Fishing Report - 08/20/10

GREETING FROM THE TROPICS

LAST WEEKEND SOME OF THE "HIGHER UPS" IN THE PANAMANIAN GOVERNMENT ASK PESCA PANAMA IF WE WOULD CHARTER TWO FISHING BOATS, COMPLETE WITH CAPTAINS, MATES, FUEL AND TACKLE TO MEET THEM FOR TWO DAYS OF FISHING AROUND COIBA ISLAND. SEEMS THEY WERE GOING TO BE HELICOPTERING IN AND LANDING AT THE RANGER STATION. THEN AFTER TWO DAYS OF FISHING DEPARTING BY HELICOPTER TO WHERE EVER. NEVER SEEMS TO HURT TO HAVE AN EXTRA HELICOPTER OR TWO SIGHTING AROUND AT YOUR DISPOSAL.

TWO OF OUR CREWS GOT BUSY, PUT THEIR BOATS IN THE WATER, PREPARED THEIR TACKLE, PUT ON EXTRA BARRELS OF FUEL, COOLERS OF ICE AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS NECESSARY FOR THIS KIND OF FISHING TRIP. WITHOUT THE BARGE BEING THERE TO HELP SUPPORT THEM THEY WOULD NEED TO TAKE EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED WITH THEM.

FRIDAY OUR BOATS DEPARTED FOR THE 75 MILE TRIP TO COIBA ISLAND AND SOON AFTER DROPPING ANCHOR THE ANGLERS ARRIVED AS PLANNED IN THE HELICOPTER. SATURDAY MORNING AND OUR TWO BOATS WITH ANGLERS ONBOARD WERE RUNNING TO FISH HANNIBAL BANK.

THE SEAS, FORTUNATELY, WERE CALM SO THE RUN WAS EASY. THE WATER COLOR WAS A LITTLE OFF, GREEN TURNING TO BLUE AND THE WATER TEMPERATURE WAS AT 82 DEGREES WHICH IS GOOD FOR HERE. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE BANK IT WAS ALIVE WITH FISH! ALL KINDS OF FISH.

IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS THE ANGLERS WOULD RELEASE 4 BLACK MARLIN AND 1 SAILFISH, HOOKED BIG 200 PLUS POUND YELLOWFIN TUNA ALONG WITH NUMEROUS SMALLER TUNA, DORADO AND WAHOO. ALL RIGHT AT THE BANK. THE CAPTAINS REPORTED THE SEA FULL OF SMALL YELLOWFIN TUNA AND ACTUALLY THOUSANDS OR PEANUT DORADO. NOW THE STORY EVEN GETS BETTER, THEY NEVER SAW ANOTHER BOAT IN TWO DAYS OF FISHING. IT WAS LIKE THEY OWNED HANNIBAL BANK!

TO TOP THIS OFF, ON THEIR WAY BACK TO COIBA ISLAND THEY WOULD STOP AND TRY SOME POPPING AND HAD GREAT ACTION ON BOTH CUBERA SNAPPERS AND ROOSTERFISH. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE ANGLERS FROM THE GOVERNMENT HAD A FANTASTIC WEEKEND OF FISHING AND THINK PESCA PANAMA AND ITS CREW HAVE SOME KIND OF SPECIAL, "FISHING MAGIC." WE DIDN'T TELL THEM THAT IS WAY FISHING IS. SOME DAY ARE NOT SO GREAT BUT SOME DAYS ARE FANTASTIC

THE GOOD NEW FOR OUR ANGLERS IS THAT WHEN WE START BACK FISHING ON A REGULAR BASIS THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER OUR ANGLERS SHOULD ENCOUNTER SOME GREAT FISHING. THE FISH THAT OUR OUT THERE ARE ONLY GOING TO GET BIGGER!

TIGHT LINES,
CAPTAIN JULIAN JAY GUSTIN

P.S. I AM STILL TRYING TO GET PHOTOS OF THE FISHING TRIP. IF I GET THEM I WILL HAVE THEM ADDED TO THIS PAGE.