PESCA PANAMA WELCOMED BACK MASTER GUIDE MIKE AUGAT THIS WEEK ALONG WITH THREE DIVERSE GROUPS OF ANGLERS THAT HAD ACCOMPANIED HIM. THE FIRST GROUP WAS COMPRISED OF EBEN AND DIANNE HUSTON AND THEIR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER ALICIA. THIS WAS THEIR FOURTH TRIP TO THE TROPICS TO FISH WITH PESCA PANAMA. ALICIA WANTED TO CATCH HER FIRST ROOSTERFISH WHICH SHE DID THE FIRST DAY OF FISHING. THEN AT ISLA MONTUOSA SHE LANDED A 350 LB BLACK MARLIN. THIS WAS THE SECOND BLACK MARLIN SHE HAS CAUGHT WHILE FISHING HERE. THEY HAD BEEN TROLLING FOR WAHOO, HAD HOOKED THREE AND PUT TWO IN THE BOAT WHEN EBEN NOTICED A BLACK MARLIN FEEDING ON THE SURFACE NOT 25 FT FROM THE BOW OF THE BOAT. HE GRABBED A POPPER AND THREW IT AT THE FISH WHILE MATE CARLOS WAS BUSY RIGGING A LIVE BAIT WHICH HE PUT IN THE WATER. THE MARLIN IGNORED THE POPPER BUT CRUISED JUST BELOW THE SURFACE AND TEN FEET FROM THE BOAT IT WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE LIVE BAIT OFFERING. ALICIA FOUGHT THE FISH FOR 50 MINUTES TO GET IT CLOSE ENOUGH FOR PICTURES AND A LIVE RELEASE. CONGRATULATIONS ALICIA! BUT THE DAY WAS NOT OVER AS THEY LANDED 8 YELLOWFIN TUNA FROM 50 TO 120 POUNDS.

OUR SECOND GROUP OF ANGLERS WAS THE DE SIEYES FAMILY. IT WAS THE SECOND TIME FOR THE FATHERS TO FISH WITH PESCA PANAMA AND THIS TIME THEY HAD BROUGHT THEIR SONS. CHUCK WAS FISHING WITH SONS EVAN AND NICK. DAVID WAS FISHING WITH HIS SON MALCOLM. CHIP BRANNON, POSSIBLE FUTURE FATHER IN LAW OF NICK, WAS INVITED TO JOIN THE GROUP OF ANGLERS. I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS SIZING UP WHO.

THE THIRD GROUP OF GUESTS ARE VETERAN ATLANTIC SALMON ANGLERS. FISHING IN PANAMA WAS GOING TO BE A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE FOR THEM. READY TO GET ON THE WATER AND INTO THE FISHING ACTION WERE DICK ANDERSON, BRIAN NOYES, JAY AND BUD NOLAN, CHARLIE HARRIMAN AND TOM SAWYER. I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE SAME TOM THAT MARK TWAIN WROTE ABOUT, BUT I AM NOT FOR SURE.

FOUR MILES WEST OF PUNTA HERMOSA, COLLIDING OCEAN CURRENTS HAD AMASSED A SEA FULL OF LOGS AND FLOATING OCEAN DEBRIS. WHEN OUR CAPTAINS CRUISED INTO THE AREA THE ANGLERS REPORTED BOTH DORADO AND YELLOW TUNA FREE JUMPING IN THE AIR. IT WAS A FEEDING FRENZY AND A PAGE RIGHT OUT OF MOTHER NATURES NOTEBOOK!

YELLOWFIN TUNA ON A RAMPAGE

OUR BOATS GOT IN ON THE ACTION AND WERE SUCCESSFUL IN LANDING 37 YELLOWFIN ONE DAY. THE FISH PROVED TO BE PICKY EATERS AND LIVE BAIT WAS THE HOT TICKET FOR GETTING BITES THIS DAY, UNLIKE THE FOLLOWING DAYS OF SURFACE POPPER ACTION. WHEN THE TUNA WERE LANDED AND HIT THE DECK ONE COULD SEE WHY THEY WERE SO PICKY. FROM THEIR GULLETS THEY WOULD DISGORGE A STREAM OF DEAD AND PARTIALLY DIGESTED SQUID. MOST OF THE TUNA CAUGHT WEIGHED IN THE 50 TO 80 LB RANGE WITH THE LARGEST WEIGHING IN AT 160 LBS. WE CAUGHT TUNA ALL WEEK LONG. NOW WE ARE TALKING FISHING ACTION!

DORADO EXTRAVAGANZA

WHILE MOST OF THE ANGLERS WERE BATTLING TUNA SOME OF ANGLERS WERE CONCENTRATING ON CATCHING DORADO. BRIAN, FISHING WITH BOTH A LIGHT SPINNING ROD AND FLY ROD LANDED OVER 30 DORADO IN ONE DAY. WHAT A GREAT FLY ROD FISH! SEVERAL DORADO WERE CAUGHT THAT WEIGHED BETWEEN 40 AND 50 LBS BUT THE NORM WAS 15-25 LBS. THIS GREAT FISHING ACTION WENT ON FOR THREE DAYS AND OUR ANGLERS CAUGHT FISH TILL THEIR ARMS ACHED. PICTURE A TYPICAL MORNING OF STARTING THE DAY WITH A HANDFUL OF BULL DORADO THAT LEAP HIGH ENOUGH TO LOOK THE ANGLER IN THE EYE, THEN MOVING A FEW MILES TO FIND SKIPJACK TUNA (POUND FOR POUND, PERHAPS THE TOUGHEST TUNA OF ALL), THEN CHASING FEEDING PODS OF YELLOWFIN UNTIL THE ANGLER'S STRENGTH FINALLY WANED, AND FINISHING THE DAY CASTING SHORELINES WITH LIGHTER GEAR FOR A MULTITUDE OF SPECIES!

WAHOO IN THE WAKE

THE WAHOO FINALLY SHOWED UP ON TIME IN GOOD NUMBERS THIS WEEK AS MAY IS GENERALLY CONSIDER THE BEGINNING OF WAHOO SEASON. THIS WEEK THE COBALT BLUE SPEEDSTERS WERE CAUGHT IN JUST ABOUT EVERY LOCATION THAT IS KNOWN FOR GOOD WAHOO FISHING. BETWEEN THE TUNA BITE, THE DORADO BITE AND THE WAHOO ARRIVING, IT WAS A WEEK OF FISHING THAT THESE ANGLERS WILL NOT SOON FORGET!

ISLA COIBA AND ITS' SURROUNDING WATERS IS FLOURISHING. NOW THAT THE POWERS THAT BE IN THE PANAMANIAN GOVERNMENT ARE STRICTLY ENFORCING A BAN ON INSHORE NETTING AND COMMERCIAL FISHING, THE ISLAND'S SHALLOWS AND TIDAL RIVERS ARE SIMPLY TEEMING WITH SCHOOLS OF FISH. SURELY A SIGN THAT FUTURE CATCH AND RELEASE ANGLING WILL ONLY GET BETTER AND BETTER. MIKE AUGAT AND OUR GOOD FRIEND AND WIZARD MECHANIC, CHI CHI, SPENT AN AFTERNOON FISHING A RISING TIDE ONLY A FEW MILES FROM OUR ANCHORAGE AT COIBA ISLAND. THEY REPORTED SEEING MASSIVE SCHOOLS OF THE BIGGEST LADYFISH MIKE HAD EVER SEEN THAT WERE EAGER TO EAT A SMALL FLY AND THEN SPEND MORE TIME OUT OF THE WATER THAN IN, SCHOOLS OF SEVERAL SPECIES OF MINNOWS, PACK AFTER PACK OF AGGRESSIVE 2-5 LB SNAPPERS, POD UPON POD OF DOUBLE DIGIT JACK CREVALLE EAGER TO KILL ANYTHING NOISY ON THE SURFACE AND SCATTERED ROOSTERS THAT SURELY HAD NOT SEEN A LURE IN A VERY LONG WHILE, IF EVER. THEY LANDED 20-35 LB FISH OUT OF FIVE HOOKED AND MISSED SEVERAL OTHERS.

Fishing Report - 05/16/09

RETURNING TO FISH WITH PESCA PANAMA THIS WEEK WERE ANGLERS; CHUCK BYARD, TAD HALL, ELI RUONAVAARA , ROD JORDON AND NICK BORGWAT. FIRST TIMERS FISHING WITH US INCLUDED; TERRY ECKHARDT, ERIC BIRKHOFER, GREG BUSER AND BOB SMALLEY.

ERIC GOT TO TELL THE FIRST BIG FISHING STORY OF THE WEEK. ON DAY ONE CAPTAIN TOMMY HAD PULLED THE THROTTLES BACK ON HIS BOAT AS HIS GPS SHOWED THEY WERE ON TOP OF ROCK PILE THAT HAD 40 FEET OF WATER COVERING IT. ERIC WAS HANDED A SHIMANO TIAGRA 16 BAITED UP WITH LIVE BAIT AND TOLD THEY WERE GOING TO TRY SOME BOTTOM FISHING IN THE SHALLOW WATER. ERIC DROPPED THE BAIT TO THE BOTTOM AND "WHAM" HE WAS HIT. BUT INSTEAD OF THE FISH RACING FOR THE ROCKS IT BLASTED FOR THE SURFACE AND MADE A SPECTACULAR LEAP. ERIC HAD JUST HOOK HIS FIRST EVER MARLIN! THE SURPRISED ANGLER BATTLED THE FISH FOR THE NEXT FOUR HOURS AS HIS BUDDIES TERRY AND GREG GOT SOME GREAT PHOTOS. AS THE BLACK MARLIN CAME TO LEADER FOR THE LIVE RELEASE AN EXHAUSTED ERIC KNEW THIS WASN'T LIKE FISHING HE HAD EVER DONE BEFORE. WELCOME TO PANAMA!

OUR CAPTAINS HAD A REPORT OF A TUNA BITE NEAR PUNTA HERMOSA SO THE FOLLOWING DAY TWO OR OUR THREE BOATS FISHING THIS WEEK RAN TO HAVE A LOOK. SURE ENOUGH THERE WERE HUGE SCHOOLS OF TUNA AND FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS OUR ANGLERS LANDED 4O YELLOWFIN TUNA IN THE 40 TO 80 LB RANGE. SOME OF THE ANGLERS GOT THE TUNA TO BITE ON PITCHED LIVE BAITS WHILE OTHER ANGLERS HAD GOOD LUCK HOOKING UP ON POPPERS.

ERIC WAS AGAIN IN ON THE ACTION ALONG WITH TERRY AND GREG. THEY HOOKED A HUGE TUNA ON LIVE BAIT THAT HAD BEEN PITCHED OUT ON HEAVY SPINNING GEAR. FOR THE NEXT 2 1/2 HOURS THE THREE OF THEM AND THE TWO CREW MEMBERS WOULD FIGHT THE FISH UNTIL THEY COULDN'T REEL ANY MORE AND THEN PASS THE ROD OFF. THIS "BAD BOY" WAS KICKING THEIR BUTTS! FINALLY THE FISH WAS WITH IN GAFF RANGE AN THE MATE WAS STANDING BY TO MAKE THE GAFF SHOT. MAX PRESSURE WAS BEING APPLIED NOW, WHICH I'M NOT SURE WAS THE THING TO DO, THE FISH WAS WITHIN 10 FT OF THE BOAT WHEN THE 80 SPECTRA LINE PARTED!

NICK WAS NEXT TO HOOK-UP ON A BIG YELLOWFIN. THIS TUNA WAS AGAIN HOOKED ON HEAVY SPINNING GEAR BUT THIS TIME THE FISH HAD HIT A POPPER. NICK WAS FOLLOWING THE FISH AROUND THE CENTER CONSOLE WHEN IT THEN MADE A DIVE RIGHT UNDER THE BOAT. HE HELD HIS ROD DOWN AND THOUGH HE HAD THE LINE AROUND THE BOW WHEN HE NOTICED THE ANGLE OF THE LINE WAS WRONG. LOOKING DOWN HE SAW THAT HIS LINE HAD CAUGHT ON THE ONLY THING STICKING OUT ON THE BOW OF THE BOAT, THE BOW EYE. THE 80 POUND SPECTRA LINE PARTED AND THE BATTLE WAS OVER. NOW WE STOOD A 2 AND O ON EXLARGE YELLOWFIN TUNA.

HANNIBAL BANK LAID IN HIBERNATION FOR MOST OF THE WEEK BUT CHUCK, TAD AND ELI JUST KEPT FISHING UNTIL THEY GOT ON THE BITE. WHEN THE BANK LITE UP CHUCK CAUGHT AND RELEASED AN ESTIMATED 400 LB BLACK MARLIN CAUGHT ON LIVE BAIT, TAD BOATED A 180 LB YELLOWFIN CAUGHT ON LIVE BAIT AND ELI LANDED A 130 LB YELLOWFIN THAT ATE HIS POPPER.

THIS WEEK'S ANGLERS FISHED IN SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WEATHER AND CALMEST SEAS WE HAVE HAD ALL YEAR. AFTER HOURS JAMIE OUR BARTENDER WAS POURING THE DRINKS STRONG AS WE SAT ON THE BOW OR THE BARGE. A LOT OF JOKES WERE TOLD ALONG WITH SOME GREAT FISHING STORIES. SOME OF THE STORIES WERE OLD AND SOME HAD JUST BEEN MADE!

Fishing Report - 05/09/09

We had a great group of anglers fishing with us this week. First up are the "Game On" Kayak Fishing Team. The anglers consisted of Jim Sammons (La Jolla Kayak Fishing Adventures) out La Jolla, Paul Lebowitz (Kayak Fishing Editor for Western Outdoor News) out of San Diego, Ken Whiting and Will Richardson (Heliconia Press) of Ottawa.

This would be the first time these kayakers will introduce their art of fishing to these bountiful waters. Hang on boys! Also with us is long time friend of Pesca Panama, Danny Jackson along with his son Corby Jackson. Representing Orange County, CA. brothers Rick Hutchinson, Thomas Hutchinson, Gerry Hutchinson, and friends Darin Odowd, Don Bowen, John Million, Mike Ameal, from New Orleans, Frank Baughman and yours truly Ricky Zuniga.

Out of the gates, the kayakers set the bar pretty high, catching and releasing 8 Roosters, a Cubera and a Jack. Us stand up boys weren’t going to take this laying down! Team Tito bagged 2 Yellowfin and 8 Dorado's for Danny and Corby. Team Lucho gaffed 2 Yellowfin, 1 Leopard Grouper, 1 Jack and 1 Rooster for Tommy, Frank and Ricky. Team Kili boated 5 Yellowfin, 1 Rooster and 1 Jack for Don, Mike and John. Team Carlos not to be out done finished the day with 4 Yellowfin, 1 weighing in at 80 Lbs. for Rick, Darin and Gerry.

The next day, the consensus was, lets' fish the Hannibal Bank! Team Carlos produced a 80 lb. Yellowfin on the bank and a Rooster in the Secas Islands. Team Tito raises a Rooster and some Jacks at the Secas. Team Kili bags some Jacks, a Rooster, a Yellow Snapper and some Red Snappers. Team Lucho manages a Rooster and a Cubera. Our Yack team gets to the bank fairly late in the day and it paid off. Jim, Ken and Paul slide the kayaks in place, start to soak a bait and it was "Game On"! Jim plays a Yellowfin Tuna for about an hour, sees color and then realizes what he's dealing with. He gets it to leader hits it with a gaff and it was like someone had thrown a M80 next to Jim. The Yellowfin threw it into high gear and he was gone, gaff and all! Jim was back in the saddle again for a fight that would last for another 2 1/2 hours. It was quite honestly an inspiration to see this anglers face filled with emotions, ranging from excitement, agony, then laughter when he was being heckled by his fellow yakers. The sun was starting to set and both Yellowfin and Jim were getting tired. Jim started to retrieve some of his line back, the Yellowfin started his small circles below. Perseverance paid off, our fish of the hour finally came back to leader and with 2 gaffs later, they pulled him over to the chase boat. Jim takes out a 120 lb. Yellowfin fishing from a kayak on Hannibal Bank! As far as we know this will be the largest Yellowfin fought and leadered from a kayak. Our hats off to you Jim, what an accomplishment! Needless to say Team Yak was the last boat to come in tired and hungry. A shower, a drink, some dinner and it was lights out for these bad boys.

Time to fish again, oh darn! Team Lucho starts off with a Silk Snapper, 2 Yellow Snapper and a nice Hoo for Darin. I know what's on the menu tonight! Team Carlos manages 2 Cuberra's, 3 Silk Snappers, 2 AJ's, Blue Trevally and a Mullet Snapper. Team Tito whacks 4 Silk Snappers, Blue Trevally, Cubera, Red Snapper and a Shark to liven things up for Danny and Corby. Team Kili manages some Groupers, Pompano, Yellow Snappers and an Albacore (as it's known here) for Don, Mike and John. Team Yak, a little tired from the day before, didn't stop them from getting 3 Cuberas, 3 Rainbow Runners, 6 Yellow Snappers, 3 Blue Trevallys and 2 Sharks.

Team Tito ran across what looked like a pallet which was host to bait stacked up and Yellowfin on the chew! Danny and Corby managed to take out 8, largest tipping in around 70 lbs. They also bagged a Cubera, an AJ, 2 Groupers and some Blue Trevally's. Team Lucho ran to Jicarita where they found a lot of big Jacks. They also bagged a Cubera and some Yellow Snappers. While there they decided to make more bait and yours truly had a sabiki rig on, started to pull up some baits and it was instant bendo! Something picked up the baits and kept me bent over for more than an hour before rocking me! Fish 1 / Ricky 0.

Team Carlos Leadered 10 Jacks, a Grouper, a Cubera, Yellow & Red Snappers and the biggest Rainbow Runner I've ever seen. Team Kili landed more Yellowfin, Groupers, Yellow & Red Snappers, Blue Trevally's and 3 Sharks. Some more great catches were Don, Mike and John with a great catch of 6 Hoo's in the 40 - 60 Lb class using Mirro-Lures in Blue Chrome and Orange Stripe. Gerry, Frank and yours truly came across a floating log loaded Dodo's. We threw some Sashimi's first until they wouldn't hit anymore. So we switched to Ringed Super Mutu with strips of Bonita and we were back in the game. We came away with 18 Dodo's ranging from 8 - 30 Lbs. Too much fun!!

Fishing Report - 05/02/09

IT WAS OFF THE BEACH AND BACK ON THE WATER AS PESCA PANAMA WAS BACK IN FULL FISHING MODE THIS WEEK. WE HAD TWO GROUPS OF ANGLERS FISHING WITH US THIS WEEK. JOHN BRESSI FROM CHILE WAS BACK FISHING WITH EDUADRO GONZALEZ, FELIPE BARISON, FERNANDO ROSSEIOT, CLAUDIO LOPEZ, PEDRO VARRAS, FRANCISCO BAEZN, DON WRINKLE AND JEFF CASTON. THEN WE HAD A NEW GROUP OF ANGLERS FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT INCLUDED MANNY GORIEL, DENNIS STANRAD, ED RUGHMAN, DAVID JONES, DAVID NICKEY AND PAT COLLINS.

THE WEEK STARTED OFF LATE AS ONE OF AERO PERLAS AIRPLANES HAD A MECHANICAL PROBLEM IN BOCAS DEL TORO AND IT THREW EVERYONE'S FLIGHT SCHEDULE BEHIND BY HALF A DAY. WE GOT THROUGH THAT FIRST DAY WITH LITTLE DIFFICULTY. I DIDN'T LEAVE US MUCH TIME TO FISH BUT ABOUT A HAND FULL ON ROOSTERFISH WERE RELEASED WHILE FISHING IN THE PARIDAS ISLANDS.

DAY TWO WE AWOKE TO RAIN SHOWERS AND WIND. SOME OF THE ANGLERS CHARGED OFF TO FISH WHILE THE OLDER AND MORE PRUDENT ANGLERS CHOSE TO SIT IT OUT IN THE BAR. FELIPE AND FRIENDS WERE ONE OF THE GROUPS TO FISH THAT DAY AND THEY HEADED FOR HANNIBAL BANK. HERE THEY HIT A TUNA BITE, HOOKING FIVE YELLOWFIN AND GETTING TWO ON THEM IN THE BOAT. THEY ALSO GOT INTO SOME DORADO ACTION. LATTER IN THE WEEK JOHN, JEFF AND DON LANDED A HALF DOZEN DORADO ARE THEIR RUN INTO THE DOCK.

THE NEXT DAY AND FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK THE WEATHER WAS FROM GOOD TO DOWN RIGHT BEAUTIFUL. FISHING WAS JUST LIKE THE WEATHER. DON CAUGHT THE FIRST BLACK MARLIN OF THE WEEK, A 350 LB FISH TAKEN ON LIVE BAIT AT HANNIBAL BANK. PAT HOOKED THE SECOND BLACK MARLIN AT THE BANK AND IT LOOKED LIKE A CLONE OF THE FIRST FISH.
YELLOWFIN TUNA WERE ALSO AT THE BANK AS DENNIS BOATED A 190 POUNDER. THEN HE AND FELLOW ANGLERS MANNY AND DAVE TANGLED FOR 2 1/2 HOURS WITH A FISH THAT WEIGHED IN AT 266 POUNDS. OUR LARGEST TUNA CAUGHT THIS WEEK!

CAPTAIN TOMMY WAS CIRCUMNAVIGATING COIBA ISLAND WHEN HE FOUND A GOOD TUNA BITE NEAR PUNTA ANEGADA. HERE HIS ANGLERS LANDED SIX YELLOWFIN TUNA IN THE 60 TO 100 POUND CLASS, MOST OF THEM CAUGHT ON POPPERS. THEN THEY LANDED A COUPLE OF 50 POUND ROOSTERFISH AND A COUPLE OF BIG CUBERA SNAPPERS.

THE CHILEANS WERE ONLY ABLE TO FISH FOR THREE DAYS THIS WEEK AS THEY HAD OTHER BUSINESS OBLIGATIONS THAT HAD CUT INTO THEIR FISHING TIME. LIKEWISE OUR ANGLERS FROM CALIFORNIA ALL CALLED IT A WEEK AFTER THE FIFTH DAY OF HARD FISHING. SO WITH SMILES ON THEIR FACES AND LOOKING FOR A RETURN CHARTER DATE FOR NEXT YEAR WE BID FAREWELL TO TWO GROUPS OF GREAT GUYS.

Fishing Report - 04/18/09

WE HAD A REAL MIXED BAG OF FISHING THIS WEEK. WHILE FISHING FOR BAIT WITH A SABIKI RIG, CAPTAIN TITO'S ANGLERS KEN GARCIA AND JOE SIEGEL HOOKED WHAT THE CAPTAIN THOUGHT WAS A ROOSTERFISH. THEY FOUGHT THE FISH FOR 90 MINUTES BEFORE THE SABIKI CAME UNDONE AND THEY LOST THEIR ONLY ROOSTER OF THE DAY. ANOTHER DAY JOE HAD ALREADY RELEASED A 450 LB CLASS BLACK MARLIN AND THE TWO ANGLERS HAD LANDED 3 AMBERJACK,3 CUBERA SNAPPERS, A ROOSTERFISH AND A HAMMERHEAD SHARK. IT HAD BEEN A GOOD DAY OF FISHING FOR THEM BUT CAPTAIN TITO WANTED TO TRY BOTTOM FISHING AT ONE OF HIS FAVORITE FISHING SPOTS ON THE WAY BACK TO THE BARGE. AT AROUND 5:30 HE PUT A LARGE CHUNK BAIT ON A CIRCLE HOOK AND SENT IT TO THE BOTTOM. THERE WAS AN INSTANT HOOK-UP. THE FISH AT THE END OF THE LINE FELT BIG BUT SOMETHING DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT ABOUT THE FIGHT. AFTER PLAYING THE FISH FOR AWHILE A BLACK MARLIN EXPLODED FROM THE WATER RIGHT NEXT TO THEIR BOAT. WITH THE BLACK MARLIN HOOKED UP ON A SHIMANO TIAGRA 16 SPOOLED UP WITH 50 LB TEST MONO, IT TOOK THE NEXT THREE HOURS BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO BRING THE ESTIMATED 350 LB FISH TO THE BOAT. YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU TO CATCH NEXT WHEN YOU ARE FISHING IN PANAMA!

DENNIS AND CHAD KLUM WERE HAVING GOOD ACTION BOTTOM FISHING WITH CAPTAIN TOMMY. BUT EVERY TIME THEY WOULD HOOK UP THE A BIG FISH IT WOULD CUT THEM OFF IN THE ROCKS. WITH THEIR DRAGS LOCKED DOWN AND USING 80 LB BRADED LINE DENNIS SAID, "WHEN THE BIG FISH WOULD HIT IT WAS ALL THEY COULD DO TO HANG ON TO THE RODS." THE BIG BOTTOM DWELLERS WOULD PEAL OFF THE LINE AS THEY HEADED FOR THEIR ROCKY LAIRS. BUT THROUGH OUT THE WEEK THESE TWO ANGLERS PRODUCED SOME GOOD CATCHES WHILE BOTTOM FISHING.

BRAD OAKS AND JAMES SENA WERE LIVE BAITING WHEN A MARLIN ATE THE LIVE BONITA AND TURNED ON ITS' AFTERBURNER AS IT TAIL WALKED TO THE HORIZON. CAPTAIN LUCHO QUICKLY TURNED HIS BOAT TO PURSUE THE FISH AS HE SAW ALL OF HIS TOP SHOT OF FRESHLY SPOOLED 80 LB MONO DISAPPEAR FROM THE REEL. THEN THE LINE WENT SLACK AS IT HAD BEEN CUT BY SOME UNSEEN MENACE. THERE IS ALWAYS TOMORROW AND THE NEXT DAY BRAD RELEASED AN ESTIMATED 400 LB BLACK MARLIN AND A BIG PACIFIC SAILFISH.

FISHING WITH CAPTAIN TATIN WERE PASCAL DERAULY AND PHILIPPE DANOS. THESE ANGLERS PREFER TO FISH WITH POPPERS AND JIGS BUT WILL SWITCH TO LIVE BAIT IF THAT IS WHAT IT TAKES TO GET A HOOK-UP. THROUGH OUT THE WEEK THEY PRODUCED CATCHES OF YELLOWFIN TUNA, DORADO, CUBERA SNAPPER, BLACK GROUPER, ROCK SNAPPER, BLUE JACK, MULLET SNAPPER, JACK CREVALLE, HORSE EYE JACK AND RAINBOW RUNNERS.

ONE DAY ALL THE BOATS SET THEIR COURSE FOR ISLA MONTUOSA WITH THE HOPES OF FINDING A SCHOOL OF YELLOWFIN TUNA. THE FIRST BOAT TO SPOT THE FEEDING YELLOWFIN CALLED IN THE OTHER BOATS TO WHAT WAS A HUGE SCHOOL OF 50 TO 100 LB TUNA. THESE FISH PROVED TO BE FINICKY FEEDER BUT ALL OF OUR ANGLERS WERE ABLE TO CATCH YELLOWFIN TUNA WITH SMALL, LIVE BONITA BEING THE BEST BAIT.

THE FISHING WAS SLOW THIS WEEK AND THIS WAS PROBABLY DUE TO THE HOT 89 DEGREE WATER MOVING BACK INTO THE AREA. BUT GOOD CATCHES WERE STILL TO BE MADE, IT JUST TOOK MORE EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE ANGLERS WHICH THEY WERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PROVIDE. THANKS TO ALL OF THIS WEEKS ANGLERS FOR FISHING WITH PESCA PANAMA.

Fishing Report - 04/11/09

HARRY AND HOBIE LOWELL WERE FISHING WITH PESCA PANAMA FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR. DAVE IANNONE , ANOTHER ONE OF OUR REGULAR ANGLERS FISHED WITH HOBIE. HARRY HAD BROUGHT ALONG JOHN OHARE AS HIS FISHING PARTNER.

JOHN GOT OF TO A GOOD START BY RELEASING AN ESTIMATED 250 LB BLACK MARLIN THE FIRST DAY WHILE FISHING AROUND ISLA LADRONES. HE FOLLOWED THIS CATCH UP BY RELEASING ANOTHER BLACK MARLIN THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE FISHING AT HANNIBAL BANK. THIS MARLIN WAS ESTIMATED TO WEIGH BETWEEN 500 AND 600 LBS. NEXT MARLIN FOR JOHN WAS AS ESTIMATED 600 LB PLUS FISH THAT WAS NEAR THE BOAT WHEN HIS ROD BROKE NEAR THE TIP, NEXT THE LINE BROKE AND THE FISH FISH ESCAPED. JOHN RELEASED ANOTHER MARLIN ON HIS LAST DAY OF FISHING, ANOTHER 300 LB BLACK MARLIN AND ALSO RELEASED A SAIL. HARRY GOT IN ROD TIME BY RELEASING AN ESTIMATED 300 LB BLACK MARLIN, ALSO CAUGHT AT HANNIBAL BANK

HOBIE AND DAVE WERE ALSO IN THE CATCHING MODE. HOBIE RELEASED A 350 LB BLACK MARLIN AT THE BANK. HE THOUGHT HE WAS HOOKED INTO ANOTHER BIG MARLIN WHEN IT TURNED OUT TO BE A 400 LB BULL SHARK. DAVE IANNONE ADDED A COUPLE OF BACK TO BACK SAILS TO THE CATCH. HE ALSO RELEASED A 400 LB BLACK MARLIN WHILE FISHING AT HANNIBAL BANK. HOBIE RELEASED ANOTHER BLACK MARLIN IN THE 400 LB RANGE THE LAST DAY OF FISHING AT THE BANK.

A FEW CUBERA SNAPPERS WERE CAUGHT THIS WEEK ALONG WITH SOME WAHOO, AMBERJACK, ROCK SNAPPER AND YELLOWFIN TUNA. BUT THE REAL NEWS WAS THE BLACK MARLIN BITE AT HANNIBAL BANK!

WOW, WAS THE WORD FOR THE WEEK!!!

LOTS OF EXCITING FISHING TOOK PLACE THIS WEEK. IN FACT SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENED THAT I COULD FILL AN ENTIRE MAGAZINE WITH JUST THIS WEEKS FISHING STORIES!

CAPTAIN LUCHO AND HIS ANGLERS WERE WATCHING FOR MARLIN ACTIVITY AS THEY WERE FISHING AROUND ISLA LADRONES WHEN A BLACK MARLIN CAME RIGHT UP BEHIND THE BOAT CHASING A SCHOOL OF BLUE RUNNERS. NOT YET HAVING CAUGHT ANY LIVE BAIT THE CAPTAIN INSTRUCTED HIS ANGLERS TO QUICKLY THROW A POPPER AT THE HUNGRY MARLIN. DREW GRABBED THE SPINNING ROD HE HAD BROUGHT AND MADE THE PERFECT CAST. THE MARLIN STRUCK THE YO-ZURI SASHIMI BULL LURE AND THE FIGHT WAS ON! THE 80 LB SPECTRA LINE WAS FLYING OFF OF DREW'S SHIMANO STELLA 8000. FORTY MINUTES ONTO THE FIGHT AND DREW'S ROD BROKE BUT HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE BATTLING THE FISH. WHEN THE FISH CAME TO LEADER IT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE IN THE 400 LB AND OVER CLASS. "MEAT FACE," AN ACCOMPLISHED PHOTOGRAPHER, WAS ABLE TO GET SOME GREAT PHOTOS. THIS IS OUR FIRST BLACK MARLIN ON A POPPER BUT YOU CAN BET IT WON'T BE THE LAST! CONGRATULATIONS DREW ON YOUR MEMORABLE CATCH!

LATER IN THE WEEK "MEAT FACE" WAS GOING TO GET HIS CHANCE AT A BLACK MARLIN. WHILE FISHING NEAR ISLA MONTUOSA HE SUCCESSFULLY LIVE BAITED A BLACK MARLIN. AT ITS' RELEASE THIS FISH WAS ESTIMATED TO WEIGH AROUND 250 LBS BUT IT WAS A REAL FIGHTER. THE MATE HAD THE FISH TO LEADER FOUR TIMES. ON THE FOURTH AND FINAL TIME TO LEADER THIS 'BALLISTIC MARLIN" ALMOST JUMPED IN THE BOAT. THE CAPTAIN STEPPED IN TO LEND A HAND BUT IN THIS CASE HE HAD A KNIFE IN HIS HAND AND CUT THE LEADER BEFORE THE FISH OR THE ANGLERS GOT INJURED.

CAPTAIN TATIN AND HIS ANGLERS WERE THE "JIG MASTERS" THIS WEEK! MIKE WAS JIGGING WITH A SUMO JIG WHEN HE GOT SLAMMED! THE FISH RIPPED DRAG FROM THE REEL AS IT RACED TO ESCAPE IN THE ROCKS. MIKE ON THE REEL AND CAPTAIN TATIN ON THE WHEEL, FOUGHT TO GET THE FISH OUT OF THE ROCKS KNOWING THEY COULD BE CUT OF AT ANY MOMENT. THE FISH RELUCTANTLY WAS BROUGHT TO THE BOAT. IT WAS WAS GUESSED TO WEIGH AROUND 100 LB. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE FISH AS A GULF GROUPER BUT WE ARE NOT SURE OF THIS. THE SAME DAY MIKE AND FISHING PARTNER PAUL CAUGHT 14 MORE GROUPER AND WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY RELEASE MOST OF THEM BACK TO THE SEA. THE FOLLOW DAY CAPTAIN TATIN AND MIKE WERE AGAIN JIGGING WITH SUMO JIGS AND AGAIN IT GOT SLAMMED! TO EVERYONE SURPRISE IT WAS ANOTHER GULF GROUPER. THIS GROUPER, WEIGHTED 75 LBS.

RANDY WAS JIGGING WITH CAPTAIN TOMMY WHEN HE LANDED A BEAUTIFUL BROOMTAIL GROUPER THAT WEIGHED 78 LBS. AGAIN THE HOOK-UP CAME ON A SUMO JIG, THESE SUMO JIGS WERE THE "HOT TICKET" THIS WEEK. TODAY I ORDERED 60 MORE TO BE SURE TO HAVE PLENTY ON HAND.

A BLACK MARLIN WAS ALSO PUNCHED OUT ON RANDY'S TICKET WHEN HE CAUGHT AND RELEASED A 350 LB FISH ON HANNIBAL BANK. SON, SCOTT WAS TROLLING PLASTIC AT HANNIBAL BANK WHERE HE CAUGHT AND RELEASED AN ESTIMATED 500 LB PLUS BLACK MARLIN.

THE DEEP PURPLE WATER AROUND HANNIBAL BANK WAS ALIVE THIS WEEK WITH MARINE LIFE! OUR ANGLERS COULD LOOK DOWN INTO THE TRANSLUCENT WATER AND SEE THE BRILLIANT YELLOW AND BLUE COLORS AS HUGE SCHOOLS TO BIG YELLOWFIN TUNA SWAM BY. IT WAS HERE THAT SCOTT LANDED A 226 LB YELLOWFIN CAUGHT ON A SLOW TROLLED LIVE BONITA BRIDLED TO A CIRCLE HOOKED.

UNDER THESE IDEAL FISHING CONDITIONS THE MARLIN WERE ALSO FEEDING AT HANNIBAL BANK. CHUCK WAS FISHING WITH CAPTAIN TITO WHEN A BLACK MARLIN ATE THE LIVE BONITA HE HAD IN THE WATER. AT THE RELEASE THIS FISH WAS ESTIMATED TO BE IN THE 450 LB CLASS.

THE SCHMIDT FAMILY AND DREW REGER MAKE UP "TEAM BROCHO." WHILE FISHING AT HANNIBAL BANK THIS WEEK THEY HOOKED-UP A MARLIN THAT SOUNDED AND STAYED DOWN FOR 6 HOURS AS THEY PASSED AROUND THE 50 LB STAND-UP TACKLE. JUST AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO GET THE LEADER FOR A LIVE RELEASE THE EXHAUSTED FISH GAVE UP THE GHOST AND COULDN'T BE REVIVED. WE PROCESSED THE 733 LB BLACK MARLIN AND DONATED IT TO 83 SMILING FACES AT THE LOCAL GIRLS ORPHANAGE IN DAVID. THIS IS GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF FISH TACOS!

WAHOO, DORADO, ROOSTERFISH, CUBERA SNAPPERS, SNOOK, A BIG RAINBOW RUNNER AND SAILFISH WERE ALSO CAUGHT THIS WEEK IN WHAT STACKED UP TO BE A GREAT WEEK OF FISHING!!! THANKS TO ALL OF OUR ANGLERS FOR FISHING WITH PESCA PANAMA.

THE CUBANS FROM MIAMI INVADED PESCA PANAMA THIS WEEK. THEY INCLUDED 2ND, 3RD AND 4TH GENERATIONS ANGLERS OF THE ROVIROSA FAMILY. THEY HAD BROUGHT FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON A SPECIAL FISHING EXPEDITION TO FISH WITH PESCA PANAMA. DAVID CABARROCAS ENJOYED HAVING HIS TWO BOYS, ALEJANDRO AND DAVID, JOIN HIM. THE EVER COMPETITIVE RICKY ROVIROSA WAS THE FIRST ANGLER OUT EVERY MORNING ACCOMPANIED BY PEPE "JC" CASTELLVI AND EDDIE "EL FLACO" CLAVIJO, HOPING TO CATCH A BIG BLACK MARLIN. THEIR FISHING EFFORTS PAID OFF WHEN ON THE THIRD DAY WHEN "JC" HOOKED AND BROUGHT ALONGSIDE A 350 BLACK MARLIN. FRANKY ROVIROSA ENJOYED WATCHING HIS TWO SONS, FRANKY JR. AND ANDRES, INTENSELY FOCUS ON THEIR FISHING. THE YOUNGER ANGLERS HAD BROUGHT ALONG THE OWN RODS TO SEE IF IT WOULD STAND UP SOME REAL FISHING PRESSURE.

THE, "POPPER, POPPER, POPPER" FISHING BOAT WAS MANNED BY JORGE ROVIROSA, JIMMY "CRACKER JACK" MARTINEZ, TINO DOMINGUEZ AND WERE KEPT ENTERTAINED BY JAVIER MIRANA TELLING HIS PAST FISHING STORIES. IT WAS LIKE, "THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA," STORY WHEN THEIR BOAT CAUGHT A 150 LB YELLOWFIN TUNA, PLAYING THE FISH FOR 1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES DURING A TROPICAL DOWN POUR WHILE FISHING AT HANNIBAL BANK. TINO LANDED A HUGE 70 LB CUBER SNAPPER THAT MADE HIS DAY. BERNIE PIMENTEL SAID, "HE LEARNED MORE ABOUT FISHING IN 3 DAYS THAN HE HAD LEARNED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS."

THE ENTIRE GROUP THANKS JAY AND THE ENTIRE CREW OF PESCA PANAMA FOR THEIR WONDERFUL HOSPITALITY AND A GREAT FISHING EXPERIENCE. WE WILL BE BACK!

WRITTEN BY UNCLE GEORGE ROVIROSA

ALSO FISHING WITH PESCA PANAMA THIS WEEK WAS RETURNING ANGLER ERNEST JAQUENOUD AND HIS FRIEND MICHEL ANSELMO, BOTH FROM GENEVE, SWITZERLAND. THESE ANGLERS ARE AVID POPPER FISHERMEN WITH SOME DEEP JIGGING ADDED IN TO HELP INCREASE THE FISHING ACTION. JAQUENOUD HAD A GREAT DAY FISHING AT HANNIBAL BANK WHEN HE WAS ABLE TO LAND 26 TUNA, ALL CAUGHT ON A POPPER!

RAIN MARKS THE END OF THE DRY SEASON

OFFSHORE THIS WEEK WE EXPERIENCED OUR FIRST RAIN SHOWERS IN SEVERAL MONTHS. THE RAINS HELPED BRING THE HIGH WATER TEMPERATURES, 89 DEGREES, WE EXPERIENCED LAST WEEK DOWN THIS WEEK TO 86 DEGREES. WITH THE LOWERING OF THE SURFACE WATER TEMPERATURE THE FISH CAME BACK ON THE "BITE."

SCHOOLS OF YELLOWFIN TUNA WERE TO BE FOUND FEEDING AROUND MONTUOSA ISLAND AND HANNIBAL BANK. BLACK MARLIN WERE FEEDING AT HANNIBAL BANK AND ALSO AROUND ISLA LA DRONES. THE SEAS REMAINED CALM EXCEPT AROUND THE RAIN SHOWER FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK. SO PUT ON YOUR RAIN JACKETS AND BE READY TO SET THE HOOK. WITH THE START OF THE CHANGE OF THE SEASON, THE COOLER WATER AND THE INCREASED RIVER FLOWS PUSHING MORE BAIT INTO THE OCEAN, I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE OUR NORMALLY GOOD FISHING GET EVEN BETTER IN THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

THIS WEEK WE SAID OUR GOOD BYES TO CAPTAIN BEN FLOYD AS HE HAD TO RETURN NORTH TO FREEZE HIS NUTS OFF IN ALASKA. AFTER TWO MONTH OF FISHING IN THE WARM TROPICS I AM SURE IT WILL BE A SHOCK TO ALL OF THIS BODY PARTS. IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE HIM HERE FOR THE EIGHTH YEAR. HE PROVIDED A LOT OF HELP, MOSTLY IN THE BAR, TO ANGLERS AND STAFF ALIKE. THANK YOU BEN! ALL OF US AT PESCA PANAMA ARE AWAITING YOUR RETURN NEXT YEAR AND WISH YOU A SUCCESSFUL SALMON FISHING SEASON THIS YEAR WITH REEL CLASS CHARTERS FISHING OUT OF SIKTA, ALASKA.

THIS WEEK WE HOSTED FOUR DIFFERENT GROUPS FISHING OUT OF FIVE BOATS. FISHING WITH US THIS WEEK WERE ANGLERS KEITH NAVIDI, BRENDEN STAI, EDWARD WEMHOFF, RANDY ARNZEN, BILL SHOWALTER, ANDREA GONELLA, ROBERT BRAUNS, JAMES DIMAGGIO, TONY CAROLEO, TOM GERVAIS, SEAN POULK, JOHN DECKER, LARRY SMEARER, BRAIN HILLS AND DENNIS RAM

89 DEGREE WATER

A HOT CURRENT OF 89 DEGREE WATER FLOWED OVER OUR FISHING AREA THIS WEEK. AS THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER HEATED UP THE BITE COOLED DOWN. THOUGH OUR ANGLERS THIS WEEK ENJOYED THE CALMEST SEAS WE HAVE HAD ALL YEAR THEY ALSO SUFFERED THE SLOWEST FISHING OF THE YEAR. WITH THE TEMPERATURE CHANGE, THE FISH WENT OFF THE BITE!

BUT EVEN WITH THE BITE BEING WAY BELOW NORMAL, EVERY BOAT CAUGHT AT LEAST A FEW FISH EVERY DAY OF THE CHARTER. THERE WERE SOME CATCHES THIS WEEK THAT WERE NOTABLE. ON OUR SECOND DAY OF FISHING, 64 YELLOWFIN TUNA IN THE 40 TO 100 LB RANGE WERE CAUGHT. MANY MORE COULD HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IF THE ANGLERS ARMS DIDN'T START FEELING LIKE THEY WERE BEING PULLED FROM THEIR SOCKETS.

MARLIN WERE SCARCE THE FIRST PART OF THE WEEK. ANDREA MADE THE FIRST MARLIN RELEASE, AN ESTIMATED 450 LB BLACK MARLIN CAUGHT ON LIVE BONITA AT HANNIBAL BANK.

THE AREA AROUND ISLA LADRONES STARTED PRODUCING MARLIN ON THE LAST TWO DAYS OF THE TRIP. BRENDEN RELEASED A 250 LB BLACK, BILL RELEASED A 450 LB BLACK, TOM RELEASED A 430 LB BLACK AND TONY RELEASED A 450 LB BLACK. A COUPLE OF OTHER BLACK MARLIN WERE HOOKED DURING THIS TIME FRAME BUT ONE THREW THE HOOK, ANOTHER MANAGED TO SNAP THE MAIN LINE. THERE WERE SEVERAL MORE MARLIN THAT CAME IN ON THE LIVE BAITS BUT JUST WOULDN'T EAT. THIS LAST COUPLE OF DAYS PUT AND EXCITING ENDING TO WHAT OTHER WISE WAS A SLOW WEEK OF FISHING.

Fishing Report - 03/14/09

This week we welcomed back many old friends as well and meet a few new ones. Joining us this week was the Brune brothers Will and Tim from Wyoming and Maine, Jim Bee and Jeff Fergnsen from Colorado, Mark Danhausen from Minnesota. From New Jersey was Bill Hueslenbeck, Jimmy “The Savage” Ridgeway, Tom Keller, Don Hornefi, Wayne Thomas, Nick Ruemeli, Steve and Andy Wurst and Keith Hildebrandt

We started this week the same way that we ended last week, with a hot Roosterfish bite in the Paridas Islands. You know that there is some fish around when the Roosterfish are eating the Blue Runners off of your Sabiki. Jim, Jeff and Mark led the way landing three Roosters in their first day of fishing (one of which they landed on a size 4 hook on a sabiki rig). The guys landed six in total and saw many others come in on poppers that would not make the commitment.

Day two the crew ran into a huge school of Yellowfin Tuna in the 30 to 80 lb class at Montuosa Island. Although the fish were cruising the surface they would have nothing to do with topwater, so jigs and Blue Runners it was. Every boat landed between 3 and 7 tuna before hitting the beach in search of Roosterfish and Cubera Snapper.

The weather has been beautiful for the last week so there was nothing slowing the crew down from heading south, to Jicaron Island. The tuna bite has been ridiculous the last few weeks, but this week the school has broken up and become skittish. Everybody managed to land a couple Yellowfin on topwater before turning their sites on the inshore fishery. There was great jig action on Amberjack and chunk fishing for Cubera and Mullet Snapper on the reefs. While fishing at Hannibal Bank Will was also able to land a beautiful 350 lb Black Marlin. One of the best bites of the day came when Mark hooked a Snook on fly which was immediately eaten by a Saltwater Crocodile! Today was a great day in terms of diversity with 13 species of fish landed between the boats. That is not counting the Snook or Crocodile!

The Brune Brothers, Will and Tim, led the way on Tuesday landing 13 Tuna, most of them coming on the jig. While Will and Tim were working over the Tuna; Mark, Jim and Jeff were busy drifting baits landing eight Cubera at Montuosa. Jim Ridgeway hooked into a monster Cubera that was estimated at around 60 lbs before it was released to live another day. On their way back to the barge Steve, Andy and Keith stopped by the Snook Hole for one last shot. Andy hooked and landed his first ever Pacific Black Snook weighing 15 lbs. This came just after they had lost a estimated 300 lb Black Marlin that broke 100 lb test leader. The fish had eaten a Cedar Plug while they were trolling for tuna off Montousa. The following day Tim was able to get his Marlin, landing a beautiful 500 lb Black that put on an impressive aerial display at the boat!

Fishing Report - 03/07/09

When we pull off the dock headed for Coiba Island we never know what to expect. Neither did our first time guests Jack Duvall, Steve Ferro, Jack Ferro, Richard Galoau, Robby Byers, Jeremy Bingham, Mike Barrett, Dave Giles and Bob Dendy. Coming from Houston, TX the crew had tons of inshore experience but where hoping to expand on their offshore knowledge.

Arriving at Paridas Island on Saturday we encountered blue water and lots of fish activity eight miles out of the river mouth. The guys threw in their Dorado lures hoping to find dinner when Bob Dendy hooked his first Black Marlin weighing in at 250 lbs. The Black made a pass on a Skipjack that Dave had just hooked before switching to a plastic in the far rigger. Congratulations Bob!

Sunday morning we arrived at Montuosa Island to find the Yellowfin Tuna on the bite. Richard and Robby led the way landing four Tuna weighting in at 100, 120, 140 and 150 lbs before calling it quits and heading back into the barge with sore backs and aching arms! Steve and Jack Ferro were also able to get redemption on the Black Marlin that had gotten away the day before by landing a 250 lb Blue Marlin. To top off the day Mike and Jeremy decided to drop chunk baits on the reefs at "Magic Hour" landing 8 Cubera Snappers with the biggest weighting in at 55 lbs.

On Monday the boats headed to Jicaron Island to see what the Tuna were up to. The bite was on and the guys found fantastic topwater action landing Tuna in the 30 - 60 lb class. Jack stayed patient while all of this was going on waiting for his shot at a Black Marlin. He would not be disappointed. Around 2 in the afternoon 3 Black Marlin came into the spread at once! They danced behind the bridled Bonito for what seemed an eternity before two of them ate. The first one (estimated at 200 lbs) wrapped the leader on its' bill and missed the hook. This action got the other fish excited and the second Marlin ate the bait 15 feet behind the propellers. Jack landed the estimated 250 lb Black Marlin in 5 minutes. Landing the fish or not, those three Marlin put on quite a show that I will not soon forget and was one of those things that you would have to see to believe!

After the Tuna bite on Monday, the guys went searching for Marlin once again at Montuosa Island and Hannibal Bank. Here Mike and Jeremy hooked a Black Marlin that stayed on top for 30 minutes putting on quite the show. The fish had come in hungry eating three Bonito and getting hooked on two rods. The Marlin was estimated to weight around 450 lbs. when the live release was made. Richard and Robby saw their fair share of Marlin with four different fish come in on separate occasions, unfortunately not one of them would make the commitment to eat.

With good offshore fishing and bottom fishing all week the guys headed to the river mouths and inshore beaches looking for Roosterfish on the final day. Things started of slow until they found the action. The guys capped off the week landing seven Roosterfish in the last few hours of the trip while fishing in the Paridas Islands. The top two fish were landed by Dave Giles and Steve Ferro coming in at 40 lbs and 50 lbs respectively.

Fishing Report - 02/28/09

Greetings from the Tropics

This week Pesca Panama was excited to welcome back Coiba Island Veterans as well as a few first time fishermen. Master guide Mike Augat came down with seven guests including Sydney Waud, David Bell, George Apostolatos, Paul Heinold, Mike Davy, George Babikian and Paul Evans. Also joining us this week from Florida and Minnesota was Ron Smith, Jim Malters and Marv Isder.

The guys showed up prepared to throw anything and everything at the fish. From 7# fly rods to heavy duty popping rods, the guys were ready.

The inshore reefs off Coiba Island were a bit slower this week due to Red Tide. It did not seem to affect the offshore areas but made things difficult along the Coiba coastline. With slower fishing around Coiba and Tuna in their sights, the boats headed further south to Jicaron Island.

Monday the Tuna bite was on at Jicaron for the second week in a row landing up to 20 Tuna per day on topwater. The largest fish taken by Ron Smith weighed in at 90 lbs. On Tuesday all four boats headed back to Jicaron for one last look. They would not be let down! Once again the Tuna were jumping on topwater and jigs with many nice fish landed. The largest fish of the day were in the 60 to 70 pound range taken by Ron, Jim and Marv.

Throughout the week there was also some great jigging and chunk fishing for Cubera Snapper, Amberjack and Broomtail Grouper. George Babikian was also able to coax a couple of Roosterfish into biting throwing topwater at Jicaron and many Skipjack Tuna in the 8 to 12 pound range on the fly rod. Jim landed a fish of a lifetime pulling in a 60 pound Broomtail Grouper while George Apostolatos caught a huge and rare (for this area) Cabrilla. Congratulations guys on some fun fish!

Fishing Report - 02/21/09

Greetings from the Tropics

If there is one thing that reigns true of fishing at Coiba Island Panama, it would be you never know what is going to happen! This little spot in the ocean is very unique to fisherman. Boarding the boats in the morning, adrenaline pumping with anticipation, you literally have no idea what to expect! Over 30 species of sport fish ply the waters off this unique and beautiful coast and this week fishing with Pesca Panama.

Fishing with Captain Tommy this week was Captain Derek Floyd, Captain Travis Peterson and Panama first timer Scott Bumstead. This crew came looking for action and action they found casting topwater lures to 20 and 30 pound Yellowfin Tuna, landing over 70 Yellowfin during the week. Scott had the tuna catch of the week with this group when he landed a 100# brut on a jig, welcome to Panama Scott! This crew did not stop with offshore action working the inshore high spots and reefs these boys saw jig (iron) fishing at its best!!! Doubles triples and quads on XL Amberjack, Broomtail Grouper, Cubera Snappers, Roosterfish and on down the list. No were on earth could an angler see the line ripping action this crew encountered this week!!

Coming down from Florida was Aaron Hunt-Branch and the three brothers Bill, Bob and Fred Russell. The guys came looking for Marlin and they were just not here this week. That is what makes this place so different, when one fish isn't biting there is about twenty others to look for. The guys found great action on topwater landing Tuna, Cuberas, and many Jacks. They were also able to get in on that fantastic Tuna bite in Jicaron, landing up to 20 Tuna on topwater. Thank you guys for a great week!

Joining us from the chilly Northeast George Iacono, Tom Ciulla, Greg Iacono and George Large joined us for a week of casting topwater and dropping iron. George Iocono started off the week landing a 100 lb Tuna on topwater. Congratulations on a great topwater Tuna! The guys got in on some good jigging action landing Amberjack, Cubera, and a large Broomtail Grouper. The guys also were in on the Tuna action at Jicaron landing up to 20 in one day. The bite was on and Tom was able to land a beautiful 30 lb Tuna on fly free casting.

Pat Calella, Rich Koehler and Steve Schwartz also came down from the Northeast to fish with us for a week. The guys headed offshore and made the Tuna pay. Landing up to 10 a day with the two largest weighing in at 110 lbs and 150 lbs! They were also able to land one of the largest Sailfish we have ever seen. The fish was estimated to weigh every ounce of 175 lbs! Being expert wreck fisherman from the Northeast, the guys also got into some great bottom fishing landing up to 5 Cuberas a day and many "Reef Donkeys."

Fishing Report - 02/14/09

GREETINGS FROM THE TROPICS

Pesca Panama had quite a diverse group of fisherman joining us this week. From Southern California was John Clendenen, John Clendenen Jr, Carl Kliewer, and Carl Spahr. Coming all the way down to join us from the frozen grounds of Anchorage, AK was Randy and Joann Bridwell. They were also joined by good friends Larry and Dana Stauffer of Seattle, WA.

The rest of our anglers joined us via the East Coast ranging from Florida to New York. Dave Richardson and Dave Richardson Jr made their first trip with us this year. Pesca Panama veterans Jim Butterworth, Mike Newberry, and Bill Boteler made a return appearance to see if they could top their personal best of a 790 lb Black Marlin caught a couple years ago with us at Hannibal Bank! We were also very excited to welcome Kenny Kapner, Dave Pincus, Eugene Schettin, and master lure inventor Sy Karp!

With the north wind finally calming down the crew was full of anticipation to get back out to the blue water that had pushed in. We had predicted in the prior fishing report that we felt like the yellowfin tuna were on the brink of exploding into a free for all! Well, we were right on this call. The bite started with a bang when Dave Richardson Sr, while fishing with Captain Lucho, hooked an XL tuna going 220 lbs. The tuna bite lasted throughout the morning. While fishing with Captain Kili, John Jr and and Carl Spahr, landed a 100 lb and 80 lb tuna respectively. Not to be outdone Mike Newberry hooked and landed a 160 lb tuna while fishing with Captain Tatin.