A Lil’ Poco Loco History
When it comes to custom sportfishing pedigree, rare hulls hold such a notorious place in billfishing history as our Poco Loco!
Originally built as the Empty Nest in 1989 in Brevard County, Florida, this 44-foot beauty is the very first of only four hulls ever produced by builders John Kincheloe and Bob Nickerson. She’s the “older sister” to another famous Kincheloe-Nickerson that goes by the name of Sharky’s Revenge, if that rings any bells to you…
Engineered during the golden era of Florida boatbuilding, the Poco Loco was built to slice through heavy seas while maintaining whisper-quiet underwater acoustics, making it perfect for drawing fish straight to the teasers.
Her reputation as a premier fish-raiser earned her notoriety long before she flew the Casa Vieja flag. With low gunwales, an expansive cockpit, and a raised bridge deck (for perfect 360-degree views of the spread) she’s a dream for light-tackle enthusiasts and fly-fishing record chasers.
The Poco Loco officially joined the Casa Vieja Lodge roster in January 2018 as our second-largest vessel and the sixth classic wood hull in the fleet. Following a total top-to-bottom overhaul that concluded with her grand re-debut in late 2023, she pairs a pristine, climate-controlled express cabin with unmatched modern performance.
Whether you’re looking to watch a massive blue marlin crash a pitch bait from the comfort the cockpit or want to experience the smooth ride of a classic cold-molded legend, the Poco Loco is fully primed and waiting for you.
Drop us a line today to lock in your next adventure aboard this custom masterpiece. The fish are waiting, and the Poco Loco is ready to ride!
Fall Fun Ahead, Anglers!
With August coming to a close, Autumn on the Pacific is officially upon us, and while the heat of summer is cooling down, the billfish action is only getting started…
If you’re sitting at home feeling a heavy dose of FOMO watching us gear up for iconic our fall staples like No Sancocho and the IWFA Annual Billfish Tournament, take this as your official sign not to let the next season pass you by. Dates for 2027 are already filling up fast, so if you want a seat at the table for next year’s premier showdowns, now is the time to lock in your boat.
Fortunately, there is still time to grab a piece of the action this season. If your regular crew’s schedules aren’t aligning—our Solo Anglers Week was built specifically for you. It’s the ultimate setup for anglers looking to jump on a premier boat, share charter costs, and trade stories with a crew of like-minded billfish enthusiasts.
And if you’re looking to redefine your holiday tradition, skip the kitchen chaos, the frantic grocery runs, and the mountains of dishwashing for a proper Thanksgiving at the Lodge. Bring your family or your favorite fishing buddies and let us handle everything from the five-star feast to the poolside cocktails. The only thing better than a prime turkey dinner with all the trimmings is trading the hassle of preparing it for some epic billfish bites during the day.
Whether you’re jumping in on this fall’s open dates or securing your spots on the 2027 calendar, our fleet is waiting. Call the office directly to lock in your dates: 305-854-4665 or click HERE!
BIG EXCITING NEWS!
For the first time in 5 years, we have availability for our No Sancocho Sailfish Shootout!!!
You read that right, 2 boats have just popped up for our notoriously sold out flagship tournament, our 12th annual 2026 No Sancocho!
These spots are very limited and are gonna go FAST. This is a big one anglers! You do not want to miss out on this opportunity to partake in our favorite week of the year!
Grab your team, your silly fishing ‘fits, and meet us in Guatemala this November 5th-7th!
Call (305) 854-4665 or email our office ASAP to snag your boat before another team gets to it first!!
August Fishing Report
August! What a way to close out these 2026 summer months. Clear skies, calm seas, and active warm-water currents made a perfect month for some good offshore action.
Overall this month we saw 109 sailfish raises, 99 sailfish bites, and 69 sailfish releases! PLUS 4 marlin raises, 4 marlin bites, and 3 marlin releases! Chilero even saw 17 sailfish releases in one day, bravo.
If you’d like to see these incredible numbers for yourself, check out the seriously cool Fishing Counter on our homepage! There you’ll see our total Billfishing Release numbers for 2026, plus the last several years as well!
Below are our fishing highlights (combination of conventional & fly):
- August 3rd-9th & 21st-23rd, Poco Loco (47′ Nickerson) with Capt. Benji Bairez, had 25 raises, 21 bites & 15 sailfish releases, 3 marlin raised, 3 marlin bite, 2 marlin released, plus 2 tuna & 3 mahi-mahi!
- August 6th-15th, Chilero (38′ Warren O’Neal) with Capt. Nico Melendrez had 38 sailfish raises, 35 sailfish bites & 23 sailfish releases plus 6 tuna & 2 mahi-mahi!
- August 6th-15th, Makaira (37′ Rybovich) with Capt. Jeffrey Garcia, had 45 raises, 42 bites, 30 sailfish releases, 1 marlin raised, 1 marlin bite, 1 marlin released plus 4 tuna & 8 mahi-mahi!
- August 10th, Finest Kind (40′ Whiticar) with Capt. Benji Bairez, had 1 sailfish raised, 1 sailfish bite, 1 sailfish release, & 7 mahi-mahi!
