The sailfish in Guatemala run big, and Salt Water Sportsman got into the action during a May trip this year to Casa Vieja Lodge Photo by John Brownlee
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On the way to the lodge, we stopped off for lunch and a bit of sightseeing in the colonial town of Antigua Photo by Ben Holtzclaw
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Ruins of the former El Carmen church Photo by Ben Holtzclaw
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Antigua center square Photo by Nick Honachefsky
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“El Jefe” Editor in Chief John Brownlee picking out some tchotchka items to bring home Photo by Nick Honachefsky
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Antigua monastery ruins Photo by Ben Holtzclaw
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The SWS Crew eating lunch in Antigua Photo by Nick Honachefsky
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Evening ambiance at Casa Vieja Lodge Photo by Ben Holtzclaw
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Entrance to Marina Pez Vela – about a mile from Casa Vieja Photo by Ben Holtzclaw
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An impressive sportfishing fleet
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Prepping baits on the ride to the fishing grounds Photo by Ben Holtzclaw
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SWS Senior Editor Glenn Law field-tests the new SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger Photo by Ben Holtzclaw
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Naked ballyhoo rigged on circle hooks are the conventional bait of choice Photo by John Brownlee
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Captain Ron Hamlin’s boat, Captain HookPhoto by John Brownlee
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SWS publisher Dave Morel caught this sail on a pink and white Cam Sigler tube fly Photo by John Brownlee
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The mate aboard Rum Line places a tag from The Billfish Foundation in sail that’s about to be released Photo by John Brownlee
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The tagged sail swims off Photo by John Brownlee
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Poppy Brownlee with a Mother’s Day sail Photo by Glenn Law
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Keeping baits cool and ready for action Photo by Glenn Law
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Managing Editor Nick Honachefsky hooked up to a flyrod mahi
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Nice gaffer dorado taken on fly rod by Nick Honachefsky
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The fishing’s so good in Guatemala, even dead, filleted, and drifting mahi will pounce on Nick Honachefsky’s trolled plug!
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Ryan Swanson is all smiles releasing his first Pacific sailfish Photo by Nick Honachefsky
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Aerial dorado! Photo by Ben Holtzclaw
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Boat lunches consisted of super fresh, hour old mahi fillets, cole slaw, potato salad and lots of Guatemalan love Photo by Nick Honachefsky
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A beefy Pacific sail goes airborne Photo by Ben Holtzclaw
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Nick Honachefsky casts to dorado onboard the Makaira Photo by Ben Holtzclaw
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Smallest wahoo ever seen by the naked eye! Photo by Nick Honachefsky
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Ryan Swanson with a dinner table dorado Photo by Nick Honachefsky
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The one that got away… Photo by Ben Holtzclaw
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Everyone was getting in on the action Photo by Glenn Law
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Ben Holtzclaw with a sailfish just before the release Photo by Glenn Law
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Preparing to release a sail Photo by Glenn Law
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SWS publisher Scott Salyers and Navico’s Louis Chemi drop back for a double header Photo by John Brownlee
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Acrobatic Pacific sailfish always put on an aerial display Photo by John Brownlee
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SWS publisher Dave Morel and editor John Brownlee prepare to cast to sails Photo by Glenn Law
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John Brownlee fights a sailfish on fly Photo by Glenn Law
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On the Makaira, dorado were coming over the rails on trolled baits, poppers, and flies. One small floating stump held hundreds of 5 to 15 pounders Photo by Nick Honachefsky
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Mate Jeffrey of the Makaira got the job done releasing all the sails for the SWS crew Photo by Nick Honachefsky
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The welcoming comittee back at the lodge Photo by Ben Holtzclaw
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Enjoying a dip in the pool after a long day in the tropical heat Photo by Glenn Law
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The whole crew about to enjoy another great dinner Photo by Glenn Law
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John Brownlee, Poppy Brownlee, Glenn Law, Dave Morel Photo by Scott Salyers
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Louis Chemi with Capt. Ron Hamlin Photo by Scott Salyers
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Al Perkinson Photo by Scott Salyers
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Ryan Swanson and Ben Holtzclaw Photo by Glenn Law
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Nick Honachefsky Photo by Scott Salyers
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John Brownlee and Wylie Nagler Photo by Scott Salyers