Guatemala Sailfish School
Casa Vieja Lodge

Three delightful ladies and their gentleman friend joined me to kick off the High Season of bill fishing at Casa Vieja Lodge.  Pacific Sailfish are in abundance off the coast of Guatemala year round.  November marks the end of the rainy season in Central America and the advent of cooler temperatures in North America; thus the surge of thrill seeking blue water anglers to this tropical paradise.  Two of my guests identified themselves as novice or inexperienced anglers.  All four proved to have natural talent.

Day 1: Chico, the handsome captain of the Canaso, took us thirty miles south into the deep blue Pacific, before we put the lines out.  Shortly after 9 am, Julie B released our first Sailfish of the trip.  Carrie and Scott each released their first ever sailfish before a Blue Marlin appeared in the spread.  With Julie B poised to take the rod, Carlos pitched a mackerel back to an estimated 300 lb Blue, but the Marlin refused to eat.  By noon we had released nine Sailfish, including two double headers by Carrie and Leslie.  Total for the first day: 12 Sails released.

Day 2: Unfolded much the same as day 1.  While receiving a lesson on how to hook a bill fish with a trolled bait, Julie B hooked and released her first Sailfish of the day.  We released two double headers before the guests requested we catch edible fish.  Under a school of Spinner Dolphin we picked up a 25 lb Yellow Fin Tuna and later a pair of 30 lb Bull Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi).  Just around lunch time, we found some logs floating in the water, and true to form, a Marlin appeared behind the right teaser.  Carlos pitched a mackerel back and the Marlin was hooked.  Julie B did a masterful job of horsing that Marlin to the boat in 12 minutes for a technical release.  As the mate reached for the leader, this defiant fish exploded out of the water in a fit of rage.  Beautifully “lit up”, the Marlin put on an acrobatic show for us, twenty feet off the transom, before settling down for a ten minute stand off with our equally tenacious Julie B.  Inch by inch, our exhausted, alpha female angler brought the 250 lb Blue within reach of the mates and recorded a release after a 31 minute, grueling fight.  It was an epic battle with lots of support and encouragement from her friends.  Second day totals: 1 Blue marlin and 12 Sails released.  We kept one Yellow Fin and 7 large Dorado.  The chefs at Casa Vieja prepared sashimi Tuna and beer battered, deep fried Dorado on our return.  Dinner was outstanding.

Day 3: The Pacific was getting bumpy.  After a little meat fishing, we broke out my fly rod and adjusted the spread.  My ears heard “Sailfish – long teaser”.  With the fly in the water, I was totally focused on demonstrating “how to” for my guests, when Chaupito snatched the fly rod from me and Carlos shoved a big Shimano in my grasping Hands.  Still thinking Sailfish – silly me- a Marlin launched itself out of the deep blue.  We had a wild battle, mostly on top of the water.  Twice, the Marlin charged the boat, creating a horseshoe pattern with the line.  If a leaping Sailfish embodies grace and finesse while seeming to dance on its tail, the much larger Blue Marlin represents power, rage and fury.  Being connected to this Blue Marlin was exhilarating, if not intimidating.  Splashing, thrashing and crashing across the surface, the Marlin pulled me from one side of the cock pit to the other.  Credit Chico at the helm.  With 900 horses of diesel power at his finger tips, he will spin the 37’ Gamefisherman on a dime, in reverse, bringing wave after wave over the transom in pursuit of a release.  Seven minutes after the bite, Carlos wrapped the leader around his hand and Chaupito grabbed the bill and released an estimated 300 lb Blue Marlin.  Not a bad day at the office.  We ended out three day trip with 2 Blue Marlin and 29 Sailfish released.  Our last night at Casa Vieja was a celebration of Leslie’s milestone birthday.  Antonio, the lodge manager, surprised Leslie with roses, champagne, cake and a Mariachi band to serenade her.  There is no better lodge in the world!  Much appreciation to Captain Chico and his brothers Leslie, Carrie and Julie B are lovely, coachable and down right fun.  Scott is an absolute gentleman and together they out fished the competition!

Thanks for the memories.
Austin Hepburn
UncommonVentures.com

610.585.7583

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