“Hello Ozzy, The experience at Pacific Fin’s was beyond my expectations. You really have something amazing there. The fishing , your staff and the crew on Knot Work were the best. An unforgettable trip. The fishing was amazing, 70 sails day one, WOW”. – Thanks for an amazing trip, Harry Aguero.
A highly anticipated trip, which began planning in March 2019, five Cuban-Americans set a fishing trip for August 2019. Unfortunately, that trip was postponed last minute due to a hurricane heading towards Miami and then again in April 2020 due to Covid travel restrictions.
Talk about bad luck… but as they say… third time is the charm and it was worth the wait! We have to THANK Ralph, Harry, Robert, Joel, and Mandy for doing a very nice thing for Pacific Fins. They got together and created a website about their trip to Guatemala. Check out their website which highlights all of their experience from day one – plus… they have some great videos.
The term… fishing not catching, does not pertain to Guatemala. Catching is the norm here and this past April was a good one. Yes, there were days better than others, but overall we saw lots of fish. A lot of our guests opted to catch their share of meat fish (dorado and yellowfin tuna) after they caught plenty of sails on their first day of fishing. Other guests also stayed close to shore to go after an exotic fish they never caught, rooster fish. As we get closer to Summer, dorado and yellowfin tuna will still be very popular and you’ll start to see more blue marlin in the spread. Thinking of something special for Dad this Father’s Day? how about a trip to Guatemala? he will be very happy you did!
FISHING REPORT
April 16th: Mavercik – 22 sailfish raises, 19 bites and 16 releases.
April 17th: Maverick – 11 sailfish raises, 10 bites and 8 releases.
April 18th: Knotwork – 2 sailfish raises, 1 bites and 1 release. 5 Yellowfin tuna.
April 18th: Chechos – 3 sailfish raises, 2 bites and 1 release. 3 yellowfin tuna.
April 19th: Maverick – 5 sailfish raises, 5 bites and 3 releases.
April 20th: Knotwork – 20 sailfish raises, 16 bites and 12 releases. 2 dorado.
April 21st: Knotwork – 8 sailfish raises, 7 bites and 7 releases. 2 dorados.
April 21st: Maverick – 8 sailfish raises, 7 bites and 4 releases. 1 dorado.
April 22nd: Knotwork – 6 sailfish raises, 5 bites and 2 releases. 3 dorados.
April 22nd: Maverick – 1 sailfish raises, 1 bites and 1 releases.1 for 3 on roosterfish. 6 dorado.
April 23rd: Gypsy – 14 sailfish raises, 11 bites and 6 releases. 3 dorado.
April 23rd: Knotwork – 5 sailfish raises, 5 bites and 3 releases.
April 23rd: Mavercik – 9 sailfish raises, 8 bites and 4 releases. 1 dorado (40lbs).
April 24th: Gypsy – 9 sailfish raises, 5 bites and 3 releases. 1 dorado.
April 24th: Knotwork – 35 sailfish raises, 30 bites and 20 releases.
April 24th: Maverick – 30 sailfish raises, 27 bites and 15 releases.
April 25th: Knotwork – 3 sailfish raises, 3 bites and 2 releases.
April 26th: Maverick – 23 sailfish raises, 20 bites and 14 releases. 6 dorados.
April 26th: Knotwork – 18 sailfish raises, 15 bites and 10 releases. 3 yellowfin tunas.
April 30th: Gypsy – 11 sailfish raises, 8 bites and 5 releases. 9 dorados.
No more roller coaster rides! For a couple of weeks, the fishing was like visiting an amusement park – up and down, up and down. I’m happy to say, our fishery has gained back the status of “Sailfish Capital of the World”. For a while there, we were scratching our heads on what was going on. On the positive side, when the sailfishing was not up to par, a mixed bag of yellowfin tuna and BIG dorado made up for slow time. What better way to release a few sails and still catch sushi grade tuna and dorado. Overall, the numbers on our fishing report illustrates how April started. Dorado and yellowfin tuna are still there and we expect it to last through the summer. If you are planning a trip in the near future, I highly suggest to book soon. More and more people have started to look into the months ahead and you don’t want to miss out on an adventure of a lifetime. Live the Pacific Fins Experience!
FISHING REPORT:
April 1st: Gypsy – 4 sailfish raises, 4 bites and 4 releases.
April 1st: Knotwork – 7 sailfish raises, 6 bites and 3 releases.
April 2nd: Chechos – 20 sailfish raises, 17 bites and 13 releases. 2 Yellowfin tuna, 2 dorado.
April 2nd: Maverick (Flyfishing) – 31 sailfish raises, 11 bites and 4 releases.
April 3rd: Maverick (Flyfishing) – 11 sailfish raises, 4 bites and 2 releases.
April 3rd: Chechos – 12 sailfish raises, 9 bites and 7 releases.
April 3rd: Gypsy – 15 sailfish raises, 12 bites and 8 releases. 2 dorados.
April 4th: Knotwork – 14 sailfish raises, 9 bites and 6 releases. 1 dorado.
April 5th: Maverick (Flyfishing) – 6 sailfish raises, 4 bites and 1 releases.
April 8th: Maverick – 6 sailfish raises, 6 bites and 5 releases.5 yellowfin tuna.
April 9th: Gypsy – 22 sailfish raises, 14 bites and 12 releases.
April 9th: Sirena – 28 sailfish raises, 25 bites and 17 releases.
April 9th: Knotwork – 30 sailfish raises, 25 bites and 17 releases. 1 dorado (40lbs).
April 9th: Maverick – 18 sailfish raises, 13 bites and 8 releases.
April 9th: Chechos – 23 sailfish raises, 13 bites and 7 releases.
April 10th: Gypsy – 25 sailfish raises, 16 bites and 8 releases. 1 for 4 on Fly.
April 10th: Knotwork – 32 sailfish raises, 28 bites and 24 releases.
April 10th: Chechos – 20 sailfish raises, 6 bites and 4 releases.
April 10th: Maverick – 28 sailfish raises, 25 bites and 18 releases.
April 10th: Knotwork – 30 sailfish raises, 24 bites and 18 releases. 1 dorado (35lbs).
April 11th: Chechos – 24 sailfish raises, 18 bites and 8 releases.
April 11th: Maverick (Flyfishing) – 18 sailfish raises, 3 bites and 1 releases.
April 16th: Chechos: 17 sailfish raises, 15 bites, 8 releases. 1 blue marlin (est. 250lbs).
THANK YOU!
Since the start of the global pandemic last year, the travel industry has been turned upside down. And although we don’t know exactly when we will get back to normal, we know that we can’t do it without you. Today we’d like to share a genuine THANK YOU to you, our guests. We want to take the opportunity to express our gratitude for all of your support. We know that traveling during these times is not always an easy experience, although you make it seem so effortless – So, thank you! Thank you for your dedication. Thank you for introducing Pacific Fins to friends and family. For the long travels, for the late night travels, for the long calls, for the longer email chains… for the passions stirred, for the experiences created. Thank you for working with us. We know it’s been a challenging time for the entire travel industry, but please accept our sincere appreciation for your continued support, kindness, and understanding. It may be difficult now, but we know that together we will get through this – stronger than ever. We can’t wait to continue making your fishing dreams a reality, together. In the meantime, we are never more than a call or email away! From your friends at Pacific Fins, THANK YOU and look forward to your visit.
If you love dorado aka mahi-mahi, they are here in full force! Guests are enjoying these great fighting fish throughout the day. And let’s not talk about how tasty they are. A lot of their sizes have been over 30lbs. As we venture offshore, there is still yellowfin tuna around with the spinner dolphin. Our last newsletter mentioned we were seeing a lot of tuna. I guess now the mixed bag just got better. Per our fishing report below, it’s been a roller coaster ride out there. Not due to waves, but how the sailfish bite has been lately. There are better days than others, hence why it felt like a roller coaster. Surely not the action we are used to during this time of year. The whole Guatemala fleet feels the same way. Overall, it’s been really busy for us and everyone is returning back home with great memories and stories to tell. We look forward to welcoming more guests and we are optimistic the sailfish bite will improve very soon.
Fishing Report
March 20th: Knotwork – 21 sailfish raises, 19 bites and 14 releases.
March 20th: Maverick – 16 sailfish raises, 14 bites and 12 releases.
March 20th: Gypsy – 16 sailfish raises, 14 bites and 9 releases.
March 21st: Knotwork – 1 sailfish raises, 1 bites and 1 releases. 6 dorados (2 over 40lbs).
March 21st: Gypsy – 3 sailfish raises, 3 bites and 2 releases. 1 dorado.
March 21st: Maverick – 9 sailfish raises, 7 bites and 4 releases.
March 25th: Gypsy – 3 sailfish raises, 2 bites and 1 releases. 2 dorados.
March 26th: Gypsy – 5 sailfish raises, 3 bites and 2 releases. 3 dorados.
March 26th: Chechos – 8 sailfish raises, 7 bites and 4 releases.
March 26th: Maverick – 3 sailfish raises, 3 bites and 2 releases.3 dorados.
March 27th: Gypsy – 3 sailfish raises, 3 bites and 1 releases. 2 dorados.
March 27th: Knotwork – 9 sailfish raises, 5 bites and 3 releases. 8 dorados (4 over 40lbs)..
March 27th: Maverick – 8 sailfish raises, 7 bites and 5 releases. 2 dorados
March 27th: Chechos – 1 sailfish raises, 1 bites and 1 releases. 1 yellowfin tuna.
March 28th: Sirena – 4 sailfish raises, 3 bites and 1 releases. 2 dorados.
March 28th: Maverick – 10 sailfish raises, 9 bites and 4 releases. 5 dorados
March 28th: Knotwork – 10 sailfish raises, 8 bites and 5 releases. 14 dorados (1 – 35lbs).
March 28th: Gypsy – 6 sailfish raises, 6 bites and 3 releases. 9 dorados (1-35lbs, 4-20lbs).
March 28th: Chechos – 23 sailfish raises, 22 bites and 8 releases. 2 dorados.
March 28th: Chechos – 1 sailfish raises, 1 bites and 1 releases. 4 dorados.
March 31st: Maverick – 17 sailfish raises, 17 bites and 10 releases. 2 dorados.
March 31st: Chechos – 2 sailfish raises, 2 bites and 2 releases.
I know Spring isn’t till March 20th, but Spring has Sprung! We are very happy to see that the fishing woke up and guests are enjoying themselves. If you recall in the last newsletter, due to a mix of strong cold fronts and green water making it’s way into the fishing grounds, the fishing slowed down in February. Those cold fronts that hit hard in Texas and other parts of the US made their way down. Plus, we recently got a synopsis from one of the best in the biz, Marine Biologist, Dr. Nelson Ehrhardt. “The catch rates have been slow in February because of the extended billfish habitat in the Tehuantepec-El Salvador region. We know the cause of this huge anomaly. Significant and unusual shifts of the winds; therefore not allowing development of strong upwelling in the Tehuanteoec basin.” – Dr. Ehrhardt. The good news, blue water made its way into the grounds which resulted in better action. Hence the higher numbers in this weeks fishing report.
Fishing Report
February 24th: Gypsy (Captain Jorge) – 30 sailfish raises, 25 bites and 17 releases. 3 for 3 on Fly.
February 26th: Maverick (Captain Nestor) – 21 sailfish raises, 18 bites and 12 releases. 4 dorados.
February 27th: Maverick – 26 sailfish raises, 25 bites and 12 releases.
February 27th: Knotwork (Captain Caluco) – 15 sailfish raises, 13 bites and 10 releases. 1 dorado.
February 27th: Gypsy – 9 sailfish raises, 5 bites and 3 releases. 2 dorados .
February 27th: Chechos – 27 sailfish raises, 23 bites and 17 releases.
February 28th: Knotwork – 32 sailfish raises, 27 bites and 16 releases.
February 28th: Gypsy – 13 sailfish raises, 9 bites and 5 releases.
February 28th: Maverick – 18 sailfish raises, 14 bites and 7 releases.
March 1st: Knotwork – 12 sailfish raises, 10 bites and 9 releases.
March 2nd: Knotwork – 39 sailfish raises, 33 bites and 23 releases.
March 5th: Chechos – 18 sailfish raises, 16 bites and 10 releases. 1 dorado.
March 5th: Maverick – 26 sailfish raises, 20 bites and 13 releases.
March 6th: Chechos – 30 sailfish raises, 24 bites and 21 releases. 2 yellowfin tuna
Match 6th: Gypsy – 20 sailfish raises, 19 bites and 14 releases.
March 7th: Gypsy – 34 sailfish raises, 30 bites and 23 releases.
March 8th: Gypsy – 24 sailfish raises, 20 bites and 17 releases.
March 8th: Maverick – 22 sailfish raises, 19 bites and 11 releases.
You can’t say “Spring Break” without thinking of a fishing trip. We are aware you are tired of the cold and miserable Winter. So, now it’s time to start planning a fishing trip to Pacific Fins, where you will get thawed out. Our peak season is October through May, but… now comes the time of year many love. I call it “The Smorgasbord Season”. This is when not only you get intense sailfish action, its when blue marlin start to be more abundant. Yellowfin tuna will be active around spinner dolphin, and dorado will be in the larger class. Plus, you can’t never rule out a striped marlin in the spread and wahoo. March through May is a great time to be here. It’s also the time that books fast. We have limited space available, want to be part of an epic season? Grab your passports, call your fishing partners, pack your bags, and head to Guatemala!
Fishing Report
Uncharacteristic for this region, due to a mix of strong cold fronts and green water making it’s way into the fishing grounds, it has been a slow February. As you can see the fishing reports, there has been better days than others. The good news, blue water started to make its way into the grounds which has resulted in better action. The blue marlin bite has picked up and reports of yellowfin tuna has sushi lovers very happy!
February 6th: Chechos (Captain Nestor) – 4 sailfish raises, 3 bites and 2 releases. 1 for 2 on blue marlin and 2 dorados.
February 9th: Knotwork (Captain Caluco) – 3 sailfish raises, 3 bites and 3 releases. 1 yelowfin tuna.
February 12th: Gypsy (Captain Jorge) – 11 sailfish raises, 11 bites and 10 releases. 1 dorado.
February 13th: Gypsy – 5 sailfish raises, 3 bites and 2 releases. 11 dorados.
February 14th: Gypsy – 9 sailfish raises, 5 bites and 4 releases. .
February 15th: Knotwork – 6 sailfish raises, 5 bites and 5 releases. 2 dorados.
February 15th: Chechos – 8 sailfish raises, 8 bites and 7 releases. 2 dorados.
February 16th: Chechos – 31 sailfish raises, 29 bites and 25 releases. 1 dorado.
February 16th: Knotwork – 25 sailfish raises, 18 bites and 11 releases.
February 17th: Knotwork – 4 sailfish raises, 4 bites and 3 releases.
February 17th: Chechos – 14 sailfish raises, 14 bites and 12 releases.
February 19th: Maverick – 13 sailfish raises, 10 bites and 6 releases. 1 dorado and 1 for 2 on blue marlin.
February 19th: Knotwork – 4 sailfish raises, 4 bites and 1 releases. 1 for 2 blue marlin.
February 19th: Chechos – 6 sailfish raises, 5 bites and 2 releases.
February 19th: Gypsy – 15 sailfish raises, 11 bites and 7 releases.
February 20th: Maverick – 6 sailfish raises, 6 bites and 4 releases. 1 blue marlin and 3 yellowfin tuna.
February 20th: Knotwork – 5 sailfish raises, 5 bites and 4 releases.
February 21st: Gypsy – 10 sailfish raises, 7 bites and 4 releases. 1 yellowfin tuna.
SOLD OUT! We knew this was going to happen. The first Unfathomed hosted trip with Captain George Gozdz booked in record time. This is an all-inclusive adventure with 4 nights/5 days accommodations and 3 full days of offshore fishing on May 13th – May 17th, 2021. In addition to the fishing we have added an afternoon of sightseeing in the old capital city of Antigua on the day we arrive. Due to limited space and demand, we will be adding a second Unfathomed hosted trip soon. Stay tune to social media and our weekly news letters for the next date. You don’t want to miss out on one heck of a time.
“This is an incredible opportunity to discover the world class fishery Guatemala has to offer. I’ve visited Pacific Fins Resort on 5 separate occasions and each trip has been amazing. After repeated trips to Pacific Fins, most recently in December, I know exactly what to expect and will help ease the burden of uncertainty of travel during these challenging times. May is an incredible time to fish Guatemala with targeted species including sailfish, marlin, tuna, and dorado.” – George Gozdz, Unfathomed. This is an all-inclusive adventure with 4 nights/5 days accommodations and 3 full days of offshore fishing. In addition to the fishing we have added an afternoon of sightseeing in the old capital city of Antigua on the day we arrive. Grab a couple friends or make new ones and don’t miss this chance as space is limited.
Dates: May 13th-17th, 20214 night/ 5 days3 full days offshore fishing- 4 person/boatAll inclusive including transportation to Pacific Fins from Guatemala City- tips extraReturn Covid test provided Price $3295 per person – flights to and from Guatemala City (GUA) not included. Depending where you are traveling from, round trip airfares have been as low as $189!
We want to assure you that we take the health and well-being of our community, customers, and associates very seriously. Like you, we’re closely monitoring the quickly developing effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Starting today, January 26th, CDC expands negative COVID-19 test requirement to all air passengers entering the United States. To comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, that air passengers entering the United States will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test before boarding their flight; Pacific Fins Resort is pleased to announce our program.
Pacific Fins will offer easy, onsite COVID-19 testing. Tests will be conducted on property at a charge of $50 per guest traveling to a country which requires a COVID-19 for entry into such country. Testing and samples will be administered by an experienced in-house lab technician. Results will be received within 30 minutes, and documentation will be ready for guests to present at the airport for their journey back home. Guests can contact the concierge to schedule their departure test as soon as they check in.
At Pacific Fins Resort, the safety and wellbeing of our guests and employees are our top priorities. Our goal is always to make your vacation as comfortable and memorable as it is safe.
We are all in this together. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and will follow guidance from public health officials and government agencies, so we can continue to support our customers and communities as needed. For more information about the new travel protocols, call us or visit the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov or your local health department’s website.
As we are all in a hurry to close the final chapter of 2020, we have to count our blessings for our health and incredible support by you. This year has been so challenging, so it is even more important than ever to look to find the things we are grateful for. If we decide to call this year a wash and let it go down in history as awful, with nothing of merit coming out of it, then we lose. If we learned something new or just got to slow down a bit and really live in the moment, and recognize that, we win. It’s amazing to see how many people traveled to Pacific Fins to not only show their support, but to enjoy a little of normalcy. The 5th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational was a success and now it’s on to more guests arriving at the resort. With 856 sailfish raises and 396 sailfish releases during the the Invitational, one would think that the fishing would have slow down a bit, but who are we kidding… It’s Guatemala!
FISHING REPORT
The sailfish numbers just got better and the supporting cast; dorado, blue marlin and yellowfin tuna have made for unforgettable trips for our guests. December is when everyone is making plans for the holidays. But, one thing to consider… this time of year has always been prime time to be fishing our waters. How about a 2021 December trip? See the numbers below and you will be a believer.
We make sure to not let our guard down. Your expectations for cleaning and disinfection is our top priority. That’s why whether during your day out on the water or during your stay at Pacific Fins, we deliver a clean environment for our guests. As pictured, our Captains, mates and resort staff go through constant COVID testing on top of our already rigorous cleaning standards to provide complete peace of mind when you stay with us. Our promise to you is to deliver the same level of reliable and friendly service you’d expect from Pacific Fins, but with the added confidence of industry-leading hygiene practices created to keep you safe.
WOW! What an event. The question that echoed throughout the tournament… “How did you manage to pull off such a successful event during these times?”. It’s called team work and a lot of support from our guests competing in the 5th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational. When we started to put this year’s tournament together for this April of 2020, we knew that it was going to be a good one. But… what we didn’t expect is that it was going to be postponed due to the pandemic. Professional and novice anglers from the US and neighboring countries made the journey to Guatemala wanting to be a part of it. Tournament highlights included celebrity guests, Uncharted Waters Peter Miller and Unfathomed George Gozdz. The week’s festivities kicked off with a little twist. Oceana Resort hosting the first night’s event – ‘the welcome party’. Anglers got the opportunity to get acquainted with each other and meet their boat Captain.
The Guatemala Invitational started by George Gozdz and Peter Miller being invited to the press conference, organized by the Tourism Board of Guatemala. During the press conference Niels Erichsen, Managing Partner of Pacific Fins presented how important billfish conservation is in the region. Juan Manuel Cobar, Manager of Billfish Conservation Project informed on the event details that was about to begin. The highlight of the conference was when the Director of Tourism Board recognized the event as the start of new normality to make Guatemala a safe place regarding COVID 19 prevention on tourists visiting.He also recognized Peter and George as Ambassadors of Guatemala tourism due to their involvement with people as positive leaders in the fishing industry.
Tournament Results
Team Brooklyn Fishing Club takes top honors on boat Sirena. Fishing with Captain Rosendo Velasquez. The crew released a total of 63 Sailfish. Photo: Victor Lucia, Dan Rosenblatt, Michael Fortinberry, and Amal Salameh.Second place overall goes to team Gypsy. Fishing with Captain Joel Fajardo. The crew released a total of 52 Sailfish and reaps the rewards with some cash! A twist we did this year, a daily fishing calcutta was introduced into the tournament. Making team Gypsy $3850 richer by winning two days out of three. Photo: Danny DiFabio, Raymond Douglas, Josh Greene, and Tim Willis.eam Maverick takes third place overall. Fishing with Captain Nestor Garcia. The crew released a total of 50 Sailfish. Photo: Niels Erichsen, Chad Heinsohn, Ozzy Delgado, and Juan Manuel Cobar.
The tournament in 3 days, generated a total of 395 Sailfish releases and 856 bites. We want to THANK all our participating anglers for making this a special one yet. We were 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 who took part in the Invitational, to the awards presentation at the final 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 generate much needed funds for a worthy cause – A total of $12,000 was collected. In addition, we are going to be posting on our social pages pictures that were taken during the event. 2021 dates will be: December 9th through the 13th. Trust me… YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IT!
A Special Award For A Special Person
A lot happens behind the scenes that people don’t see or hear. Much hard work and preparation goes into these events. It can be stressful at times, but in the end, the results are all worth it. It is with great pleasure that we present Niels Erichsen with a special award. We want to recognize the person whose work has had a truly outstanding impact in conservation and in the lives of many. We THANK YOU Niels Erichsen!
TO OUR ANGLERS AND SPONSORS, CHEERS TO YOU FOR MAKING IT A SUCCESFUL ONE!
