Panama Dreaming

[The_Mac]

Hi there

Anybody had experience flyfishing off Panama-other than the Tropic Start Lodge ??

Going to Islas Perlas on the Pacific side soon and wanted to hear from others with good or bad experiences.

[Goyito]

I have heard that Islas Perlas gets a lot of pressure compared to other areas in Panama. I fished with the mothership operation Pesca Panama three times, and they provide amazing fishing, combining reef fishing and blue water in the same week. They fish Coiba, Montuosa, and other nearby islands. Absolutely first-rate operation for fanatics who like to fish from dawn til dusk. If you look at the fishing reports at Pescapanama.com, you will see the monster cuberas, roosters, yellowfin and marlin taken on light tackle. I just felt like talking these guys up--I have no connection with the company. It is nice to find a fishing outfit that wants to fish as hard as you do. Good luck.

[ghost]

Pesca Panama is fine if all you want to do is bring home coolers of fish. I don't see them catching much in the way of billfish. That area has seen it's rise and fall over the last 40 years. Longliners out of Golfito have taken more than their share of sails and marlin from Hannibal Banks.

To answer your question about other areas. There is a new "operation" scheduled to go live next year in the islands just south of the canal. From what I've heard, it's gonna be a two small boat deal with lodging and meals.

[Frederick_Joslyn]

the fishing is still great in the Perlas, Pinas Bay and Coiba. check out the new kids on the block, www.tgpcc.com

[alf]

The area around the Hannibal Banks & Coiba is heavily fished and it's always produced billfish, but not until later in the season - May thru July. There's a new operator I saw on South Fishing's website (www.southfishing.com) the other day. I inquired as to the price and it wasn't that bad for four people, about $5k a piece. That's for a whole week of marlin fishing from a 55ft Viking.