This program was developed by Danny Lafferty for the purpose of combining the wonderful experience of World Class Sport Fishing with meeting the needs of some of the world's neediest people in Guatemala, Central America where Danny has worked for over 25 years, touching tens of thousands of lives. But first, LET'S TALK ABOUT FISHING!
Guatemala has gained an international reputation as having one of the highest year-round concentrations of billfish, in particular Pacific sailfish. Guatemala’s Pacific Coast forms an enormous, natural eddy, rich in bait and pelagic fish. Billfish and many other sport fishing species are found in great numbers. Guatemala is listed at #2 in Salt Water Sportsman magazine’s top 20 fishing sports in the world! Most boats regularly have over 20 shots per day in peak season, and you can anticipate 15-25 shots on a “regular” day. Nothing is ever guaranteed in fishing – but this is about as close as you can get if you dream about casting to lit-up Sailfish within 20ft of the stern, multiple hookups and constant action.
Scientists who have studied the large numbers of sailfish off the coast of Guatemala have concluded this might be the largest breeding ground for Pacific Sailfish in the world. While the prime season November thru May, sailfish are caught year round in Guatemala. Some charters emphatically say that since being in business, not one of client has failed to release a sailfish! Guatemala has an amazing fishery which is protected by practicing catch and release and using circle hooks. In March 2006 one charter treated 5 anglers to an unbelievable 124 sailfish in a single day. In October of 2006 a world record of sailfish releases in a season was set at 2,809 by one Guatemala charter captain.
Blue Marlin are released in much smaller numbers, but are caught on a regular basis. They average 250 to 400 pounds, but larger fish in the 800 pound range have been released. Dorado (or Mahi Mahi) and Yellow Fin Tuna are also common species in the area. Captains with conservative estimates report catching between 800 to 900 Dorado (mahi-mahi) and around 20 to 25 marlins per year, per boat, besides sailfish. One weekend this year one boat, in two days, caught and released two 350 to 400lb marlins, 18 sailfish and caught 60 yellow fin tuna!
