2011 ended and 2012 began with some fantastic fishing action from both sailfish and blue marlin. The year ended with boats raising up to 7 blues a day, and the year began with boats raising up to 40 sails a day!
The McGee / Hughes group tried their luck fishing aboard the Rum Line the last few days of December and raised 25 sails, 6 blue marlin and keep the grill supplied with fresh dorado burgers everyday. The two couples released 13 sails and 2 of the blues. The first days blue was about 250lbs, and day two’s blue was over 400lbs…very nice!
The Palmieri brothers fly-fished the first few days of January and saw some awesome action as well. The duo raised 84 sails, more than half of which came blazing in to accept a fly, and we released 22. The blue marlin decided to tease us, with 4 of them showing up, but wouldn’t be caught. Chris Palmieri decided to jump in and swim this his last fish to put a cap on a great trip.
Capt. Chris Sheeder
Jake Jordan Invitational Sailfish Fly Challenge
January 9, 2012 was the practice day for the Jake Jordan Invitational Sailfish Challenge, five boats fished the practice day and the results are:
Rum Line, Captain Chris Sheeder, Angler Don Butler 1 sailfish Release, Angler Brian Horsley 2 Sailfish Released. Total 3 on fly.
Release, Captain Chico Alvarenga, Angler Nassim Jaquim, 1 sailfish Release, Angler Nat Harris 2 sailfish Released and one (250 pound) Blue Marlin on fly.
Captain Hook, Captain David Salazar, Angler Dave Wands, 3
Reliable, Captain Chip Shafer, Angler Nick Smith, 1 Blue Marlin 500 points
Angler Mike Smith, 0 Points, (Team Points 500), First Place
Rum Line, Captain Chris Sheeder, Angler Don Butler 1 sailfish Release, 100 points
Angler Brian Horsley 2 Sailfish Released, 250 points, (Team Points, 350), Second Place
Makaira, Captain Jason Brice, Angler Jack Callion, 1 Sailfish Release, 150 points
Angler Paul McGarvie, 1 Sailfish Released, 150 points, (300 Team Points), Third Place
Release, Captain Chico Alvarenga, Angler Nassim Joaquin, 0 points,
Angler Nat Harris 1 Sailfish Released, 150 points, (Team Points 150)
Intensity, Captain Mike Sheeder, Angler Lucien LaFond, 1 Sailfish released, 150 points. Angler Tony Weaver, 0 points, (150 Team Points.)
Spindrift, Captain Nicho Alvarenga, Angler Clayt Pollick, 1 sailfish released, 150 Points Angler Greg Kluh, 0 Points, (150 Team Points)
Captain Hook, Captain David Salazar, Angler Dave Wands, 0 points,
Angler Roger Harper 0 points. (0 Team Points)
Sunny and calm sea conditions, Nick Smith’s Blue Marlin was estimated to weigh close to 300 pounds. Fishing is slow for Guatemala, hopefully the action will pick up during the next two days. 81 percent of the fish that bit the fly on the first day were caught and released, the fly was recovered from 80 percent of the fish caught on the first day of this tournament. Stay tuned for further reports daily from Casa Vieja Lodge.
Day two produced 24 Sailfish caught and released on fly aboard all 7 teams, with the vessel Intensity, Captain Mike Sheeder and anglers Tony Weaver and Lucien LaFond finishing in first place with 8 sailfish on fly today increasing their score to (1200 total Points).
Makaira, with Captain Jason Brice with anglers Jack Callion and Paul McGarvie, caught 3 today to increase their score to 700 total points and second place,
Holding third place (on time) is Spindrift with Captain Nicho Alvarenga with anglers Clayt Pollock and Greg Kluh scoring a total of 600 points.
January 12 was the final day of fishing in my Sailfish Fly Tournament at the fabulous Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala. Fishing was relatively slow by Guatemalan standards, we had 7 boats (2 anglers per boats entered in the event. After of 3 days of fly fishing for sailfish our 7 teams caught and released 46 sailfish along with a Blue Marlin of 300 pounds, on fly.
The vessel Intensity, with Captain Mike Sheeder, and anglers Lucien LaFond from Normandy France, and Tony Weaver from Anchorage Alaska, won the tournament with 1,300 points, Lucien LaFond won a Mako 9600 fly reel along with a Jake Jordan edition TFO Blue Water HD Marlin Fly Rod as Top point angler.
Second Place Team went to Makaira, with Captain Jason Brice and anglers Jack Callion from Marathon and Paul McGarvie from PA with 1000 points, Paul also won a Mako 9550 fly reel and a TFO Blue Water HD fly rod.
Third place went to Release with Captain Chico Alvarenga, anglers Nat Harris from North Carolina and his partner Nassim Joaguin from Mexico with 950 points. I have to catch a plane, more later.
Following the full moon – the anglers on Casa Vieja fleet boats are blowing the doors off:
- Cates party (14 & 15) – Brian & Teresa with sons Phillip & Michael aboard the Release with Capt. Chico Alvarenga and special guests Norm Isaacs and film crew raised 85 sails, had 70 bites and releasing 35! 😮
- Derner party (13-14-15) – Justin, Brad, Steven, William and Nick aboard the Captain Hook raised 50 sails, had 43 bites and released 26! They had one blue bite, but no joy.
- Daniels party (14 & 15) – Matt & William aboard the Makaira raised 69, had 51 bites and released 29 and a 250lb blue marlin!
- The Brownlee party (14-15-16) – John, Helen & Alex aboard the Spindrift raised 72, had 58 bites and release 40! They also pursued roosters, snappers and bottom species.
- Jarvis party (13 -17) – Tom & Tina with the Pintozzi boys aboard the Intensity who are still fishing now, have so far raised 102, with 88 bites and 51 released, with two more days to go!
The Bite is ON!!! – RED HOT fishing reports are pouring in from the Casa Vieja fleet. “Everyone’s been averaging over 25 releases per day” says our head skipper Capt. Chris Sheeder aboard the Rum Line. The bite is on FIRE folks!!!
Following the full moon – the anglers on Casa Vieja fleet boats are blowing the doors off:
- Cates party (14 & 15) – Brian & Teresa with sons Phillip & Michael aboard the Release with Capt. Chico Alvarenga and special guests Norm Isaacs and film crew raised 85 sails, had 70 bites and releasing 35! World renowned skipper, angler and TV personality Capt. Norm Isaacs raised 63 sails on the 14th of January. “ That’s as good as it gets” said Capt. Isaacs.
- Derner party (13-14-15) – Justin, Brad, Steven, William and Nick aboard the Captain Hook raised 50 sails, had 43 bites and released 26! They had one blue bite, but no joy.
- Daniels party (14 & 15) – Matt & William aboard the Makaira raised 69, had 51 bites and released 29 and a 250lb blue marlin!
- The Brownlee party (14-15-16) – John Brownlee, editor and chief of Saltwater Sportsman Magazine, and his lovely bride Poppy raised 41 sails with Capt. Nicho Alvarenga aboard the Spindrift. Spindrift raised 72, had 58 bites and release 40! They also pursued roosters, snappers and bottom species.
- Jarvis party (13 -17) – Tom & Tina with the Pintozzi boys aboard the Intensity who are still fishing now, have so far raised 102, with 88 bites and 51 released, with two more days to go!
Prime dates still available from January to May. Visit us on the web www.casaviejalodge.com or call us 800.882.4665
