Over the past ten years the sailfishing in Guatemala has been established as the best in the world. This year the forty five anglers fishing in the Presidential Challenge of Guatemala presented by INGUAT proved that to be correct. Fishing aboard fifteen boats, these experienced light tackle anglers released 508 sailfish and six blue marlin on Berkley Big Game twenty pound test line. Eagle Claw non-offset circle hooks are the required hook for this event. The action was red hot from start to finish.
Our hosts for the tournament were Marina Pez Vela and Hotel Martita. Anglers flew into Guatemala City where they were greeted at the airport by representatives from INGUAT. The drive down from the City takes about one hour and forty five minutes. The road curves through the sugar cane fields which grow in the shadows of towering volcanoes. Marina Pez Vela is situated in Puerto Quetzal, the only major Guatemalan port on the Pacific coast of the country.
The 10th edition of the PCCA-Guatemala presented by INGUAT began on November 17th, with lines called in the water at 8:30am. Excitement was high, as anglers knew that the Lowrance Grand Champion Team and Eagle Claw Grand Champion angler honors would be decided over the next three days of competitive fishing. Fernando Aguilar and Craig Johnson called in fish at exactly 8:39am to start off the day's action. Mark Miller, fishing aboard Fernando's boat, Picapleitos, got off to a racing start shortly thereafter. Mark never looked back and went on to be our high point daily angler releasing eight sails. The action was steady all day long, with teams calling in double and triple releases. Mario Mercon, fishing for the Baptist International team, released the only blue marlin of the day. The 2005 Lowarance Grand Champion team of Lisa and Clint Everett and Scotty Bowers turned in nineteen releases to top the Day One Field. At the end of the day we had five anglers in the hunt for top angler honors. Mark Miller and Scotty Bowers had eight releases. James Cambridge, Davis Clapp and Jim Vaughn had seven releases.
The evening activities are always festive at Presidential Challenge tournaments. The first night 'Bacardi Bash' was hosted by Baptist Health International and Ms. Ivis Guerra, their representative from Miami. The second night 'Bacardi Bash' was combined with the now famous 'Marina Pez Vela Tequila Party'. Strolling mariachis provided music for the lively group. Some of the anglers illustrated their expertise at dancing to this entertaining music.
The second day of the tournament got off to a great start on a beautiful, calm and clear Guatemalan day. The fish were concentrated about thirty miles offshore so the fleet had a good run to get to the action. James Cambridge fishing aboard the Decisive released the first sail of the day shortly after lines were called in the water. The Capt. Hook team of Bryan O'Dell, Brad Graves and Howard Hunt took off like a canon at 8:54am and didn't stop all day. Capt. Ron Hamlin kept his anglers on fish all day to put them ahead of the pack. Right on their tail was team Priority who tied Capt. Hook on points and moved to first place on time. The Priority team of Jim McCord, Jim Vaughn and Hans Kaspersetz fished aboard Jim McCord's 36' outboard. This boat ran from Los Suenos, Costa Rica, to participate in the tournament. Fishing aboard the A-Fin-Ity, anglers Davis Clapp, Henry Riggs-Miller and Dan Pimental charged into third place with twenty eight releases.
Competition for the Lowrance Grand Champion Team shaped up to be a race between A-Fin-Ity and Priority. The Eagle Claw Grand Champion Angler title went down to the wire between 2005 champ Jim Vaughn and challenger Henry Riggs-Miller. It turned out to be a real shootout on Day Three.
The final day of competitive fishing in this tenth anniversary year started off with veteran angler Bill Easum releasing a sail at 8:35am aboard the Decisive with teammates Steve Cothron and James Cambridge. The morning action was slower than Day Two but the Captain Hook team and Priority kept up their momentum. By ten o'clock they were in a dead heat again. Jim Vaughn topped the day with his second blue marlin of the tournament to edge Priority to the win. A great job for a team fishing on a visiting boat and an outboard to boot.
Meanwhile the anglers were battling it out for the Baptist Health International crystal trophy. At the start of the day, Jim Vaughn was challenged by Scotty Bowers, Henry Riggs-Miller and Brad Graves. Jim Tuner and his team Release changed their strategy on the final day and only ran twelve miles offshore to find fish. This move proved wise as Jim proceeded to release ten sails and charged to the top of the pack by the two o'clock report. Jim Vaughn fought back with a blue marlin to overtake Turner for the lead. Out of nowhere came James Cambridge who climbed his way to second place by releasing four sails and a last minute blue marlin. Jim Vaughn held his point lead on time and became a two time Eagle Claw Grand Champion Angler.
This was a hard fought battle by all competitors. The excitement was incredible as the tournament lead changed with each fish called in. The scores were so close that time determined the winners in all divisions.
The closing fiesta was colorful and entertaining. 150 people attended the event at Hotel Martita and were entertained by music from a local marimba group. Daniel Mooney, Director of Tourism for Guatemala, thanked the international travelers for coming to his beautiful country to enjoy the finest sailfishing in the world.
