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Let’s Get You Fishing
For more than 20 years the Intensity and its crew have been offering fly and conventional angling clients the finest billfishing in the world. We consistently receive the highest recommendations and reviews from both novice and experienced anglers. We invite you to come, and step aboard the Intensity to begin your own fishing adventure. Make your fishing dreams a reality.
Meet Your Captain:
Originally from Hawaii, Mike Sheeder is the youngest member of the famed Sheeder sportfishing team, as younger brother of Chris Sheeder. His fishing education began at an early age with Neil Isaacs, who regularly took him, his dad and big brother Chris marlin fishing off Kona. He graduated from California Maritime Academy in 2002, and holds a US Coast Guard “unlimited all seas” license and numerous accreditations as a merchant marine. He started fishing professionally as a 16-year-old on weekends in Kewalo Basin, known for where the world’s largest blue marlin was caught. In 2006 he moved to Guatemala, taking over the helm of the legendary 37' Gamefisherman INTENSITY. Equally adept at catching billfish and other species on light to heavy tackle and fly, Capt. Sheeder has consistently taken top honors in tournaments ever since fishing out of Port San Jose, Guatemala. In 2008 he was nominated as Marlin Magazine captain of the year for records like 70 sailfish releases a day; five blue marlin in a day and a sailfish on 2-pound tippet that at the time was second one ever to be caught on fly. In his off-season, Capt. Sheeder navigated container ships through the Straits of Hormuz. No other captain in Central America has Mike’s experience fishing and running boats in international waters.
"Captain Mike" is great at teaching people of all ages and backgrounds to fish. Book a charter on INTENSITY today!
About the Intensity
Built by DCN, (the Costa Rican-based builder credited with building early Gamefisherman Boats) the 37-foot Intensity is a custom built boat with a wide open cockpit that makes it ideal for up to four anglers and for fly fishermen taking billfish on fly. It’s was formerly owned by Tim Choate of Artmarina – the company that pioneered sportfishing travel to Guatemala – and was the number one requested gameboat at Fin ‘n Feathers Lodge. With Capt. Bud Gramer it caught the first triple header (three fish by three anglers) of sailfish on fly in March of 2001. Among the previous captains are Ross “Flash” Clark and Chris Sheeder, who turned the keys over to his younger brother Mike in 2006.
The Intensity is powered by two Cummins Diamond series 450 hp diesel engines that make her fast (30-plus knots at cruise) and maneuverable. She’s also comfortable and dry. The boat is equipped with state-of-art electronics, communications and all safety equipment and GoPro cameras to catch those breathtaking images for future bragging rights. Ready for battle, the Intensity is equipped with the finest standup conventional tackle including 16- to 20 pound for sailfish and 30- to 50-pound custom outfits for marlin and tuna. Additionally, we offer 20-pound spinning gear for sailfish and dorado and 14- to 16-weight fly fishing tackle for those wanting to experience even more fun with billfish. Or, bring your favorite tackle to fish with. Our mates are some of the world’s best at pitching baits and teasing and releasing billfish. Over the years the Intensity has recorded an average year-round daily release rate of 18 sailfish.
The Intensity is one of a dozen or so sportfishing boats docked at San Jose Marina, the only major marina on Guatemala’s Pacific Coast. It operates year-round.