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The Experience

Everything's handled. You just fish.

The fishing, the boats, the lodge, and the crew. One all-inclusive stay on Guatemala's Pacific coast.

The fishing

Offshore, where the sailfish stack up.

Guatemala's Pacific pushes bait and billfish close to shore. The bite stays consistent, and it's why the same anglers return season after season.

Light tackle, and all billfish released.

A fly-caught sailfish held boatside off Guatemala's Pacific coast

Departure

Coffee at the lodge, a short run to the dock, lines in not long after sunrise.

The bite

Work the spread for sailfish and marlin where the blue water sets up, often double-digit shots a day in season.

The release

Light-tackle, catch-and-release by default. Photos, a clean release, and back on the troll.

The fleet

Proven boats, rigged for billfish.

A fleet built for this water. Same fishability across the boats, so your group can spread out and stay on the fish together.

The Big Buoys boat Typhoon, a 31-foot Bertram, at the dock in Puerto San José, Guatemala

Typhoon

A proven 31′ Bertram rigged for billfish; the regulars ask for her by name.

Length
31′
Hull
Bertram
Engines
Cummins
The Big Buoys boat Sur-Reel, a 31-foot Bertram, at the dock in Puerto San José, Guatemala

Sur-Reel

Same proven 31′ Bertram platform, so a group can spread out and stay on the fish together.

Length
31′
Hull
Bertram
Engines
Yanmar power package
A Big Buoys sportfishing Bertram at the dock, Puerto San José, Guatemala

Mojo

A 35′ Carolina Custom with more deck, more range, and a smooth ride for longer days offshore.

Length
35′
Hull
Carolina Custom
Engines
Yanmar power package
A Big Buoys 31-foot Bertram docked at the marina in Puerto San José, Guatemala
Anglers with a sailfish off the stern of Sur-Reel, The Big Buoys, Guatemala

The lodge

A luxury villa for your group.

Chef-prepared meals, a pool, and transfers. Everything handled, minutes from the boats.

The Big Buoys villa with its pool and thatched palapa in Puerto San José, Guatemala
  • Villa lodging
  • Pool
  • Chef-prepared meals
  • Air conditioning
  • Open-air common areas
  • Airport transfers included
An air-conditioned guest room in the Big Buoys villa, Puerto San José, Guatemala
Guests sharing a chef-prepared meal at the long dining table in the Big Buoys villa, Guatemala
Poolside patio at the Big Buoys villa on Guatemala's Pacific coast

The crew

The people guests come back for.

Experienced crew on the water and at the lodge. The difference between a good trip and one you book again before you fly home.

Capt. Josué "Coco" Hernández

Lead Captain

Runs the lead boat and reads this water like nobody else.

Capt. Kennedy Hernández

Captain

A captain who keeps the crews on the fish across the fleet.

Vitello "Pedro" Corado

Lead Mate

Lightning-fast in the cockpit; the reason leaders come tight.

A member of the Big Buoys crew, Josué Hernández, Puerto San José, Guatemala

Josué Hernández Jr.

Mate

Next generation on deck, already a fixture of the crew.

Aleida, Big Buoys lodge team, Puerto San José, Guatemala

Aleida

Lodge Team

Keeps the villa running and every guest looked after.

Chata, chef and lodge team at the Big Buoys villa, Guatemala

Chata

Chef / Lodge Team

The kitchen the repeat guests rave about.

Glendy, Big Buoys lodge team, guest point of contact, Guatemala

Glendy

Lodge Team

Your point of contact on the ground, start to finish.

The place

Puerto San José, on Guatemala's Pacific coast.

A short hop from Guatemala City to the most consistent billfishery in the world. We handle the transfer both ways.

  1. 1

    Fly into GUA

    Most guests route through Guatemala City (La Aurora Intl).

  2. 2

    We meet you

    Airport transfer to the lodge in Puerto San José. Included.

  3. 3

    You're on the coast

    About a 1.5 to 2 hour drive to the Pacific coast.

Colonia San Marino, Puerto San José, Guatemala
Illustrated map of Guatemala showing The Big Buoys lodge in Puerto San José on the Pacific coast, with the airport-transfer route from Guatemala City (La Aurora / GUA).

Your dates fill fast in season.

Tell us when you want to fish. We'll do the rest.