Fishing Report - 03/03/07

Greetings From Pesca Panama,

East Coast vs West Coast was the theme for the week and the end result was a dead heat.
Fisherman from both coasts know how to drop an iron and cast a jig; and it showed with knee buckling strikes and thumb burning runs.

Pesca Panama welcomed back returning guests Bill and Noel Huelsenbach, Doug Green, Steve and Phyllis Massey, and Wayne Thomas. We were also glad to welcome new comers Steve Pena, Joe Posch, Jimmy "The Savage" Ridgeway, Bill Hanson IV, and Mike Law to the Pesca Panama Family.

The week got off to a fast start when on the second day a school of porpoise were found off of Montousa Island holding Tuna. Many small Tuna were landed as well as 3 fish over 100 lbs. The Fish of the day came on the second cast when Steve Pena hooked a 150 lb Tuna on Topwater bringing it to the gaff in under 15 minutes. Not to be outdone by the West Coast, East Coast representative Bill Huelsenbach landed a Tuna off of Jicaron that taped out at 311 lbs while fishing with Team Lucho. Congratulations Bill on landing a world class fish!

Arriving at Coiba we found the Rooster Fish to be active, biting, and willing to eat bot live baits and topwater. Corby and Steve had a great late evening bite landing a double on Roosterfish with Team Macho. The same evening; Noel, Steve , and Doug found some great action on the beach landing four Roosters trolling live bait and casting poppers. Fishing with Tatin and Tom; Mike, Joe, and Bill found some great action on a high spot at Jicaron landing many Mullet Snapper, a 65 lb Amberjack, and a 45 lb Roosterfish.

The week finished as strong as it started with some good bottom fishing to be had at Ladrones and Montousa island. Mike got his shot at feeling the strength of a huge Cubera that went 60 lbs. Steve got a chance to test his endurance on landing a rare 80 lb Broomtail Grouper. Congratulations Steve on a huge Grouper! Not to be outdone by all the male fisherman, Phyllis landed a beautiful Sailfish off of Ladrones that was estimated to be 125 lbs.

On another note, Travis and Jen have left for the next few months heading "North to Alaska" to chase Salmon and Halibut. Good Luck up North This summer and safe travels. As they were leaving, Jay called me and asked if I could come help out for a few weeks. I was on a plane the next day and will be here until April helping out around the Barge.

See ya on the planks
Captain Ben Floyd


Team Lucho with their XL Tuna


Bill with his Tuna


Tuna even eat the Iron


Dorado on the Harpoon


Steve with his 80 lb Broomtail


Bill Hanson IV with a nice Yellow fin


Nice Sail Corby


Phyllis with a nice fish


Mike with his 60 lbs of Glory


Bill showing that he is more diverse than just a XL Tuna Fisherman