guatemala The west coast of Guatemala a offers what is hands-down the finest billfishing action in the world. Scientists who have studied the large numbers of sailfish off the coast of Guatemala have concluded this region may be the largest breeding ground for Pacific sailfish in the world. The coast in this area of Guatemala forms a giant bay with strong rotating currents flowing west-to-east from the Mexican coast having turned back after hitting the coast of El Salvador. This creates an enormous “ocean eddy,” rich with bait and pelagic fish. Sailfish, Dorado, tuna, blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, and a large number of other species congregate in this area in great numbers. Inshore fishing in the region offers good action for roosterfish and jack crevalle as well. With numbers like “85 sail fish released in a single day” and “35 on the fly in one day,” it’s hard for any other region in the world to compete with this year-round bite. guatemala other salty options OTHER SALTY OPTIONS We are proud to work with a handful of small, off-the-grid fishing lodges and operations located in areas that are not always thought of as “sportfishing hotspots.” The following three lodges – in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and the Bay Islands of Honduras – all offer unique saltwater opportunities for the adventurous, globe-trotting angler. CROCODILE BAY RESORT [Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica] Located on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, Crocodile Bay offers what may be the finest sportfishing and adventure tour combo package found anywhere in this part of the Caribbean. With a fleet of more than 40 fishing boats, an arsenal of high-end fishing equipment, and easy deep-water access from their 850-foot private pier, Croc Bay is the ideal location for your next bluewater fishing trip. Anglers can big-game fish for marlin, dorado, sailfish, tuna and wahoo, or focus on inshore opportunities for roosterfish, snapper, snook, and more. The resort is situated on 44 acres of manicured gardens on the Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf) and offers accommodations that are a step up from those of a “standard” fishing lodge. A great family or couples destination. 3 night / 3 day fishing packages begin at $2,495.00 per person. BLUE BAYOU LODGE [Iztapa, Guatemala] Located in an area that’s known as the “sailfish capital of the world,” this new addition to Yellow Dog’s bluewater program represents what we feel is the best value and price point found anywhere in world of bluewater fishing. Don’t let the reasonable package rates fool you, however, as these guys fish hard, run hard to find the action, and definitely know how to put their customers onto billfish. The well-appointed Blue Bayou Lodge is located just five minutes from Pez Vela Marina, where all the local lodges and charter captains begin each fishing day. The lodge’s fleet consists of 28 to 38 foot Bertrams, Albemarle and Hatteras yachts that are fully rigged for both fly and conventional anglers. Blue Bayou is American owned and managed, with USCG-captained boats with local mates and crews that really know how to get after it. With a maximum capacity of 14 anglers, the lodge features a private pool, access to a black sand beach and a well-stocked all-inclusive bar. 4 night / 3 fishing day packages begin at $1,700.00 per person. FLY FISH GUANAJA LODGE [Guanaja, Honduras] A small and intimate operation that accommodates a maximum of eight anglers per week, this Bay Islands lodge is perfectly situated in the middle of Guanaja’s South Cayes on a small island that overlooks a productive and easily-accessed home flat. The lodge is literally surrounded by bonefish and permit flats, and you can easily step off the deck and be casting to tailing fish in seconds. The main lodge is set-up with two bedrooms and two full bathrooms, and there are two guest cabins with four more beds. Guanaja is home to similar saltwater fly fishing as is found in other popular areas throughout Mexico and Belize. What makes Guanaja unique is that when you’re there, you’re usually the only one fishing! With this operation, you can expect to wade about 65 percent of the time and fish out of the boat the other 35 percent. 7 night / 6 day packages (double occupancy) $3,850.00 per person. CASA VIEJA LODGE [Iztapa, Guatemala] Casa Vieja Lodge has long been known as the home of the finest billfishing in all of Central America: THE place in Guatemala for world-class boats and crews, the best captains in the business, and the highest quality accommodations in the area. Continual upgrading has made Casa Vieja the ultimate retreat for serious bluewater anglers, with 21 guest rooms and all of the amenities that one would expect from a full-service fishing lodge. Sailfish in this area are abundant year round, and since 1994, the fleet has averaged more than 20 billfish raised per day, per boat – year round! The rainy season of mid-July through September coincides with the slower travel period in Guatemala, with October through June considered the prime booking months. 4 night / 3 fishing day packages begin at $2,300.00 per person. TARPON NEST LODGE [San Juan, Puerto Rico] Located only ten minutes from San Juan’s historic district and the San Juan Airport, the Tarpon Nest Lodge is Puerto Rico’s first and only lodge that caters exclusively to anglers and their families. The 11 room lodge features new facilities and the type of modern amenities that anglers have come to expect from an all-inclusive operation. As for the fishing, the waters of the San Juan area are home to impressive numbers of tarpon – fish that average 30 pounds, with larger fish that can easily run into the triple digits. From half-day guide trips to multi-day, all-inclusive lodge and fishing packages, this is a great option for anyone who is looking to visit Puerto Rico or who finds themselves in the San Juan area for business or a family vacation. Contact Yellow Dog for pricing and package details. email: info@yellowdogflyfishing.com • website: www.yellowdogflyfishing.com • 40 • phone: 406-585-8667 • toll free: 888-777-5060 41