Fishing Team
The World’s Best Sailfishing Awaits. We’d Love to Show You .
The incredible sailfish and blue marlin fishery put Guatemala on the map. Captain Chris “Kiwi” van Leeuwen and Captain Jonathan “Jono” Nicholas were each among the first waves of international sportfishing captains to begin fishing this part of the world.
It is the international experience of our captains that makes Sailfish Oasis so unique. Captain Jono grew up fishing in Kenya. He’s run boats in Madeira, Spain, the Canary Islands--even Tanzania and India.
Captain Kiwi, who owns the lodge, grew up in New Zealand. He’s run boats in Europe, the Galapagos, and across Central America. Whether you’re after your first billfish or in search of your 200th blue marlin, this experience benefits all of those who fish with us.
Joining our captains are personable, professional mates—who bring a great deal of experience in conducting the cockpit. When it comes to teasing fish, teaching anglers the finer points of dropping back or presenting a fly, our fishing chemistry is a hallmark of the Sailfish Oasis experience.
Our Promise: What Makes Sailfish Oasis Different
Our captains have fished many of the world’s best billfish destinations. Our mates are experienced, dedicated, and professional.
This is our promise: Sailfish Oasis provides the complete Guatemala experience in a way that is boutique, curated, and makes you the star of the show.
As it relates to fishing, here’s what that means. This, in fact, is the foundation of our reputation.
01
We are prepared for everything that this incredible fishery has to offer.
There have been days when we’ve released 70 sailfish, raised nine blue marlin, or caught 200-pound yellowfin tuna. These incredible days don’t happen every trip, and we certainly can’t promise them when you come.
What we can promise is that we are prepared for them each and every time we leave the dock.
That means dozens of rigged ballyhoo in the cooler, many more in the freezer. This means a wide assortment of conventional tackle—sailfish pitch rods to 50-wides and rigged Spanish mackerel.
It means teasers ready to go. Bluewater fly gear and heavy spinning tackle.
Guatemala is a diverse and productive fishery. We are ready for all that it has to offer—every time we leave the dock.
02
We are here to curate YOUR experience.
We understand that different anglers desire different experiences. Whether you’re after your 200th blue marlin or are trying to catch your first sailfish, our crew is ready.
Some of our clients want to run the cockpit themselves—one teasing fish, another pitching, and hooking sailfish or blue marlin, taking turns leadering the fish before release. Others, especially those who experience offshore fishing for the first time, want the mates to hook the fish as they learn and take in the process.
Either of these approaches—or some combination—is great for us. We pride ourselves in creating the type of experience that YOU are after. This might sound straightforward and obvious, but if you fish enough places you’ll often see that it’s not as common as you might hope.
03
A day of fishing should be fun. Catching fish is just part of the equation.
When it comes to hooking fish off teasers or out of the riggers, sometimes you get them, sometimes you miss them. We love to catch fish but more than anything, we enjoy creating a fun environment on the boat.
No matter what happens, you’ll never have to worry about our captain or crew making things stressful. Fishing should be fun, especially in Guatemala.
Let’s have some fun together.
The Complete Guatemala Experience.
Delivered in a Way That Makes You the Star of the Show