Vol. 29, No.8/9
May 2025
Text and photos by Mary L. Peachin and Norma Frasher

“Four triple-hookups, all sails released…” James S. McGill

When Easter festivities did not permit a visit to Guatemala’s colonial Antigua, an impromptu meeting in Casa Vieja’s tiki bar with some Southern gentlemen resulted in an invitation to share their 44” boat Poco Loco the next day. We were fortunate that our planned visit to Casa Vieja in Puerto San Jose could extend at least a room for that night missed in Antiqua. The invitation to fish with the McGill party got us out on the Pacific a day early.

If you have been reading Peachin Adventure, you might recall that my sailfish “playground” in Zihuatenejo, Mexico has been destroyed by long-liners killing its billfish. It prompted me to return to Casa Vieja where, in 2017, I was able to compete (3rd place) in IWFA’s (International Women’s Fishing Association) sail release tournament.

During the past 30 years of publishing adventures, you have read a few of my fishing stories. This trip to Guatemala topped them all. I participated in the quote above “four trip hook-ups” where each of us successfully released three sails at the same time. We used Alutecnos Albacore rods with 30 weight line. Previously, I have felt it was a good day of ocean fishing with several releases, not a day numbering 11 releases. I kid you not!

Casa Vieja is a shining star in the beautiful, but poor Guatemala landscape. Several blocks from Puerto San Jose, now a large commercial port, it is a comfortable, cozy fishing resort offering great hospitality, good food, and excellent accommodations.

At 5:45 AM, the knock on the door is the delivery of a hot cup of coffee. After a hearty breakfast, at 7 AM, the van is loaded with anglers headed to the dock to catch assigned boats for a full day of fishing.

It might be 30-60 minutes to the fishing grounds, where tuna and dorado along with blue whales and turtles hang out with the sailfish and mighty blue marlin, but when the action starts, it is not to be believed. Fishing the second day, our boat, a 38’ foot Rybovich named Makaira, released 41 sails, and enjoyed a lunch of fresh dorado (mahi-mahi). It was my personal best day: releasing 11 sails and two dorado. Editor Norma Fasher, on her first sail fish experience, released sails liked an experience angler. The following two days, it was rough, (3–4-foot chop) at sea limiting our releases to about a dozen.

It is not easy to get from the west coast of the United States to Guatemala City. We overnighted in Houston on the trip down, but a shiny red helicopter, rather than the two-and-a-half-hour drive, made it possible to return to Tucson in one day.

Several dozen anglers also enjoyed the best fishing trip of their lives, it was “oh-so” special for me.