Panamax Sailfishing, Escuintla Department, Guatemala

5lynn s 5:00 PM Feb 1, 2021

Fish with the best
Don't be afraid to travel, during these challenging travel times, the guides and business that are truly 5 star stand out, Panamax Sailfishing owner Tom Boice and his team are part of that rare breed of exceptional guides and hosts. A few days before our travel the US government changed the Covid requirements for all US citizens must have a negative Covid test prior to returning to the United States. Tom worked tirelessly to provide the easiest process to get our test, when the local Dr ran out of swabs and unable to provide the test, Tom personally drove us 2 hours (4 hours round trip) to Guatemala city to assure we had our tests completed in time and ready for return flight home. During our stay we were only near our group since we had the entire villa to our group reducing our risk of exposure. Similar to the other reviews on Trip Advisor, the fishing, food, and hospitality are all excellent, on a blue collar budget. For the budget minded person, not expecting to be pampered with a massive boat, huge lodge, and frills, Panamax is for you. Tom's boat the Que Vela is perfect for catching sailfish and plenty of room for up to four fisherman and the ability to maneuver more quickly then a bigger boat. We boated two separate doubles hookups and even a triple sailfish hookup with Tom and Victor working seamless together to keep our fish separated and all released safely. My arms were like noodles after catching many sailfish and dorado, and the prize for catching dorado is delicious dinners and the best fish sandwiches I have ever eaten. We booked for next year the day we left, and if you can make a trip this year suggest you contact Tom quickly, next years dates are already filling up quickly.

5brian b 5:00 PM Mar 12, 2022

Supersized Sails
Just returned from a fabulous trip to Guatemala, catching sailfish with Captain Tom and his mate, Victor. Tom knows where to go to find the fish, and Victor was a joy to watch and learn from, as he would maneuver the baits to hook us up, and then expertly release the fish. And these pacific sailfish are huge! One day saw us bring 11 sails to the boat. Throw in a couple 30lb dorados (mahi) and we had all the action we needed. After fishing, it was back to the "lodge", a nicely appointed vacation home in a safe, gated community on the coast. We had a few hours to lounge by the pool and cool off after a hot day of fishing offshore. There were always plenty of refreshments available. Meals were a treat, as Tom excels as well in the kitchen as he does on the boat. He incorporates fresh, local ingredients, including the mahi landed just hours earlier, or mangoes off the tree in the back yard. The beds are comfortable and there's plenty room. I highly recommend Panamax sailfishing. Guatemala is a fairly short trip from the states, and there were none of the hassles that can sometimes accompany international travel. We hope to make this an annual trip.