Fishing in Guatemala 2009 Season Summary

Our fishing year is almost like a fiscal year, with quarters that each have a distinct personality and challenges associated with them. Our first quarter which is from July until September is a time when we assess the wear and tear on our infrastructure, and build our capital budgets for the following season. Second quarter from October until December is the work up to the full season in both a physical sense of working out any kinks in our boats, equipment or crews and in ourselves getting readjusted to 4am wake up calls every day followed by long hours for everyone.

January through March is when things really go crazy - the fish are usually stacked in and close to shore - so the fishing day is long and hard on angler and equipment alike. April until the end of June is when we tend to see most repeat clients who enjoy a little more laid back approach to their fishing, and while there is still a good buzz about the place, with plenty of fishing action - it is not as frenetic as the prior quarter. This past season followed this rough profile, but what is ordinarily a fairly predictable pace was thrown awry by changes outside of our control.

The first significant factor was the slump in equity and credit markets that either caused a lot of folks to postpone planned trips or to defer committing to them until they could realistically determine the effects on their wallet and discretionary income. It is only for the very afflicted that going to the Sailfish Capital of the World is not discretionary, it is mandatory! This lack of visibility caused us to defer some of our planned spending until later or closer to the main season - when we knew we would have to execute things in parallel to ensure smooth operations, but at least we were confident then of the numbers of anglers that would be coming to chase billfish. Guaranteed to be a bit of a panic, but we have done it before!

Sure enough, by November, the fishing was really starting to show some promise - we were catching consistent numbers of good size Blue marlin, and the Sailfish seemed to be concentrating around warm water and pods of bait fish - making for strong and consistent action, although the passage of the odd cold front did push the fish out on a few occasions. The panic came though as word spread and more anglers were asking to come down on short notice to take advantage of the great early season we had been reporting - and our boats still needed some routine maintenance that had to be sandwiched between groups and into what were supposed to be lay days. But when the fishing is hot, we have to go out fishing - it's just the way it is and the fishing stayed hot all the way through until mid December.

These pesky cold fronts - unusual to see so many of them in the calm and warm waters of Guatemala so late in the year - continued to rush through unpredictably, making the fishing unpredictable in their wake. We continued to hope for our more usual stable weather patterns as we moved into our "3rd quarter" and the New Year. By the second week of January, our hopes and expectations for a record season were bubbling just below the surface (literally!). The weather had become more stable, and we were seeing early season fishing and numbers of sailfish that we had not seen in years ! There was a week mid January when we were fishing every day and bringing back to the dock exhausted anglers - having raised 40+ fish most days, and some days way in excess of that ! Those are the kinds of numbers that we do see reasonably regularly - but typically later in the season, from end of January until mid-March could that possibly mean things could get even better?

By the time February rolled around, we were really feeling pretty good - not only had the fishing stayed great, it seemed like the mood back in the North had improved so that guys were feeling better about getting that discretionary income out and committing to trips - we had noticed a strong increase in bookings since Christmas - and this really accelerated now as news of the great bite spread far and wide. This coupled with the relatively poor reports out of Costa Rica saw a lot of new anglers coming to Guatemala for the first time chasing our reputation for quantity and quality of fishing. As we moved towards March, we reported that it may be Saint Patrick's Day - but we are pleased to report that the water in Guatemala is not green! We had been reporting how a stream of weather fronts had pushed green water close into shore, which in turn had been causing us some difficulties in finding consistent concentrations of bait and the predators that feed on them. But as we moved out of February the weather had been kind to us, and we started seeing consistent warm days and calm seas that allowed the blue water to push in and drive that nasty colder green water to one side.If you take a look at the geography of the region, it is easy to see how the currents coming down from Mexico collide with the coastline and reflect back to form huge eddies that attract and hold large quantities of bait. These fast moving currents coinciding with the moon phase mean that water conditions - in particular the location of blue water - can change dramatically in as little as 48 hrs, so even when the fishing has been tough going, as it was towards the end of February, there is always hope that tomorrow could be an angling bonanza!

March provided us with plenty of clear skies, warm days and lots of fish - without too much of a trek from the dock. Most days we were finding clean blue water at about 30 miles from home, and we could fish a line that ran pretty much straight for 15 miles - with bill fish wallowing each side of it targeting prey. The sailfish numbers had been strong all through March - but so had the marlin bite.

We had been seeing marlin consistently throughout the season from November until now - and they seemed to be becoming more numerous (or perhaps just more aggressive for smaller baits) as we progressed towards April - which many regard as the classical Blue Marlin season. As we made the turn into our "4th quarter" the late season anglers came to enjoy a great and varied fishing adventure. Although the fishing moved out to as much as 50 miles from shore for most of the month, we were blessed with some marvelous dorado fishing. They showed up in huge numbers - frequently "escorted" by hungry Blue and Black Marlin, who regarded them as such a tasty morsel that the "peanuts" would be a tantalizing appetizer - with the more mature fish being the main course and they and we found plenty of both. We saw some of the largest bull and cow dolphin we have ever seen (and caught) in Guatemala during this past April - I think the best fish we brought to the dock was well in excess of 40lbs which is a big dorado 'especially when it hasn't learned etiquette and insists on flapping around the big cockpit of the Bertram when guys are still fishing!

So all in all a season that started out with great promise - an early bite in January that gave us hope for a record season with many days in excess of 50 bill fish raised. Unfortunately Mother Nature intervened, and showed us some unusual weather by the end of January that scattered the bait fish and pushed the warm blue water back and forth making it hard for things to coalesce. April was marked by some fantastic marlin fishing - no granders reported this year, but many in the 600lb class. This coupled with some outstanding dolphin catches made the early and late parts of the season the most productive this year.

We know that things are still tough, but we do hope you will be able to come down and get away from it all next season - it's amazing what catching big fish on light tackle can do to your perspective! There is certainly more confidence around this year than the same period 12 months ago - we are booking strongly into the "peak" periods and favorite moons already, so if you have specific dates in mind, please get in touch with us as soon as you can. We look forward to welcoming you to Guatemala, the Sailfish Capital of the World (undisputed!).

The Greatsailfishing Company owns and operates its own fleet of Bertram sportfishing boats and private villas for fishing trips in Guatemala. We have just completed our 8th successful season in The Sailfish Capital of the World. For more information on this remarkable fishery - and to receive a FREE eBook with 16 information filled chapters about fishing and travelling in Guatemala click here - http://www.greatsailfishing.com/.

Releasing Saltwater Fish Safely

As recreational anglers we all have the responsibility to look after the fish resources which provide us with so much enjoyment. We need to respect the fish we catch and treat them accordingly, not simply view them as points on the board as often happens in the excitement of a "smash". Gone are the days of catching tons of duskies, milkies or lessers and having them removed by the truckload after a competition. Many of our linefish and shark species are overexploited and it is really up to us to ensure their survival for generations to come. Recreational angling is undoubtedly a blood sport and there is increasing public pressure being placed on organised angling to reduce the environmental impact associated with fishing competitions. Within angling circles good competition anglers are generally regarded as being highly skilled anglers capable of catching substantially more fish than your average recreational angler. For this reason I believe that competition anglers should lead the way in developing better catch and release practises and ensuring the development of a responsible ethic towards sound stewardship of our fish resources.

Catch-and-release is increasingly being practised by more and more anglers and is undoubtedly an ethic that needs to become entrenched if we are to secure a sound future for our favourite pastime or sport. Competitive angling in South Africa has made some extremely positive moves in this direction with most competitions now being fished on a catch and release basis. However, there is still much that anglers can do to improve the chances of their catch surviving. Catch-and-release mortality, or death due to hooking, fighting and handling fish before release, may be considerably higher than we think with some fisheries scientists estimating that at least 25% of released fish die due to sport fishing. Many variables determine whether or not a released fish will survive, including the species, the type and size of the hook, bait or lure used, how long the fish is played, how it is handled once the fish is landed and how quickly it is returned back to the water.

As Colin Attwood described in an article published in the "The Fishing Journal" (Vol 1, Issue 4), we should all be aware of the following problems that exist for many angling species:

· Fish exhaust themselves when hooked and build up lactic acid in the muscle and damage muscle tissue, which makes them stiff and sluggish (similar to humans). This makes released fish vulnerable to predators. The longer the fight and the longer a fish is kept out of the water the worse the problem.

· A swallowed hook that is cut off may rust and toxify the blood or interfere with the normal passage of food.

· Handling fish with dry, unclean hands may lead to subsequent infections. The epidermis of fish lies on the outside of the scales and is responsible for secreting slime that protects it from pathogens. The epidermis, being very thin, is easily ruptured if touched by dry and abrasive objects, which in turn allows an entry point for pathogens.

· Fish eyes may be easily damaged by abrasion and sunburn, as fish have no eyelids.

· Lifting a large fish, with either a vertical or horizontal hold, places the skeleton and abdominal organs under unnatural stresses that may lead to bruising or rupturing.

· Gaffing a fish, which is to be released, greatly reduces its chance of survival.

There are a few points which are important when contemplating the release of all fish.

1. GENERAL (This applies to all categories of fish and should be read together with each section.)

If fish are to be released, one must plan beforehand for such a release.

The longer a fish is out of the water the less chance it has of survival.

Fish are covered in a layer of mucus / slime which protects them from infection. Fish should thus be handled as gently and as little as possible, with wet hands and placed on a wet towel or a wet foam mattress.

Fish bodies are supported by water. If the fish must be removed from the water, the best way to take a fish out of the water is to use a large, fine-mesh landing net or stretcher or alternatively use a bogo grip to hold the fish's lower jaw. Place a hand under the belly before lifting it out of the water. Large fish should preferably not be hauled on board but released while still in the water. The effect of gravity while lifting fish out of water by the head can damage internal organs.

Do not place fingers into gills or eye sockets as these organs can be damaged.

Sunlight damages fish eyes - cover with a wet cloth while on deck.

Lactacidosis is the buildup of lactic acid in the body as a result of prolonged strenuous activity. Normal energy production is aerobic and produces energy and carbon dioxide. Once the oxygen in the blood is exhausted, energy is produced anaerobically and produces lactic acid as a byproduct. This lowers the body pH and can cause rupture of muscle fibres (including heart muscle fibres) which renders the fish stiff and vulnerable to predators and may lead to death up to 3 days later. Therefore the longer the fight the greater the extent of lactacidosis and the less the chance of survival. So, if a fish is to be released, do not use extremely low breaking strain line and fight the fish for extended periods but rather use suitable tackle, bring the fish in quickly and release it as soon as possible.

Resuscitation. Fish rely on water passing over their gills to assimilate oxygen. Billfish particularly, benefit by being towed headfirst next to the boat for some time to allow them to recover.

All fish should be returned gently, head first, to the water.

2. BILLFISH

Where possible, billfish should not be boated but should be released without removing them from the water as thrashing around on deck causes extreme stress, increases lactacidosis, removes slime and causes severe bruising. Where possible hooks should be removed as hooks left in the mouth can remain for extended periods and lead to infections and hinder feeding. Where the fish is hooked deeply it stands a better chance of survival if the hook is left in as attempts at removal will exacerbate the damage.

When fishing with live or dead bait use circle hooks which frequently hook in the corner of the jaw and reduce the chances of deep hooking. Circle hooks can be removed either by reversing them out or by grabbing them outside the mouth, pulling them through and cutting the leader.

Barbless hooks (flattened barbs) should be used on lures so as to make their removal easier and quicker.

In Australia the use of a "snooter" is becoming popular. This is a loop of rope in a plastic pipe which is used to snare the top bill and gives better control of the fish. It also allows the fish to be more easily towed beside the boat for resuscitation and subsequent release.

The time taken to subdue the fish is critical. It must not arrive at the boat too green as its thrashing will cause further damage, nor must the fish be too exhausted by the fight with resultant severe lactacidosis. Tackle must be suitable and if a green fish is brought alongside and the leader is in hand, do try and remove the hook or lure but simply cut the snood.

Where necessary resuscitate the fish prior to release for the best chances of survival.

3. TUNA

Tuna can fight themselves to the death, so not all will survive.

If tuna are to be released preferably do not boat them but keep them in the water and practice "tip and release". If insistent on boating the fish before release, lift small tuna by the hook snood while supporting the mid-section and lay onto a wet towel or foam mattress.

Do not lift tuna by the tail as this removes slime and can cause vertebral separation and spinal cord damage.

When fishing with bait, use circle hooks. Flatten barbs of lures.

Keep large fish in the water and keep the head submerged as much as possible while removing the hook.

4. DEEP WATER BOTTOM FISH

Bringing fish up from depth leads to barotrauma resulting in an expansion of the swim bladder with subsequent prolapse of the stomach and bulging eyes. Unless the gas can be released or recompressed the fish will float and die from exposure. The gas can be released by puncturing the swim bladder through the body wall behind the pectoral fin with a hypodermic needle. However, this needs practice as the position of the swim bladder varies in different species and if the swim bladder is missed, the needle can cause other internal injuries.

The recommended method of releasing fish that have suffered barotrauma is to use the reverse hook and weight method. A large weight is tied to the eye of a large hook with a flattened barb. Line from a rod and reel is then attached to the bend of the hook (upside down). The hook is gently inserted into the top lip of the fish and the fish is released back down to the bottom. The gas in the swim bladder is then recompressed and a quick jerk on the rod releases the hook allowing the fish to swim away unharmed.

When taking the fish out of the water if no landing net or stretcher is available, it can be lifted using the hook snood or a bogo-grip but it must be well supported by a wet hand under the mid-section of the body.

5. SHARKS and FLATFISH (Rays/Skates)

If a flatfish has got a hook down deep, then it's best to cut the hook off at the knot and free the fish with the hook still in. Consider that flatfish, in fact all fish, will eat mussels, hard crabs and crayfish with ease, and you realise just how insignificant a hook is to a fish. Evidence suggests that fish can shed a hook within hours anyway, providing it is a bronze or steel type that will corrode. Coated or commercially plated pattern hooks and stainless steel hooks should never be used. Fish are capable of rejecting, expelling, or encapsulating hooks. Encapsulation is a process whereby the fishes' healing process causes the hook to be covered with calcified material; or a-cellular tissue. Steel and bronze hooks are less toxic and are rejected or "dissolved" sooner than are stainless steel and cadmium-plated or nickel-plated hooks.

Those holes on top of Rays/Skates heads are called Spiracles and are used to help them breathe by flushing water over their gills. Never put your fingers in them as it wil damage their gills.

Never turn flatfish on their backs.

I would personally keep my hands out of most flatfishes mouths, the diamond is fairly unique because of its very wide throat, enabling you to get your hand all the way down in order to recover hooks. Most other flatfish have much harder jaws and much thinner throats which firstly may inflict injury to your hand and possible mortal injury to the ray if its troat was forced open. The spearnose skate has very sharp little teeth that can seriously damage your hand or fingers, and the giant sand shark has a crushing bite. Most flatfish can be handled by gripping their nose part, or just in front of their mouthes.

Small Sharks (up to 10kg) may be removed with extreme care from the water (if docile) by lifting by the tail with one hand while holding firmly under the body near the pectoral fin with the other hand - if in doubt do not attempt to remove from the water.

Keep tension on line at all times while retrieving to minimise sharks rolling and becoming entangled in the line.

Don't pull sharks by their tail as it will damage their spines.

Cut the hook trace while the shark is still in the water if you have trouble removing the hook. It is beetr to use circle hooks or barbless hooks if you plan to release the fish.

Stefano Schoonees

Overberg Angling

Fish Tremble When They Hear Our Name