2021 Billfish Report
The 2021 Annual Billfish Report is the total billfish released for the year by the Casa Vieja Lodge Fleet according to our daily fishing reports posted online for you to see. Anglers this past year released 11,391 billfish with less anglers than normal, and they still rocked it! We want to thank all of our anglers, captains, and crews for your support, and also for trusting us as we continue to Kick Plastic in 2022!
Below are the prior year’s totals, and you can always find our daily fishing reports, as well as archived years (so you can find the “best” time) HERE.
2020: 5,664 (4-months)2019: 12,215
2018: 12,404
2017: 10,464 Help contribute to the 2022 season and secure your dates to the best billfishing in the world!
Below are last minute openings, if any of them speak to you, click them, to send a direct email inquiry (they wont last long!):
- February 17-21: Finest Kind (40′ Whiticar)
- March 3-5: Finest Kind (40′ Whiticar)
- March 8-10: Afinity (39′ Billy Knowles)
- March 22-29: Poco Loco (44′ Kincheloe Nickerson)
- March 29-31: Rum Line (40′ Gamefisherman)
- April 17-22: Afinity (39′ Billy Knowles)
- April 28-May 3: Makaira (37′ Rybovich)
Domestic Option? Book your Casa Vieja Key West Charter online HERE.
Trip Insurance
Trip Insurance, if you don’t have it, GET IT! It’s the only thing that protects your investment. We have seen an influx of canceled trips due to a positive covid test, or flight cancellations, both of which can be covered with trip insurance.
We are working with Global Rescue and strongly suggest you purchase trip insurance. Global Rescue has been contacting clients on our behalf to answer any questions you may have. They have also published this very helpful article, click on it to read more:
Global Rescue’s 6 Most Commonly Asked Questions about COVID-19 Services
You can also contact them on your own to get a quote, or call 617-459-4200. The average trip insurance ranges from $119-$550 to protect your entire investment and is based on your age and the amount of your trip.
Fishing Report
In the month of January, the has ocean has given us three unique situations, a leucistic sailfish (pictured above) which you can see has partial pigmentation lost, but not completely like an albino. Then on January 16th, aboard the Afinitywith Capt. Nico Melendrez a SUPER Grand Slam was released (which is 4 billfish on a single boat, in one day) with a sailfish, blue marlin, black marlin, and striped marlin. This is only the second time in Guatemalan history, and coincidently Capt. Nico was the mate the first time it happened over 20 years ago at Fins ‘n Feathers! Lastly, an Orca came to play in the fishing spread of the Makaira!
Did you see Capt David. crew, and anglers of The Hooker released a Humpback Whale stuck in a net on Nov 29th?
To see more, choose your favorite below:
WSVN Channel 7 News
YouTube Video
Facebook Video
Instagram Video
TikTok Video
Remember, you can always stay up to date with our daily fishing reports on our websites, Guatemala Fishing Report & Costa Rica Fishing Report. Below are a few highlights from Guatemala:
- January 1st– February 1st, the Afinity (39′ Billy Knowles)with Capt. Nico Melendrez, had 316 raises, 251 bites, 165 sailfish releases plus 18 marlin raises, 11 marlin bites, 9 marlin releases (7 blue marlin, 1 striped marlin, 1 black marlin), 37 mahi-mahi, 3 snapper, and 5 groupers.
- January 1st– February 1st, the Finest Kind (40′ Whiticar)with Capt. Nicho Alvarenga, had 317 raises, 287 bites, 204 sailfish releases plus 15 marlin raises, 12 marlin bites, 6 marlin releases, and 54 mahi-mahi.
- January 1st– February 1st, the Release (37′ Merritt) with Capt. Sammy Baires, had 305 raises, 267 bites, 193 sailfish releases, plus 13 marlin raises, 7 marlin bites, 6 marlin releases, and 36 mahi-mahi.
- January 1st– February 1st, the Rum Line (40′ Gamefisherman) with Capt. Terry Brennan, had 271 raises, 243 bites, 160 sailfish releases plus 15 marlin raises, 6 marlin bites, 4 marlin releases, and 44 mahi-mahi.
- January 2nd– February 1st, The Hooker (48′ G&S) with Capt. David Salazar, had 296 raises, 249 bites, and 173 sailfish releases plus 11 marlin raises, 6 marlin bites, 2 marlin releases, and 49 mahi-mahi.
- January 5th-31st, the Makaira (37′ Rybovich) with Capt. Jeffrey Garcia, had 302 raises, 264 bites, 178 sailfish releases plus 21 marlin raises, 10 marlin bites, 6 marlin releases, and 41 mahi-mahi.
- January 5th-February 1st, the Spindrift (38′ Stolper), fishing 5 days, with Capt. Franz Hoffman, had 105 raises, 82 bites, and 48 sailfish releases plus 3 marlin raises, 1 marlin bite, 1 marlin release, and 4 mahi-mahi.
- January 10th-30th, the Pez Raton (35′ Contender), fishing 8 days, with Capt. Benji Baires, had 112 raises, 88 bites, 52 sailfish releases plus 5 marlin raises, 4 marlin bites, 2 marlin releases, and 9 mahi-mahi.
