeaway is simple: We all need to coordinate our efforts for the billfish is a true migratory species. Whatever happens in one country will eventually affect – either positively or negatively the fishing stats for the rest of the countries in the Eastern Pacific.

Niels Erichsen participated as the Key Note Speaker with his presentation on Results & Plans for the Guatemalan Sailfish Conservation Commission. The group as a whole agreed on adopting as the blueprint for Central America – what Guatemala has been able to accomplish within the Government. As a direct result of this meeting, the Guatemalan Minister of Fisheries was able to introduce yesterday a request to his counterparts within the region to include a Consultery Group for the Sportfishing Industry as part of the gubernamental agency controlling all topics related to fishing.

Niels stated, “as Guatemalans, we are certainly very proud to lead the way in conservation. Results achieved in Guatemala for the 2014-15 season is astonishing! The plans for the next year seem very aggressive, but achievable. Hopefully, what we can accomplish locally will eventually be adopted regionally.”

We will be updating you regularly on our progress in regards to conservation. It is everyone’s responsibility even though we are the ones enforcing it locally!

A couple of interesting special offers crossed our desk this past month, one relating to trips to Guatemala and another relating to trips to Brazil. The Guatemala offer is from Pacific Fins, and is redeemable through Frontiers (www.frontierstravel.com). It offers a free return trip if you book Pacific Fins’ most popular fournight/three-day fishing package in the months of August, September, or October this year and don’t have any marlin bites on traditional tackle. Contact Frontiers for all of the small-print details. Suffice it to say, if you want to get a crack at a marlin, this sounds like a good deal.  

Have we lost our minds? Maybe…

In addition to the months of August, September and October being very good for sailfish, dorado and yellowfin – we think they are outstanding for marlin!

In fact, we are so confident in our fishery that we are willing to bet on ourselves. We are pushing our chips “All In” with the following MARLIN offer below.

If you book our most popular package: 3 days fishing, 4 nights in the months of August, September or October 2016 guarantee your boat will get at least 3 Marlin Bites on conventional tackle over the length of the trip!!

That’s right. 3 bites by the man in the blue, black or striped suit over 3 days fishing! And if you don’t get 3 bites we are willing to do the following:

1 to 2 MARLIN BITES:
50% of the value of your trip will be put towards a future trip at Pacific Fins (and it is transferrable).

0 MARLIN BITES:
100% trip value! Your party comes back for a FREE 3 days fishing, 4 night trip at your choosing.

We did this promo for the first time in 2015. How did we do? We only lost 1 time!  Yes, that is correct. All other groups had 3 marlin bites. We won. The clients won. The group that didn’t achieve the marlin guarantee (had 2 bites) came back in April 2016 for 50% OFF their trip. What did they do? They caught a bunch of sailfish and released 2 marlin!

So how about it? Do you want to visit Pacific Fins for the opportunity to catch sailfish, dorado and yellowfin with a MARLIN GUARANTEE?

NOTE:  This offer is for the intact group to return together. For example, if you have 4 anglers – it is NOT 4 individual trips. And you must fish for Marlin!
To get additional information and to check availability for this offer:

Phone: 1-888-700-3467

 

In addition to our Marlin Guarantee for August, September and Oct we have the following June/July/Aug/Sept Special for YOU!

15% Discount on Performance Packages
10% Discount on Economy Packages
10% Discount on Luxury Packages

On any trip 2 days fishing or longer! Here is how the 2 days fishing, 3 night package would look:

4 anglers per boat:
$1510 per person! – Economy
$1910 per person! – Performance
$2205 per person! – Luxury

We had a great time hosting and filming with Chef Terry French this week at Pacific Fins for an upcoming TV Show!

Terry French, the “Rebel Chef,” can cook anything, anytime, anywhere, and showed the world in 2012 as winner of Food Network’s World Extreme Chef. No matter where his travels take him, he is always in search of adventure and the best ingredients to create the most daring culinary experiences.

Description: Winter Season in Review – (Oct 15, 2014 – May 15, 2015)

First of all we want to thank everyone who made it down to Pacific Fins to fish and stay with us this past winter. For those of you who gave it strong consideration and were not able to make it – hopefully the below stats will help encourage you to make a visit in the future! Continue reading “Winter Season Recap – With Fishing Stats – Oct 15, 2014 – May 15, 2015”

Still plenty of time to book that airline ticket and get in on some of this Red Hot May fishing!!

Here are a few highlights:

Guy Brown visited us for the 3rd year in a row. This was a very special trip because he brought his father Sam and a friend Mike McDaniel. Look at their 3 days fishing. Guy is also returning in The Fall to take advantage of our “Guaranteed Marlin Promo.”

May 2nd: 59 sailfish raises, 53 bites and 32 releases. Raised 1 Blue marlin.

May 3rd: 56 sailfish raises, 52 bites, 35 releases on light tackle and 3 on FLY!!

May 4th: 30 sailfish raises, 27 bites and 22 releases.

Totals: 145 sailfish raised, 132 bites and 89 releases + 3 on Fly.

James Patmore and Sean Cooper also visited Pacific Fins, May 1 – 3. In 3 days fishing they raised 107 sailfish, had 87 bites and released 56! They also landed 3 sailfish on FLY and 1 Blue marlin.

Pick up a copy of this month’s (May/June 2015) Gray’s Sporting Journal to see Gary Kramer’s Photo Essay on Pacific Fins! “Silver, Blue & Gold.”