Billfishing Guatemala
Guatemala Sailfishing
Sailfish Oasis Lodge
Sailfish Capital of the World. As one of the largest breeding grounds for Pacific sailfish, Guatemala is among the finest sailfishing destinations in the world. Guatemala holds both the conventional and fly fishing records for most sailfish released in one day. Sailfish Oasis Lodge won the Billfish Foundation’s Overall Release category and the Sailfish Release category for the Pacific for 2014. Click here for Sherpa (up-to-date travel requirements).
Sailfish Oasis Lodge Fishing
The Sailfish Oasis fleet often averages 15 to 30 sailfish releases per day during peak season and a year-round daily average of 5 to 20 releases.
Throughout the year, anglers enjoy calm waters and a friendly fishing community. Captains are in constant communication to ensure everyone has an
unforgettable fishing experience. Whether you are new to the sport or an expert fly angler, Sailfish Oasis Lodge's experienced captains and mates help provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to land a billfish on a fly.
Species and Seasons:
Sailfish: Great year-round, with peak fishing from October through June.
Blue, Black, and Striped Marlin: May through November is their Marlin season. However, after many years of tracking marlin numbers, the Lodge has noticed that they are more prolific in September and October. They raise occasional black and striped marlin, but the waters of Guatemala are predominately inhabited by blue marlin averaging between 200-500 pounds.
Dorado: All year-round, but especially in their rainy season from May through September.
Guy Schoenborn's Recap of his 2014 Hosted Week:
"Day 1: We raised 14, landing 3 on flies and 3 on bait.
Day 2: We raised 36, landing 8 on flies and 9 on bait.
Day 3: We raised 22 and landed 3 on flies and 3 on bait.
Day 4: We raised 18 and landed 3 on flies, 4 on bait, and we also caught 2 large dorados.
Captain “Kiwi” Chris and his crew did an excellent job of teasing the sails to the back of the boat - for an easy cast with a fly rod. It’s very exciting to watch a 50 to 100-pound fish eat your fly 25 feet from the boat.
The Lodge was really nice, and the meals were very good. I would highly recommend Sailfish Oasis Lodge to a flyrodder or conventional angler."
- Guy Schoenborn
Sailfish Oasis Boats:
The Lodge has some of the best fishing boats on the Guatemalan coast. Their boats are kept to the highest safety and comfort standards.
Captain Hook is a 43 ft. Willis made famous by Captain Ron Hamlin. The boat is powered by twin Cummins diesel and was built in North Carolina by master boat builders. The wooden hulls produce a low rumbling sound notorious for raising billfish. Captain Hook has a fighting chair. The boat has set many records for the number of fish caught in one day and one year.
Their Flagship Boat, The Allure II, is a 1996, 40’ Custom Carolina Capps with a cruise speed of 23 knots, and is arguably the finest charter sportfishing vessel in Guatemala. The Allure II is fully equipped with top-of-the-line Shimano reels, custom rods, a marlin tower, a modern electronics package, and a reputation for excellent food and very cold beer. Captain “Kiwi” Chris has been fishing the Pacific Coast of Guatemala since 2002.
The Intensity is a one-of-a-kind 37’ Gamefisherman with Captain Mike Sheeder at the helm. Designed and built specifically for billfishing in Central American waters, she has maneuverability, comfort, and speed—powered by twin 900-HP Cummins motors with a cruising speed of up to 30 knots.
The Makina is a 2001, 36’ Out Island Express powered by Cummins 450HP C-Series motors. With a 26-knot cruise, top-of-the-line tackle, air conditioning in the cabin, and a common area. The experienced and fun Captain Juanga is at the wheel.
The Marina: Marina Pez Vela is 10-minutes from the Lodge in Puerto San Jose. It is the only marina in Guatemala protected by a breakwater structure.
For the 2023 season, the Lodge has added more boats. From The King and I, a 50-ft. air-conditioned Ocean with a 26-knot cruise, The 44-ft. Tranquility is an air-conditioned Ocean with a 23-knot cruise to a smaller 31-ft. Bertram and a 31-ft. twin Yanmar-powered Gamefisherman named the Gringo.
About Sailfish Lodge
Sailfish Oasis Lodge is open year-round. The Lodge is in a secure, residential, tree-lined development.
This spacious, private property boasts an outdoor area with lush gardens, a nice swimming pool, and boardwalks to your air-conditioned bungalow with a private bathroom and plenty of hot water.
Meals: In the evenings, guests gather at the open-air bar (rancho) or in the dining room to share fish tales and dine on delicious food such as yellowfin tuna or dorado sashimi, ceviche, ocean-fresh pan-fried mahi-mahi with toasted almonds in a butter and white wine sauce, jumbo shrimp marinated in ginger and sweet chili sauce, and USDA prime beef.
Bedroom at the Lodge
Non-Angler Activities:
Spend a few days fishing and then add to your adventure by climbing volcanoes, visiting Mayan ruins, zip-lining over a gorgeous lake, making chocolate, mountain bike on the edge of a volcano, learn to surf, personalized Spanish classes, and more! For non-fishing family members, there's plenty to do, such as a spa day, foodie tour, yoga, massage, a weaving workshop, textile tours, and more.
Tour Options:
• Sightseeing in Antigua
• 3-day overnight hike to Lake Atitlan
• Guided surfing trips
• Glamping (Luxury camping)
Getting to the Lodge:
You’ll be met at La Aurora International in Guatemala City by a Lodge staff member. He will escort you to the group's private air-conditioned vehicle with ice-cold complimentary drinks on board. It’s a 90-minute drive from the airport to Sailfish Oasis Lodge on the Pacific Coast, and this ground transfer is included in the package. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to have a gourmet lunch in La Antigua,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For an additional fee, a helicopter flight can be arranged from the airport to the Lodge, reducing travel time to 20-minutes.
Flight Times From • Miami: 2 hours • Houston: 2 hours and 30-minutes • Dallas: 3 hours • Atlanta: 3-hours or • Los Angeles: 4 hours and 30-minutes.
Typical Fishing Day:
6:00 a.m. Breakfast is served. After breakfast, you’ll be driven to Marina Pez Vela, a five-minute drive. You'll leave the dock at 7:00 a.m. for a full day of fishing. Lunch, snacks, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages are provided in the boats. Between 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., you’ll return to the dock. Your driver will transport you back to the Lodge. You'll freshen up then enjoy appetizers before dinner.
Departure Day: After breakfast, your driver will drive you the 90-minute trip back to Aurora International Airport in time to catch your flight home. You might enjoy spending your final night of the trip in Antigua (for an additional fee). Sailfish Oasis Lodge will gladly arrange a one-night stay at a beautiful colonial hotel in the center of town.
2023 USD Rates
Double-occupancy rooms
5-nights and 4-days guided fishing
31-ft. Boats: Up to 4-anglers
2-anglers per boat: $5,555.00 per person
3-anglers per boat: $4,670.00 per person
4-anglers per boat: $3,795.00 per person
35 to 38-ft. Boats: Up to 4-anglers
2-anglers per boat: $6,155.00 per person
3-anglers per boat: $5,070.00 per person
4-anglers per boat: $4,095.00 per person
5-anglers per boat: $3,805.00 per person
43-ft. Captain Hook or The 40-ft. Allure II:
2-anglers per boat: $7,153.00 per person
3-anglers per boat: $5,608.00 per person
4-anglers per boat: $4,565.00 per person
5-anglers per boat: $4,195.00 per person
44-ft. Tranquility: Up to 6-anglers
2-anglers per boat: $7,753.00 per person
3-anglers per boat: $6,008.00 per person
4-anglers per boat: $4,865.00 per person
5-anglers per boat: $4,435.00 per person
50-ft. King and I: Up to 7-anglers
2-anglers per boat: $7,953.00 per person
3-anglers per boat: $6,141.00 per person
4-anglers per boat: $4,965.00 per person
5-anglers per boat: $4,515.00 per person
Many more package options are available.
Request an Information Packet.
Packages Include:
Roundtrip ground transfers between La Aurora International Airport and the Lodge, lodging at Sailfish Oasis Lodge, Wi-Fi, all meals at the Lodge (breakfast, snacks, dinner, and dessert); lunch, fruit, snacks, (beer, and nonalcoholic beverages in the boat on fishing days); guided fishing with an experienced captain and crew, conventional and fly tackle (plus one fly), and bait. No beverages at the Lodge are included.
