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Panama - Boca Chica
Capt. Bob Baker
March 2, 2007
Boca Chica - Saltwater Fishing Report
Panama--Punta Burica to Isla Montuosa
After a very windy February, high surface temperatures, and sluggish billfish, the temp. has dropped from the 90-91 area back down to a more comfortable(for the fish) 86 degrees.
What was one day another boring , "troll till you drop" exercise in futility, the next became fun filled sailfish action .
Blue marlin are outside Burica , on the drop. They too have been present, but staying down in the thermocline at 80-100 ft. Bait balls were seen on our sounders down there, and we finally had to stop the boat, send live sardines down with break-away sinkers, and we at least got some fish for our clients.
Small yellowfin tunas are back, and we at least see porpoise schools feeding on bait, with the tunas underneath now.
Between Ladrones and Burica , there are sails and tunas. Not too many dorado, but they are being taken sporadically.
Montuosa, always a great place to fish, was almost bare of the huge bonito schools that are the norm there. They just moved out to cooler, deeper water.
The "nort's" or Veraguas Winds were very strong in February, caused in part by the El Nino phenom. we're experiencing.
Book your trip later, even into August , if you are serious about a marlin. With a bit of cloud cover and some rains, we'll have great fishing in April, May, and on into the first two wks. of Sept.
Contact me at [email protected] for booking info and reports.
Good Fishing !! Wherever You Are! Capn Bob
Panama Inshore-Parida/Ladrones to Isla Secas
About the only thing that made February bearable for many of our clients was the ability to go inshore and enjoy great action on roosterfish and snappers while the offshore action was a dud.
Poppers and trolled rapals managed a lot of fish.
We had a couple days of African pompano fishing outside Isla Parida that was hard to beat. great fighters and even better in garlic butter!!
Blue runners , bridled and slow-trolled around all the reefs and rocks that make up Las Paridas was the answer for some big roosters.
Sardines were hard to get, but they are re-appearing now that the water temps have cooled a bit.
Deep jigging around the high spots off Isla Ladrones got our boyz some big snapper bites, some they could stop, some not. I think the ones we couln't put the brakes to were actually rock snapper, but I could be wrong.
Costa Rica-Golfito- Offshore
Sailfish and marlin are finally beginning to bite well, after a S-L-O-W February . I'm going to advise, as I did this year, that future anglers who want to book don't crowd into February , but rather book later, even into June.
This is the third consecutive season where February has been a bust due to high water temps.
My down-riggers were stolen down in Pedregal, the so-called "marina' in Panama, along with about $9,000 worth of rods and reels, but I've ordered two more and they'll be here in April. Got to go down after the billfish if they won't come to the top.
Schools of yellowfin returning, as is the bait, and they're always a welcome plus in the daily fare. Just a few of them and maybe a dorado, will have the clients talking recipes all the way home !!
Trolling outside the porpoise schools is taking fish of all kinds, from marlin and sails, to dorado and the tunas.
Talk to you all soon. don't be afraid to book your trip later. You'll be a winner!!
Good Fishing !! Wherever You Are! Capn Bob
Costa Rica-Golfito-Inshore
Capt. Pete LaFleche, fishing on the "Cork" with friends from Ontario, had some nice inshore action yesterday on roosters , yellowtail snapper, and an African pompano that was rock-wrapped, then freed itself, then ALMOST to the boat, when that last lunge for the bottom parted the already severely frayed 20 lb. test mono. All three anglers saw the fish , just out of gaff range, and Capn Pete estimated it's weight at 35 pounds or more. That is a really nice fish for this area, and that species.
Roosters are biting well. We're going to hit the corvina on Sunday to see whazz up with them, and I'll have a report on that later.
Snook, no snook. Too many illegal nets in the rivers and then an army of bums armed with spearguns.
Talk to you soon !! Capn Bob
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