The 9th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational brought together 130+ world-class anglers for three days of thrilling deep-sea competition in the Pacific waters off Guatemala. Known for its world-class billfishing, the tournament saw teams from across the globe competing for top honors in a race to catch and release the most billfish, including dorado and yellowfin tuna.
Day two of the event presented an unexpected challenge as a cold front swept through the region, bringing windy conditions. Despite the shift in the atmosphere, the action remained steady, with anglers undeterred by the rougher seas. Fish were still biting, and teams adapted quickly, proving that nothing—neither weather nor wind—could take the excitement out of the tournament.
Over the course of the three days, competitors worked tirelessly to hook and release their catches, strategizing their approach while reveling in the camaraderie and thrill of the chase. With a strict catch-and-release policy in place, the tournament not only spotlighted incredible fishing skills but also emphasized conservation, ensuring that the abundant marine ecosystem of Guatemala’s waters remains protected.
In addition to the fishing, the event featured vibrant social gatherings, including a welcome reception, nightly celebrations, and a grand awards ceremony that honored the tournament’s top anglers and teams. The spirit of competition, as well as the stunning beauty of Guatemala’s coastline, made this year’s Invitational one of the most memorable in its nine-year history.
The 9th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational proved once again why it’s considered one of the premier events in the sportfishing world—a celebration of skill, sustainability, and the unbreakable bond between anglers and the ocean.
The tournament in 3 days generated 1139 sailfish raises, 923 bites, and 537 Sailfish released. 47 blue marlin raises, 28 blue marlin bites, and 18 released. 17 striped marlin raises, 15 bites and 10 released. Countless dorado and 9 big yellowfin tuna (including a 161 pounder). Making this tournament once again the largest in the history of Guatemala!
Tournament Results
1st Place Pro Team for a total of 4300 points, team Decisive.
Anglers: David Van Sant, Billy Bennet, Brent Maddux and Rick Norten. Team won overall prize money for a total of $14,400 also qualified to the Offshore World Championship 2025 in Quepos Costa Rica.
Congrats to Decisive’s Captain Brad Philipps.
2nd Place Pro Team for a total of 4000 points, team Gringo.
Anglers: Trey Wills, Kendall Hendricks, and Matthew Crim. Congrats to Captain Jason Brice.
3rd Place Pro Team for a total of 3800 points, team Bandido/Flor de Caña.
Anglers: George Gozdz, Darren Harrison, Phillip Weikert, and Matt George. Captain Jimmy Fajardo. Team won day 1 calcutta $6,000.
Congratulations to Stacey Wills for taking home First Place Lady Angler for the second time.
1st Place Amateur for a total of 3800 points, team Intensity with Capt. Mike Sheeder. Anglers: Steve Heese, Clayton Mcneel, Frank Ferreri, and David Burns.
2nd Place Amateur Team for a total of 3500 points, team The King II with Capt. Victor Ceballos. Anglers: Ken Good, Jim Reilly, Ralph Reilly, Jacob Good and Carter White.
3rd Place Amateur Team for a total of 3100 points. Team Sails Pitch II with Capt. Chris Stars. Anglers: Travis, Kaleb, Mike and JD.
1st Place Marlin with 2100 points, goes to team Decisive.
Top Pro Angler: David Van Sant aboard Decisive with 12oo points.
1st Place Funfish for a total of 161 points, team Cañaso.
Anglers: Gonzalo Ruiz, Dominic Gargiulo, Sean O’Connell, and Brent Stokes. Captain Lan Melendez.
| Another highlight that gave the 9th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational stamp of approval, was 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. IGFTO president, Evan Hipsley coordinated and assigned observers to boats each day. This organization promotes conservation therefore without a doubt accepted our invitation and donated $3,000. Thank you, observers! |
| We want to give a huge THANK YOU to all our participating anglers for making it bigger than ever. We are happy to see you all having a great time, meeting and making new friends. From the Flor de Caña kick-off party and Poolside Celebration to the neighboring resorts; (The Hook, Sailfish Oasis, Aeroclub, Intensity Sportfishing, Blue Bayou, Jody’s, Gringo Sportfishing, Casa Vieja Lodge, Guatemala Billfishing adventures, and several private rental homes) who took part in the Invitational. This is 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 $48,000 was collected. We will be posting pictures on social media pages. Get ready as 2025 brings in the 10th Anniversary. Dates are December 4th through the 8th, 2025. 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 2025! |
