Fishing

There is no doubt that fishing is an exciting activity. It offers an opportunity to enjoy and learn new skills. Experiencing a fish smacking your lure is fun and thrilling. There seems to be something spectacular about being on the water – whether alone or with loved ones. If you enjoy being on the calm water catching sailfish every day, then Guatemala is the place where you should be. There is no better place in the entire world to catch sailfish. Whether you are a pro angler or have yet to catch your first fish, you’ll love Guatemala.

Over the past two decades, Guatemala has earned itself the lofty title of ‘the Sailfish Capital of the World. It has a long reputation for fantastic blue water action. The small Central American country with fascinating Mayan culture is home to some of the best offshore fishing in the world. Not only this, but it is also an explorer’s paradise on land and sea. Ancient ruins, brilliant colonial architecture, natural beauty, and architecture will grab your attention here. You will definitely love travelling to Guatemala.

Best places for fishing in Guatemala

Iztapa

Iztapa is incredible to catch sailfish. Iztapa is located along Guatemala’s pacific coast 90 minutes from Guatemala City. It is also known as the Sailfish capital of the world because the records here are impressive, as the world record for conventional and fly-fishing single-day catch. If you are first time visiting there, you may be blown away by knowing that, on average, you can expect to catch many Pacific Sailfish each day.

Puerto San José

Puerto San Jose is also known for fishing. It is located in the Southwest corner of the country, where every angler who books a Guatemalan fishing vacation always visits. The best season for fishing here is from November to May. Apart from this, Puerto San is also known for its black sandy beaches. So if you just want to hang out or swim on the beach then, the best beach in the Puerto San Jose area is Chulamar.  

Guatemala is known as the best fishing place because of its unique geographical feature they call “ the pocket” in which a natural canyon runs around 55 miles from the continental shelf to within 12 miles of Marina Pez Vela, then they create a perfect pocket, containing nutrients rich water which attracts all the fish. The pocket is 20 miles wide and as deep as 4000 ft, and is home to many fish species, and you will be in the perfect spot for Marlin, Sailfish, Yellow-fin Tuna, and Dorado found here throughout the year.

The perfect season for fishing

January

January is the strong start of the year for fishing. It is a great time to go on a long trip and find a bunch of Sailfish in the waters of Guatemala.

April to November

For the marlin, blue and black striped, the best months are – April to June and October to December. If you go fishing during these months, you are likely to have an opportunity to catch one of these monsters. The blue marlin here ranges between 200 and 500 pounds typically.

December to June

Schooling fish is the target of tournament anglers, and Guatemala is considered a prime place. It is likely to find the sailfish zone within 20 miles of the Guatemalan shore all year round, although, they concentrate on December to June.

Most popular species 

Sailfish

The hard-fighting Sailfish are the local king of Guatemala. You may have to wait for a few months for the rest of the fish, but this is not the case with Sailfish. You will always get good catchable populations. December through May is the prime season for fishing. On average, you can experience multiple fish in a day. Sailfish is one of the terrific tackle opponents known for its schooling, multiple hook-up tendencies, and aerial acrobatics. If you are a professional angler, this could be a good challenge for you. It will prove that you have good trolling, teasing, and drop-back baiting technique.   

Blue marlin

The blue marlin is found worldwide. They are among the largest, fastest, and most recognizable fish in the world. Its deep blue fins and silver-white belly with spear-shaped upper jaws make this fish stand out in the big ocean, as they are closely related to famous swordfish. They are very popular amongst sports anglers. If you are one of them, you will likely get the number of marlin species in Guatemala. Here you could get blue, black, and striped. 

Yellowfin tuna

Tuna sandwiches are amongst the most famous. These gorgeous torpedo-shaped yellow fin tuna have a deep ocean blue color back, cute silver belly, anal fins, and finlets are in bright yellow. You have to make a lot of effort to catch this bulldog. Although it is small in shape, don’t underestimate its power and speed.

Dorado (Mahi-Mahi)

Mahi-mahi mahi is a highly pelagic species found in all the tropical and subtropical waters including the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean. Mahi mahi means “very strong” in the Hawaiian language, and also it has been widely adopted as its common name. The blue-green on the upper half of their body with golden hues on the sides give them a beautiful look. This is another species, which is more likely to be caught in Guatemala. 

Conclusion

If you want to step out of your comfy house and become one with nature, Guatemala is the place for you. Fishing is one of the most exciting activities that everyone can participate in and enjoy regardless of age. Catching the Sailfish or Mahi mahi is fun that you should never miss. Every angler remembers their first catch, and Guatemala is the place where you can make your experience more memorable.