12,160 Billfish Released!
Thank you to all of our anglers who took part in releasing these billfish in 2023!
There’s only one place in the world with these kinds of numbers, and there’s only one place that can deliver them on this high-caliber fleet, with outstanding captains and mates at Casa Vieja Lodge!
The waters teemed with activity this past year, boasting a total of 19,840 overall billfish raises, 17,435 billfish bites, and 12,160 billfish released. Additionally, we doubled the amount of pelagics with 669 tuna and a whopping 5,041 dorado!
It’s crazy to think that we’ve been keeping track of our daily fishing stats for almost a decade and still are the only lodge to do so! Below are the past 7 years’ total Billfish Releases.
We’ve been getting more popular thanks to everyone who posts, reposts, tells their friends, and keeps coming back; and that equates to more fishing days!
Join us this year to add your numbers to the 2024 Billfish Report!
Total Billfish Released
2023: 12,160
2022: 12,484
2021: 11,391
2020: 5,668* *shut down for 8 months (Covid)
2019: 12,215
2018: 12,347
2017: 10,464
Please keep in mind that totals vary by the skill of the angler and the total amount of fishing days in the year.
2024 Events Roadmap
In 2024, amongst our own fishing tournaments and events, catch Casa Vieja Lodge at a number of your favorite conventions and trade shows!
First things first, we kick off the year at Dallas Safari Club in Texas, starting tomorrow Thursday the 11th! We’ll be at Booth 562 in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, our booth will be located in Hall C between Yeti and Yukon Outfitters. Come out and meet Capt David’s Aunt Karen and Uncle CK, as well as David’s better half, Kristen!
Join us at the end of January we’ll be at the Safari Club International in Nashville! Come out to the Music Center and find us at Booth 1260 Bond Street.
In February, you can find us at the Miami International Boat Show in Miami Beach. Stop by and say hi to us at Booth 6053 next to Capt. Harry’s in the Miami Beach Convention Center.
In March, meet us at the Palm Beach Boat Show! We’ll be at Booth 515 next to Hooker Electric Reels.
In the second half of 2024, we’ve got a full schedule of exciting tournaments and events happening at the lodge! If you can’t come out to see us at any of the above conventions, Kirsten and Christian in the Miami Office will be more than happy to get your prime dates booked, just give them a call at 305-854-4665, or email HERE.
Our 2024 shows & events:
- January 11-14, Dallas Safari Club, Booth 562
- January 31- Feb 3 Safari Club Int’l Booth 1260 Bond Street
- February 14-18 Miami International Boat Show Booth 6053
- March 21 -24 Palm Beach Boat Show Booth 515
- June 13 -17 (fish 14 -16) 2024 Trophy Husbands Invitational (Father’s Day weekend: 2 Boats left!)
- November 6 -10 (fish 7 -9) 2024 No Sancocho Sailfish Shootout
- November 20 -24 2024 Solo Anglers Week
Available Fishing Dates:
- April 30 & May 1: Makaira (37′)
- May 7 & 8: Pica Mas (48′)
- May 14 & 15: Finest Kind (40′)
- June 10-12: Chilero (38′) & Release (37′)
- June 18-21: Pica Mas (48′), Finest Kind (40′) & Chilero (38′)
- June 25-July 21: Pica Mas (48′) & Release (37′)
These are the available fishing dates, so any days of fishing during these dates will work. Your group will arrive the day before and depart the day after your fishing dates. Click the dates to book or call the Miami office (305) 854-4665.
Posted on January 10, 2024: Subject to have changed.
January Fishing Report
January has already seen some nonstop tight lines, and with numbers like this for the first couple of weeks in the new year, we are truly excited to see what the rest of 2024 brings!
The dorado kept consistent, while we saw great Sailfish and even some big Marlin numbers. So far in this year we’ve seen as many as 48 raises and 48 bites on a single boat, just in one day! Another one of our fleet had 6 Marlin raises in a single outing!
Below are a few fishing highlights (combination of conventional & fly):
- January 1st-2nd & 9th the Chilero (Islander)(38′ Warren O’Neal) with Capt. Nico Melendrez had 109 raises, 102 bites, 61 sailfish releases, plus 1 marlin raised, 22 mahi-mahi.
- January 1st-9th, Pica Más (48′ Whiticar)with Capt. Nicho Alvarenga, had 225 raises, 211 bites, 132 sailfish releases, 1 marlin raised, 1 marlin bite, and 26 mahi-mahi.
- January 1st-9th, the Makaira (37′ Rybovich) with Capt. Jeffrey Garcia, had 240 raises, 230 bites, 176 sailfish releases, plus 7 marlins raised, and 32 mahi-mahi.
- January 1st-9th,The Hooker (48′ G&S) with Capt. David Salazar had 221 raises, 209 bites, 167 sailfish releases, 4 marlin raises, 2 marlin bites and 1 marlin released, plus 3 tuna & 51 mahi-mahi.
- January 3rd-9th, the Finest Kind (40′ Whiticar)with Capt. Benji Bairez, had 142 raises, 85 bites, 60 sailfish releases plus 1 marlin raised, 1 marlin bite, & 52 mahi-mahi!
- January 4th-9th, the Rum Line (40′ Gamefisherman) with Capt. Terry Brennan, had 35 raises, 34 bites, 14 sailfish releases plus 1 marlin raised, 1 marlin bite, 1 marlin released & 12 mahi-mahi.
- January 5th-9th, the Release (37′ Merritt) with Capt. Sammy Baires, had 75 raises, 62 bites, 25 sailfish releases, plus 31 mahi-mahi!
- January 9th, the Afinity (39′ Billy Knowles) with Capt. Franz Hoffman, had 16 raises, 10 bites, 4 sailfish releases plus 1 marlin raised & 1 mahi-mahi!
