2018 Annual Billfish Report
The numbers were tailed for the 2018 Casa Vieja Lodge Annual billfish report and we are proud to announce the grand total of 28,027 Raises, 21,235 Bites, 12,404 Releases. This report is a total of the CVL Fleet that fished during the 9-month season, and keep in mind there were many rest days, and not all boats fished daily! GREAT WORK ANGLERS! These outstanding numbers could not be possible without the incredible anglers that choose to come and enjoy the 5-Star Angling Experience at Casa Vieja Lodge.
You may wonder why there is such a big jump down from bites to releases… that’s cause our crews are teaching crews! They just don’t hand you the rod, they teach you how to become better anglers and coach you to hook your own fish. They don’t yell at you when you miss a fish, they share in your defeat and then celebrate your glory when you hook one!
Ready to put your skills to the test? Join us at Casa Vieja Lodge at the 2019 Father’s Day Fishing Frenzy June 14-16, only two boats remain!
Another opportunity is the coveted 2019 Solo Angler’s week held in the spring and fall. The Spring Edition is May 29- June 2, and a few spots are available. The Fall Edition is October 30- November 3.
10th Annual Jake Jordan
Report from Jake Jordan: The 2019 tenth annual Jake Jordan Invitational Sailfish Fly Challenge held at the world-class, Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala is over; it was another fun and challenging event. The tournament was wide open until the last couple of minutes with the winning team Intensity scoring 1200 points with anglers Rufus Wakeman and Jed Dempsey winning on a tiebreaker over the second place team Decisive with anglers Cam Sigler and Wes Restomily also scoring 1200 points. The third place team was team Rum Line with anglers Don Butler and I scoring 1050 points. Every angler caught and released several Pacific Sailfish on fly, with the fly removed from the fish without breaking the 20-pound I.G.F.A. class tippet on over 90 percent of the fish caught and released. Although this is a team tournament, we have always had a special award for the top point angler, over the last ten years I have handed out this special award of a #9700-B Mako Fly Reel, a TFO Blue Water, Heavy Duty, Fly Rod, loaded with Backing, Running Line, A RIO Leviathan 550 grain Fly Line, and a Butt Section Leader, from our sponsors. This Year’s Top Point Angler award went to Rufus Wakeman fishing with Team Intensity. As usual, the food, lodging, service, boats, and crews at our top sponsor Casa Vieja Lodge was world class, the pig roast at the banquet was unbelievable. As usual, I want to thank our Captains, and especially our Mates for putting out that extra effort to make this the most successful and longest-running fly fishing Billfish tournament ever! Next year’s eleventh annual event is at Casa Vieja Lodge, on January 6, 7, 8, 9, 2020.
Is CVL Right for you?
Casa Vieja Lodge sets ourselves apart from other outfitters in many ways. We boast the most gorgeous and maintained sport-fishing fleet, powered by Cummins Engines, that allows us to go where the fish are. We have no limits. Some days we fish at 7 miles, some days at 50 miles. You come to Casa Vieja to fish, and that’s what we do! No limits on bait, or miles, we will hunt down the fish no matter where they are and trust us each boat has enough ballyhoo aboard anxiously waiting for an insane 70 bite day!
Casa Vieja Lodge is the only outfitter to post daily fishing reports online at days end. Every single day, each boat is accounted for, not weekly or monthly totals, plain black, and white for you to see.
The attention to detail at Casa Vieja Lodge is unmistakable. Whether its the comfort in your bedding, the special requests we handle upon arrival, or the hot Mahi sandwich prepared by the mate aboard your boat, clients keep returning because they are well taken care of and simply just need to concentrate on enjoying their time fishing!
Casa Vieja Lodge is a family-run business and staff and crews are an extension of the family. We take pride in allowing us to be a part of your most memorable fishing. As always, no request is too small and we value your feedback, it’s truly the only way we can become better!
Fishing Highlights
Fishing at the start of the New Year was not as spectacular as we normally like to ring it in, averaging about 10 sailfish raises per day/per boat, but then again it is fishing! Since then the water warmed up and we have found our sailfish once again.
Check out the impressive numbers below:
- January 1st-12th, the Finest Kind (40’ Whiticar) with Capt. Nicho Alvarenga, had 116 raises, 92 bites, and 61 sailfish releases plus 6 marlin raises, 4 marlin bites, 3 marlin releases, 6 tuna, and 5 mahi-mahi.
- January 1st-15th, the Spindrift (38’ Stolper) with Capt. Efrain Rizzo, had 94 raises, 74 bites, and 43 sailfish releases plus 3 marlin raises, 3 marlin bites, 1 marlin release, 8 tuna, and 3 mahi-mahi.
- January 1st-16th, the Rum Line (40′ Gamefisherman) with Capt. Chris Sheeder, had 163 raises, 130 bites, and 85 sailfish releases plus 5 marlin raises, 4 marlin bites, 14 tuna, and 10 mahi-mahi.
- January 2nd-16th, the Intensity (37′ Gamefisherman) with Capt. Mike Sheeder, had 153 raises, 117 bites, and 73 sailfish releases plus 3 marlin raises, 2 marlin bites, 15 tuna, and 4 mahi-mahi.
- January 3rd-16th, the Poco Loco (44′ Kincheloe Nickerson) with Capt. David Salazar/Capt. Terry Brennan, had 133 raises, 123 bites, and 92 sailfish releases plus 3 marlin raises, 3 marlin bites, (GRAND SLAM) 3 marlin releases, 12 tuna, and 13 mahi-mahi.
- January 3rd-16th, the Release (37′ Merritt) with Capt. Chico Alvarenga, had 121 raises, 93 bites, and 64 sailfish releases plus 1 marlin raise, 5 tuna, and 2 mahi-mahi!
- January 3rd-16th, the Afinity (39′ Billy Knowles) with Capt. Nico Melendrez, had 158 raises, 134 bites, and 92 sailfish releases plus 1 marlin raise, 21 tuna, and 13 mahi-mahi.
- January 3rd-16th, the Makaira (37’ Rybovich) with Capt. Jason Brice, had 149 raises, 121 bites, and 88 sailfish releases plus 8 marlin raises, 6 marlin bites, 4 marlin releases (GRAND SLAM), 8 tuna, and 15 mahi-mahi.
- January 12th & 13th, the El Cadejo (35′ Contender) with Capt. Benji Bairez, had 29 raises, 21 bites, and 15 sailfish releases plus 2 tuna and 2 mahi-mahi.
- January 13th-15th, the Pez Raton (35′ Contender) with Capt. Franz Hoffman, had 29 raises, 26 bites, and 14 sailfish releases plus 1 tuna and 1 mahi-mahi!
(305) 854-4665 / Kirsten@CasaViejaLodge.com
- January 28-29-30: Afinity (39′ Billy Knowles)
- February 2-3-4-5: Spindrift (38′ Stolper)
- February 19-20-21: El Cadejo (35′ Contender)
- March 20-21-22: Poco Loco (44′ Kincheloe Nickerson)
Jan 17-20: Dallas Safari Club– Booth 551
Jan 25-27: Houston Safari Club– Booth 1040
Feb 2-10: Great American Outdoor Show– Booth 3006
Feb 14-18: Miami International Boat Show– Booth D-316
March 22-23: London Fly Fishing Fair– Booth 75
April 26-28: NRA Annual Convention– Booth 5270