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By Capt. Brad Philipps • August 17, 2020
With your tackle set, double-check that the fly is snugged tightly to the hooks. This keeps them ready for the strike and prevents the fly or hooks from flipping over on the shock tippet during the cast or when tossed in the water. Right-handed anglers typically cast from the port side; left-handers can adapt easily without switching the entire spread.
We place a wooden stopper in the covering-board rod holder with a looped cord to secure the rod butt, tip on the transom, so the rod lies perfectly in wait. The exact casting distance of line is loosely flaked on the aft deck corner, all snags cleared, and outriggers left up so nothing interferes with the backcast.
🎥 Watch: How to rig a swimming Spanish mackerel
Before the captain calls “Cast!”, glance down: make sure the line isn’t looped over the reel handle, the rod butt, or anything else. Hold the rod like a bat, ready to swing; with lighter drags, pinch the line between two fingers so no extra line spills off the reel.
A cut-down, heavy, thin-diameter shooting-head fly line helps turn over big flies and minimizes drag during a billfish’s run. Be acutely aware of apparent wind—it dictates your backcast and forward presentation.
When the moment comes, load the rod with a swift, deliberate backcast and a purposeful pause. Then deliver a forceful forward cast—this isn’t the time for a soft trout presentation. The incoming billfish is fired up from the teaser; make sure it knows your fly is there.
Ideally, the fly should land in the clear lane between the prop wash and the incoming teaser. As the fly splashes down, the teaser is ripped past and yanked from the water in one motion, triggering the eat. With crisp presentation and well-timed teamwork, the fish turns and eats—and it’s a sight you’ll never forget.
Ready to experience Guatemala’s legendary billfishing during our most sought-after window? Check live availability for our founder-hosted adventures aboard Decisive.
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Capt. Brad Philipps invites you to be part of the next chapter in our story — the Reinvention & 3-Year Arc of Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures. We’re kicking off the 2025–2026 Legacy Season with blue marlin, sailfish, and those unforgettable flat-calm Guatemalan seas. It’s more than fishing — it’s history in the making. Let’s go chase the dream together.
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USA : +1 (512) 535-1751 | WhatsApp Capt. Brad : +27 (71) 103-0030 | WhatsApp Cindy : +27 (60) 894 3401 Email : info@guatbilladv.com