Fishing guides › Pacific Central America
FISHING GUIDE · PACIFIC COAST, GUATEMALA
Guatemala Pacific (Puerto San José / Iztapa) Fishing Guide
The Pacific coast of Guatemala is one of the best places in the world to raise big numbers of sailfish, and it is a release-only fishery by law. Boats troll teasers and ballyhoo on circle hooks, usually 15 to 20 miles out, and also see blue and striped marlin, dorado and yellowfin tuna. The best numbers usually come from December through March, but sailfish are caught all year.
📍 Guatemala's southwest Pacific coast. Lodges sit in Puerto San José and Iztapa; boats run out of Puerto Quetzal, close to Puerto San José. Puerto San José is about a 90-minute drive from the international airport in Guatemala City.
Map: spots, ramps and marinas
★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)
Open the full Pacific Central America map →
Quick facts
- Guatemalan law (Decreto 80-2002, Art. 28) reserves sailfish for sport fishing and bans their capture in commercial fishing.
- Sport anglers may catch sailfish only to release them alive; sailfish caught by accident on commercial boats must also be released (Art. 80 j).
- For billfish, the fisheries regulation (Acuerdo Gubernativo 223-2005) allows only circle hooks.
- Capt. Ron Hamlin released 124 sailfish on March 11, 2006, a day Marlin magazine calls 'the best single day ever.'
- On March 1, 2026, the Casa Vieja Lodge fleet released 506 sailfish in one day, a lodge record.
What you can catch
- Pacific sailfish
The main target, caught all year; release only by law. - Blue marlin
Shows up several times a year; release only. - Striped marlin
Caught as a bonus while sailfishing; release only. - Black marlin
Caught at times along with blues and stripers. - Dorado (mahi-mahi)
Common offshore, often 20 to 40 lb. - Yellowfin tuna
Often found with spinner dolphins about 40 miles out; May is a good month. - Roosterfish
Found close to the docks. - Wahoo
Caught offshore in season.
Month by month
| January | Peak sailfish season (Dec-Mar); big daily release numbers. |
|---|---|
| February | Peak sailfish season; many of the biggest release days happen now. |
| March | Peak season; record days in March 2006 and March 2026. |
| April | Sailfish still good; prime booking season runs Oct-June. |
| May | Sailfish 80-100 lb common; good month for yellowfin tuna offshore. |
| June | End of the prime Oct-June season; sailfish still around. |
| July | Rainy season starts mid-July; fewer boats out. |
| August | Rainy season; sailfish are still caught year-round. |
| September | Rainy season through September. |
| October | Prime season starts again; larger sailfish (up to about 150 lb) usually show in the fall. |
| November | Fall run of bigger sailfish; good release numbers. |
| December | Start of peak season (Dec-Mar). |
Tips
- All billfish here are catch and release; do not plan on keeping a sailfish or marlin.
- Use circle hooks on bait for billfish; the regulation allows only circle hooks for Istiophoridae.
- Book a boat and lodge that hold the needed Guatemalan sport fishing license (licenses are issued to boats); ask your operator to confirm.
- Plan for a long day: boats often leave at 7 am and return by 4-5 pm.
- If you bring your own foreign-flag boat, you need a temporary sport fishing permit from UNIPESCA/MAGA and a navigation permit from the port captain.
Rules and license
MAGA (Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación) through DIPESCA / UNIPESCA · Official rules page ↗
- Sport fishing is authorized by license (Decreto 80-2002, Arts. 26 and 52); licenses are tied to the boat, and foreign boats need a permit instead.
- Sport fishing licenses run for 10 years (Art. 62 c). Fees are set in the law; check current rules with MAGA/DIPESCA.
- Sailfish are reserved for sport fishing; commercial capture and sale are banned (Arts. 28 and 80 j).
- Sport anglers must release sailfish alive (Art. 80 j); large pelagics may be trolled under catch-and-release (Reglamento 223-2005).
- Only circle hooks may be used for billfish, and multi-hook 'sercha' teaser rigs are banned (Reglamento 223-2005).
- Fines for breaking the sailfish rule run Q4,000 to Q8,000 per boat; fishing without a license brings larger fines and seizure of catch and gear.
- Tournament organizers must coordinate dates with UNIPESCA.
Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.
Boat ramps and marinas
The map above shows 3 boat ramps and 1 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.
- Automarina
Sources
- https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/gua38848.pdf
- https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/gua158966.pdf
- https://livinginguatemala.com/guides/sport-fishing-guatemala-licence-and-rules/
- https://fishcostarica.org/2024/03/guatemala-sets-the-gold-standard-in-sailfish-conservation-costa-rica-should-pay-attention/
- https://www.marlinmag.com/travel/guatemala-record-sailfish-fishery-2026/
- https://www.marlinmag.com/?p=41187
- https://saltwatersportsman.com/travel/world-class-sailfish-action-in-guatemala
- https://www.theflyshop.com/travel/saltwater/guatemala.html
- https://aardvarkmcleod.com/destination/guatelama-billfishing
- https://www.halfpastfirstcast.com/blog-travel/guatemala-sailfish-records
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.