Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures

What does a trip to Guatemala with us REALLY look like? 🇬🇹🎣

We talk a lot about the fishing. After 40,000+ billfish releases, there’s plenty to talk about.

But the fishing is only part of the story.

From the moment you land in Guatemala, to the hospitality, the Pacific Coast, stepping aboard Decisive and spending unforgettable days on the water, our latest newsletter takes you through the whole GBA experience.

And we’re introducing something new:

ASK CAPT. BRAD 🎣

This month Brad answers:
Does the full moon affect the fishing in Guatemala? 🌕

Have a question you’ve always wanted to ask Capt. Brad? Send it to us. We’ll choose one to answer in each newsletter.

👇 Read the full newsletter here:

http://eepurl.com/olYzDiaMUE

25 Seasons. 40,000+ billfish released. Thousands of stories.

Your Guatemala Billfishing Adventure Starts Here What does a trip with GBA really look like? From airport arrival to your private lodge and three unforgettable days aboard “Decisive”, here’s how the adventure unfolds. Plus, Ask Capt. Brad answers your questions. ...

Some photos say everything. 🎣🇬🇹

That smile. That sail. And another unforgettable moment alongside Decisive.

After 25 seasons, we’ve seen thousands of billfish come alongside the boat and the excitement never changes.

It’s why anglers travel from around the world to fish Guatemala’s Pacific waters, and why so many return year after year.

Great fishing. Great people. Memories that last a lifetime.

This is Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures.

25 Seasons. 40,000+ billfish released. And the story continues.

There’s catching a sailfish… and then there’s catching one on fly. 🎣

This is one of those photographs from the GBA archives that takes us straight back to the action with Mo Smith.

A Pacific sailfish alongside Decisive.
Fly rod still in hand.
And a smile that says everything.

For more than 20 years, some of the world’s most passionate fly anglers have travelled to Guatemala for the opportunity to experience this incredible fishery.

The tease.
The cast.
The take.
And then that spectacular sail lighting up beside the boat.

This is Guatemala on fly. 🇬🇹

And after 25 seasons, it still never gets old.

25 Seasons. Thousands of Stories.

The Complete Experience

Three years in the making. 🇬🇹🎣

The Janda family travelled all the way from Ohio for an adventure they had been waiting three years to experience.

And when they finally arrived, they didn’t just come fishing.

Their six-night journey began at Casa Philipps in Antigua Guatemala, exploring the old city and taking on a volcano hike before heading to the Pacific coast and Billfish Inn.

Then it was time to step aboard Decisive with Capt. Brad.

Three days on the water produced 25 sailfish releases, with plenty of dorado joining the action.

But looking back at these photographs today, the numbers are only part of what we remember.

It’s a family experiencing Guatemala together.

The fishing.
The adventure.
Antigua Guatemala.
The volcano.
The food.
The Anniversaries.
The hospitality.
And the memories in between.

This is what a trip with Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures really looks like.

Come for the fishing.
Discover Guatemala. Leave with a story.

25 Seasons. Thousands of Stories.

His & hers, Guatemala style. 😂🎣

Sailfish and marlin might get most of the attention around here, but when the dorado and tuna show up, there’s plenty more fun to be had aboard Decisive.

Who caught the better fish? We’ll let you decide. 😉

A final trip. A fly rod. And a friendship we will never forget. ❤️🎣

As we look back through 25 seasons of Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures, some memories stop us in our tracks.

This is our dear friend Mike Coe.

Mike was one of the oldest anglers to fish with us, and a passionate fly fisherman. We believe this photograph was taken during what would become his final billfishing trip with us aboard Decisive.

Then, in November 2018, Mike wrote to me (Cindy Philipps)

He was approaching his 90th birthday and had made the difficult decision that the long journey to Guatemala and the physical demands of fishing were simply becoming too much.

He wrote:

“I’m truly grateful to you and Brad for so many memorable fishing adventures out on the Decisive. You people are the best!”

It’s now 2026, and finding his message again reminds us just how much these 25 seasons have given us.

Yes, we remember the sailfish.

We remember the fly rod.

We remember the great days aboard Decisive.

But most of all, we remember Mike.

That’s what more than 20 years of this business has ultimately become for Brad and me, a collection of extraordinary people who arrived as anglers and became part of our lives.

Mike, you will forever have a place in the GBA story.

Nearly 90. Fly rod in hand. Still chasing sailfish.

What a way to be remembered. ❤️

— Brad Philipps & Cindy

25 Seasons. Thousands of Stories.

Another great memory from the GBA archives…

The Simonis and Bruijinooge families travelled all the way from Holland to spend six days with us in Guatemala.

These weren’t first-time anglers. They had fished destinations around the world, which made their reaction to Guatemala particularly special to us.

They loved the quality of the fishery, the boat, our accommodation and service but some of our favourite memories came after the fishing, when our staff at Casa Philipps hosted the families in Antigua Guatemala and they had the opportunity to discover another side of the country.

Twenty years of GBA has taught us that the very best trips aren’t built around fishing alone.

You come to Guatemala for the billfish. You leave remembering the people, the places and everything in between. 🇬🇹

— Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures

From the GBA archives: when an old friend says it best.

We finished February with our longtime friends Denny Doyle and Ed Burr, who joined us for four exceptional days on Guatemala’s Pacific.

And they certainly finished on a high.

Their final day produced 42 sailfish releases, fishing both conventional and fly tackle.

For the four-day trip: 86 releases from 105 opportunities.

Afterwards, Denny sent us this message from Jacksonville:

“Yesterday was an epic day. We were 41/49 on Pacific sailfish. 2 on fly rod, one on spin, the rest conventional. Flat calm seas. For the trip we were 86/105. You may want to think about 2016. All the best. Tight lines.”

Those were Denny’s words then.

Looking back today, they capture exactly why so many anglers have returned to Guatemala with us year after year.

Extraordinary fishing. Flat seas. Old friends. And days you never forget.

Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures 🇬🇹
www.guatbilladv.com

Another one from the GBA archives…

Years ago, Petr Khotin and Alexandra travelled all the way from Russia to experience Guatemala with us.

Their time on the water included a beautiful blue marlin, a remarkable 40 sailfish releases in a single day, another two days with more than 30 releases, plus some big dorado and tuna.

Their journey also took them from Guatemala’s Pacific coast to Antigua Guatemala, The Old City, and Casa Philipps, giving them the opportunity to discover some of the culture, history and hospitality that make this country so special.

Looking back through these photographs reminds us how many extraordinary people have travelled from every corner of the world to fish with us over the past 20+ years.

The fishing brought many of you here.

Guatemala gave you another reason to remember the journey. 🇬🇹

— Capt. Brad & Cindy
Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures
www.guatbilladv.com