Bill Boyce filming at Cebaco Bay, Panamá

[Cebaco Bay]

Bill Boyce has just been back to Cebaco Bay to make another episode of his series, "IGFA Saltwater Adventures" to be broadcast on the "World Fishing Network" later this year.

Here is his report ...



REPORT: To my Sponsors of IGFA Saltwater Adventures, on WFN

SUBJECT: Latest TV shoot in Cebaco Bay, Panama

Hello to you all and my many thanks for your product and destination sponsorships for season 2. I just wanted to give you an update on the series and the performance of your products during these shoots. It is my way of keeping you all informed, while showing our appreciation for believing in us to bring exposure to your products and services.



PANAMA: We just returned home from two very successful filming expeditions to finish episodes 3 and 4. First stop was the secluded mother ship / sportfisher destination of Cebaco Bay, Panama. The boat sits in a very serene bay on the south side of Cebaco Island on the Pacific side of Western Panama. Our host, Hennie Marais and the awesome crew of the operation made the 6 day trip very successful even before we wetted a line. It was our second filming trip to Cebaco Bay for the series, and it was OFF THE CHARTS. We were joined by Jim Johansen and his fiance, Carmen in their quest for their first blue and black marlin.



We fished 4 full days and hooked up two large black marlin, the first snapping us off at the TUFF-Line braid / monofilament line connection (my fault, I never checked on the mates attachment of the 50 lb. mono "top-shot" to the 80 lb. TUFF-Line braid (IT should have been 100 lb. mono). They were not familiar with the extreme strength and small diameter of this superior braided line and when we set the drags to fish the 80 lb. TUFF-Line, the lighter mono line snapped as the 500 lb. black marlin took off on a torrid 200 yard grey-hounding run. The second black marlin bite just came un-buttoned after it picked up the bait and was merely "bill wrapped". We did have amazing success on two beautiful yellowfin tuna. A 70 lb. tuna caught on a 20 - 50 lb. FOX five piece travel rod, with a EOS star drag casting reel, loaded with 50 lb. TUFF-Line braid. A great fight on film, and many on-camera vocal tributes to the MOJO line of clothing that was keeping me extremely comfortable in the Panama humidity, and shout-outs to the toughness of the line, and the durability of the rod and reel combo. On-camera mention to the NCMC (National Coalition of Marine Conservation) new WILD OCEANS Campaign was made during the fight to inform people that wild oceans like what we were experiencing in Panama is the thrust of the campaign in the U.S. to keep our fisheries in balance to achieve the same fishing opportunity results. This yellowfin was followed up with another one of 100 lbs. This one being caught and subdued quickly on the super powerful 50-80 lb. four piece stand-up FOX travel rod, and 80 lb. TUFF-Line braid. Both were caught live baiting in porpoise schools.



Our lure sponsor, STEMSON just introduced their GIT LIT series of plastic baits that are more realistic than ANYTHING currently on the market. We couldn't wait to wet them and see what would eat them...!!! They performed INSANELY..!!! We caught almaco jacks (a close brethren to the amberjack) snappers, jack crevelle, and a nice 15 lb. "schoolie" yellowfin tuna. In fact, we were trolling the MINI MACK right beside the most fished tuna lure in the world, a STEMSON Cedar Plug, and the MINI MACK got chewed first...!! We also caught a nice 25 lb. dorado on a 14" STEMSON "Reflex" marlin lure that made a great dinner for all on the ship that night.

We fished inshore with the new FOX Stratos 20000 TWO-SPEED spinning reel, the worlds FIRST ever produced and it proved it's effectiveness on a few inshore fish, a barracuda on a STEMSON popper, and a nice bluefin trevally on a STEMSON popper caught by my #1 cameraman, Daryl Van Slack at the famous Sombrero Rock.



On the last day, time was running out for Jim and Carmen on their marlin quest and they previously had three marlin bites that went un-hooked. They were fishing live tunas on the Aguja Reef, (where we had had our two previous bites) and at the top of the tide at noon on the last day, they hooked up... !! In fact they both hooked up.. the same marlin on two lines.!!! The hungry blue marlin was huge and was successfully caught and released, albeit not IGFA legal but they were both super stoked..!! Then an hour later, they called us on the radio to report a second marlin hooked up, we throttled up and slid in on that fight to get some footage. Jim did a great job on a 250 lb. black, giving us all a great show.



We fished the reef beside them and our mate, Aliso, landed a "donkey-sized" 60+ lb. almaco jack on a STEMSON Butter Flutter jig. A great trip for the sponsors gear and awesome exposure for the Cebaco Bay operation that put us on such amazing fishing.



Sincerely Tightest of Lines,

Bill Boyce
Executive Producer / Host
IGFA Saltwater Adventures
World Fishing Networ

Don't forget to check our website and facebook for updated fishing reports, and for information on our sportfishing vacations.