Guatemala boasts some of the world’s most consistently flat seas - often as far out as 50 miles it can be calm and almost like a lake. Observing the geography of the coastline, you can see how the waters form a large protected bowl with Mexico at the top and Panama at the bottom. This combined with the protection offered from the prevailing winds by the highlands and the ridge of volcanoes means that the coast and coastal waters are almost wind free on a year round basis, with late February through May almost guaranteeing flat seas.
During the dry season - and the height of the sailfishing season of November - May, it is highly unusual to see any problems with weather impacting the sportfishing fleet’s ability to leave the dock. Even during the wet season, the weather offshore can vary significantly to the coastal weather - but there is certainly a greater propensity for weather delays or to be “blown out” in the Summer months.
Remember however that just when the wind is providing some cooling effects while fishing - this is no time to relax the regimen of high factor sun protection……….this is a must when fishing offshore all year round in Guatemala, along with high quality sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat for screening your head.
Some progress in Costa Rica for Sportfishing for Sailfish
Thursday, June 11th, 2009Whatever happens to support fishing for sailfish in Costa Rica naturally has implications for sailfishing in Guatemala - so we keep a close ear to any glimmer of hope for progress that supports the industry and as a consequence fishing for pelagic fish such as sailfish and Blue Marlin in Guatemala.There continues to be some progress, albeit slow with regards to legislation - or at least some agreed objectives to support and promote sportfishing in Costa Rica - and therefore as a byproduct support of sportfishing up and down the Central American Pacific coast.
Latest progress - as recent as last week - was that officials from local and national fishing organizations and conservation groups met in the town hall in Puerto Jimenez to format a plan that would make the area a “marine area of responsible fishing” (AMPR). If the plan goes forward, in two-and-a-half-years it would eliminate shrimp trawlers from the area and the main focus would be conducting biological studies and teaching gillnet fishermen how to use sustainable fishing practices.
The trawlers, gill nets and longlines collectively pose the greatest threat to the ecosystem that supports and promotes the pelagic fishery - so we regard this (or any similar !) as a step in the right direction.
The Costa Rican Federation for Fishing Tourism (FECOPT) officials presented the outline of a plan to some of the directors of the National Fisheries Institute (INCOPESCA) and members of the National Artisanal Fishing Federation. And all seemed to have one goal, removing fishing nets from the gulf.
Now for the longlines…………
Thankfully our fishing remains strong - read our latest fishing report here :
http://www.greatsailfishing.com/en/weeklyfishing.htm
Tags: blue marlin, costa rica fishing, costa rica sailfishing, fishing guatemala, incopesca, sailfish, The Billfish Fooundation
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