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The memorial service for Tony Pena will be at: St. Mary's Catholic Church February 16, 2019, at 10am. 426 E. 7th Street National City, CA 91950 619-474-1501 Thank you for your sincere condolences. All your comments and pictures and stories have lifted ALL of our hearts. Thank you. Tony was a...

Ahoy Mates, It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you of the sudden and unexpected passing of Tony Pena. He was a most amazing, talented, and good friend to so many. Tony enjoyed being behind the camera. It is for that reason, I would like to make this personal request of his fishing...

If those clams are important for shore fishing but hard to get I would ask around-maybe some restaurants and seafood markets have plenty of fresh ones for purchase. Or buy some from the guy who told you about them. What ever works.

For the time you have available I would rent a panga or small cc with a bait tank and hit the roosters, pargo and snook. Make sure there is shade for the girls but if they don't want to go it's been my experience to give them a pool day off with mom. Not everyone is ready for hot weather...

Info emailed.

Al, send me an email at: [email protected] and I'll provide you with a list of lodges/charter boats. As a writer/photographer I've fished Panama over 50 times.

Assume you mean the old Malecon in Havana. They use a lot of old spinning gear and hand lines so they would appreciate Sabicki-type bait catching rigs (they love eating "bait" such as scads, blue runners, sardines, etc.) as well as spoons and feather jigs. Small spools of line, hooks and sinkers...

That type of trip is always adventurous even if not real productive. Did you try popping the mahi?

Gabriel's newest website is www.nicafishing.com. Email: [email protected] Call from the U.S. @ 011-505-8884-8444 (He speaks fluent English, U.S. educated). Good luck. NOTE: Looks like he no longer has a website.

Greg, although you may hook some big fish around the reef most of them will average less than 15 lbs. so your wife could surely handle those. She would love the colorful variety as well. You can catch tuna and mahi in Baja so it would be a shame to pass up the tropical inshore species and the...

I've been an Aztec fan since they played on campus at Aztec Bowl. Most of the non-Coryell/Gilbert years were a disaster to the point I couldn't get friends to share my four season tickets free to most of the games. Recent years have been fun and I hope 2018 was just a glitch. A bad year and we...

Email me at: [email protected] and I'll send you a pdf of a feature article I wrote "Habla Español" designed for the angler fishing Mexico.

Females can "rough it" the same as men if they want to. No details provided but I've been hunting, fishing and hiking for years with women without facilities except maybe a shovel. Dangerous animals=armed guard.

Try the Bocas del Toro Sportfishing Club. They have a variety of boats and good local knowledge.

That is a pleasure to see you working with the boys. It is so much more than the shooting.

Glad to see bonito getting some respect. I also prefer bonito over yellowtail.

There are more than one species of skipjack. Those being caught off San Diego are oceanic skipjack which I prefer slightly over black skipjack (easily identified having small black spots on the breast plate) which are more common in Mexico and Central America. Some of the best blue and black...

Very nice. Sure pays to have sponsors.

You put a lot of miles on your boots for those. Congratulations!

Some very good information here. A boat your size is perfect for island-hopping and getting to remote fishing grounds for marlin and tuna. I've fished every month of the year in Panama and every month has produced. The difference is that the fishing can be very productive but the SPECIES change...

Send me an email and I'll provide info on all the lodges, etc.

PM sent.

Roosterfish can be found all along the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua but can be taken best from a boat and live bait because you have to search for them. There are good spots off San Juan del Sur but a pretty good run in a boat. Blind casting from the surf is a real long shot and you usually get...

Good job but I wouldn't want to go bear hunting with just a bow and arrow.

Sounds like Roncador to me.

Jim, Roncador is just north of Punta Naranjo and has been pretty consistent for cubers snapper, wahoo, roosterfish, jacks and some sailfish. The rock is visible at low tide. The next big rock is Quebros a few miles further north and then English Rock between Isla Cebaco and the mainland. Neither...

Night driving. Not for me. One example: Towing my boat to Cabo I got caught driving at night north of La Paz. About 20 miles out the centerline disappeared due to road work (You don't realize how much you rely on a painted line). I couldn't judge exactly where I was on the road and as buses...

Must be a very local name. Do you know of different names? Where is it located? It's likely that some of us Panama regulars have fished it but you need to help locate it.

Catalina still has good prices. Not so sure about BD bargains anymore.

FYI there was a dense population of sargo (along with orange mouth corvina) in the Salton Sea that attracted thousands of anglers throughout Southern California in the 60's-70's. You could just tie your boat off to a dead stick-up tree, chum with corn and catch an easy limit of big fat sargo...

The people that party on their boats usually like crowds such as summer and Labor Day. If you like seclusion you may find some isolated spots in Mission Bay or go in the fall.

Check out Glorietta Bay in the City of Coronado. Boaters hang out on the south side of the Golf Course and near the park with a launch ramp. Tidelands Park also. Mission Bay has even more spots that fit your description.

Spend a little more on air fare and go to Panama. From April to December there are reliable wahoo spots (Canales, LaDrones, Wahoo Alley, Jicaron, Jicarita, Palmas Rock, Twin Peaks, Punta Puerco, Frailes, Isla Iguana, etc. that you can check out. Most of the good skippers know where to go. It's...

That's a great family experience. For life.

Yes, Capt Duran has several options for fishing the region.

Capt. Gerado Duran 507-6948-2285

Those tuna are fun-sized for popping. Nice bonito!

Pizza sounds tricky. Where do you get the dough? The cheese and toppings should be easy to get.

Wolf fish are very mild and tasty. Don't let their looks fool you. Who would eat a lingcod if you thought they would taste the way they look.

Just bought the big floor model at the Del Mar Fair. Looks great for pool parties. Thanks for the advice.

Sometimes quantity is more fun than quality. Shane runs a great operation.

Beautiful fish. Once you find the "halibut zone" you're in for life.

Check with your insurance agent to know if you are still fully covered if you travel to an area that is under an advisory or worse designation. Some policies may become void if it is determined that the policy holder took too much of a risk.

I was on a charter boat (non-Mexican) that ran out of drinking water but had plenty of beer. I don't even drink beer so was pretty disappointed about the lack of planning. Water-it's the best thing you can have. A cool cocktail after fishing is mighty good though.

By "down south" if you mean Southern California the best California halibut fishing is from late-April to October with a peak from late May to August based on my fishing logs dating back 50 years. During other times of the year big halibut can be taken between storm fronts with good conditions...

We could use some of your rain here in Southern California. We only had about four inches this year. Hope you get a big halibut soon.

Welcome to BD! That's some beautiful scenery you're fishing in with the family. Too bad the big one got away.

Reminds me of the old trophy halibut days south of the border but I'm out of it now and you're still doing it. Congratulations Michael and crew!

Fun fishing. Great for the family.

Things change. In the 70's my 23' SeaCraft was about the only boat anchored at Cabo San Lucas as there were no marina slips. I had to get out of the way every Thursday as the mainland ferry would come in. We stayed at the old Mar de Cortez hotel and had lobster dinners for $4.50 as well as my...

Thanks Todd. I have space for a couple more anglers. Interested anglers should email me at: [email protected] for details.

Glad you had a great trip Kil. It's a good year for tuna.

"Armed nature hikes". Good one Nate.

Yellowtail on a popper. That's nice.

In the mid 60's I liked to fish the Mission Bay jetty (north side) for sculpin, opaleye, surf perch, etc. and would occasionally see 10-15 lb. yellows in groups of three or four slowly cruising along the inner side of the rocks just a few feet into the channel. Very frustrating as I didn't have...

Now that's a bluegill! Nice bass also.

That's what it's all about. Great family trip. Glad the AO worked out for you.

I have some openings available for the weeks of June 11 to 15 and June 25 to 29, 2018 with Cebaco Bay Sportfishing Lodge. There are five fishing days but normally add four days for travel and transfers (June 9 to 17 and June 23 to July 1). We usually fish two anglers per boat and you have a...

Jay, the lake is high enough now (compared to previous drought conditions) that you can fish the Gamboa part which is closest to Panama City. Ask your guide in advance if he knows where the snook/tarpon are because you'll probably get tired of catching small peacock bass. Keep your camera ready...

Dustin-PM sent.

Jay, I'm getting a small group together for the week of June 25-29 (good moon). Maybe we'll see you on the Hannibal Bank (one of Shane's favorite hangouts).

Good local knowledge. I've fished Nic six times but not from shore. I like big fish so it was boats, live bait, poppers and jigs for roosters, etc. but not nearly as productive as Costa Rica or Panama.

I'd use 40 lb. Spectra with a 5'/60 lb. flouro leader. There are a lot of toothy fish around like sierra mackerel but you will get more strikes without wire.

Take a handful of Krocodile spoons and hooks for live and dead bait. Do what the locals do.

I came back from Panama (including a five hour layover in Houston) and the lobster, wahoo and tuna were still frozen solid using the AO42.

Hard work pays off. Nice variety!

Shoot for June.

You could fish all five days on the 33' World Cat if you want. With only two anglers per boat the 31' Bertrams were easy to make casts from the stern and provided extra comfort with plenty of places for the guys to lay down in the shade with a cool breeze coming through which is appreciated with...

Gary, the eel was caught and released at Roncador on the western extreme of the Tuna Coast.

Join me in June Scott.

Our group consisting of Kevin Green, Harry Hendricks, Larry Builta and Todd K., all from the San Francisco area, had an easy arrival at Tocumen Airport with a VIP greeting and fast track through customs to a comfortable lounge as their luggage was being transferred to a waiting van. After a...

It’s no secret that the owner of Cebaco Bay Sportfishing Lodge, Capt. Jim Wiese, is a marlin fanatic and his private state-of-the-art 60’ Viking is a testimony to his dedication to the sport. I was invited to fish with Wiese for four days after my group departed but on second thought he had room...

Returning from Cebaco Bay Sportfishing Lodge, Kevin Green, Todd K. and I had a layover day in Panama City, so we decided to fish Gatun Lake which serves as a shipping lane for Panama Canal vessels, as well as providing water for the locks. Peacock bass (an invasive species from Venezuela) are...

Ding,,,ding,,,ding-we have a winner.

There were some big sailfish out of Phuket when I was there but you have to do a multi-day trip to places like the Similan Islands to the north to fish in more productive water. A lot of commercial boats work squid and other species pretty hard even in remote areas.

Very well done.

You've got that place dialed in.

I've stayed in several hotels but my favorite is Hamilton Cove with a complimentary gas golf cart which you can explore all the hillsides and town with instead of paying $30 hour for a cart in town. Winter is very different than summer. During late summer especially you can snorkel at Lovers...

Glad you had a good time variety fishing. Looks like you spent some deep jigging time off Punta Puercos about midway on the Tuna Coast.

Most big hotels have restaurants with walk-in freezers. Talk to the manager and they can usually accommodate you. Make sure your ice chest or bag is tagged with your I.D. and marked "Privada".

Fat lady!

Good to know there is a population of baby broomtails down there.

That was some funny video. Worth the 9:50.

Thank you Jim for making the effort to explain the situation in more detail. You are a gentleman. Best wishes.

Great story. Now, your "friend" stiffed you on the tips, lied, stole money from you and the camp and you're still friends? That doesn't fly where I come from. Character counts.

I don't understand why you would resort to a 300 lb. handline unless your cubera are extremely large. I've taken cubera up to 70 lbs. in Panama with 65 lb. Spectra and a short 100 lb. leader on poppers. Sure they will dive with that big flat tail giving them a burst but they still don't make it...

As Ali said and don't spend too much time in their strike zone close to their rocky home. When you are deep enough start reeling in very slowly trying to get the cubera to rise to the bait as high in the water column as you can so that when you set the hook you have time and distance to stop...

Perfect family vacation.

Colombia (not Columbia). Sorry, I was a geography major.

What an amazing variety of seafood at the Tsukiji Market. I could spend a day there. By the way, that pink-colored PILI popper is what I used to catch my first roosterfish and cubera snapper on a popper in Costa Rica in 1989.

I've fished in countries that had State Dept. warnings and I've never had problems if you stay out of situations such as crowds, political gatherings, drug areas, etc. The only question I would have is what would be the insurance consequences of traveling to a place with warnings and you do...

Above is the classic PILI popper made in Kailua, Kona, Hawaii. Didn't know they were marketed in Japan unless there's a factory there. Too bad about the visitor and photo restrictions at the fish market. Guess I'll have to stick with Andrew Zimmern on Bizarre Foods-he can go anywhere.

Gary, was that a PILI popper? (Pacific Island Lure Innovation)

Please take some photos for BD of that fish market-it's a fascinating place. Be careful buying Japanese equipment (reels, etc.) as you may not be able to get parts and service in the U.S.

UPDATE: I have an opening for one or two anglers on the February 26 to March 2 trip (Feb 24-Mar 4 counting travel days). There will be a total of only five-six guests so there is plenty of space aboard the mothership and sportboats. Give me a "call" at [email protected] for more info...

"Trap rigs" Michael we never used trap hooks (outside of experimentation) and the primary set up was a 2 oz. egg sinker (in ideal calm 65' to 85' water) sliding above a swivel tied to about a three foot leader and hook matched to the size of bait (mackerel, squid, brown bait 'queenfish', anchovy...

Dill relish, sour cream, mayo, squeeze of fresh lemon. Adjust to taste.

Great looking knife.

When I had my boat I was a halibut fanatic setting five IGFA records with friends and never used a net on big fish. Keep the fish flat near the surface, don't pull it's head out of the water or let it sink so that it's vertical and hard to gaff. Take your time to get it in position or you're...

Are these big fish or schoolies?

Undisciplined play. Personal fouls. Player ejected early (Rosales). Interception near goal line instead of running Penny. Aztec defense couldn't stop the run. Chapman couldn't pass (best receiver Holder injured early). Rashad Penny was the star of the game but Army was not going to give us time...

I don't know your itinerary but the sailboat will likely anchor over clear bottom away from structure which is not the best habitat for tropical fishing. Maybe you can commandeer a shore boat to get to some structure and do some popping for bluefin trevally, barracuda, narrow-barred mackerel...

The Philippines are a great archipelago to visit with some precautions to be observed (for example the southern islands have more terrorist issues) but the Filipino people are very friendly and welcoming. Unfortunately formerly productive reef areas near population centers are often ravaged by...

I agree John. Should be a good year in Panama. See you there.

When the South Bay Power Plant was operating there were jack crevalle, turtles, Mexican barracuda, bonefish, corvina, grouper and others that congregated near the warm water discharge during the winter. Of course there are some remaining such as the corvina and bonefish which are pretty commonly...

"Sinbadly"; "Paid Cash"; "Contagious" (doctor); "MoneyHole"

As a kid I was bitten on two different occasions by small dogs on the ankle and lower leg while riding my bicycle on public sidewalks in residential neighborhoods. They just came out of nowhere from houses and attacked. Painful! I can't imagine a big dog attack. I don't trust dogs although I've...

The major change-agent has been the development of Spectra or Super Braids. Due to their superior strength to diameter ratio compared with mono Spectra has revolutionized rods and reels by allowing anglers to use smaller, lighter reels but with strong drag systems as well as shorter and lighter...

I'm checking Vincent. Please send me an email at [email protected] so I can send you info. Thanks.

Almud, I am unable to send an email to your address. Please reconfirm your email address . Thanks.

Almud, Please send me an email so I can transfer info to you. [email protected] Thanks.

John, I just sent an email to you with info. Thanks.

Nice shots!

A "vado" is the roadway dropping into a small "arroyo" or creek bed or to a large river wash. They are numerous in Baja and can be dangerous with pot holes or water during rains. There are usually signs marking them ahead.

Good times with the boys!

I have the best fishing weeks lined up with Cebaco Bay Sportfishing Lodge with their 110' mothership and fleet of two 33' World Cats and five 31' Bertrams to choose from. Fishing two to three anglers per boat there is plenty of casting room. No more than eight anglers are accommodated (usually...

Nice gallos. That drag sounds way better than the music.

IGFA does have a record category based on the length of the fish with photos to document to encourage releases. For weight categories all fish must be weighed on land but that doesn't mean all fish will die if scales are nearby and you have a good live well system to release after weighing (...

Lures with hooks definitely no go. Line depends on who's checking but better safe than sorry so check them. Frozen fish in bags OK but without dry ice or ice. Weight limit is usually 50 lbs. but check with your airline. If you want to bring more home you'll need to pay excess baggage fees. If...

That kind of weather makes you appreciate the prevailing calm seas that typify Panama. Boy that's a big African pompano (I'd like to see the one that got away!)

Roosterfish are available all along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, especially if using good live bait. So pick a boat that uses bait on a regular basis and has a live well onboard. During February I would prefer the Quepos to Golfito regions as the famous "Papagayo" winds can prevail in the...

Good releases!

I've caught tuna off partyboats from San Diego reeling with the line and fish ten feet above me as the swells would then lift the boat as they passed underneath the hull and then I was looking down on the fish. If you're on a seaworthy boat and don't mind getting wet and miserable for awhile you...

Ah memories. I would get sea sick just about every trip on half day boats throwing up as I was fighting big bonito (usually THE go-to fish in the 60's and 70's for near shore trips). I haven't been sick since I was 20 and have been on boats making repairs in rough seas with my head in the bilge...

World class numbers you have there.

That sea lion is just conditioned to being fed by boats returning to the harbor and was impatient looking for food. Not "playful" by any means.

Jeff Dalton-you are a wise man.

You're creating some great outdoor life-long memories for your family. You're a good dad !

OK now what about the grizzly?

Reminds me of a crossing to Catalina on the Express and some dolphin came alongside. Two ladies near me said that a restaurant in Florida had those on the menu and they found it disgusting. Of course it was dorado or mahi but they thought it was the mammal. I decided to try to educate them but...

Another plus: The game is on green grass and not that disgusting blue turf.

I've been an Aztec fan since the Aztec Bowl days on campus. As a graduate and supporter for decades going through the down years it is so much fun watching them today. Hope we run the table and see what kind of a bowl we get.

Tell me more. Part 2...

Big numbers.

Like that variety!

Loreto isn't known for consistently good roosterfishing. They are hard to get even from a boat. You may find an experienced local guide you can hire who has a secret spot but the chances are slim, especially in October. La Paz, Cabo and the East Cape would be a better choice.

Panama isn't in top form every week of the year. Those are small numbers you had to work for. Those four black marlin in one day is right up there though.

It can be difficult to make bait on a full moon cycle and the tides may be too large for certain types of inshore fishing which are the only negatives. Lodges that rely the most on live bait may not like the full moon for that reason alone. Give me a full moon anytime because you don't need live...

If I had to pick a week without using intricate charts it would just be the week before and including the full moon. I've caught a lot of big fish such as cubera snapper while popping the day after the full moon that had empty stomachs. Predatory fish are not all successful feeding on a full moon.

I use tides4fishing.com/pa that provides all the lunar info as well as best fishing periods.

Your best bet is to fish out of pangas, especially around the Pedasi region from May to October. Send me an email and I'll forward info to you: [email protected]

Beautiful mounts. What's with the strange horn anomaly on the bushbuck? Is that rare?

The pargo is a Pacific cubera snapper (notice the tooth structure) commonly called dog snapper in Baja. The term huachinango is a general term for pargo or red snapper that is often applied to several species.

Dorado from the beach. Pretty impressive. Some great action shots especially if you're risking a digital camera in the surf line.

When I was a kid I used to collect my own food and cook it while outdoors such as clams from stinking bay mud, crawdads from cow ponds and rabbits near irrigated fields, all of which were pretty contaminated I would guess. I still managed to play sports, graduate from college and retire at 60...

I supported the SDSU football program with four season tickets and contributions for 30 years mostly during the bad times. I couldn't even find people to go to the games with me with a free ticket. Now it's fun again and I hope people jump on the band wagon including those lethargic party...

You've made some good observations. Although the Azuero Peninsula is called the Tuna Coast the larger fish are more available in the Gulf of Chiriqui west of Azuero. There are over 15 charter operations in Chiriqui from motherships to lodges on islands as well as mainland. Expect to pay more...

Not to be an alarmist but guys have died quickly from swordfish poisoning when slime bacteria gets into micro skin cuts. Almost like that toxic shock syndrome that started killing women a few years ago. Better check it out with an M.D. first and go from there with long term care.

Very impressive!

If subsidies are required (mass transit, energy, etc.) it's not successful.

Sounds like a slow week. Were the tuna hitting poppers? How was the deep jigging for amberjack, grouper and snapper? This is usually a peak fishing time for the Tuna Coast unless you run into bad weather.

You also may want to experience a small fishing/diving lodge off the beaten track. I've stayed at Bloomfield Lodge near Cape Tribulation which is nice for couples. It is currently for sale I believe but there are others to choose from.

I've fished Solano and Tebada. Tons of sailfish and good inshore popping. Pangas are OK but not the best way to get serious with marlin. Hopefully domestic travel has improved in Colombia. The air strip at Bahia Solano is called "Salsipuedes" by the locals which means "get out if you can"...

Good job! It's always nice fishing in cooler weather.

Great action and opportunity!

I had 50 lbs. of frozen, vacuum bagged fish in an AO soft cooler and declared it going from Panama to Houston. I use Global Entry and the inspectors always say declare and we'll still fast-track you through customs. After picking up my cooler from the carousel I by-passed the long re-entry line...

I'm impressed with the drive to the Sierras after 5 hours of sleep AFTER a fishing trip.

One particular Sea Shepherd policy that should concern every sport angler: "Every UNESCO World Heritage site should not allow any commercial AND sport fishing within its boundaries. No take of any kind with strict enforcement." That would shut down some of the best fishing grounds if they ever...

The Sea Shepherd working over Panama is the "John Paul Delorio". Someone has some deep pockets to keep that fleet running and the captains push the throttles like they aren't paying for it. They are doing a lot of PR damage in Panama because they're picking on the wrong commercial boats. Even...

I received a report today from a fishing lodge operator in Panama that the Sea Shepherd is operating in the Gulf of Chiriqui and stirring up a lot of problems by cutting long lines from the small artisan boats that are fishing legally. Are there two Sea Shepherds? The one in Panama is painted...

Paul, Today the solid brass Krocodile spoons come in many color combinations but the standard silver is still effective. The 3-inch, 1/2 to 1-&-1/2 ounce sizes can cover wind conditions. Poppers can be just about any color but I'd stick with the medium to small sizes for the likely fish you are...

My electric bill was $75 for April and I just got one for $357. But between the pool (unheated and 84 degrees) and A/C it's very comfortable in Valley Center, CA about 30 miles from the beach.

You got two of the best in Capts. Lucho and "Chombo" Antonio. Glad you had a chance at some good fishing. I bet you're appreciating the new non-stop flights opening between San Diego and Tampa with inaugural prices of $99 one way.

Not too many local guys surf fish for roosters and cubera the way you like. Most fishing is done from pangas beginning around Pedasi (Tuna Coast) and then down to the Gulf of Chiriqui. Also Labor Day is in the middle of the wet season and you will need a 4X4 to move along the coastal beaches...

It's tough to put the rod away when those tuna are feeding.

Swordfish

Good job Kil.

Good family times!

What are the locals on the shore fishing for?

Sammy, send me an email at: [email protected] and I'll pdf some info to you.

Over 50 years for me but I fish Panama now where live or dead bait isn't necessary to have a successful trip with a huge variety of gamefish.

Hey, they are born in litters and they go out in litters.

What makes inshore fishing "better" in Panama vs. Costa Rica is that the gamefish hit lures such as poppers, jerk baits. etc. just blind casting around structure and you don't need live bait. Plus anglers get the thrill of hooking their own fish using their favorite style of fishing or trying...

Bringing frozen sardines to Baja-sad situation. Never thought I'd hear that.

Beautiful video. Really captured the excitement.

Panama offers much better popping with a variety of inshore species such as roosterfish and cubera snapper. Big yellowfin tuna are being caught on a daily basis from most of the resorts. Costa Rica has some very good blue marlin action trolling (far offshore the better) but inshore it's mostly a...

John, we have released some 300-600 lb. blue marlin trolling the canyons and inshore the popping for amberjack, almaco jack, bigeye trevally and mullet snapper has been very good. At times the snapper will come up in schools and turn the water red they are so thick. I caught a 45 lb. mullet...

I leave my rods/reels/lures in Panama City as it is the main arrival point for anglers before they fish anywhere in the country. It's very convenient for traveling light as I just bring down new lures to try out and maybe some fresh line, etc.

As I said in another post some custom agents (e.g. Panama) will try to tax you on new-looking lures as well so don't ship your lures in their original manufacturers package, especially showing the price. You may then be able to state that they are used lures.

One travel note: Take all of your new lures, reels, etc. out of the manufacturers packaging or the customs at Tocumen in Panama City may want you to pay taxes on "new" imported tackle. They tried that with me and I told them my lures were re-used every trip but I wouldn't have been convincing if...

Your 50's are fine if you want to fish blue and black marlin which are south of the Perlas beginning with the top edge of the San Jose Canyon then eastward to the "Explosives Dumping Grounds" to Piñas Reef. Fast troll lures to cover more area and use the live bait for bait and switch. June won't...

That REALLY hurts to see a big roosterfish speared.

That's some great fishing!

Pierre, Your letter is sure better than mine that I sent today via John Maynard at PMRF. I've witnessed a gradual decline in fishing quality in Panama since 1994 and 59 trips. More boats and less fish although it hasn't become Baja yet which is almost strictly a live bait fishery today. There is...

Thanks Alex. Hope you're doing well this season.

How was the inshore fishing at Coiba?

You put your time in for those fish. I hope popping takes over the sardine chunking soon.

Derby, you should taste the fruit (watermelon, mango, pineapple) in Panama-an everyday treat!

Thanks John.

I've never used a Stow N Go but I would think that there are many good coolers on the market that will get the job done or they're out of business.

Sharp photos!

Chris, I've fished at Cebaco many times in August/September. Lots of wahoo and big black marlin are usually at a peak. The inshore popping and jigging is very good as well. You'll just get more thunderstorms that time of year which usually don't last very long. Tony

The total bag weight was 42 lbs. (I could have packed more fish). Cebaco Bay Sportfishing Club vacuum sealed everything and has a good freezer.

“Popping is Fun” This second week showed improvements as the wind died down, the water cleared up and live bait started coming aboard the “Journey Bay” mothership the first night. Anglers Dave Norberg and Jim McKissack (returnees from last May), Greg Hedlund and David Harper arrived in Panama...

“Variety is the Game” Friends Kevin Green, brothers Dave and Mike Benbenek, Harry Hendricks and Rob Knoll all arrived in Panama City on March 18, checking into the new Panama Hilton. The next morning we took a comfortable van ride to Puerto Mutis where the fast 31’ “Gato Gordo” World Cat took...

I just got back from Panama April 2nd. I bought an AO 36 qt. soft canvas cooler and it worked out fine. The sniff dog at Houston liked the smell and the agent took a quick look (I had frozen lobster, prawns, corvina and red snapper). Easy peezy.

It's very dangerous fishing outside the surf-line in that area in a panga because you may get caught inside a set just like a surfer (been there done that!). I'd stick to the estuary and a good panga guide will net some live sardines which is the technique of choice by the locals and most...

There are many rocky points between Playas Flamingo and Tamarindo with Conchal in-between. Shore fishing is best with live or dead bait, lures like poppers (if fish are feeding), spoons (Krocodiles, etc.), bucktail jigs with fresh shrimp and so on. Fly fishing would be a real challenge on the...

You mentioned Punta Matapalo-that used to be a hot spot for popping roosters and cubera, especially at Roca Matapalo. Now it seems you need live bait to be effective.

Regarding fisheries management, too many countries pass strict regulations that don't cost anything to vote on to impress the public. The common problem is they don't "put their money where their mouth is" and finance enforcement with boats, agents, etc. and follow through with arrests/convictions.

Music is too loud. The sounds of surf and narrative is all you need.

Big numbers!

Wow. Talk about a good season. A lot of places couldn't come close to your action.

Dave, There are over 35 charter boats in Jaco (just north of Quepos). I suggest you contact Fred Stephens (adventuresportfishing.com) who can give you details and book a charter for your friend.

Sent you a pm.

Good photos!

Rio Bayano (east of Panama City) Gatun Lake near Rio Chagres Tuna Coast such as Rio Cañas Bahia Hermosa at Isla Coiba and all rivers/creeks at Coiba Estero de Montijo Check the BD forums and Facebook for the local guys that fish these areas because it takes local knowledge to be successful.

For leaders I originally used soft mono such as P-Line up to 100 lbs. with just one overhand knot to serve as an "anchor". Eight to twelve wraps with the Spectra all works well. When you get into stiffer fluorocarbon the game changes and you need to really cinch down on the anchor knot so it...

Ethan, I use Mel Sanchez ([email protected]) who is also very good. I keep all my fishing gear down there with him. Does Tony Rocha use a van or car?

That's good advice John. Just another reason why I prefer ground transfers in Panama.

Greg. That's a good point regarding water resistance between vinyl and canvas. The tropics can get pretty wet.

Whatever you do packing wise make sure you don't travel to foreign countries with lures in their original packages. Last May Panama officials looked at my new lures stowed in gallon-sized heavy duty custom plastic with velcro seals and asked if they were new and the value. They wanted me to pay...

I know it's not intended but the title "Billfish Market" sounds like your selling fish. You have an exciting fishery and hope you continue to have a great season!

There is a good discussion of coolers on the "Mexico Mainland" site under the "Success" charter boat fishing. Based on the input I will be getting an AO 36 canvas cooler (soft pack style) that will take 46 lbs. of frozen fish (the cooler weighs just four lbs.to help make the 50 lb. max); has...

Six for eight on blue marlin is a serious fishing day!

There are many scattered reefs from 12 to 50 miles offshore. Guess which ones are best? The shallower reefs such as "Mackerel Bowl" (12 miles @ 200 degree heading) are good for making bait while the outer reefs hold big grouper, black seabass, white sea bass, gold spotted bass, boquita, halibut...

Email me at: [email protected] and I'll send you some pdf's providing info on all the lodges in Panama. I've fished Panama since 1994 and 58 trips. I'll be hosting several small groups this year as well.

The issue with North Baja is that it's very shallow and open to strong winds. You aren't going anywhere real productive in an inflatable (at least in safety terms). Enjoy the small fish and check out that new pier as Vance mentioned. Good luck.

On a popper?

Very impressive!

I once wrote a magazine article "You Don't Know Jack" which some of the comments on this post reminded me of. (It was about the many jack species worldwide, identification, common names and fishing techniques).

If you can't get to the offshore reefs where grouper, white sea bass, etc. are the premier fish in the region you will be catching mostly spotted bay bass, some triggerfish and lots of small sharks eating your bass. I've fished Penasco before on my 14' skiff and that was my result. Get on a boat...

1. Small stingray in South San Diego Bay at five years old 2. Big Roosterfish, cubera snapper and giant trevally on a popper 3. Napolean (Maori) wrasse, opakapaka, cubera snapper, snook, bohar, monchong (Catalina Offshore Products) 4. Blue shrimp (Baja) via Tommy at Catalina Offshore Products...

Casting poppers from a center console in Panama can't be surpassed with over 20 species readily taken such as cubera snapper, roosterfish and bluefin trevally. The seas are usually calm and the tropical scenery just adds to the experience. If you want more info email me at...

Sailfish central. How could you not have fun there? Very impressive.

I didn't fish those ponds when I was in Thailand. They are shown on TV but no one explains how they work. Obviously they are artificial impoundments with stocked fish. Is it all catch and release and you pay by the hour or do you pay for each fish you take per pound? Are the fish edible (water...

Nice shots! It's going to be a good year.

If the animal is not being stressed by avoiding hunters it will have better meat quality as it leisurely feeds, etc. as long as it's a clean shot and they bleed and gut asap and take care of the meat as a primary goal. That would provide some reason for long range shooting but still is not a...

Good photos.

JB, Send me an email and I'll give you some info on fishing Panama with my small groups. Thanks. ([email protected]; wwwrovingangler.com).

Congratulations on a successful tournament!

I've fished Belize a couple of times but why don't you just join me on one of my hosted trips to Panama with a couple other guys this April? Everything is taken care of-no worries but lots of fish and fun. [email protected]; www.rovingangler.com.

I watched The Pig Man last night and everyone was shooting pigs from a blind and close to an automatic corn feeder. They had a lot of fun but not that I would call "hunting". More like short-range shooting vs long range shooting. I DVR the shows like Meateater where they routinely spot and stalk...

The second photo is an almaco jack not an amberjack due to its' high dorsal fin lined up with the ventral fin. We ate both jacks at Midway Atoll (1200 miles northwest of Kona) with no problem but released the black grouper as they were more likely to have ciguatera. As mentioned, amberjack are...

That's a photographers dream with all the action you have there.

I've made 58 trips to Panama since 1994 and have fished 18 countries. For a relatively close destination with excellent popping opportunities it is a good choice. If you want cool, overcast days go from May to December. If you want to stay close to the tuna stay on a mothership. We routinely...

Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama, for yellowfin tuna on poppers as well as cubera snapper, roosterfish, bluefin trevally, etc. Currently there are openings for this March from a variety of lodges.

You've got some great fishing trips lined up. Just make sure you have a local crew in Panama because there is so much near-surface structure to avoid which they can help with for safety purposes-these rocky areas hold lots of trophy fish for popping though.

HOT fishing. Great photos.

Let's see, when I was 8 years old I was catching sting rays with a simple handline. What a great opportunity those twins have.

Amazing stuff and they talk like it's a walk in the park.

Have a great season and keep the reports/photos coming.

Yeah, chunked sardines was the way to go last April/June on some days. The commercial guys were doing the same thing anchored right on the high spots.

Fun fishing on a perfect day-can't beat that!

Fishy looking place and no crowds.

I've used light mono leaders for years focusing on halibut including five IGFA records on my boats landed by guests without a bite-through. Halibut have conical teeth and their spacing does not cut line as you describe. I've demonstrated this many times at fishing seminars. You are likely...

That's a beautiful place and Shane is a great host. He'll put you on the fish.

Beautiful. Thanks Debi.

What do you mean by "spin your birds"?

I fished with Tred in Panama and I told him I thought he was arrogant, self-centered, outrageous and funny. He basically agreed and then we had a good time. That's the persona he has developed like it or not. I also questioned him about his extra gas barrels almost sinking his Mako at the dock...

Very impressive. You chose well.

I would avoid "charter roulette" if you can. That's when you join another angler or couple for an offshore trip and either rotate hookups or stay with an assigned rod(s). I learned first hand when I was a single, young 19 yr. old angler in Mazatlan, Mexico and shared a boat with a couple. They...

Hawaii Seafood (source): "In Hawaii, ahi refers to two species, the yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna. These are caught from 3 lbs. to well over 200 lbs. The larger fish are preferred due to a higher fat content". Again, there is no reference to only 100 lb. fish or above being called ahi. Must be...

Mike, I fish Panama more than Costa Rica. That's why I recommended Fred Stephens for up-to-date info. Good luck.

"Not ahi" (Arik). Wikipedia: Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) are a species of tuna found in the pelagic tropical and sub-tropical oceans of the world. Yellowfin are often marketed as "ahi" from a Hawaiian name." There is no 100 lb. reference provided to qualify as ahi.

Sounds like it could have been a blast popping those fish. Fun anyways!

Good combination sport in Alaska.

Interesting, the almaco jacks seem to be more numerous and larger than the amberjacks-same as the situation in Panama.

Call Fred Stephens @ 800-356-2533 (adventuresportfishing.com). He can reserve a boat for you at no charge.

"Bear spray doesn't always work but it's better than nothing". I wouldn't hike in bear country without a high-powered rifle. I also wouldn't swim near a coastal river mouth at night. Or run offshore in the fog at 30 knots. I've had too many close calls myself to finally get my attention about...

Glad to see some progress being made.

Date of trip, name of resort, type of boat/style of fishing desired, other activities you are looking for would help. There is the Flamingo Resort and Marina but there are newer ones to choose from.

From a purely personal point of view: Less music and more dialogue would be better, especially when the music is drowning out the voices. The sounds of fishing is all you need as far I'm concerned (old school).

Not all of the Tuna Coast is the same. The easterly half is low profile allowing sporadic north winds to prevail from January to April. The westerly side dominated by mountains such as the Cerro Hoya create a calmer lee side making it fishable most of the year if you approach from the west from...

Looks like fun. Should get real good with decent weather.

Lots of water, few boats, good fishing, good buddy-Nice!

Let's see some reports.

Have fun in Costa Rica. There are several Santa Teresa's in Costa Rica and Panama so next time you may want to clarify the country.

Nice easy fishing. Overcast with calm water is ideal.

Great video. Fun to watch.

Super tough but rewarding. Congratulations!

Do you have the best action on certain moon phases, big tide range, etc.? I usually prefer the week before the full moon in Central America (Pacific).

Contact Hennie Marais: [email protected] He offers some remote kayak fishing in roosterfish waters.

Unique video. Thanks. I'm still not running through the mountains though.

I've fished out of Playa Ocotal Resort but not with Dream On. If you just want dorado and tuna you don't need a big yacht for that. Just something that can get you offshore to blue water and a top to keep the rain off. If you want blue marlin that would be a different story regarding boat and...

I would never rely on just bear spray fishing the open mud flats with a big brown deciding to charge. The spray is usually "effective" up to a range of 30 feet and a bear can cover 30 feet per second. Forget it if the wind is in your face or you don't get a dead-on shot with a sensitive bear...

This is an old thread but I'll put my 2 cents in anyway: I'll take a well-cared for bonito over a yellowtail any day.

While popping in Panama I caught a 120 lb. yellowfin tuna and a big blue marlin swam around the boat for a good five minutes trying to swallow it why we tried hooking it with other baits besides my tuna which we just kept holding over the side of the boat. Those marlin can eat amazing things.

There are many experienced panga guides in Loreto (for generations) so apparently you did not have that info available. Now Loreto may not be as good as it was years ago but it built it's reputation on yellowtail in the winter and schools of big dorado in the summer with baya grouper, cabrilla...

What's with the tuna? There seems to be some finicky biters from Southern California to Colombia. Are they getting smarter all of a sudden or just too many commercial boats after their tails (rhetorical question)?

It's not considered to be a big game region (it's only 60 miles from panama City). There are black skipjack, corvina, jack crevalle, some roosters and if you can find the wrecks near the beach there are large snook at times. River mouths are a good place to fish usually. You really need a local...

I've fished Bahia Tebada and Solanos, Colombia. It's panga style fishing, fairly comfortable accommodations, domestic travel is unreliable (locals call the air strip at Solanos "salsipuedes" (get out if you can) due to planes that don't show on schedule or at all. The people are very friendly...

There's a spot about two miles southwest of the Hotel del Coronado that holds yellowtail pretty consistently during the summer. There's a channel all the way to Imperial Beach that they cruise along. Nice fish on the popper. I bet a few years ago you didn't even have one in your tackle box (at...

Popping for blues and stripers is very popular in Rhode Island waters. I don't know why the pier crowd would seem clueless. I've caught many large bluefish (8-16 lbs.) in the fall all around R.I. especially Newport. Those big homes with huge lawns hugging the coastline are very impressive. Your...

I once asked a seiner captain who had arrived off Zihuatanejo, Mexico "how many off these tuna do you expect to catch"? He said flatly "95%". Up until the commercial fleet arrived we had weeks of great sport fishing with yellowfin between 20-130 lbs. but it dropped off real fast. Those guys with...

I use 65 Power Pro with 6' of 80-100 lb. leader. With a TranX you're not going to put enough drag on to warrant 80 lb. line but you may need more line capacity that you get with 65. This system has taken yellowfin over 200 lbs.

If you're with a Panama lodge or mothership and can't fish the way you want or for the species you want that should never occur with good planning with a good fishing manager. You need your own small group of "like-minded" anglers or put on a boat with "like-minded" anglers. Captains aren't...

Regarding "size matters". Panama is not just a big tuna destination. Obviously there are more small fish than big fish and you can "target" whatever makes you happy. A lot of guys will catch some tuna over 100 lbs. and then back off and chase smaller fish with poppers and have a blast. Last May...

Panama. Send me an email: [email protected] and I'll send you a pdf of "Popping Panama" that I wrote for Pacific Coast Sportfishing Magazine. It has a lot of information regarding lodges, etc.

I'll tell ya' Jeff when I'm at Tuna Popping Tournaments I'm probably the only guy using conventional gear. There is a forest of spinning tackle instead. Kil certainly has observed the same as we have been in Panama before. California is a conventional stronghold because it was bred with...

"16 miles to the east" wouldn't that location put you in the mountains? East of what?. Hope you have a good marlin season.

At times they do. They will stun some baits and pick them up injured or dead. They will also just kick it in high gear and swallow a fresh bait like a normal fish.

Nope.

I've owned a couple. They can be tricky but are great for pushing off a heavy 23' boat over a shallow sand ramp in Baja directly into the Sea of Cortez surf.

Good camera work. Of course, you have a lot of photo opportunities in Guatemala!

Fresh eyes-good for a lively release.

No reason for backlashes if the line is packed on right and you have a good thumb. Practice makes perfect. I'm one of those that prefer conventionals over spinning.

That last photo is special.

Are you on a PSFL mothership or running out of Boca Chica?

99 cent Fiskers at school supply counters. I take a handful with me on trips and just leave them with crews. They work well and if you lose one who cares?

Looks like a PSFL boat?

Probably the largest popper-caught fish ever on the West Coast.

I tipped the captain and mate $50 and $30 at Palmilla Resort (years ago which was considered a large tip) and they didn't show up the next day. The manager had to get a second crew and said they went out drinking and word was they got a big tip. He suggested tipping on the last day (this was a...

Thanks Shane. I know Bartolo and Macho are running their own boats. I wish they would clarify who's boat they are using. Big fish anyways.

Ethan, ChiCho has been with Paradise Lodge for years. The guys need to at least tape-out those giant fish for promotional reasons and record keeping.

Again, it doesn't sound very secure for rough airline handling if only a zipper is protecting the contents from spilling/thawing. The hard coolers have clamps and can be secured with duct tape after inspection.

How would that work for airline travel with frozen fish? My concern would be if inspectors didn't zip it tight the fish could be ruined.

There are no charter boats in Manuel Antonio National Park, however, a few miles north is the town of Quepos that has a marina and full sport fishing facilities. You should be able to find a good mid-size charter with live bait included.

Very impressive numbers. Sailfish central!

Kil, The PSFL mothership is a good set-up for offshore fishing. Now John has a larger, better mothership. I'll be doing an article "Motherships of Panama" for PCS Magazine.

When you taste fresh amberjack (which are highly prized in Central America) you'll know the difference. You had a good time. That's the main thing.

Kil, Good to hear that you're coming to San Diego to fish bluefin! As you know the West Coast in general favors conventional casting whereas the East Coast and most international popping anglers use spinning. I remember catching my first albacore (32 lbs,) in 1968 with a cheap Mitchell 302...

It's great to see all of you enjoying the sport together before all the obligations and distractions in life make it more difficult.

That's some great blue marlin action with the effort per catch ratio much better than Hawaii (although not as many granders).

All Panama-inshore variety and offshore punishment with the tuna! Looks like the wet season has started.

With multiple hook-ups, keep one tuna at moderate depth as you work hard on getting the other to the boat. You don't want two or more big tuna near the boat (especially smaller boats) at the same time as they can easily wrap the lines as they circle. Keep the deep fish under control by putting...

Michael, I just ordered ten Hybridas. I think they will be very effective on the bluefin, bigeye and yellowfin tuna off Southern California as well as dorado, yellowtail and many other species. They are what we call "candy" in Panama. Thanks. Tony

John is correct. Heavy leaders on poppers is the way to go. Most of the time the leader is out of the water anyways when working a popper and 100 lb. is good for abrasion resistance especially if the lure is swallowed.

It's good to see poppers being used more in Southern California.

I sent these two Panama reports to the Hybrida suppliers in Germany telling them to expect more orders and to stock up on supply.

Thanks Roland. That's a very detailed blog report you have there. I'm glad you guys had a good time at Cebaco-I've been going there since it opened about ten years ago.

“Touchy Tuna” Arriving at PSFL on May 15th, I met our anglers for the week including friend Seth Hartwick and his buddies Dan Watson and Paul Clark. Seth had enticed Clark to fish Panama after they met on a giant trevally trip. “Nothing pulls like these yellowfin”, he said as a challenge. We...

Pierre, Thanks for the info on the Hybrida. I'll order ten more and never leave the dock without them. The boat crews love them because it makes their job easier by getting a variety of fish even when the fishing is slow. Ethan, These are slow-sinking lures so wait a second or two before...

“Variety is the Spice” My group got a late start upon arrival at Panama’s Tocumen Airport due to a wait of 40 minutes on the tarmac for a gate to open on the last of three flights, however the VIP arrival service expedited all clearances and provided a comfortable waiting lounge. Checking in at...

It’s always a pleasure to fish Gatun Lake (the Panama Canal watershed) because of its big population of pan-sized peacock bass and tropical environment. Prior to a trip to Cebaco Bay Sportfishing Club, I arranged for my group of Dave Norberg, Jim Mckissack and Scott Smith to fish the westerly...

I've always been an advocate for releasing bluefin trevally in addition to those mentioned. They are in the same category as roosterfish with beautiful coloration, aggressive on poppers and not real abundant.

That's a good plan Kil. I'll be down there May 7-22 using some of your lures.

Good lure for roosterfish. Check out the April issue of Pacific Coast Sportfishing Magazine.

I dug out some old irons for "Evolution of the 'Iron Age' of Jigs" in the April 2016 issue of Pacific Coast Sportfishing Magazine. I'd like to see more variations.

I just heard from a local friend in Panama City that the water level in the lake is so low you can't launch boats in most places. It's the worst drought they can remember with lots of exposed trees and shoreline.

Corvina not white sea bass. I fish Gatun every chance I get. It's a nice break from ocean fishing. I've seen 80 lb. tarpon on the west side of the channel so there are trophy-size fish there. The dredging has muddied a good portion of the lake and the fill has ruined some of the islands allowing...

I used a variety for years. One of the best was made of chicken wire shaped like a barrel under a large plastic float tube. The wire was easy to flush (algae, sponges and other sea life will quickly clog the holes and sometimes add so much weight to the barrel it wants to sink). You need a lot...

Call Anglers Choice 619-223-2324 they keep one of the best popping inventories in San Diego (Point Loma on Rosecrans).

One of the top spots in the world-not just Central America.

The older you get the less comfortable pangas are especially on a choppy day. I'd recommend you get a super panga (center console type) that will have a full, contoured seat to rest your back on. Take plenty of inflatable cushions if you have to lay down. Cool water, hat and sunscreen are of...

Another great trip-variety, size, color, action!

You're a big guy so that's definitely a big rooster. Doesn't match the big ones that got away though.

I used to get in the water offshore a lot for fish photos and was amazed at times how strong the current was. Like a river. I wouldn't want kids in the water too far from the boat if you can't restart the engine(s) for some reason. Also, a quick fresh water wash down between dips makes for a...

Here's the flip side: I use a lot of my own tackle and over the years have had deckhands accidentally drop brand new reels over the side, lost lures, teaser rigs (forgetting to tie off first before deployment) and break several rods in transport from the beach or on the boat. Did I ask them to...

Squid will kill your fin baits so it's nice if you can separate them. The dilemma is the size of your boat and the need for a larger tank in order to provide enough space for two separate tanks. You can either go with two smaller tanks (not good), one larger tank of 50 gallons or more (OK but...

There are plenty of boats in the Playas Ocotal/Cocos area to the north or Flamingo Marina to the south. In July you may need a 4X4 to move around on those dirt (muddy) roads in the wet season. Most bare-bones pangas won't have a baitwell for live bait so use the bait as you catch it or upgrade...

I started with an old 14' aluminum skiff I bought from Dana Landing when they were changing their rental fleet. I spent my college years fishing San Diego Bay mostly and logging thousands of fish. When I got a job I went to a 23' SeaCraft twin 115' and that became the standard. Never wanted to...

What kinds of ponds do you fish? Private, HOA's, golf, etc. Most of us can't get access.

That's an amazing fishery you have there.

Looks like a good spot to do some Butterfly jigging or popping when they come up in the water column.

It's pretty isolated out there on the point. You could go to a restaurant near the Palmas area but they serve good food at your resort. Fish, snorkel, drink, eat, rent some buggies...

Another thing to try is go to the commercial panga fleet in the afternoon when they are cleaning their catch. Often times gamefish will come in to feed. World class snook have been taken that way. Just use some scraps for bait. Not glamorous but who cares?

The Villa Marina on the easterly end of Playa Venado (Venao) is a good place to stay. Pangas will pick you up directly from the beach in front of the lodge (it's usually calm there but further to the west the surf is world class). Surf fishing is good at times. I've seen the hotel staff catch...

The 105 still has that low profile, streamlined shape with low stern but with a bunch of research hydraulics and bulky gear on top. Seems out of place. Good show with some real cool mechanics finally getting a little TV love.

Amazing fishery!

Most of the lodges down there lose a lot of "Butterfly" type deep jigs due to anglers (especially inexperienced) fishing rocky bottom combined with big fish. They can always use jigs but they are heavy to travel with in any big quantity. Poppers are usually well-stocked with popular brands but...

You sure found yourself a BSB spot. Keep those numbers there may be a cave down there. Were they easy releases?

That's a fun video-puts you right in the cockpit like you're fishing with the guys.

Wow. I'm worn out. Reminds me of some inlets I had to go through to fish.

There are so many rules and regulations in California that turn off a lot of people from hunting/fishing. Florida looks much better in some respects such as your hog hunting.

Nice being out on the water with your son.

That's a lot of time at the cleaning table unless you just pop the breasts out. The price of success.

What's the big attraction for those sails to gang up like that every year. No commercial fishing?

Nice having a job so close to fish.

I've lost too many big fish to bent hooks so, yes, i replace most standard hooks that come with the lure with as many x's that I can find. Single or treble. They do tend to add a little more weight to the lure which you can feel when casting. The higher priced lures from small companies tend to...

Worst time of the year to fish Pedasi. Much better around Punta Mariato on the westerly Tuna Coast due to mountain shadow.

Classic voice.

Way to scratch out some nice fish! That sea is pretty lumpy.

I had a drone hover over my property in Valley Center for about five minutes as I sat out by the pool. I didn't see it at first. It sounded like the loudest bee swarm ever about 100 feet above me. Those things are LOUD and would easily disrupt a conversation or party. I figured it was real...

What a great experience you had. I've fished the GBR twice and did not get good weather to really do it justice. Weather IS the key to fishing there. The air travel is another issue as you know. Beautiful photo work!

There is a productive fishery about a one hour drive north of Cancun then using fast skiffs to reach distant flats and mangroves. Lots of light tackle action for 20 lb. tarpon, snook, mangrove snapper, etc. Beautiful scenery with flocks of pink flamingos. I did a feature on this place several...

That's a great opportunity getting in some fast fishing action and learning the local techniques at the same time.

Hot stuff!

A good radar will show birds working miles away and out of normal sight. Find the birds-find the fish.

Sounds like slow fishing by Panama standards but fun overall. Did you do much popping?

What a great trip Sami! Finding the quality and quantity of gamefish in a beautiful environment with best friends in a new adventure. Can't beat that!

That's an amazing number of world class peacocks. Not many places can produce that type of results.

Wow-that video was better than a hot cup of coffee to get you going in the morning.

Looks like you had a lot of fun with good crews. Can't beat that!

Great video. Perfect countryside to hunt-open with some cover and not too steep.

One of the big factors in fish conservation in Panama is that we need to get the local Panamanian "weekend" anglers involved in catch and release not just the fishing lodges.

Slower than normal fishing doesn't last long in Panama. When the fish turn on it will be mayhem on the grounds.

A little of the unknown plus some pain and suffering creates the "adventure" part of the trip. Wish you had more photos.

See my article "Popping Panama" in the January issue of pacific Coast Sportfishing Magazine or email me at: [email protected] and I'll send you a pdf. I also host several trips a year fishing Panama.

PM me with your email address and I'll send you a guide to most of the Panama charters and lodges.

PM's: Just press "inbox" on the upper right on this page and then type in the user name you want and message, etc. So simple I can do it.

Beautiful artwork.

Now that's my kind of fishing!

Researchers have found that rogue waves occur more frequently in combination with strong oceanic currents, such as the Bengali in Africa, that run in the opposite direction of the wind/swell. These currents keep forcing swells to come together and making them steeper over a long fetch. Such...

Nice rooster. Using live bait off the point south of the lodge?

Las Olas is located on an open beach so there are no easily accessible boats nearby. Hooked on Panama Fishing Lodge has excellent boats and crews to the west or chartering a boat out of the Port of Pedregal south of David would require a ground transfer. Capt. Shane Jarvis at Sport Fish Panama...

Depends where you are going to fish for them. I've used a variety of poppers (Yo-Zuri GT's and Sashimi, Braid Pop Dancer, etc.in coastal waters), "iron" jigs (Salas, Tady in all sizes for surface and deep when fishing the coast), lipped swimming plugs (Crystal minnow-types) for rivers and...

Nice permit. Tarpon can drive you crazy-sometimes they are lazy and want a piece of cut bait or will chase and crash a popper. I was spooled by an estimated 80 lb. tarpon casting a black PILI popper in a wide mangrove channel near St. Christopher. My guide didn't even have time to unleash the...

Jake, Sent you a PM re: "Popping Panama".

And some guys want to live the boring life of a lighthouse keeper.

You should be able to renew by mail unless they want you to take an eye exam, etc. If not, the Auto Club of Cal or DMV appointments are the best way to reduce the wait. I sure wouldn't walk in there cold turkey.

The January '16 issue of Pacific Coast Sportfishing Magazine includes my article "Popping Panama" and contains a guide to all the major fishing lodges on the Pacific Coast of Panama.

You overcame a lot of "roadblocks" for that one. Persistence pays off again. Congratulations.

Great small group fishing-right size boat and lots of fish. Not too much popping for the tuna?

Good advice from Greg. I stayed with the Kuna Indians on a small island a few years ago. I brought my own tackle but we fished on a long dugout canoe that limited our range. We explored the rivers for tarpon and snook and raised only a few. The fishing around the islands is hit pretty hard and I...

Baja's East Cape can be productive especially if you rent a dune buggy to find fish. Panama has many good shorelines, such as the Tuna Coast. The Punta Mita area of Mexico mainland is also a good choice.

That is a big dog.

There are two skipjack available mostly during El Niño periods-the oceanic and black skipjacks. I prefer the oceanic which have a high fat content and heavier fusiform shape. The black skipjack is easily identified having several black spots under it's throat area. They are also good eating and...

Nice video. Do you ever cast poppers for yellowtail (kingies). That school feeding on the surface would have been a prime time for popping.

Looks like it's safe to get into the river now. Those enforcement crews are very friendly once they realize you're clean. Good of you to offer food and drinks-they really appreciate that. You would be amazed to see what they eat.

Sure makes a good spray. Fish can't see the popper very well whether it's homemade or a $100 Japanese model so you may as well save the cash for other things.

I have friends that fish the Gulf out of Texas and they do consistently well on big yellowfin tuna and other species. They do a lot of popping as well as the surface iron such as the 7X and land tuna over 100 lbs. I don't know why there is not a better forum connection for Texas because it is a...

You can also read my report under the "Panama and Central America" forum I posted on June 2, 2013 under "tap": Hooked on Panama; May 2013; "Billfish Secret".

When fishing big blue and black marlin I use snelled 18/0 and 20/0 Mustad circle hooks bridled to live black skipjack or tuna. I've measured the jaw hinge on these fish exceeding 600 lbs. and a 20/0 fits the gap while smaller hooks don't have enough width between the point and shaft to easily...

Tomo, Check out my article "Popping Panama" in the January issue of Pacific Coast Sportfishing Magazine (should be out in December). I list all the fishing lodges/destinations in Panama.

Did you ever get to fish in Spain? Did you post something?

Makes you want to get back to Panama asap.

When fishing from a boat with live bait or lures your gear is OK. Obviously, from the beach you will normally encounter smaller "bait size" fish under 5 lbs. such as green jacks, bigeye scad, jack crevalle. leatherskins, etc. that will be fun on lighter 8-15 lb. tackle. You can also use the...

Fun fishing at it's best.

Dry age until almost "funky". Yeah, some of the best prime rib I've had smelled like it was a day away from being rank but tasted and had the texture of some kind of soft meat candy with a slap-in-the-face shot of horse radish as an antidote.

Albertson's usually has choice prime rib with good marbling but eye ball it first. Places like Harvest Ranch Market, Iowa Meats and Majors always have true "prime" rib available for additional $$$ if you want to be sure of a quality dinner for special guests.

Where were the live bait kayakers? Would have made their day.

Man I've seen that feeding challenge with dorado and frigates competing for flying fish many times but never got it on film like that. Beautiful .

I would take a mix of surface poppers including the 2-3 oz. Roberts Rangers, some Kastmaster and Krocodile spoons and bucktail jigs fished with fresh shrimp bounced on the bottom near river mouths. Plastic leadheads will get bit but you'll be replacing the tails frequently. Take some Sabikis for...

That's a lot of fun and great tasting fish! In Panama we like to pan-fry those snapper whole (entero) under three pounds and add a little seasoning and hot buttter...wow.

I'd say bluefin are not feasible due to being out of season and I believe the quota has been reached anyways. The rest of the "winter" fishing will depend largely on the weather. Remember. Spain is on about the same latitude as Baltimore/New York.

You're a little late for bluefin. Their season runs from mid-May to June. Your best bet is to do some deep jigging for amberjack, denton and other medium game.

I did an article for Marlin Magazine about Hooked on Panama-see if a copy is on the resorts website. It's a very nice place to stay and they have good, fast boats. The tarpon river is the Rio Bayano about 1&1/2 hour drive east of Panama City. There are world record snook there as well. It takes...

Could only last until 1:21 looking at his face.

If you want nice sunny days November is a good choice. I've been to that area many times in November with good weather prevailing.

The peak offshore season in that region is May-September when it rains but less wind than December-March. Contact Fred Stephens (adventuresportfishing.com) and he'll give you the latest info. Playa Coco resort used to be a good source for fishing boats and experienced crews when Rick Wallace was...

No clamps for me and I've caught dozens of yellowfin tuna over 100 lbs. by popping/jigging with Shimano CTe700's and Torsa's spooled with 65-80 lb. Spectra. I was told by a Shimano rep that the reel seats on their rods hold well and I can confirm that now.

The best thing to do is talk to the local fishermen regarding what and where is biting. Conditions change and you have to adapt. A lot depends on your expectations-if you are satisfied with a sierra mackerel or need a big roosterfish, etc. will affect how you communicate with the locals as well...

That French "Vivif" was one of the funniest looking lures I've ever seen but it sure caught fish. I remember fishing with the late Joe Zarola (manager of the old Hook, Line and Sinker tackle shop in Point Loma) on the City of Imperial Beach half-day boat and he caught 19 yellows to 29 lbs. that...

You can get a local panga at Conchal (bring your own tackle) but for a better selection of boats check out Playa Flamingo just a short drive to the north. For best results in this area get a boat with a live bait well and a skipper who can provide it. That may make an OK day into a great day of...

I'd say you're adapting to Southern California pretty good!

Here's what I do: Use a San Diego knot to tie to the spool with mono being careful to pack tightly for about ten wraps. Join the mono to your main Spectra at this point (or before you begin spooling). The mono stretches and hugs the spool and it won't spin like Spectra. Never had a problem.

Yeah Kerncat the early 80's were special-including the 100+lb. bigeye tuna we were getting 5 miles from the Point. I remember those winter marlin as well.

Congratulations John. Old Verne Parker would be stoked. Like those Innovators. You may have caught one of the last "needlefish" of the year.

Wait 'til the female blues show up then things will get real interesting! Can't beat those deep fads.

Algis "Negro" Garcia and I go back a long ways. Glad to know he's still doing his thing. Did you do much popping/jigging or mostly troll?

Ask around and get a local panga that has a big trash can and a bucket to keep bait alive (chances are they won't have a pump/baitwell but see if you can find one). Take some Sabiki's for catching bait. You will increase your chances for big roosterfish with live bait slow-trolled. Troll...

Where in Costa Rica are you going to fish? Do you need to stay in Jaco or Dominical? Whats your budget? Panga or cruiser? Do you like to pop/jig or troll?...

I've fished Panama since 1994 under many sea conditions. Generally, the pelagics (marlin, tuna,etc.) come and go depending on currents, temp. etc. while resident species (cubera, roosterfish, etc.) remain a reliable fishery year round. Since a few years ago the big schools of yellowfin (a...

When casting from a boat into the rocky shorelines of Panama, we sometimes lose a few plastic-body poppers a trip if they land on a hard rock if not on target. They will crack in half like a surf board up against a great white shark. The wood bodies can handle more abuse and if the paint wears...

Thanks for the report Ethan. I'll want to hear more when you get back.

You are the epicenter for sailfish! Have a great season.

Some of the locals are getting some nice snook, roosterfish and corvina at Canas and scattered tuna offshore.