Inshore fishing in Guatemala for Roosterfish and other species is often overlooked in favour of the famous bluewater fishing for pacific sailfish and blue marlin.
The waters offshore are almost always calm and tranquil during the billfishing season of October through May, but as the rainy season comes in, the weather offshore can become unpredictable, and so is an ideal time instead to consider some of the great fishing to be found within a couple of miles of shore.
Within six miles of the Pez Vela marina there are three inlets that offer strong current flow and turbulent water that stirs up nutrients and starts the food chain that eventually ends with large predatory fish sought by anglers and especially fly fishing anglers.
Inshore waters offer the prospect of the much sought after Roosterfish.
Although the immediate coastline does not provide ideal conditions for fishing for these gamefish, they can be found usually trolling around areas of strong current within a few miles of the Pez Vela marina.
Typically Roosterfish are pursued with either livebait or soft imitations cast around hard structure or rock formations.
As we don't have any significant outcroppings or high reef for bait to concentrate close to shore, we resort to trolling either ballyhoo or rapala lures and aim to cover more ground.
This results in lower reported catch rates than other locales - but the Roosters are around, and can be caught - it does offer a less expensive option for a charter day or "rest day" (or half day), with a chance of bagging another trophy.
Like other jacks, these are mostly sportfish and not for the table.
An alternative means to fish the inshore waters is to follow the shrimp boats.
Typically there are four or five shrimpers working within a few miles of the harbor, and the local captains will be happy to contact them to find out when they are lifting their nets - as when they do this, the nets are always followed by large schools of competitive and aggressive fish - predominantly amberjacks.
It can be close quarters fishing as the fish are feeding right behind the stern of the shrimp boat and present an easy target for a fly.
The water immediately behind the boat frequently boils as hungry jacks and others slice and dart into the buffet of small fish that has been presented to them.
If you are looking for nonstop fishing action either on conventional or the fly - that will leave you with a very sore arm at the end of the day - then this can be a cheap extra days fishing or a break from the offshore bluewater.
Inshore fishing for either roosterfish or jacks is often done from pangas or small open fishermen/centre console boats that are less capable of making the run offshore in search of the larger pelagic fish.
The waters offshore are almost always calm and tranquil during the billfishing season of October through May, but as the rainy season comes in, the weather offshore can become unpredictable, and so is an ideal time instead to consider some of the great fishing to be found within a couple of miles of shore.
Within six miles of the Pez Vela marina there are three inlets that offer strong current flow and turbulent water that stirs up nutrients and starts the food chain that eventually ends with large predatory fish sought by anglers and especially fly fishing anglers.
Inshore waters offer the prospect of the much sought after Roosterfish.
Although the immediate coastline does not provide ideal conditions for fishing for these gamefish, they can be found usually trolling around areas of strong current within a few miles of the Pez Vela marina.
Typically Roosterfish are pursued with either livebait or soft imitations cast around hard structure or rock formations.
As we don't have any significant outcroppings or high reef for bait to concentrate close to shore, we resort to trolling either ballyhoo or rapala lures and aim to cover more ground.
This results in lower reported catch rates than other locales - but the Roosters are around, and can be caught - it does offer a less expensive option for a charter day or "rest day" (or half day), with a chance of bagging another trophy.
Like other jacks, these are mostly sportfish and not for the table.
An alternative means to fish the inshore waters is to follow the shrimp boats.
Typically there are four or five shrimpers working within a few miles of the harbor, and the local captains will be happy to contact them to find out when they are lifting their nets - as when they do this, the nets are always followed by large schools of competitive and aggressive fish - predominantly amberjacks.
It can be close quarters fishing as the fish are feeding right behind the stern of the shrimp boat and present an easy target for a fly.
The water immediately behind the boat frequently boils as hungry jacks and others slice and dart into the buffet of small fish that has been presented to them.
If you are looking for nonstop fishing action either on conventional or the fly - that will leave you with a very sore arm at the end of the day - then this can be a cheap extra days fishing or a break from the offshore bluewater.
Inshore fishing for either roosterfish or jacks is often done from pangas or small open fishermen/centre console boats that are less capable of making the run offshore in search of the larger pelagic fish.
SHARE
