Full moon...

[Madfish22]

How important is the full moon in marlin and tuna fishing in Panama/CR? Is the few days right after the moon that much of a drop off?

[RedAg]

I hate the first few days after a full moon for any kind of fishing. JMO

[tap]

I always try to fish the week before the full moon in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama because my experience over the years (and confirmed by many local captains) is that the pelagic bite (marlin, etc.) is at a peak then. On and shortly after the full the bite can slow down and it can also be more difficult to make bait at night. There is also the possibilty of strong north winds sweeping down from the isthmus mountains which can create some nasty white cap seas, especially near shore. Bottom line, if you have an opportunity to fish Panama go whenever you can because chances are even on a "slow" day it will probably be better than most other countries.

Tony Peña
"The Roving Angler"

[scandalous]

Mike - What Tony said is true. The week before the moon the bite is usually the best. Now getting bait like blue runners (green jacks) or Gogs, to fill the wells, is tougher at night after the moon's full. But if you target them either before or after the moon goes down it's not so bad. I like to put the Hydro Glows in the water then. It's usually not so hard to get them to come to the light and catch w/ Sabikis. The moon doesn't seem to affect catching bonitos offshore but some times it can be tough. All's you need to do is go and find them if you want big baits for the tubes.

The bite doesn't really "drop off" the days after the moon but the bite the week prior seems to definitely be the best for spots like Montuosa and Hannibal Bank.