Subscribe to Marlin magazine and get a year of highly collectible, keepsake editions – plus access to the digital edition and archives. Sign up for the free Marlin email newsletter.
On the Pacific side of Panama, big-game sport fishing began in the 1930s. Sport-fishing vessels set off from Panama City to visit the Perlas Islands in search of sailfish and the ultimate quarry, the black marlin. In 1942, S. Kip Farrington wrote in his book Pacific Game Fishing about the incredible black marlin fishing this region offered. Farrington also noted the excellent sailfishing and inshore fishing in the area.
This summary of the sport-fishing potential on the Pacific coast of Panama is still relevant today. From Piñas Bay in the southeast to Coiba and farther west toward Costa Rica, the inshore and offshore fishing are consistently good throughout the year. Typically, the dry season runs January to April. From May to November, count on rain. Even so, the fish keep biting. Be prepared and pack a good raincoat.
The Schmidt family living in Panama City pioneered sport fishing along the Pacific coast. They were the first to build liveaboard vessels and trek over 100 miles southeast to a place called the Piñas Reef. One of the best fishing destinations in the Western Hemisphere, Club de Pesca de Panama in Piñas Bay, was created in 1963 by Texan oil tycoon Ray Smith. The lodge was renamed Tropic Star Lodge in 1967. Just a short run from Piñas Bay is the famous Piñas Reef, called by some the Zane Gray Reef, though Gray never fished there.
In the last seven years, Tropic Star Lodge has undergone major improvements to accommodations, boats and other infrastructure, including well-appointed family-owned villas. There are 16 classic 31-foot Bertrams and three 45- to 47-foot Vikings and Hatteras convertibles for larger fishing teams. As with most fishing lodges on the Pacific coast, access is possible only by boat or plane from Panama City.
The inshore shelf off the adjacent dramatic Darien coastline here is at 300 feet. Just 4 miles from Piñas Bay sits Piñas Reef, the tiny seamount rising to 150 feet from the surface. This oceanographic phenomenon creates a fish bowl with a dense biomass of bait species in a small area. More black marlin have been caught off Piñas Bay in the past 60 years than any other location, apart from the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Additionally, Tropic Star Lodge has been the source of more world records—for a wide variety of species—than any other single location on the planet.
The past 10 months have seen a record-breaking season with the most blue marlin and black marlin releases, including more than 200 grand slams and counting, since the lodge opened 62 years ago. The peak of the black marlin season runs from January to March, though they are encountered year-round. Blue marlin and sailfish are available all year as well. Once abundant, striped marlin have suffered most from commercial fishing by neighboring Colombia and particularly Ecuador.
Moving west, the Perlas Islands archipelago supports productive shallow-water fishing for roosterfish, yellowfin tuna, large almaco jacks, bluefin trevally, cubera snapper, and tarpon that originally came through the Panama Canal. Tarpon have thrived in the eastern Pacific in the last century due to the high quantity of bait species in the region. Unfortunately, the potential for marina development and infrastructure on the Perlas Islands has not materialized.
However, charter boats from Panama City are available to cruise these productive islands. Zane Andrews operates Cheers, a 65-foot motherboat, with his 46-foot Hatteras, Hooked Up. They regularly visit Piñas Bay, the Perlas Islands and Coiba, and Montuosa and Hannibal Bank to the western side of Panama. These are some of the best places to fish in Panama. Hannibal Bank and Montuosa are famous for black marlin and blue marlin. Schools of spotted dolphins show up regularly, accompanied by large yellowfin tuna, which anglers target on live bait and poppers.
Sport Fishing Lodge Panama, owned by Shane Jarvis, operates from Isla Paridas in the middle of the Paridas Archipelago. With its fleet of five 33-foot World Cats, the lodge feels upscale yet off the grid on a private island. Its boats are perfect for their trademark run-and-gun style of chasing schools of tuna and casting poppers at feeding melees of fish. Access is by a short flight from Panama City to David and then a one-hour boat ride from the port of Pedrigal.
If you are looking for a kayak-fishing experience, Los Buzos is the location to visit. TV personality and fishing show host Robert Field put this location on the chart with his exploits catching massive roosters, almacos, cuberas, mullet snapper, corvina, broomtail grouper, and even black marlin, sailfish, wahoo, tuna and large sharks from kayaks and support pangas. Typically, black snook abound around rivermouths and along beaches. Be aware that the tidal variation averages 16 feet twice per day. The hard-fighting jack crevalle are abundant everywhere. They can even be found far offshore in large numbers, accompanied by an unlikely ally, blacktip sharks, all plundering the baitfish that hang out beneath flotsam.
The marlin bonanza this year has been experienced all along the Pacific coast of Panama, from Piñas Bay in the east to central and western Panama, including Coiba, Jicaron, Hannibal Bank and Montuosa. Offshore, flotsam, big logs and trash lines are fishing destinations all on their own. In the rainy season, rivers bring down whole trees, branches and, unfortunately, a lot of plastic trash. Run-and-gun fishing looking for logs can be very productive anywhere offshore in Panama. Some anglers prefer casting jigs and small lures for dorado, while others fish live green jacks for sailfish and use live bonitos for marlin. A good tree can be loaded with bonitos and, therefore, billfish too. Good luck and tight lines.
Lodges in Panama
- Tropic Star Lodge, Piñas Bay: A legendary big-game lodge founded in the 1960s, world-renowned for black marlin and sailfish. It features upgraded villas, classic Bertrams and top-tier service in a remote jungle-meets-ocean setting.
- Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge, Isla Paridas: This upscale yet off-the-grid private island lodge in the Paridas Archipelago offers a fleet of World Cats and fast run-and-gun tuna fishing adventures.
- Los Buzos Resort, Cambutal: This ultimate destination for kayak anglers, popularized by fishing personality Robert Field, offers access to giant roosters, cuberas, and even marlin.
Marinas in Panama
For those visiting Panama with their own vessel, there is no shortage of marinas on both the Caribbean and Pacific sides of the canal. Here are a few options for the traveling operation wishing to explore the Pacific side of Panama.
- Marina Cocos: Conveniently located near Panama City, this modern facility provides full-service slips, fuel, and easy access to the Perlas Islands.
- Marina de Pesca: This popular local marina offers essential services, dockage, and proximity to downtown Panama City’s amenities.
- Vista Mar Marina: This luxury marina complex with deepwater slips, restaurants and resort facilities is ideal for larger sport-fishers heading west toward Coiba and Hannibal Bank.
- Flamenco Marina: Situated at the end of the Amador Causeway, this well-equipped marina is a hub for charters and private yachts, with customs, fuel and panoramic city views.
Hotels in Panama City
Depending on your flight schedule, overnighting in Panama City may be required when coming and going from your Panama adventure. The modern Panama City has a multitude of lodging options. Here are a few of the favorites preferred by anglers.
- Bristol Panama Hotel: An elegant urban retreat in the heart of Panama City’s financial district, blending Panamanian art, gourmet dining and boutique luxury.
- American Trade Hotel: Set in Casco Viejo, this restored landmark offers timeless charm, rooftop views, and easy access to the city’s historic attractions.
- Hilton Panama: A hotel with modern comfort on the waterfront, with sweeping Pacific views, multiple dining options, and proximity to marinas and nightlife.
