GATEWAYS TO COIBA
by
Tony Peña
“This
Panama
Hotspot Is A World-class Billfishery”
When
venturing to foreign billfish grounds local knowledge can be a great asset.
January 9, 2002
, found us trolling over the famed Hannibal Bank in the
Coiba
Island
region of
Panama
with Captain Antonio A. “Chombo” Isazas of the Coral Star fleet. Noting that the water was ebbing, off-color and holding sparse bait
concentrations Chombo suggested we work the deep blue water often found south of
Montuosa Island about eight miles west of our position. “We can come back later about
three o’clock
when the tide is high. A high,
slack tide is good on this bank. The
baits school up and stay on top better,” advised Chombo.
Off
Montuosa we had 86° flat, blue water and spent the day releasing sailfish,
yellowfin tuna and dorado. One
400-pound black marlin stealthily swam towards the boat with one of our live
skipjacks, quickly shaking it free before we knew what happened. By
2:30
p.m.
I
noticed Chombo looking at his watch and with a slight nod of his head his
“mate”, Captain Antonio “Kid” Murray started clearing the deck for a
fast run to
Hannibal
.
Kid, who usually skippers another fleet boat, was taking advantage of a
light early-season week by accepting my offer to join Californian Sabrina
Williams and me for some fun fishing.
By
the time we arrived at
Hannibal
most
of the sportboats had departed even though the bait was up, birds were working
and things looked “fishy”. Kid
bridal-rigged two black skipjack and dropped them back in staggered distances
from the outriggers. Within five
minutes the starboard outrigger was yanked down until the pin finally released
under heavy pressure. This fish was
hungry and Chombo advised in animated tones for Sabrina to push the lever drag
up and let the circle hook do its job. A
300-pound blue burst from the calm surface spraying water as it made a
characteristic series of low profile power lunges interspersed with high,
tail-kicking leaps. It expended lots
of energy on the surface and was released by Kid within 20 minutes of hookup.
We congratulated Chombo on making a perfect call this day while chiding
him on being lucky as well.
Later,
on
March 14, 2002
,
Chombo upped his personal best with an estimated 900-pound black marlin. Angler Valentina Cugnasca hooked the big fish off
Montuosa
Island
.
It was released after a one hour fight on relatively light tackle. A 30 International with 50-pound line was used.
Fish
get big in Coiba waters. Dennis
Braid, owner of Braid Fishing Products, is a giant tuna fanatic who frequents
the
Revillagigedo
Island
area
of
Mexico
via
the long range fleet based in
San Diego
as
well as the giant bluefin tuna fishery off
North
Carolina
. “Few places can put you on monster tuna on smaller boats in calm seas
than
Panama
,”
says Braid. “The Hannibal Bank is
so reliable I score on big fish every trip by chunking, slow trolling live
skipjack or trolling lures. Everything
seems to work. My last trip on
a “Coral Star” boat in March (’02) I taped-out a yellowfin at 300 pounds
before releasing it,” adds Braid. All
of Braids fish including marlin are taken stand-up style.
Captain
Kit Mc Near, Director of Education for Western Outdoor News, also likes to fish
stand-up style. Fishing this way in
Panama
is a
real challenge. During the third
week of January, Mc Near was trolling from Julian “Jay” Gustin’s 55-foot
Hatteras “The Angler” near
Montuosa
Island
with
the new Sevenstrand Sonic lure. It
produces a battery-driven sound like a wounded baitfish. After it was attacked
repeatedly by sails, yellowfin tuna and dorado a 450-pound black marlin finally
got a chance and took it deep, pinning Mc Near to the transom. Mc Near short-stroked the fish hard, motivated by the challenge as well
as to recover the pricey $240 lure. Second
skipper Travis Peterson released the marlin cleanly and got the lure back.
“There’s such a variety of fish here in all sizes that it’s easy to
get a tackle mis-match and could get you tied up for hours on a big one. I don’t like to use anything less than a 50-wide outfit for this
reason,” advises Mc Near.
PANAMA
ON THE MAP
Panama
is
not a secret to international billfish anglers. The
Coiba
Island
region, with its numerous banks, seamounts and islands positioned near the
meandering 1000-fathom drop-off, provides a spectacular habitat that has been
attracting top-level pelagics for eons and fishermen for decades. The real challenge has been to find ways to access the region and fish it
effectively by spending multiple days on the water aboard reliable vessels with
experienced crews. Several operators
have faced the logistical hardships that only a remote, isolated venue can test
you with, including fuel delivery, boat maintenance, fresh food sources and
finding competent staffs, issues that are easy to resolve in more developed
countries.
The
demise this year of the well-run and largest operator in the area, the “Coiba
Explorer II” mothership and her fleet of 26– to 28-foot sportfishers, raised
eyebrows and concern regarding continued access to the region that so many
anglers have become accustomed to. Since
I make three or four trips annually to
Panama
I too
was concerned with the immediate future of its sportfishing capability. Motivated by self-interest as well as a desire to share information about
the status of the region today and its promising future, I spent a few months
researching and fishing with both established and new operators that will fill
any perceived sportfishing void. In
fact, the diversity of fishing styles, size of operators, quality of boats,
choices of liveaboard or land-based programs and level of experience is greater
now than at any other time. Here’s
a rundown of what’s available now and what is planned for next season.
RETURN
OF THE “CORAL STAR”
For
those anglers who enjoy the large mothership concept, the 115-foot “MV Coral
Star” is now back in service for fishing and has been fully refurbished.
New owner Don Perkins has devoted his vessel to sportfishing while
setting aside some weeks for his dive clientele. Perkins has purchased much of the “Coiba Explorer II” fleet and has
outfitted each sportfisher with new engines. Unlike its predecessor, the “Coral Star” is not fixed at one location
and may drop anchor at a number of venues close to the hottest action, including
Montuosa
Island
,
Jicaron
Island
or
Coiba
Island
.
At times anglers may be as close as a ten-minute run to the billfish
grounds.
The
“Coral Star” fleet consists of four 28-foot Pursuits, a 30-foot Rybo Runner
and a 34-foot Delta. The mothership
is very comfortable with individually controlled air conditioned rooms including
two master staterooms with queen size beds and full bath on the main deck, two
deluxe and four standard cabins on the lower deck with portholes, sink and
vanity, both private and shared shower and head. All rooms have new VCR set-ups with a good selection of video tapes.
Several sun decks with lounge chairs and a covered “Fantail Bar” are
favorite gathering spots. A variety
of games are available for indoor relaxation while sea kayaking, scuba diving,
snorkeling and exploring from 18- to 22-foot motor launches can augment the
fishing. Some anglers choose to fish
at night from the mothership and have a blast with a wide variety of
night-feeders. While anchored at
Bahia Hermosa on
Coiba
Island
we
caught several cubera snapper, including a 45-pounder by the ships cook Andrew
Robinson on a handline. Larger fish
were lost.
The
“Coral Star” operates from November to August on a Saturday through Friday
basis. Most anglers fly into
Panama
City
on Friday and depart on Saturday however, I recommend
adding a few days to explore
Panama
’s
natural attractions as well as cosmopolitan
Panama
City
. Upon
arrival in
Panama
,
Executive Service Representatives greet you and process your luggage and customs
clearance so no waiting in line is necessary as you relax in the VIP Lounge.
After overnighting at the 5-Star Caesar Park Hotel, an early-morning
flight to David completes the travel leg as the “Coral Star” is homeported
at the nearby
port
of
Pedregal
.
After an orientation meeting and lunch anglers often have a choice of
fishing the afternoon and rendezvousing with the mothership at its first
anchorage or staying aboard as it navigates through the mangrove river system
and open sea lanes to the outer islands. During
low tide periods the “Coral Star” will already be in deep water offshore and
anglers will depend on the fleet boats for transfers.
A
typical fishing day is from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. so there is plenty of time to
spend on the offshore grounds pursuing blue and black marlin, yellowfin tuna,
dorado (dolphinfish), wahoo and sailfish among others.
A growing number of even hardcore bluewater enthusiasts are taking some
time to get in on the hot inshore action with the resident roosterfish, bluefin
and bigeye trevally, amberjack, cubera snapper, mullet snapper, rainbow runner,
broomtail grouper and black snook. Penn
International 20’s, 30’s, 50’s and 80’s are provided as well as 30-pound
class spinning outfits, however, I suggest bringing your favorite light to
medium tackle suitable for deep jigging and surface popping.
The Shimano Calcutta 400 and 700 filled with 30-pound and 50-pound
spectra with mono or copolymer leaders has been very effective on the pelagic
middleweights as well as the inshore gamefish.
A
week of fishing with the “Coral Star” costs from $3,000 to $5,000 per person
depending on the month, limited load specials or fishing seminar trips. November, which is a transitional month weatherwise, is usually priced
lower than the peak December to March period. Prices include everything except airfare to
Panama
, bar
tab and crew tips. Contact Sherri
Wilson at 866-924-2837.
PESCA
PANAMA
Owner
Julian “Jay” Gustin came to
Panama
looking for a winter fishery to augment his successful
Alaska
charter operation. It didn’t take
long to get hooked on the
Coiba
Island
region and he quickly devoted his time and resources in developing an
exceptional, customized operation built around “The Angler, a high tech
55-foot Hatteras. Gustin also
brought his top crewman, Captain Travis Peterson, to help with the transition.
The term “customize” fails to adequately describe how the clients can
be involved with onboard decision-making. Before
departure and every evening there is a gathering of crew and clients to discuss
variables such as sea condition, weather, bait movement, fishing style or
species to be pursued so that the general itinerary can be adjusted if necessary
to give the client the best possible experience. With a maximum of four anglers, many clients split the group between
island skiff fishing and blue water trolling and rendezvous before dark at a
pre-determined anchorage.
“The
Angler” has all the high tech equipment an angler could ask for.
Spreader outriggers, downriggers, fighting chair, tuna tubes, central air
conditioning and the latest in safety and electronic equipment including
satellite communications, as well as gourmet meals are some of the amenities.
Conventional, spinning and flyfishing tackle is provided such as Fin Nor,
Penn, Shimano, Islander, Abel, Loomis, Calstar and Sage.
Scuba and snorkel gear is also available.
The
standard fishing package is five days from Saturday to Wednesday. Clients usually arrive on Friday in
Panama
City
and overnight at the Marriott Hotel. A short flight to David and transfer to Pedregal starts the fishing on
Saturday morning. Captain Travis
Peterson may have “wet his teeth” in Alaskan waters but you would never know
it. Peterson has some of the best
local knowledge and skills to be found in
Panama
.
Peterson is very effective in the cockpit as well as running the skiff
working nearshore hotspots.
For
next season beginning September 2002, Gustin will be changing the fishing format
to accommodate more anglers. They
have completely refurbished the “floating lodge” that served as the original
“Coiba Explorer” guest quarters and will be anchoring it at a prime Coiba
location. Upgrades include air
conditioning, new galley salon and bar. It
can accommodate 12 people. A new
fishing fleet is also being introduced which includes three 27-foot center
console Ocean Masters. The cost per
angler is $2,495 (four anglers per boat), $2,995 (three anglers), and $3,495
(two anglers). For information and
reservations contact Teri Fritch at 800-946-3474.
COIBA
ADVENTURE SPORTFISHING
Captain
Tom Yust has more than ten years of experience fishing the Coiba Region. The enthusiastic Yust has guided anglers via several operations including
a mothership, floating lodge, private island base and now from the old Club
Pacifico site at the northern end of
Coiba
Island
.
A 31-foot Bertram and 22-foot Mako comprise the Coiba Adventure fleet
that is personally run by Yust. “Adventure”
is his key word as Yust won’t hesitate to lead his clients to a freedive with
billfish and giant tuna or kayaking up jungle rivers and photographing the local
crocodiles and other wildlife. “Some
people just fish, we explore,” is his motto.
The
customized trips are flexible with three to seven day itineraries. Up to six anglers can be accommodated.
All fishing tackle is provided. Circle
hooks are the standard as all billfish are released. Trip costs vary with the itinerary selected.
A Friday to Sunday “Poor Boy” trip aboard the Bertram is $900 per
person, (three anglers), while a six day trip based at the Club Pacifico is
$3,750. For more details contact
their
U.S.
office at 800-800-0907, or
Panama
office at 011-507-999-8108.
LAS
OLAS RESORT
This
40-room resort is located on Playa La Barqueta near the City of
David
.
For anglers that prefer a land-based operation this is a good option. Owner Juan Arauz offers a variety of accommodations including suites and
penthouses all with oceanfront views. The
resort has two swimming pools, spa, weight room, room service, gourmet
restaurant and other first-class amenities. A 34-foot Proline sportfisher is docked at nearby Pedregal and can do
overnight trips to
Coiba
Island
environs as well as one day local trips. Daily
room rates start at $80 while the total one day charter boat cost is $750.
A two-day charter is $1,000 inclusive (food, drinks, tackle, etc.). Contact the
U.S.
office at 800-346-1329 extension 806, or
Panama
at
011-507-772-3000.
RIO NEGRO
SPORTFISHING LODGE
“We
fish standup and barefoot,” describes Captain Tom Giles of his relatively low
cost, land based operation located east of
Coiba
Island
on
the
Azuero
Peninsula
.
The
Rio Negro
fleet
consists of 26-foot super pangas driven by 85 horsepower Yamaha outboards.
The emphasis is on light tackle gamefish such as dorado, school yellowfin
tuna, wahoo and roosterfish, however, guests can pursue sailfish as well. Both blue and black marlin are encountered but are not considered part of
their target species. The fishing
grounds include the waters off Punta Naranjo at the southwestern tip of the
Azuero Peninsula, Cebeco Island as well as Coiba Island about 30 miles due west.
The
lodge accommodates up to four anglers in two air conditioned, double occupancy
guest rooms that feature a large patio and dining kiosk. It is a four-hour drive from
Panama
City
or a short domestic flight to
Santiago
and
ground transfer. A five day fishing
trip including six nights double occupancy, meals, boat and tackle is $1,500 per
person. Non-fishing guests are
charged $60 per night. For more
information contact Captain Tom Giles at 305-294-0603, (after
5 p.m.
).
