Spectacular Yellowfin Fishing in Panama’s Gulf of Chiriqui

Those that fish Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge shortly come to understand these phrases. When Capt. Shane Jarvis says them, it’s a sign that he’s about to drive on tuna. 

We’re right here in mid-Could, peak season for yellowfins. The ­tuna haven’t disillusioned. The fish are up prime immediately—as they’ve been typically, these days—in fast-moving frenzies of birds, bait and tuna. On the Simrad, Jarvis notices a mark of birds a few mile away. It’s concentrated and secure; this a part of the world is ideal for chook mode. 

We run towards the mark, extensive open. Once we’re a quarter-­mile out, the spectacle turns into evident. Lots of of birds—boobies diving and frigates swooping—work the bait. Within the epicenter of exercise, the place the birds enter the water, yellowfins crash the floor round a floating pallet. A baitball huddles round it, trying to take shelter from the a whole lot of tuna and scores of porpoises. 

We will see that a few of the terrified prey—small blue runners and various triggerfish—have ended up atop the pallet, fully out of the water, the place the birds choose them off ­simply. Tuna crash the water instantly surrounding the pallet in concentric circles, the most important about 10 yards in diameter. Each infrequently, a bait is thrown into the air 6 or 8 ft excessive by attacking yellowfins. The vast majority of the tuna vary from 40 to 80 kilos, however there are some greater ones within the combine, their presence betrayed by the dimensions of the explosions they create within the water. 

“Cling on guys!” Jarvis warns as he drives the boat with willpower, easing again on the throttle solely because the boat glides in near the motion. His fleet consists of 4 33-foot catamarans—three World Cats and one Freeman—all ­perfect for the sort of fishing. Quick and maneuverable, with casting platforms on the bows, the boats have lengthy, open rails and beneficiant cockpits. 

By the point the cat’s ahead momentum has light, two Yo-Zuri Magazine Poppers and a stickbait are flying towards the chaos. Inside 60 seconds, we now have 5 rods connected and photographer Adrian Grey within the water. In most some other a part of the world, this tuna spectacle may be as soon as in a lifetime. Right here, it’s enterprise as typical.

Panama’s Gulf of Chiriqui

Though nonetheless a hidden gem for a lot of fishermen, Panama’s Gulf of Chiriqui is more and more identified to critical touring anglers. Concentrations of black marlin and enormous yellowfins round Coiba Island, Hannibal Financial institution and Isla Montuosa have been drawing of us to this a part of the world since The Madam and The Hooker days of the early Nineteen Eighties. The black marlin fishing will be nice right here, and the yellowfin fishery, when it comes to consistency, dimension and abundance, is among the many finest on the planet. That mentioned, there’s far more to this place than the ample pelagics. 

Jarvis, who owns the Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge, has been fishing right here since 2005. The operation has helped make the Gulf of Chiriqui and the good range of fishing choices central to the enchantment of those waters.

That makes the Gulf of Chiriqui a terrific place for anglers wishing so as to add to their species tally. When you put in your time, and issues line up accurately, you may realistically catch 15 species of fish throughout a go to right here. Offshore, there’s black marlin, blue marlin, large Pacific sailfish, yellowfin tuna, dorado and ­wahoo. Inshore, large roosterfish and cubera snapper await, and far more. You may catch amberjack, mullet snapper, rock snapper, bluefin trevally, jack crevalle, horse-eye jacks, gigantic needlefish, Sierra mackerel, broomtail grouper and others. Lodge boats even catch the occasional tarpon. You may jig or drop bait on deepwater construction for quite a lot of grouper and snapper that inhabit the depths. (No person has ever been sad to eat a snowy.)

The various species out there right here (many trophy-size) are simply a part of what makes the Gulf of Chiriqui particular. Chiriqui gives quite a lot of targets and the power to combine them into the identical day of fishing, whether or not offshore or inshore. This attribute is a operate of the area’s geography. Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge sits on the jap shoreline of Isla Parida. From the place the boats are moored, it’s about 40 miles to Coiba Island. Between Coiba and Isla Parida sit a whole lot of islands and rocky pinnacles, together with deep blue water. 

In locations like Islas Ladrones (17 miles from the lodge) and Isla Montuosa, rocky shorelines and underwater construction sit in shut proximity to the open Pacific. Because of this, you will be live-baiting for black marlin or casting poppers into our bodies of busting yellowfin tuna close by of a few of the most efficient inshore habitat you possibly can think about. It’s this focus of habitat that makes the Gulf of Chiriqui such a novel fishery. Different places would possibly provide good inshore and offshore alternatives, however sometimes, the most effective spots to catch pelagics and coastal species may be bodily separated by 40 to 50 miles or extra. 

Despite the fact that it’s located so near offshore fishing grounds, the inshore fishing within the Gulf of Chiriqui could be very productive. Have been it not for the unbelievable tuna fishing and presence of huge black marlin, inshore motion would take prime billing. The constant presence of huge roosterfish and massive cubera snapper lurking round pinnacles and rocky shorelines has been attracting anglers to this a part of the world for many years. This space is among the many finest in Central America to catch 40-plus-pound cuberas and roosterfish, and Jarvis’ group has caught each species as giant as 80 kilos.  

I recall an inshore-nearshore day perched on the casting platform of certainly one of Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge’s catamarans, casting poppers as near the wash of a rocky shoreline as I might get. Round Islas Ladrones, the clear, blue ocean water bounces off deep-brown boulders that jut from the ocean. The wash is white and blue, equal elements air and ocean, the place poppers loudly make their presence referred to as they name up the creatures that prowl beneath. The crest of a roosterfish in frothy ­water or the explosion of a cubera from the calm floor simply previous the zone the place the waves break are sights that may stick with me lengthy after I’ve left. 

Along with the massive fish inshore, the pure magnificence is intense. Coiba Island is a nationwide park and a United Nations World Heritage Web site. The seascapes are as uniquely lovely as they’re productive. A United Nations publication explains the enchantment, pointing to incomparable magnificence in “a variety of environments and ensuing habitats” because of the proximity “of each a continental and oceanic affect.” 

Learn Subsequent: Panama’s Topwater Yellowfins

Reside Baits Inshore and Offshore

Every Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge boat is outfitted with a livewell and a complement of tuna tubes. When boats depart the lodge every morning, livewells are full of dwell blue runners. These make nice baits for roosterfish inshore, or offshore colleges of yellowfins or dorado on floating logs. They are often slow-trolled from the middle rigger whereas live-baiting blue water (a lethal tactic for sailfish or tuna). The fleet will typically add to their day’s provide of blue runners in the event that they occur upon a baitball (the place the crew will take a scoop or two with a internet). 

Tuna tubes are a necessity right here, for each inshore and offshore functions. The clouds of black bonito that congregate round excessive spots within the Gulf of Chiriqui entice and maintain not simply pelagics, but additionally nearshore gamefish. A selection of two dwell bonito offshore can catch black marlin, blue marlin, sailfish, dorado or yellowfins. Inshore, these similar baits are go-tos for giant roosters and cuberas. There are locations, comparable to round Montuosa Island, the place you possibly can transition from fishing for black marlin to fishing for giant roosterfish with out reeling in your unfold. (Solely about 500 yards separates the waters the place you’d goal every species.) Wahoo can present up nearly wherever; it’s not exceptional for a wahoo to sky on a dwell bait, chopping the hapless creature ­surgically in two, which generally occurs nearshore and offshore. 

Ideally, anglers will get to benefit from the particular yellowfin fishery in these waters and expertise a few of the nice number of ­gamefish right here. Decisions, selections. 

Tuna Frenzies 

The range of ample fishing alternatives within the Gulf of Chiriqui is irrefutable. The actual fact stays, nevertheless, that tuna fishing is so singular and thrilling in the best way it unfolds that there are occasions when chasing selection would possibly miss the purpose. In any case, there aren’t many locations on the planet the place you possibly can typically see yellowfin tuna frenzies happening—not merely recognizing tuna up prime or a bunch of tuna chasing flying fish, however bona fide frenzies by which acres of the ocean are churned white by yellowfins crashing the floor and slinging themselves fully out of the water. This spectacle occurs right here with some frequency. Of the three and a half days of fishing we loved in Could, we noticed a number of. 

Journey Planner

Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge is situated 12 miles off the coast within the Gulf of Chiriqui on Isla Parida. It accommodates 20 visitors, who can fish in any of 4 33-foot energy cats making the run to iconic fishing spots comparable to Hannibal Financial institution and Isla Montuosa. Regardless of the distant location, visitors keep in two- or three-bedroom luxurious guesthouses with Wi-Fi, air-con and all of the comforts of house.

The lodge handles the entire logistics for visitors as soon as they attain David, Panama. This contains airport greeting, an evening in Panama Metropolis, home transfers and a trip to the island.

Bringing a load of rods and reels with you to the lodge isn’t mandatory. Boats are outfitted with high-quality, heavy spinning sort out and a full assortment of typical gear. You’ll discover Correct jigging outfits, Mustad jigs, and trolling and live-baiting reels in sizes 30, 50 and 80 with Blackfin rods. Every boat additionally carries an electrical deep-drop outfit for fishing deep construction. The lodge’s assortment of lures is equally thorough. Amongst these, Yo-Zuri Magazine Poppers and Hydro twitchbaits are equally at house offshore on the advancing fringe of a porpoise college (the place you’ll discover the tuna) as they’re round ledges, pinnacles and rocky shorelines close to islands.