The No Sancocho Sailfish Shootout is Guatemala’s most exciting & prestigious billfish tournament, and anglers have more reason than ever to secure their spot aboard one of the nine boats in the Casa Vieja Lodge Fleet and get the best sport fishing experience on and off the water.
At the end of the three-day tournament, the team with the most points wins. You and three teammates choose the combination of bait and fly casting that you think will earn you the most points based on the scale below:
- Marlin released on fly—100 points
- Marlin released on 50 lb.—50 points
- Marlin released on 30 lb.—30 points
- Sail released on fly—25 points
- Sail released on bait—10 points
But if you can’t seal the deal, there’s more than just your pride on the line—every missed bite costs anglers $20. Money from every missed bite, or sancocho is then donated to a local school in Puerto San Jose.
The 2022 Grand Total was $3,450 with 60 sailfish and 5 marlin SANCOCHOS! Overall fishing, eight boats in three days of produced 183 sailfish releases from 243 bites, plus 6 marlin releases from 11 bites, and 126 mahi mahi!
The 2021 Grand Total was $4,350. A slower 3 days of fishing 8 boats produced 50/74 Sailfish and 6/10 both Striped Marlin and Blue Marlin, and a total of 71 SANCOCHOS!
The 2020 Grand Total was $11,160. WIth 3 days of fishing on 7 boats a total of 232/352 Sailfish, 5/7 Blue Marlin releases, 8 dorado, and 134 SANCOCHOS!!
The 2019 Grand Total to $7,390 went to ongoing health care for Natasha, who’s life has been changed thanks to your kind sancochos! Keep on missing them!
At the 2018 Shootout, over $40,000 was raised from the sancochos and generous donations from anglers. Neptune Impact Windows, also pledge to match all sancocho monies at the start of the tournament, a very brave move knowing Guatemala’s exciting fishery! A special thank you to marine artist Carey Chen who live painted and donated his art for auction which sold for $11,000.
The monies raised in 2018 helped Natasha, the 10-year old daughter of Poco Loco First Mate Johnny, by avoiding amputation of her leg as that was the only option in Guatemala. Johnny refused this option for his little girl and sought advice from Capt David Salazar, who then promised to use the proceeds of the tournament towards little Miss Natasha, and all anglers were in full support!
Johnny and Natasha were able to fly to Mexico 3x since November 2018, to work with Dr. Longoria in Mexico City, and she underwent chemotherapy to save her leg. The last trip on July 8, 2019, Dr. Longoria reported that the tumor on Natasha’s leg is relatively gone, in stable condition, and to continue with physical therapy. Her next appointment is January 2020! A HUGE THANK YOU to all you helped make this father’s dream come true!
Sign up for the glory, for charity, or just for the fun of it. But if you want a spot in the tournament, you’d better reserve your spot at Casa Vieja Lodge soon—boats are extremely limited.
