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What to expect on fishing days, you will receive your personalized wakeup call at 5:30 a.m. An American style breakfast is served in the dining room at 6:00 a.m. and our boats cast off from the lodge’s dock at 6:30 a.m. The boats head out each morning to one of the 3 hotspots (La Drones Hannibal Banks and Isla Montuosa). Our 6 Captains are in constant communication with each other via VHF Radio so if there’s a good bite happening elsewhere, they will be sure to let you know so you can decide if you would like to get in on the action. Lines are picked up no later than 4:00 p.m but if you are hooked up, you will be given extra time (within reason) to land the fish. Boats must be back well before dark. Please talk to our Fishing Director should you prefer a different fishing technique or would like to target a specific species. Our crews speak limited English but can communicate about fishing in English.

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WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO FISH?

Panama Sport Fishing Lodge® offers superb year round blue water fishing. If you are looking for a coveted BLACK MARLIN OR GRAND SLAM then December through early June Although our guests catch 3 different species of Marlin and giant Pacific Sailfish all year long, April through June are excellent months for inshore fishing around Isla Coiba and near Punta Hermosa.  A productive day inshore can produce Cubera Snapper, YellowFin Tuna, Mahi Mahi (dorado), Rooster Fish, Grouper and Wahoo.

 

WHAT TIME DO WE GO OUT FISHING?

The boats depart no earlier than 6:30 a.m. and will start their return to the dock no later than 4:00 p.m.

(Unless there is a late hook -up).

If you want to maximize your fishing experience and amount of fish you catch don`t forget our Mother Ship services.  

 

WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE? 

Temperatures during the day range between 80° F and 90° F (25-30 degrees Celsius). It cools off in the evenings which are invariably pleasant. There are two seasons - the “Dry” season and the “Green” season. The dry season is from mid-December until May and green season from May until December. “Dry” means it rarely rains and the “Green “season means typically a refreshing tropical shower late each afternoon. Throw-in your rain gear in just in case.  Very rarely does it rain all day, no need to worry about the green season putting a damper on your blue water fishing plans.

Panama Sport Fishing Lodge is open year around. Even during the Green Season we book many fishing groups. These months produce great numbers of trophy Wahoos and impressive YellowFin Tuna. The surrounding islands produce phenomenal and easily accessible fishing though out the green season.  During this time of year the inshore action includes Roosterfish, monster Pacific Snook, Snapper, Pompano, Blue Trevally and Amber Jack.

 

CAN I BRING HOME FISH I CAUGHT?

Catch and carry. We filet and freeze the catch but do not vacuum seal the fish.  Bring your own cooler and pack a duffle bag.

 

HOW ARE THE SEA CONDITIONS?

Fairly calm waters, the roughest seas (4 to 6 feet) normally occur from January through March.

 

WHAT ARE THE SIZE & KIND OF THE BOATS WE USE?

We have a large fleet of 7 35' foot center consoles varying in brand.  We can accommodate up to 30 anglers.

 

DO YOU FISH WITH BAIT OR LURES?

We primarily use live baits, belly strips, dead bait and also artificial lures when conditions are right. We also utilize bait while switching up techniques for billfish, where we throw on hook-less teasers and troll them behind the boat until the billfish surfaces and strikes the teasers, the mate then throws either alive or dead bait near the strike and pulls the teaser away. The strikes are usually very explosive. We also fish top water poppers/plugs for Yellowfin Tuna. Roosterfish, Cubera snapper and other inshore game fish.

 

WHAT SPECIES CAN WE CATCH?

Through-out the year you can catch Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Striped Marlin and Giant Pacific Sailfish. Yellowfin Tuna are also available during a handful of months and Dorado are available almost year-round. There’s lots of variety inshore but the most targeted species are Roosterfish, Cubera Snapper, Amberjack, Wahoo, Grouper and Pacific Snook.  

 

Please refer to our Available Species Page for more details on prime months for each species.

 

DO YOU SUPPLY ALL THE TACKLE? WHAT TACKLE IS USED?

Our lodge supplies all the tackle you will need to catch every available species.  We use only top quality reels from Shimano , Tiagra 50s and 30s , Torsa 40s and Trinidad 40s (Jigging) , Stellas 20000 and 10000 (Popping) , Rods are Shimano Taullus for heavy action , OTI Tuna Sniper for Casting and Popping , OTI Xtreme Jigging rods and Shimano Trevala rods , spooled with Momoi Blue Diamond lines , lures , Jigs , Poppers