Sportfishing Archives - Page 4 of 7

October 24, 2022October 24, 2022

7th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational (SOLD OUT)

BIGGER THAN EVER!

7th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational

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!

August 5, 2022August 5, 2022

The Summer of Monsters!

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).

May 24, 2022May 24, 2022

A HOT bite and Guy Harvey visits Pacific Fins

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 Brian@guyharvey.com

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.

January 7, 2022January 7, 2022

Guatemala Billfish Invitational – Best One Yet!

Guatemala Billfish Invitational Recap

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!

October 22, 2021October 22, 2021

October Fishing Frenzy

The start of our season has been nothing short of spectacular. Groups have been raising double digit numbers of sails, enough dorado for lunch and dinner, and yellowfin tuna from 60lbs to an impressive 176lb beast. Plus, we are not surprised the main attraction has been the blue marlin presence.

When a guest calls us, one of their question is… “when is the best time to fish Guatemala?”. You can ask many and get different answers. It’s hard to answer because Guatemala’s fishery is phenomenal year round.
I’ve always been a firm believer that October is the month to be in Guatemala. It kicks off the season with lots of action and variety.

Fishing Report :

A personal record! 400+lb Pacific Blue Marlin

***Congrats to the Johnson’s on their blue marlin***

***An impressive 176lb yellowfin tuna for Mr. Mackinnon!***

***Double the excitement for the Woods***

August 5, 2021August 5, 2021

Pacific Fins Welcomes Serial Griller: Matt Moore

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.**

April 23, 2021April 23, 2021

The sails are Back!

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 11th: Knotwork – 6 sailfish raises, 4 bites, 1 release (Flyfishing). 9 sailfish raises, 7 bites, 6 releases (Conventional).
April 11th: Gypsy: 28 sailfish raises, 19 bites, 11 releases.
April 12th: Knotwork: 14 sailfish raises, 13 bites, 7 releases. 1 dorado and 2 yellowfin tuna.
April 12th: Chechos: 10 sailfish raises, 6 bites, 6 releases.
April 13th: Chechos: 25 sailfish raises, 22 bites, 15 releases.
April 13th: Knotwork: 22 sailfish raises, 18 bites, 9 releases.
April 14th: Chechos: 19 sailfish raises, 18 bites, 11 releases. 2 dorado.
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.

February 4, 2021February 4, 2021

A fishing trip you don’t want to miss!

“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!

May 15, 2020May 15, 2020

Honoring Health Care Heroes

Recognizing all health care workers on the frontlines of COVID-19

Pacific Fins is honoring health care heroes from all over the country. American professionals are putting their lives on the line to help others, it’s time to show them our gratitude.

These workers have shown extraordinary care to their communities and hospitals hit hardest by the crisis in the U.S. We want to give these men and women a complimentary vacation, once they’re able to take time for themselves.

We have teamed up with HUK Apparel, YO-ZURI, Rodriguez Cigars, Eastern Title, King Sailfish Mounts, Biscayne Rod, and Maui Jim Sunglasses, to give a special THANK YOU to these amazing people.

DETAILS:

One Guest Pay and One frontline worker can join them for FREE! That’s right. One angler pays the two per boat “Luxury Package” rate and the Frontline worker is on us!

Package: 3 days fishing, 4 nights. (Can be customized, call for details).

Target species: Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Roosterfish, and Marlin.

What is included?

Fishing:

Captain & 2 mates

All fishing tackle and natural bait, either for conventional and/or fly fishing

Beer, rum/vodka, sodas, Gatorade, and bottled water

Fresh fruit and snacks

Hot lunch prepared fresh on board by our mates

Lodging & transportation:

Transportation with an English-speaking driver to and from the airport

Full a-la-carte breakfast

Gourmet dinners with an international a-la-carte menu for your culinary delight (Recommended globally by TOP chefs)

Beer, wine, and spirits included while at the Resort

Included in the package:

Laundry service daily

Wi-Fi Internet service throughout the Resort

International calls to the US via Vonage Phone Service

Sky TV Satellite Service with English Programming

Flat Screen TV’s in each Villa

**Newsletter Picture – Jessica Stark (Left) in NY doing what she does best. Daughter of one PF’s friends**

Help us say thank you to those keeping us safe every day.

February 27, 2020February 27, 2020

Our Fleet Never Looked So Good

Now available at Pacific Fins gift shop, our fleet will have their own standout artwork on long-sleeve UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) performance shirts, hooded and non-hooded. Other items that you can look forward to finding at our new and improved gift shop: sunglasses, sun masks, hats, and much more.

So, don’t forget to check out our gift shop before leaving the resort so you too can always have something to look back on for that great experience you shared with friends and/or family.

Take a souvenir from your home away from home and support your favorite boat crew.