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The Journal

Lodge news & fishing reports.

Dispatches from the Gulf of Chiriquí — what's biting, how we fish it, and life on the island.

A guided fishing trip in Panama with Captain Shane Featured

May 5, 2025

5 Benefits of Hiring a Fishing Guide

Anglers of all ages and skill levels can benefit from working with an expert guide. Here's why you should hire a fishing guide and how we can set you up with one in Panama.

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A jack species similar to the Bluefin Trevally caught in Panama Tips & Advice

May 5, 2025

All About Bluefin Trevally and Fishing Tips in Panama

Information about the Bluefin Trevally and fishing tips to help you be successful on your Panama adventure — where they are found, why to catch them, how to catch them, and how to cook them.

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Deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama Featured

May 5, 2025

Deep Sea Fishing Panama

A look at Panama, arguably some of the best deep sea fishing in the world, focused on the Gulf of Chiriquí and the Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge experience.

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Wahoo caught fishing in Panama Featured

May 5, 2025

Is Wahoo Good to Eat If You Catch One Wahoo Fishing?

Details about wahoo fishing in Panama and what wahoo tastes like, plus tips on how to prepare this prized game fish at home.

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June/July 2024 catch in the Gulf of Chiriqui Featured

May 5, 2025

June/July 2024 Fishing Report from Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge

June and July are always among the best months to fish in Panama, and June/July of 2024 was no exception as our clients enjoyed epic catches and National Geographic scenes offshore.

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Isla Parida and the Gulf of Chiriqui, home of Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge Featured

May 5, 2025

The Many Charms of Isla Parida

An introduction to one of Panama's best-kept secrets — Isla Parida and the Gulf of Chiriquí — and a personal invitation to experience the Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge.

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A family enjoying a fishing charter in Panama Featured

May 5, 2025

Family Reunion Fishing Charters Are Perfect for Reconnecting Loved Ones

Many people host family reunions in backyards, park pavilions, and vacation homes. But what if you could do something truly special and unique for your next family reunion?

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Celebrating a special occasion on a Panama fishing charter Featured

May 5, 2025

Is a Fishing Charter Ideal for Your Next Special Occasion?

Are you looking for a unique way to celebrate a birthday, honeymoon, anniversary, bachelor/bachelorette party, or other kind of event coming up?

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Anglers fishing safely on a deep-sea charter off Panama Featured

May 5, 2025

Fishing Safety Tips for Deep-Sea Fishing

Our top fishing safety tips to remember when you are out on the water, drawn from years of providing professional fishing trips and off-grid lodging off the coast of Panama since 2005.

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Live baiting in the Gulf of Chiriqui Tips & Advice

May 5, 2025

Live Baiting: How it Works, Why it's So Much Fun

A breakdown of how live baiting works in the Gulf of Chiriqui — from catching bonito and tuna tubes to rigging baits and feeding marlin and tuna — and why it's so much fun.

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A large cubera snapper caught in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama Tips & Advice

May 5, 2025

The Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge Guide to Cubera Snapper

Our guide to one of the world's great cubera snapper fisheries in the Gulf of Chiriquí, covering seasons, tackle, and our three favorite methods — poppers, live bait, and dead bait.

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Sunset over the water at Boca Chica, Panama Featured

May 5, 2025

Tips for Getting Around Panama on Your Vacation

A rundown of the best ways to get around Panama — by plane, car, bus, train, and boat — plus how our all-inclusive packages handle your transportation to the island lodge.

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Marlin fishing in paradise Featured

May 5, 2025

Marlin Fishing in Paradise

A breakdown of Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge's approach to black and blue marlin fishing in the Gulf of Chiriqui — when it happens, how it happens, and how to tell the two species apart.

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Spanish (Sierra) mackerel caught in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama Featured

April 10, 2025

All About Mackerel Fishing and How to Catch a Mackerel

Here in the Gulf of Chiriquí and around Hannibal Bank, mackerel fish are very common among sportfishermen and also great to eat.

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Historic marlin bite and 2025 open dates Fishing Reports

April 10, 2025

Incredible Marlin Bite & 2025 Dates

2025 started with an incredible marlin bite that promises good things for the months to come. A breakdown of our two months of marlin fishing plus an update on remaining 2025 dates.

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The biggest yellowfin tuna of 2024 caught at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge Fishing Reports

April 10, 2025

The Biggest Yellowfin of 2024

The story behind the lodge's first Biggest Tuna of the Year Award — Greg Evers' 247-pound yellowfin, landed after a two-and-a-half-hour solo battle in the Gulf of Chiriquí.

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Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge featured in Saltwater Sportsman Magazine Featured

April 10, 2025

Feature Article in this month's Saltwater Sportsman!!!

We are honored to have the lodge featured in this month's issue of Saltwater Sportsman Magazine in the article entitled 'Welcome to Panama's Gulf of Chiriquí'.

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A Pacific snook caught at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge Featured

April 10, 2025

What Is the Pacific Snook, and How Do We Catch Them?

A look at the Pacific snook — its characteristics, where to find it in the Gulf of Chiriquí, and the techniques we use to catch this challenging inshore game fish.

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Anglers dressed for sun protection on a Panama fishing trip Featured

April 10, 2025

What to Wear Fishing for the Best Sun Protection

The clothing and gear you choose can make or break a fishing trip. Here's what to wear to protect your skin and eyes from the bright Panama sunshine out on the water.

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The coastline and waters near Boca Chica, Panama Featured

April 10, 2025

Where Is Boca Chica, Panama and Why Is It Great for Fishing?

An introduction to Boca Chica — a small off-the-radar fishing village on Panama's Pacific coast that serves as a gateway to the Gulf of Chiriquí and world-class sport fishing.

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Anglers with tuna, cubera snapper, and roosterfish caught off Panama Fishing Reports

December 11, 2020

November 27 to December 12 Fishing Report – Panama Pandemic Fishing is on FIRE!!!

Guests who made the trip during the pandemic were rewarded with red-hot fishing, including a 200-plus pound yellowfin tuna and a strong inshore bite for snapper, jacks, and roosterfish.

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Mate and angler Jay holding yellowfin tunas aboard the boat Featured

November 19, 2020

November 17-20 Fishing Report – Back Open After 8 months! Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish, and more!!!

After eight months of COVID closure, the lodge reopened with a bang — yellowfin tuna action offshore plus wahoo, roosterfish, and jack crevalle over four days of fishing.

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Panama fishing lodge client with catch Fishing Reports

February 28, 2018

March 2018 – All Around Awesome Fishing!!!

March marks the height of the dry season in the Gulf of Chiriquí — blue skies, smooth seas, and great fishing for big yellowfin tunas, cubera snappers, roosterfish, and black marlin.

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Angler with catch fishing in Panama Fishing Reports

January 30, 2018

January 2018 – Starting Off the New Year With a Bang!

We started off 2018 at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge with a bang, hosting three great groups over 15 days of great offshore and inshore action.

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July 2017 Panama fishing report catch Fishing Reports

June 30, 2017

July 2017 – Fishing with Our Buddies, Bucket List Marlin, Tunas, and Wild Bill!!!

July 2017 in the Gulf of Chiriqui delivered success live baiting marlin at Hannibal Bank, good days with tunas, and excellent grouper fishing across three groups.

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May 2017 Panama fishing report catch Fishing Reports

May 30, 2017

May 2017 – Solid Tuna Action with Team Accurate, Good Karma, and More!!!

May 2017 at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge was awesome — six groups over 24 days with red-hot yellowfin tuna action, including multiple fish over 200 pounds and a 500-pound black marlin.

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January 2017 Panama fishing report catch Fishing Reports

January 30, 2017

January 2017 Report – Tunas, Roosterfish, Deep Dropping and More!

We hosted two groups on the island and fished a few day charters out of Boca Chica in January 2017, with good consolation action on roosterfish, tunas, snowy grouper and more.

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Angler holding a big roosterfish at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge Fishing Reports

December 12, 2016

BIG Roosterfish!!! – Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge – December 13-15, 2016

We fished 3 days with John and Diane from Florida here at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge the dates of December 13-15.

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Angler holding a fish caught off Isla Paridas, Panama Fishing Reports

November 26, 2016

Hurricane Otto Marlin and Roosterfish! – November 25-27, 2016

Glenn Stout and family braved Hurricane Otto's aftermath for a few good days of fishing, releasing a first blue marlin and several roosterfish at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge.

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Marlin caught and released at Hannibal Bank, Panama Fishing Reports

October 30, 2016

Rainy Season Black Marlin, Roosterfish, and More!

A few off-season days produced a bucket-list roosterfish inshore at Boca Chica and a hard-fought marlin release at Hannibal Bank despite challenging rainy-season conditions.

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Large yellowfin tuna caught at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge Fishing Reports

April 17, 2016

225# Yellowfin Tuna on a Popper and More! – Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge – April 18-28, 2016

We fished 10 days and hosted 3 awesome groups April 18-28, 2016 at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge on Isla Paridas, including a monster 225# tuna caught on a popper.

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Big black marlin caught off Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge Fishing Reports

March 19, 2016

Monster 750# Black Marlin and 200# Tuna – Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge – March 20-April 3, 2016

We fished 11 days and hosted 3 great groups March 20 through April 3, with catches including a 750# Black Marlin and a 200# Yellowfin Tuna.

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March 2016 Panama fishing report catch Fishing Reports

March 17, 2016

March Madness!!! – Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge – March 1-18, 2016

We fished five great groups, a couple of day charters out of Boca Chica, and 17 of the first 18 days of March 2016 from our private island lodge in the Gulf of Chiriquí.

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Yellowfin tuna landed during a December trip in the Gulf of Chiriqui Fishing Reports

November 30, 2015

Panama Fishing Report - Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge – December 2015

The lodge operated for 6 days during December 2015 at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge on Isla Paridas, with flat seas, pleasant weather, and a 100# yellowfin tuna on a birthday trip.

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The stuff fishing dreams are made of

Tuna. Marlin. Roosterfish.
Mountains of sashimi.

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