Tropic Star Lodge - Fishing in Panama
Black, Blue and Striped Marlin abound in numbers unheard of elsewhere. Pacific Sailfish are there year-round, and from April through July multiple hookups are the rule rather than the exception. Dorado are also caught all year long and average from 20 to 60 pounds. Many people fish at Tropic Star Lodge to catch their record fish, also, they come to catch their first Black Marlin, Blue Marlin or other billfish. Our crews can help you as much or as little as you require. We issue beautiful certificates for those who catch their first billfish at the lodge.
Panama Marlin Fishing
Marlin fishing in Panama is an amazing experience. One reason for this is the Zane Grey Reef. It is a relatively small seamount of solid rock which has its base on the flat continental shelf in 350 feet of water. The sides of the seamount rise sharply to the peak which is composed of three distinct pinnacles; the two to the south rise to within 150 feet of the surface and are joined, but there is valley 205 feet deep between these two and a larger peak to the north. A number of bait species and their predators congregate around the seamount, sometimes in astounding numbers.
Panama Sport Fishing
Tropic Star Lodge holds over forty world records at the present time! The majority of these records are for black, blue, or striped marlin and Pacific sailfish. Most of the records at the Lodge were taken on light and ultra light line -- which is what Pinas Bay is recognized for throughout the World! Also, recently we have recorded over 23 Junior Angler World Records! Inshore there are amberjack, snapper, grouper, roosterfish, pompano, rainbow runner, mackerel, jack - the list keeps on going. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE I.G.F.A. WORLD RECORDS BROKEN IN PINAS BAY THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD -- over 170 World Records!
Inshore and Offshore Fishing
A typical fishing at Tropic Star day starts with catching bait and then bridling them up on circle hooks for a good soaking around the reef. Crews usually give the reef two or three hours to produce in the morning, and if the blacks don't show, they either head offshore to target blues, stripes or tunas or turn inshore to target the huge numbers of sails in the area. Black marlin here average 350 pounds, but 500- and 600-pounders are commonplace. (The first time I came down to the lodge, I watched light-tackle expert Raleigh Werking fight an estimated 600 pound black for over six hours on 16-pound test before eventually breaking off the fish because of darkness.)
All species of billfish and non-billfish can be caught year-round in the pristine waters off Piñas Bay. The prime Black Marlin season runs from December into April. The Pacific Sailfish start moving in April through June. July brings another run of Marlin; many in the five hundred pound range. Most of our fishing is done six to fifteen miles offshore in calm waters. In late January and February the north wind brings the cooler water and tailing Marlin. That’s the only time it can get a bit bumpy. Our fleet of 31’ foot Bertram’s is the perfect boat for fishing at Piñas Bay.
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