Prior to our visit to Lake Atitlan, I got it in my head that the lake held no gamefish, and certainly not bass — but after visiting I’m not so sure. There are signs of “lobina” all around.

If you’re headed to one of the great Mexican bass lakes like El Salto or Picachos, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be flying through Mazatlán. There’s also a pretty good chance you’ll want to bring some of your own fishing tackle. We provide links to the baggage policies of those carriers that currently have service into Mazatlán.

We made what might have seemed like an unlikely choice for our Lake Atitlan accommodations, but the vegetarian eco resort turned out to be the quiet and authentic scenario that we craved.

Our friends Carl and Lisa Vicars recently joined us for three days at Casa Vieja Lodge and they timed their visit perfectly – during a November period when the sailfish were close by and ravenous. Carl is a wizard with his 360 camera and always put together three short videos.

We had less than three full days to make the most out of our stopover at Lake Atitlan. We saw a lot, ate a lot, drank our share, and truly enjoyed the experience. Guatemala is an amazing country with a lot to offer and we intend to go back again and again and again.

Our November 2024 trip to Casa Vieja Lodge and Lake Atitlan was complicated but fairly uneventful. We hope that these notes will help others streamline their trips and avoid mistakes.

The sailfish are what bring us to Casa Vieja Lodge, but the food is every bit as much of a reason to visit. There’s a four-course dinner. For those of you who thrive on mealtimes, here’s what we had for dinner during our most recent stay.

Despite a weather system in the area, our fifth trip to Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala produced exceptional sailfish numbers. We released 66 over three fishing days.

We’ve now been to Grosse Savanne twice and it’s my sincere hope that we’ll be back many more times. Out of the marsh there rises a first-class lodge with superior fishing and hunting. Here are four additional reasons to make it the site of your next adventure.

Sometimes the key to success is NOT making a cast into the next time zone. You'll learn more lessons by targeting and fighting fish in close quarters.

Every trip to Casa Vieja Lodge is a world-class experience, but I have nine ways you can ensure that it’s beyond compare. Check out these little tips that make a big difference.

Some of you may be experienced offshore anglers, who know the drill, but if you’re a first-timer, it pays to slow things down. While the captains and mates are willing and talented teachers, if you wait until you’re actually out on the water and sailfish are in the spread, it’ll be too much chaos to maximize your enjoyment and success.

If you’re traveling to the Brazilian Amazon to chase peacock bass, you’re probably going through the city of Manaus. You’ll probably want to bring some of your own tackle, even if you’re using an outfitter like Anglers Inn that provides everything you need. If you want to make sure your luggage gets there and back, we’ve listed the relevant airlines’ policies.

I’m a complete convenience store fanatic and we appear to be living in the golden era of jerky, sandwiches and to-go cups of coffee. But Buc-ee’s turns up the fever to 11. I think it’s worth a slight deviation from the most direct route.

If you don't want to spend a day in Panama City, we can get you to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge via a charter flight on Elevair. It's remarkably efficient and not unreasonably priced.

We’ve chased peacock bass in Brazil multiple times. There exists a very real chance that future generations might not be able to enjoy similar adventures. Could the alleged troubles in Brazil in general and the Amazon in particular be a canary in the coal mine for other global fisheries?

Flying with fishing tackle tends to be a difficult process. TSA is inconsistent of their application of the rules, foreign countries may have different rules, the airlines may vary in what they allow, and the airlines’ reps may not know their own policies. Here are links to the major US-based carriers stated policies on fishing tackle in your luggage.

The overall flying experience for fishing travel isn’t necessarily getting easier, but occasionally there is some progress. While we’ve generally led the cheering for services like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, their paperwork requirements have sometimes been frustrating. That’s why it’s gratifying to see tech being employed to make them easier.

The best way to increase your chances of success at Lake El Salto or Picachos is to be an accurate caster — utilizing multiple arm angles to confidently place lures in hard-to-reach places.

If you're a serious bass nerd, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is the coolest night of the year. The 2024 version may have been the best one yet.