Panama’s Top Sportfishing Destination, Hannibal Bank

Panama’s Top Sportfishing Destination, Hannibal Bank

On Hannibal Bank you like to imagine you’re Papa Hemingway. An image of the bristly-bearded author flashes in your mind just as a giant marlin yanks your line. You don’t believe it until you glimpse his iridescent fins glinting in the waves; this is really happening. In these same waters you encounter numerous other big game fish such as tuna, sailfish, and dorado. Panama is blessed with rich biodiversity. This bounty extends to the waters just off the country’s Pacific coast. The word Panama loosely translates to abundance of fish.

Isla Palenque sits at the doorstep of one of the world’s prime sport fishing destinations. About 50 miles off the coast of Panama in the Golfo de Chiriqui, between the island of Coiba and Isla Montuosa, lies the world-famous Hannibal Bank. Hannibal Bank is a large undersea canyon with banks and pinnacles that peak near the surface, sometimes less than 50 feet below your boat. Strong underwater currents of upward-moving cool water provide an influx of feeding fish. These species, referred to as bait fish, attract big game species such as blue and black marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo, grouper, and yellowfin tuna. Hannibal Bank comprises just a small portion of a 3000-foot-deep oceanic shelf extending more than 200 miles.



Anglers distinguish between offshore and inshore fishing. Offshore fishing takes place far enough from shore that the bottom structure doesn’t matter. Tuna and marlin can be found in these conditions, pursuing schools of fish in water thousands of feet deep. These are typical big game fish, but if you ever find yourself struggling with one of these colossal fighters, you certainly won’t think of them as typical.

Inshore fishing requires the angler to seek out fish based on the bottom structure, regardless of whether the actual fishing occurs near the surface or on the bottom. This type of fishing usually takes place within a few miles of shore. Common inshore species found in Panama’s coastal Pacific waters include snapper, roosterfish, amberjack, and snook. As a protected marine park, the Gulf of Chiriqui enjoys an abundance of fish, making it one of the best fishing destinations on the planet. Commercial fishing is banned and the Panamanian defense forces regularly patrol these waters for compliance.

When is the best time to go? It depends on what you want to catch. Marlin and sailfish also known as billfish season runs December to April. Throughout January, February and March often the dreariest three months of the year back home, depending on where you hail from, visiting anglers enjoy prime opportunities to battle marlin and wrestle sailfish topping the 1000-pound threshold. Yellowfin tuna season runs February through May, and if you really want a chance to snag a huge one, book your trip during March or April. While a yellowfin normally weighs between 50 and 80 pounds, the 100-to-200-pound cows come out to play during March and April towards the end of the season. Roosterfish, snapper and the other stars of inshore fishing can be caught year-round.


The amount of habitat in the area boggles the mind  you could literally spend years exploring the rocky shorelines of the islands large and small and never fish it all. This place is a caster’s dream.

There are many outfitters but here is one

Propiedad de Paradise Lodge
Isla Paridas, Panama

www.FishPanamaToday.com

shane@fishpanamatoday.com


Panama Cellular Phone 011-507-6675-7191

Puerto Vallarta Deep Sea Fishing Report

 Puerto Vallarta Deep Sea Fishing 

Dorado at Marietta Islands, Jack Crevalls  Rooster Fish Invasion

Winter has arrived

As we move deeper into winter fishing we find we still have Dorado in the area as water temperatures begin to drop below 80 degrees. Sailfish, Marlin and Yellow fin Tuna are for the most part heading south for the winter. But the Tres Maria Islands are still rockin with Monster Yellowfin. Who says the fun stops when the water temperatures drop?

We all know, or should know by now that just after the New Year’s Holiday the water temperatures drop like a rock and you can set you watch by it. This is why Dorado at the Marietta Islands is such a surprise to me as they´re running in the mid twenty pound range. Red Snappers (25 lbs) are increasing in numbers, but still not a stable as yet. Sierra Mackerals in the 25 lb range are beginning to take a foot hold in the bay and surrounding areas like the islands. Rooster fish have been hanging in there anywhere from 35 to50 lbs and they´ll hit just about anything. Google eyes are still their favorites though. With plenty of live bait around the Marietta Islands there is plenty of action to be had in an eight hour day. Great action for anyone, but not too stiff for younger anglers on vacation.

Inside the bay we´re seeing the smaller gamefish pick up again. While still mostly Jack Crevalls and Sierra Mackerals, there are also Skip Jacks in the 25 lb range, Smaller Dorado in the 15 lb range, but throw them back for next year. Snappers around the rocks and structure. Snook can still be found at the river mouths in Nuevo and around Boca Tomatlan. Don´t forget about the surf fishing action, Rooster fish are hitting baits in Nuevo Vallarta. So if you´re in one of those nice hotels cast some iron in front of the resort and see what happens. Yelapa this year has been a machine for fishing and the area is still full of football YF Tuna in the 40 to 50 lb range if you´re lucky. Again live bait is king, Google eyes, blue runners are doing the trick.

Corbeteña and El Banco will be settling down for the rest of the year. Still there are some great sized Curbera Snappers being boated in the 55 lb range. There are also still some striped Marlin in the area, but kinda scarce as the water temperatures drop. Amber Jacks in the 40 lb range, Jack Crevalls, Football Yellowfin Tuna, Bonito, pretty much the same species as the Marietta Islands.

The area near Punta Mita is still showing action around the reefs at Anclote near Sayulita. Rooster fish as well and if you have the notion up near San Pancho you´ll find Sailfish, but this is a ten hour day amigos. Hit it while you can here, this will surely change in the next week or so.

As we settle into winter fishing, tourism is picking up so it all balances out I guess. While you won´t be finding any Bucket List fishing at the moment, the action is great. And if you have never felt the pull of a Jack Crevall you´d be surprised how strong a fighter these fish are. Not exactly the blue plate special somehow the Marinaros have found ways to make then taste great. So give them to the crew, they´ll thank you for them.

Until next time don’t forget to kiss your fish and remember at Master Baiter’s Sportfishing & Tackle “ We Won’t Jerk You Around”!

Master Baiter´s has changed locations in Marina Vallarta and are now near Victors Café Te Cubaand will be opening soon. Look for me at the least traveled end of Marina Vallarta and I will be there in my new place! Everyone coming by to see my new location will get a FREE CITY OR JUNGLE TOUR! So I expect to see you all at my shop soon!Master Baiters is still the only real fishing company in Marina Vallarta with its own exclusive boats that are reliable, fast, English Speaking, fish catching professionals! Questions on any subject: feel free to ask at my email: CatchFish@MasterBaiters.com.mx Web page: http://www.MasterBaiters.com.mx or call me directly locally at: (044) 322 779 75 71 or if roaming: 011 52 1 322 779 75 71 (this is my cell phone directly until the shop phone is working). You can come be a ¨Fan¨ on Facebook here:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Master-Baiters-Sportfishing-Tackle/88817121325 Facebook Fans get special perks you won´t find in my reports.