Panamas' Different fishing Grounds
While the fishing is great, the Panama sport fishing options are limited. There are no large marinas and the big lodges are booked well in advance so plan you Panama fishing trip according to that. Panama offers up some world class sport fishing...if you have time to plan way in advance.
Coral Star
The M/V Coral Star is proud to offer one of the most exciting fishing adventures in the Western Hemisphere. Hannibal Bank and the fishing grounds of the Gulf of Chiriqui are located in the pacific waters of Panama. This is an area that is renowned for its outstanding Blue and Black Marlin fishing.
Coiba Island is Panama's largest island. It is situated 30 miles off the coast and 200 miles from Panama City. It is also a nature preserve and wildlife refuge. Isla de Coiba is protected as a Marine National Park. The area is patrolled and protected from commercial long lining, purse seining, and gillnetting. The only other boats that you are likely to see would be the local fisherman in wooden boats, hand-line fishing for Snapper. The M/V Coral Star is licensed and registered to fish within the park and is the only one to offer this close proximity to the Hannibal Bank's sport fishing treasures.
Tropic Star
All species of billfish and non-billfish can be caught year-round in the pristine waters off Pinas Bay. The prime black marlin season runs from December through April. Then the Pacific sailfish move in during April through July. The striped marlin season is considered mid-March through May. July brings another run of marlin; many in the five hundred pound range. Most of our fishing is done six to twelve miles offshore in very calm waters. Four to five foot seas are considered "very rough" water at Tropic Star Lodge.
THERE HAVE BEEN MORE I.G.F.A. WORLD RECORDS BROKEN IN PINAS BAY THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD -- over 200 World Records! Tropic Star Lodge holds over forty world records at the present time! The majority of these records are for black, blue, or striped marlin and Pacific sailfish. Most of the records at the Lodge were taken on light and ultra light line -- which is what Pinas Bay is recognized for throughout the World! Also, recently we have recorded over 23 Junior Angler World Records!
Pesca Panama
World class offshore action is often to be enjoyed when fishing legendary Hannibal Bank and Montuosa Island. Monster Black and Blue Marlin, schools of Wahoo and giant Yellowfin Tuna, plus huge Pacific Sailfish and Dorado congregate to feast in these bait-rich waters.
Aggressive predators such as Cubera Snapper and Roosterfish readily attack top water plugs cast along the many sandy beaches and rocky coastlines. Fishing live baits in combination with this top water technique is also deadly in attracting arm-wrenching strikes.
For the avid fly fisherman, offshore bait-and-switch for Sailfish, along with sight casting to Dorado, provides phenomenal seasonal fly fishing.
Tuna Coast
"Tuna Coast" has world-class inshore and deep-sea fishing available. These fishing grounds include the waters near Punta Mariato, Isla Cebaco and Isla Coiba, a sport fishing paradise! Some of the fish caught in these waters include : Wahoo, Dorado, Roosterfish, Cero Mackerel, Snook, Cubera, Colorado and Crimson Snapper, Corbina, Broomtail and Rockhind Grouper, Peruvian Amberjack, Almaco Jack, Jack Crevalle, Blue-Fin Trevally, Yellow fin and Big Eye Tuna, African Pompano, Pacific Sailfish and more.