I just returned from 7 day of fly fishing in Guatemala for billfish. we stayed at Casa Vieja Lodge and i think this was my 8th stay. First three days were impressive with each of our boats releasing and average of 9 sails per day on fly. The wild card was the numbers of marlin around. Day 2 on the Intensity with Capt. Mike Sheeter one of my guys hooked a big blue marlin on fly in the same neighborhood as Jake Jordan's monster. Both fish were well north of 450 pounds and this fish might be bigger. After 25 minutes the leader came into the rod tip and quickly left and another 30 minutes the leader was in the rod tip. Only hell of a release on IGFA 20 pound class tippet and leader. There were big dorado around was well. The next on the Intensity a close friend released a Blue Marlin around 250 pounds on fly. Both days they added 9 sails to daily total.
I fished with Chris Sheeter on the Rum LIne everyday except the day the big blue was caught and i lucky enough to be on that boat. Day 4 my crew was 4 feet from a grand slam on fly. I hooked a perfect size blue marlin 200 pounds and almost got a legal release but the hooks fell out 2 feet from the rod tip--which sucked. A few minutes later we hooked a psycho of a striped marlin and he escaped two feet from the leader. There were sails everyday as well. The last three days were slow but there were quality bites around. We released a nice stripey one day around 120 and saw blue marlin everyday except one.
we also got to enjoy Jake Jordan's birthday with him at the lodge. A super trip fishing with the best billfish crews i have ever fished with. Can't wait to go back. [click here to display pictures] |