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).
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!
“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]
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!
TO ALL ANGLERS AND SPONSORS, CHEERS TO YOU FOR MAKING THE BIGGEST TOURNAMENT IN GUATEMALA!
If we compare October 2021 numbers to 2022’s you will find that fishing was slower than expected – sailfish that is. One thing is for certain, the meat fish was not in short supply. The dorado were so thick that at times they wouldn’t let the sails get to the bait. There were a lot of yellowfin tuna and dorado to go around for guests to take home fresh filets.
October is known as a good blue marlin month and the numbers proved once again, this is the time of year to be in Guatemala.We want to give a HUGE CONGRATS to the crew of Maverick for an impressive catch. Anglers Greg Wagner and Shawn Slocum from Minnesota battled a 250lb yellowfin tuna and prevailed.Looking to visit us? we highly suggest to lock in those dates as soon as possible, as many remaining 2023 dates are filling up fast!
October Fishing Report :
October 1st – 29th: Knotwork – 93 sailfish raises, 86 bites and 70 releases. Blue Marlin: 10 raises, 8 bites, 4 releases. Dorados: 74 and 18 yellowfin tuna. (12 days of fishing). October 2nd – 29th: Chechos – 101 sailfish raises, 88 bites and 61 releases. Blue Marlin: 19 raises, 11 bites, 6 releases. Dorado: 55 and 6 yellowfin tuna. (11 days of fishing). October 16th – 25th: Maverick – 11 sailfish raises, 9 bites and 8 releases. Dorado: 8, and 6 yellowfin tuna – one being a beast (250.4lbs) (3 days fishing) October 4th – 31st: Gypsy – 82 sailfish raises, 66 bites and 52 releases. Blue Marlin: 5 raises, 4 bites, 4 releases. Dorado: 38. Yellowfin tuna: 4. (12 days of fishing).
Get ready anglers! The 7th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational is the biggest yet. We have six lodging locations at capacity and a private home. It’s no surprise we have this turnout. Last year’s event was our largest and the vibe after that one indicated that 2022’s event will surpass it.This year we have included a woman’s division. Yes… we will have several ladies competing for a beautiful trophy from Kingsailfish Mounts and prizes. In the coming weeks, we will announce 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!
The last two months have produced great quality fish, starting with yellowfin tuna.
When the topic of yellowfin tuna comes up, people think of Panama or Costa Rica. I have to say… we have our share of tuna as well and not just small fish. “I didn’t know you guys had a tuna fishery?” a question I’ve been asked the past two seasons. Many guests have expressed the joy as they witness the diversity in our waters.
Guatemala is known as the Sailfish Capital of the World and the norm has been everyone is programmed to go after billfish. This is true, but for those anglers that have witnessed when the bite really turns on… Guatemala doesn’t have to envy any other place around the world. Hence why we have such a high repeat of guests.
Second… Dorado aka (mahi-mahi) have really made their presence known. Anglers have been catching a lot big fish. We do expect the dorados to stick around for a while.
For those looking to check off marlin of their bucket list, the man in the blue suit will continue through the summer months and into Fall.
June Fishing Report :
June 4th – 29th: Maverick – 95 sailfish raises, 72 bites and 48 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 4 sailfish raises, 4 bites and 1 releases. Blue Marlin: 5 raises, 2 bites, 2 release. Blue marlin Fly: 3 raises, 2 bites, 1 release. Dorados: 24. Yellowfin tuna: 5 (one being 219.8 lbs) (16 days of fishing).
June 5th – 28th: Knotwork – 68 sailfish raises, 62 bites and 45 releases. Blue Marlin: 8 raises, 5 bites, 5 release. Dorado: 52. Yellowfin tuna: 7. Roosterfish: 1 (15 days of fishing).
June 5th – 28th: Chechos – 68 sailfish raises, 54 bites and 37 releases. Blue Marlin: 5 raises, 3 bites, 2 releases. Dorado: 14. Yellowfin tuna: 1 (8 days of fishing).
May 1st: Gypsy – 6 sailfish raises, 5 bites and 5 releases. Blue Marlin: 1 raises, 1 bite, 1 release. (12 days of fishing).
July Fishing Report :
July 1st – 31st: Knotwork – 211 sailfish raises, 184 bites and 130 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 33 sailfish raises, 10 bites and 3 releases. Blue marlin: 13 raises, 6 bites, 3 releases. Dorados: 70. Yellowfin tuna: 3 (17 days of fishing).
July 2nd – 31st: Gypsy – 145 sailfish raises, 114 bites and 87 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 9 sailfish raises, 4 bites and 1 releases. Dorados: 56. Yellowfin tuna: 1 (17 days of fishing).
July 2nd – 31st: Chechos – 239 sailfish raises, 205 bites and 139 releases. Blue marlin: 11 raises, 7 bites and 2 releases. Dorados: 28. Yellowfin tuna: 1 (13 days of fishing).
Maverick – Boat Maintenance: Getting ready for the upcoming season.
July 9th: Uno Mas – 25 sailfish raises, 20 bites and 15 releases. (1 day of fishing).
July 16th: Captain Hook – 12 sailfish raises, 11 bites and 9 releases. Dorado: 8 (1 day of fishing).
Wow! is how to describe this past month. It was a busy one for sure. Two hosted trips; first with Dr. Guy Harvey and the other with George Gozdz of Unfathomed. It’s no surprise the bite in April was really good. There were days of amazing numbers – which resulted in 1218 sailfish raised. This gave first time visitors to our region the experience of a hot bite. Also during this month, another big group traveled to Guatemala to fly fish. What better opportunity to catch and release billfish on fly than in our waters! There were 28 blue marlin raises, which we knew April was going to be a better one than March numbers. And of course the supporting cast of yellowfin tunas and dorados were out in full force.
April Fishing Report :
April 1st – 30th: Chechos – 433 sailfish raises, 371 bites and 257 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 20 sailfish raises, 6 bites and 2 releases. Blue Marlin: 12 raises, 5 bites, 4 release. Dorados: 13. Yellowfin tuna: 7 (1-150lbs) (22 days of fishing).
April 1st – 30th: Knotwork – 349 sailfish raises, 287 bites and 178 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 7 sailfish raises, 5 bites, 3 release. Blue Marlin: 6 raises, 3 bites, 1 release. Dorado: 8. Yellowfin tuna: 8. Roosterfish: 2. (22 days of fishing).
April 1st – 30th: Maverick – 169 sailfish raises, 150 bites and 92 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 52 raises, 19 bites, 11 releases. Blue Marlin: 5 for 5. Dorado: 4. Yellowfin tuna: 18 (1 on Fly). (14 days of fishing).
April 1st – 30th: Gypsy – 120 sailfish raises, 88 bites and 55 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 30 raises, 10 bites, 2 releases. Blue Marlin: 1 raises, 1 bite, 1 release (on Fly). Dorado: 5. Yellowfin tuna: 9. (12 days of fishing).
April 10th – 29th : Sirena – 110 sailfish raises, 84 bites and 70 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 4 raises, 1 bites, 1 release. Blue Marlin: 1 for 1. Dorado: 1. Yellowfin tuna: 1. (Based on 8 days of fishing).
Guy Harvey Expedition Meets all Expectations
On April 19th marked Dr. Guy Harvey’s first ever visit to Pacific Fins Resort and for four days the action was caliente!
The renowned artist and conservationist brought his posse of Steve Roden, CEO of the Guy Harvey corporation; Fred Garth, Editor of GH magazine; Brian Rowland of Rowland Publishing; and, of course, his daughter Jessica, who holds numerous fishing world records. The GH crew, along with 13 guests who came from far and wide to hang out and fish with Guy and Jessica. All the guests were able to fish with Dr. Guy Harvey and Jessica for a unique experience. The 4 boat 3 fishing days expedition manage to raise 144 sailfish, had 119 bites, released 78 sailfish and some dorados and yellowfin tuna action. One of the groups wanted to try out even rooster fish and they released 2 in just 30 minutes. Also had the opportunity for some sailfish on the fly rod.
During the expedition one of the wildest days, the boats circled a massive school of literally thousands of spinner dolphins as they launched high into the air. Why do they do this? Only they know. What we do know is that the anglers hooked up on lots of tuna.
An added bonus for everyone was getting to watch Guy himself paint an original piece of art during the trip. Amazingly, Guy was able to finish the painting just before dinner on the last night. Appropriately, he painted a sailfish surrounded by spinner dolphins, an animal behavior interaction Guy has never painted before. The last step was to auction the art to the highest bidder.
When all was said and done the auction raised $18,000 and Guy generously donated the entire proceeds to the local K12 school near the resort.
As part of this donation during their visit, Billfish Conservation Project members, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Pacific Fins, and Casa Vieja Lodge joined the school for a kind donation of 10 computers as a startup project to help the local education on Marine Science. Dr. Harvey Foundation will donate the course materials to start education that will help 100% on conservation.
While this may have been Guy’s first visit, plans are already in the works for another Guy/Jessica trip next year. If you’re interested in fishing and hanging out with Guy and Jessica, call 850-766-2201 or email [email protected]
It’s really nice to witness Dr. Guy Harvey painting an original. Especially a first for Pacific Fins.
To all the GH Expedition participants, form all of us at Pacific Fins, THANK YOU for making it a great trip!
In the end, this is what’s it all about. Pacific Fins, Billfish Conservation Project, and Casa Vieja Lodge donate 10 computers to the school of Santa Marta in Iztapa. To support the education program donated by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. Everything with the support of the Minister of Education in Guatemala.
A HUGE congrats to everyone involved. What an event!
The 6th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational was not only sold out, we had three lodging locations at capacity. It was no surprise with such high anticipation that built throughout the year.
The event week started Thursday night with a Captains meeting at Pacific Fins. It was a nice time for all anglers to get acquainted and teams got to spend sometime with their boat Captains.
Saturday night was a night that all anglers were looking forward to. Celebrity Chef, Serial Griller, Matt Moore cooked up an amazing feast for all to enjoy. Whether you were Pro or an Amateur team, The 6th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational was a nail biter from the start. On the Pro class, the highlight were Rumline and Chechos team. They both entered the tournament not looking for a second place trophy.
Day one; Rumline and Chechos finished the day tied with 1300 points. Rumline managed to win the daily by 11 minutes. Day two; It was a mirror of day one, but at the end of the day, Chechos took the lead by 3 fish and managed to win the daily. Day three; It was a thriller of a final day as claiming the top spot came down to the wire! With minutes left before lines out, team Chechos was in the lead, when second place Rumline, hooked up a double in the final moments…almost inching a comeback to overtake the top spot. What a way to end the 6th annual of competition for team Chechos!
Tournament Results
1st Place Pro Team for a total of 4100 points, team Chechos. Anglers: Ozzy Delgado, Juan Manuel Cobar, Josh Greene, and Peter Miller. Captain Carlos Diaz. Team won day 2 calcutta and overall prize money.2nd Place Pro Team for a total of 4000 points, team Rumline. Anglers: Dell Dembosky, Mary Dembosky, Ken Cofer, Amanda Cofer. Captain Terry Brennan. Team won day 1 calcutta. Congrats to Captain Terry and his crew for putting up a great fight to the end.3rd Place Pro Team for a total of 3700 points, team Makina. Anglers: Ed Secke, Mark Anstine, Austin Collins, and Carey Riel. Captain Luis Wicho Ramirez. Team won day 3 calcutta.1st Place Amateur Team for a total of 3100 points, team Piragua. Anglers: Hugo Mayorga, Alexander Alonso, Nelson Duarte, Jaret Williams.1st Place Marlin with 2 blue marlin releases, team Captain Hook. Anglers: Kris Mohandie, Fran Gough, Kyle Sowell, Fran Gough, and Matt Moore.1st Place Dorado for a total of 127.4 pounds, team Uno Mas. Anglers: George Plihal, Albert Guzman, Mike Russell, and George Gozdz. Captain Justin Royal.Another amazing highlight during the Invitational, to have Rivers Rutherford’s presence at Pacific Fins. With a name like Rivers Rutherford, it’s no surprise this soulful storyteller and recent Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Famer was destined to become one of music’s most talented and accomplished singer-songwriters.Guests at the Invitational had front row seats as David Lee Murphy performed several songs. David is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is best known for his #1 country hits “Dust on the Bottle” and “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”, as well as the hit songs “Party Crowd”, “Out with a Bang”, “Every Time I Get Around You”, “The Road You Leave Behind”, and “Loco”. Oh and by the way… Congrats to David for releasing his first blue marlin!
The tournament in 3 days, generated a total of 545 sailfish raises, 480 bites and 348 Sailfish releases. 8 blue marlin and 2 striped marlin. 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 (Casa Vieja Lodge, The Hook, Sailfish Oasis, and Aeroclub) 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 $18,000 was collected. In addition, we are going to be posting on our social pages pictures that were taken during the event. 2022 dates will be: December 8th through the 12th. 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 ALL ANGLERS AND SPONSORS, CHEERS TO YOU FOR MAKING IT A SUCCESFUL ONE!
Let the countdown begin! In the coming weeks/months leading up to the 6th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational, we will be announcing special guests and sponsors that will take part in this years event. The Billfish Invitational is excited to welcome Serial Griller, Matt Moore. 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 years’ 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 latest work, Serial Griller (HMH 2020), has also enjoyed best selling status with a focus on live-fire grilling throughout America. Moore is currently slated to release his next work in 2023. 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 agreement 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 that love to grill, which I think the majority of us do, Matt will be handing out to all participating anglers a copy of his book, Serial Griller.
