| up to 7.5 on the Richter Scale | | | | war, and records were not accurately kept. |
| First it rocked, then it rolled and finally it really | | | | Back here in the second decade of the 21st |
| rocked.................. | | | | century (Jan 2010) we are pleased to also report |
| Today there was a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in | | | | on the great sailfishing fishery of Guatemala. |
| Guatemala just South of the Marin towards El | | | | Typically this time of year sees calm seas and |
| Salvador. | | | | warm weather consistently from day to day. The |
| All of our boats were out fishing at the time - | | | | last couple of weeks however, we have been |
| which is about as safe a place as you can be for | | | | greeted with some pretty difficult fishing |
| this type of event - but there are no casualties | | | | conditions as a result of two cold fromts coming |
| and little damage reported from the coast. | | | | through. |
| This is almost expected in Guatemala, and it is not | | | | Usually this means that the bait becomes much |
| unusual for our sailfishing clients to feel the rumble. | | | | harder to find and less concentrated - for us as |
| Given the landscape of active volcanoes in the | | | | well as the predatory fish - but not this time !! |
| area overlooking the Marina Pez Vela, it is perhaps | | | | The billfish stayed focused relatively close to |
| not surprising that many anglers visiting Guatemala | | | | shore on some very rapid temperature breaks |
| mistake these shakes, rattles and rock'n roll for | | | | and continued to feed despite the inclement |
| mini eruptions from the most active volcano | | | | weather and waves "up top". The boats suffered |
| Pacaya. | | | | a little in this "rockin'" period, but nothing that a |
| Although 5.8 is a fairly significant seismic | | | | few stainless screws and clamps couldn't take |
| occurrence, the country has in the past survived | | | | care of. |
| much greater events with relatively minimal | | | | All through the week and a half of weather that |
| damage - certainly when compared to the | | | | we experienced, the fishing stayed hot - with in |
| historical damage metered out by eruptions and | | | | excess of twenty sailfish in the spreads |
| the mudslides that ensued. | | | | throughout. We "rolled" through the groups, |
| In the 20th century there were 3 earthquakes | | | | welcoming back many familiar faces to the coast |
| that exceeded 7.5 on the richter scale (this | | | | and to the great fishing. |
| compares to the tragic event in Haiti this year as | | | | Then came the real "rockin" - after the events in |
| a result of an earthquake reading 7.0). | | | | Haitai, we are very aware when similar activity |
| The largest or most sever was in 1942 along the | | | | takes place in Guatemala, we had a 5.8 magnitude |
| western highlands. Although it lasted and rumbled | | | | this morning, centered just offshore and South of |
| for some considerable time, and also caused | | | | the marina towards El Salvador. |
| widespread damage - only 38 casualties were | | | | No casualties or significant damage is reported at |
| reported. | | | | this time. Earthquakes of this size occur |
| In some villages over 60% of the buildings were | | | | frequently in this part of the world - not quite an |
| completely demolished, primarily those of adobe | | | | everyday occurrence, but frequent enough that |
| construction, although details are hard to come by | | | | even a 5.8 does not set off the alarms. |
| as it obviously occurred during the second world | | | | |