The Ultimate TRIP OF A

Enter the RFA's Ultimate TRIP OF A LIFETIME SWEEPSTAKES

The winner and a guest will fish the world’s most prolific billfish waters with one of the top captains and crews on the planet, and will stay at an exclusive boutique lodge on the beautiful Pacific coast of Guatemala.

The staff at the RFA is excited to put up for grabs what is truly the finest Trip of a Lifetime prize we've ever offered. Courtesy of Captain Mike Sheeder of Intensity Sportfishing and Herb Rosell who represents Sailfish Oasis Lodge we will be giving away a trip for two to experience Guatemala bluewater fishing at its finest.

To Enter Here's how it works. In December, just in time for Christmas, one winning ticket will be drawn at random and the winner and a guest will receive a trip to Sailfish Oasis Lodge that includes fournights stay and three days of fishing aboard the Intensitywith Capt. Mike Sheeder and his crew. It will cover private transportation to and from San Jose airport to the lodge, all deluxe gourmet meals and, a private bungalow and use of all facilities. The winner will also receive a travel voucher for $1000 towards airfare to Guatemala for a total prize value in excess of $15,000. The winner will arrange travel dates directly with the

Herb Rosell, the US representative of Intensity Sportfishing and Sailfish Oasis Lodge. If the winner would like to add additional fishing days, side trips to experience more of Guatemala or bring additional guests, arrangements can be made at that time and will incur appropriate charges. RFA members will automatically receive five tickets at the discounted price of $100 in the mail. The single ticket price is $25. Follow the instructions to activate your tickets. The mailing will take place in early April 2020. You can request additional tickets online at the RFA store (www.joinrfa.org) or by calling the RFA headquarters at 888-JOIN-RFA and requesting them. Not a member? Join and your first ticket will be included as part of your $35 annual membership dues. Sign up for 3 years for $90 and receive three tickets with your membership. Additional tickets are available to all new members at the time of joining or by calling. The Boat & Crew You’ll be fishing the sailfish mecca of the world, Guatemala’s Pacific Coast. Located along the Central American “billfish highway,” this is where sails along with striped, blue and black marlin, tuna and dorado cruise amongst underwater mountain ranges located less than 10 miles from the dock. You’ll be fishing on the most famous billfish boat in Central America with more releases made from it’s deck than any other—the aptly named Intensity. You’ll fish with Captain Mike Sheeder, one of the top producing billfish captains of all times along with his crew of highly skilled mates who consistently rate at or near the top of the IGFA Billfish Release leaderboard every year. “For more than 20 years the Intensityhas been offering fly and conventional angling clients the finest billfishing in the world,” says Sheeder. “We consistently receive the highest recommendations and reviews from both novice and experienced anglers. We can’t wait to invite you to step aboard and begin your own fishing adventure. Make your fishing dreams a reality.

Pacific sailfish are insanely abundant in Guatemala. They frequently top 100-pounds are there is always the chance of having blue or striped marlin attacking the spread.

The Lodging Welcome to the Sailfish Oasis Lodge where sunsets are celebrated every afternoon with refreshing drinks. Located in a secure residential community only five minutes from the marina and a 90- minute drive from Guatemala City, Sailfish Oasis offers relaxing accommodations in a lush tropical setting. You’ll stay in a beautiful private bungalow done in local hardwoods and deco

Relax by the pool with one of the lodge's signature rum coolers after your days on the water.

rated with local textiles and furnishings. Each bungalow is equipped with air-conditioning, comfortable beds and a private bath with plenty of hot water. Anglers and their guests are welcome to disconnect from the rest of the world in the lodge’s resort swimming pool surrounded by manicured lawns and flowering plants or to reconnect with friends and office via complementary WiFi service. Come dinnertime, you will gather around our private bar serving our signature cocktail “Canaso” or the libation of your choice. You can enjoy a selection of hors d’oeuvres while swapping tales of your day’s fishing in the open-air rancho style dining room. Dinners are a multi-course affair celebrating the finest in Guatemalan cuisine featuring fresh locally sourced organic ingredients. Sailfish Oasis prides itself in ocean-to-table dining. Signature dishes like dorado ceviche, giant prawns marinated in a ginger and sweet chili sauce, pan-fried dorado topped with toasted Sailfish Oasis Lodge is located in a private, gated community minutes from where the Intensity docks.

The Fishing

Sailfishing off Guatemala is phenomenal, the best found anywhere in the world! Ah, but so is the fishing for mahi, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and marlin. Catching 15 out of 25 sailfish bites plus scores of dorado and tuna is a routine day here. And when the waters are teaming with bait, as is usually the case, the catch rate can climb to three or more times that number. Guatemala holds the single day record of 124 sails released on conventional tackle and 57 on fly. No other fishing destination approaches the billfish numbers found off Guatemala. The reason for this amazingly consistent productivity has to do with the submarine mountains found just offshore. The bottom structure and the ocean currents that interact with it feed oxygenated water or upwellings to the surface. Currents moving east from Mexico and west from Panama collide off Guatemala, creating enormous nutrient-rich eddies that attract and hold baitfish, which in turn attracts gamefish. Everywhere you look there is marine life. Not just sailfish, but whales, spinner dolphin, sea turtles and diving marine birds. Best of all, about 75 percent of the time this marine show happens in flat seas. Calm conditions that make Guatemala the ideal spot for first time fly fishermen wanting to catch billfish or new-to-offshore fishing families seeking an introduction to the sport. In short, anyone who doesn’t like rough sea conditions will find the ocean off the Port of San Jose a pleasure. Sailfish, blue and black and striped marlin, wahoo, tunas and dorado are caught yearround. However, the peak billfish season is OctoEach bungalow is beautifully decorated with private bath, air conditioning and Wi-Fi. A blue marlin is always in the picture or you can plan your trip when they are in abundance.

Dolphin and yellowfin tuna are caught year-round along with the legendary billfishing and often find their way onto the dinner table as ceviche, sushi or cooked to your liking for dinner.

ber through June. The summer months are tops for dorado and inshore species such as roosterfish, Cubera snapper and grouper on light tackle. Guatemala offers the finest saltwater sportfishing in the world and the Intensityhas consistently been the top boat. Conservation Guatemala is a leader in billfish conservation, which has played a big part in making this area a favorite destination for offshore fishing enthusiasts the world over. Guatemala was the first country to embrace and enact laws requiring the mandatory use of baited circle hooks in its offshore fishery. It also has a strict no kill billfish policy. Because of these policies, it has been able to sustain its reputation for the most sailfish releases in the Pacific every year since records have been kept. Capt. Sheeder proudly contributes to conservation research by keeping accurate records and data on his average yearly 1,500 to 2,000 billfish releases. Check Them Out To learn more about Capt. Mike Sheeder and his crew go to www.Intensitysportfishing.com or call Herb Rosell at 305-632-4372 with questions.