Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Juan Gaviota's developers have placed their eyes upon Lake Petén Itzá and
Antigua Guatemala as locales for future development projects on a similar scale.
A unique swirling of ocean currents between Mexico and El Salvador creates
an eddy unusually rich in pelagic fish (such as herring and mackerel) right on
Guatemala's doorstep, where billfish, including sailfish and marlin, gather to
feed along with large concentrations of dorado, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo. The
result is some of the world's best sailfishing waters.
Enthusiasts of Guatemala's emerging sailfishing scene are quick to point out
that it is the true “Sailfish Capital of the World” and have the numbers to back
up their claims. The world records for conventional and fly-fishing single-day
catches have been set here, at 75 and 23 respectively. In March 2006, a single
vessel carrying five anglers caught and released a whopping 124 sailfish. While
the records are indeed impressive, anglers plying the Guatemalan Pacific Coast
need not worry about any “feast or famine” phenomenon, as catch-and-release
numbers are quite consistent. In terms of billfish releases per angler, Guatemala
ranks at the top (a statistic compiled by The Southwest Fisheries Science Center
in California). Its Catch Per Unit of Effort (CPUE) for Pacific sailfish in 2005
was5.83comparedtoCostaRica's2.57andPanama's2.25.Onaverage,youcan
expect to catch 15-20 fish per boat per day, but catches of 25 fish aren't uncom-
mon.
Guatemala's strength is certainly in its numbers. Unlike most of its compet-
itors, Guatemala's not known as a beach destination with impressive resort ac-
commodations. All that is starting to change, however, and there are now some
very comfortable accommodations where you can stay right on the beach and re-
lax after a long day at sea. Some outfitters accommodate anglers in their own
lodges; otherwise there are private luxury villas on the beach or the large Vil-
las del Pacífico resort. Many outfits combine fishing packages with a round of
golfononeofGuatemala City'sexcellent golfcourses.Alloftheoutfitterslisted
practicecatch-and-releaseandusecirclehooks,asmandatedbyGuatemalanlaw.
Fishing is active year-round, but most anglers come between November and
May seeking a respite from colder climates. Prices for fishing packages vary
by the size of the boat used and can be fairly expensive in Guatemala; boats
generally travel 40-80 kilometers (25-50 miles) offshore to a deep, 600-meter
(2,000-foot)basinwheresailfishtendtocongregatearounditsrim,translatingin-
to higher fuel costs. Boats heading out this way are usually in the 28-foot range,
