About Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures I Guatemala & St. Helena

USA : +1 (512) 535-1751

GUATEMALAN BILLFISHING ADVENTURES

Adventure With Purpose.

More than 20 years of GBA in Guatemala. Now, a new chapter in St. Helena.

Two distinct fisheries. Two Decisives. One approach built around preparation, experienced people and making the most of every opportunity on the water.

Guatemala

The Established Experience

The GBA Standard

Prepared Properly

St. Helena

The New Marlin Chapter

THE ESTABLISHED GBA EXPERIENCE

Guatemala

SERIOUS BILLFISHING · PRIVATE HOSPITALITY

Three Days on the Water. The Classic GBA Trip.

Sailfish are the headline, with marlin also part of the fishery. Fish aboard Decisive, stay privately at Billfish Inn, and let GBA coordinate the experience from arrival to the coast.

3 Fishing Days Classic Package

Sailfish + Marlin Pacific Guatemala

GBA Crew Throughout the Season

Explore Guatemala

A NEW CHAPTER BY GBA

St. Helena

MARLIN · SOUTH ATLANTIC · EXPLORATION

Go Further. Stay Longer.

St. Helena is GBA's new marlin-focused chapter. Remote, deliberately limited and exploratory by design, these trips are built around a week or more on the island and the time needed to explore the fishery properly.

1 Week + Longer by Design

Marlin The Focus

Exploratory A New GBA Chapter

Discover St. Helena

THE GBA STANDARD

Prepared Properly.

Boats, tackle, crew and preparation all matter before the first fish appears. It is the approach that has shaped GBA in Guatemala and now carries forward into St. Helena.

Two destinations. Two Decisives. One standard.

The Fishing

GUATEMALA · PACIFIC COAST

Billfish Inn

Your private base on the Pacific.

PRIVATE FROM DOOR TO DOCK

Private Means Private.

After fishing, the day stays simple. Your group returns to Billfish Inn for comfortable rooms, the pool, meals and time together — without sharing the experience with another party.

Private Group

Private Rooms

Pool & Gazebo

Meals Handled

Discover Billfish Inn

ANTIGUA GUATEMALA

The Fishing Is Only One Chapter.

AFTER THE PACIFIC

A Different Side of Guatemala.

Extend the journey in Antigua — a historic city surrounded by volcanoes, architecture, restaurants and the slower rhythm that comes after several days offshore.

CASA PHILIPPS

Your Private Home in Antigua Guatemala.

Casa Philipps gives your group a private place to stay while exploring Antigua, with breakfast, transfers and local arrangements coordinated around your itinerary.

Private Rooms
Breakfast
Private Guide
Transfers

Discover Casa Philipps

From Pacific billfishing to Antigua Guatemala. One GBA journey.

ONE GBA

Different parts.
One experience.

The boat, the people, the Pacific base and Antigua Guatemala each have a role. The guest should experience them as one seamless trip.

Decisive

The fishing platform.

The 40-foot Gamefisherman at the centre of the GBA offshore experience.

GBA crew releasing a blue marlin alongside Decisive

Brad + Crew

Experience in action.

Preparation, coaching, boat handling and the systems behind the fishing.

Billfish Inn

The private Pacific base.

A place to arrive, eat well, recover from the day and begin again the following morning.

Casa Philipps

The Antigua chapter.

The natural second chapter for guests who want Guatemala to continue beyond the fishing.

THE NUMBERS

Built over time.

2005

GBA Established

Capt. Brad's Guatemala Seasons

40,000+

Billfish Released

Sailfish swimming underwater during release in Guatemala

GUATEMALAN BILLFISHING ADVENTURES

The bite may be unpredictable. The preparation should not be.

Serious fishing. Private hospitality.
Guatemala, properly done.

EXPLORE THE FISHING → VIEW AVAILABLE DATES → STORIES & MASTERCLASSES →

PROOF, NOT PROMISES

Built Over Time. Proven on the Water.

A GBA MILESTONE

40,000+

Billfish Released

Twenty years of GBA in Guatemala, thousands of days on the water, returning anglers and a release-first approach that has remained central to the program.

FEATURED IN

Marlin Anglers Journal Sport Fishing

THE FISHING

Two Fisheries. Different Game.

Guatemala and St. Helena offer very different billfishing experiences. The destination changes. The preparation does not.

GUATEMALA

Sailfish Lead the Way.

Fast-paced Pacific billfishing built around repeated opportunities, with blue marlin also part of the fishery.

The classic trip: 3 fishing days

ST. HELENA

Marlin Take the Focus.

A remote South Atlantic fishery approached with more time, more exploration and marlin at the centre of the trip.

The format: 1 week or more

Explore The Fishing

Decisive & The GBA Standard

The Boat Matters.
So Does What Happens Before the Bite.

Decisive — Guatemala sits at the center of the GBA fishing experience. Around it is a system built on preparation, crew development and years spent learning this fishery.

GBA crew and angler working together during a billfish release in Guatemala

The Fishing Platform

Decisive — Guatemala.

The 40' Gamefisherman is the working platform behind the GBA program. Boat, crew, tackle and technique come together around one objective: be prepared when the fish appears.

40' Gamefisherman

Private Your Fishing Group

Bait-and-Switch Core Technique

Fly Capable Prepared for the Opportunity

The Knowledge Behind the Program

Experience Stays in the System.

Capt. Brad Philipps is fishing his 25th season in Guatemala. His experience has helped shape the preparation, techniques and operating standards behind the GBA program.

Brad personally captains selected dates each season. Across the wider program, the crew carries forward the same approach to tackle, teaser work, boat readiness and guest experience.

Preparation Before the Bite

Technique Repeated Systems

Coaching Calm and Clear

Consistency Across the Program

Capt. Brad Philipps coaching an angler aboard Decisive in Guatemala

Preparation creates the opportunity.
People make it memorable.

The relationships built on the boat, with the crew and across returning groups are part of what GBA has become.

Meet the People of GBA ↓

THE PEOPLE OF GBA

The Fishing Brings People Here. The People Bring Them Back.

TWENTY YEARS OF GBA IN GUATEMALA

Returning anglers, familiar crews and personal hosting have shaped GBA for twenty years. The relationships are part of the experience.

Returning Anglers

Crew Continuity

Families & Friends

Personal Hosting

People return to places where they feel known.

Stories

Client Comments

Past Fishing Report

Open Dates


Client Testimonials

Eyes closed, one of the best bill-fishing experiences in this world we live in. Numbers don’t lie. And to top that of, the service from the staff at their lodge Billfish Inn -Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures!, exquisite food (those ribs, those tacos ohhh boy!!!) and great facilities 7 minutes from the marina, really second to none. An Outstanding operation...
I don't even know where to start with my praise and thanks for an amazing four days fishing aboard Decisive. I consider it an honor to fish with Brad Philipps. He and his crew of Kennedy and Johnny are quite simply the best in the world at what they do. The Decisive is the perfect boat for Guatemala. Our trip was filled with double....
I have been visiting Guatemala since 2004 and have , except for my first time, always fished with Brad and been hosted by Cindy. My first time fishing in Guatemala before I met Brad , was not a roaring success as in those days the options to stay in and around the port were not so numerous. All that changed when I started fishing with Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures....

Discover the Complete Guatemala Experience.

Download our Premium Fact Sheet to explore the GBA experience, or enquire about joining our selected travel advisor network.

Decisive, GBA's 40-foot Gamefisherman in Guatemala

GBA Premium Fact Sheet

Complimentary PDF • No Registration

Take a Closer Look at GBA.

A beautifully presented introduction to the Pacific billfish fishery, our 40-foot Gamefisherman Decisive, Capt. Brad Philipps, private stays at Billfish Inn, and Antigua at Casa Philipps. Save it, share it or plan your group around it.

Download Fact Sheet (PDF) ↓ View Online ↗

Open to everyone. Current package pricing and available fishing dates remain on the GBA website.

124

Sailfish Releases
on Conventional Tackle in a Day

Sailfish Releases on Fly Gear in a Day

IGFA Sailfish Releases on Fly Gear for a Single Angler
in a Day

A GLIMPSE OF GBA

On the Water. Beyond the Fishing.

View the Gallery →

THE FISHING • GOOD TO KNOW

When to Come. What to Expect.

The questions anglers ask most. A little local knowledge helps you choose the right trip — and make the most of your time offshore.

When is prime sailfish season in Guatemala?

Guatemala offers one of the longest sailfish seasons anywhere. October through May is an excellent window, with productive fishing often continuing into June. November–December and March–April are traditionally popular, but exceptional bites can happen throughout the season.

When is the best time to come fishing?

There is no single perfect month. October and November are among our favourites for combining sailfish and marlin opportunities. December through March is a popular time to visit, while late February through May often brings particularly calm seas. The best dates depend on what you want from your fishing.

Does the moon affect the fishing?

The moon influences tides, nighttime light and marine life, and can affect where baitfish and predators move. But there is no single moon phase that guarantees a better bite. We would rather plan around the season, available fishing days and prevailing conditions than promise results around a full or new moon.

When do we see more blue marlin?

Blue marlin can appear throughout the year, but our historical fishing experience points to late April through June and October–November as particularly good periods. October and November are especially attractive for anglers hoping to encounter both marlin and strong sailfish action. Marlin opportunities vary with bait, water conditions and seasonal movements.

How many days should we fish?

Our classic Guatemala experience is three full fishing days and four nights. Two-day trips are available, while four or more fishing days give anglers extra time to experience changing conditions and opportunities. For dedicated fly anglers or those particularly interested in marlin, additional days are worth considering.

Is the fishing and accommodation private?

Yes. Your group fishes privately aboard our 40-foot Decisive. On the Guatemala coast, Billfish Inn provides your private base with rooms, meals, pool and hospitality arranged around your group. We do not combine unrelated parties into the same villa booking.

Does Capt. Brad personally captain every trip?

Capt. Brad Philipps personally captains selected Guatemala departures, including his milestone 25th season. Outside his scheduled dates, the experienced GBA crew continues the program with the same emphasis on preparation, technique and guest experience. If fishing personally with Brad is important to you, choose his published dates.

Can we fish conventional tackle and fly?

Absolutely. Decisive is set up for conventional billfishing and fly fishing. Our crew is experienced in teaser work, pitch-baiting, fly presentations and catch-and-release techniques. Whether you are an experienced billfish angler or new to offshore fishing, the approach can be tailored to your group.

More Frequently Asked Questions → Explore Dates & Packages →


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Sponsors & Suporters

USA : +1 (512) 535-1751 | WhatsApp Capt. Brad : +27 (71) 103-0030 | WhatsApp Cindy : +27 (60) 894 3401 Email : info@guatbilladv.com

Adventure With Purpose.

Guatemala

Three Days on the Water. The Classic GBA Trip.

St. Helena

Go Further. Stay Longer.

Prepared Properly.

Billfish Inn

Private Means Private.

The Fishing Is Only One Chapter.

A Different Side of Guatemala.

Your Private Home in Antigua Guatemala.

Different parts. One experience.

Decisive

Brad + Crew

Billfish Inn

Casa Philipps

Built over time.

The bite may be unpredictable. The preparation should not be.

Built Over Time. Proven on the Water.

Two Fisheries. Different Game.

Sailfish Lead the Way.

Marlin Take the Focus.

The Boat Matters. So Does What Happens Before the Bite.

Decisive — Guatemala.

Experience Stays in the System.

The Fishing Brings People Here. The People Bring Them Back.

Stories

Client Comments

Past Fishing Report

Open Dates

Client Testimonials

Stay Close to the Fishing.

Take a Closer Look at GBA.

On the Water. Beyond the Fishing.

When to Come. What to Expect.

When is prime sailfish season in Guatemala?

When is the best time to come fishing?

Does the moon affect the fishing?

When do we see more blue marlin?

How many days should we fish?

Is the fishing and accommodation private?

Does Capt. Brad personally captain every trip?

Can we fish conventional tackle and fly?

Instagram Gallery

Sponsors & Suporters

Different parts.
One experience.

The Boat Matters.
So Does What Happens Before the Bite.