Panama Fish Charter

Gulf of Panama Fishing

During the Pliocene Epoch, 5-1.8 million years ago the Panamanian land bridge between North and South America formed creating the Gulf of Panama and separating the two great oceans, which curtailed most migrations and genetic mingling of fish species between the Atlantic and Pacific. The Gulf of Panama is singularly complicated and fragile. It may be the major area in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean whose aquatic ocean environment spawns the very foundation of all oceanic life. The Gulf of Panama's underwater geography is a shallow collective alcove when compared to the offshore depths and neighboring coastlines. Offshore, the second strongest planetary current the 'Humboldt' or 'Peru' current initiating from the tip of South America pushes its way along the Colombian mainland towards the Azuero Peninsula and the Tuna Coast bringing opulent quantities of sea life. Several immense freshwater networks empty into the Gulf of Panama such as the Golfo de San Miguel and its hundreds of tributaries, the Bayano River and the Panama Canal. The Archipelago of Las Perlas consisting of more than one hundred beautiful volcanic islands, many of substantial size, and the islands of Bona, Otoque, Taboga, Taboguilla and others contribute to form a wealth of underwater structure praised by sport fishing enthusiasts. These islands further provide a varied shoreline of beaches, rocky points, steep drop offs, sea mounts, hundreds of small bays, river mouths, waterfalls and indentations that serve as sea life habitats. On the mainland bordering the center of the Gulf, where the Panama Canal empties to the ocean is found the lowest geographical zone across the Isthmus of Panama. During the dry season (January-May) the prevailing north wind is blocked elsewhere along the Isthmus by mountains except in this low area where a wind tunnel effect develops. The effect of the steady wind upon the surface water in the Gulf creates a strong 'Drift' current. Oceanographers call it the Panama Current. It has far reaching effects on the Galapagos Archipelago warming the surface waters seasonally. This Drift Current in turn produces a very rare type of current known as a 'Vertical' current. In such cases a strong steady wind blowing across a landmass for more than a few weeks causes surface water to be blown offshore and water must move in to replace it, usually vertically from deep water. The deep up welled offshore water is cold and nutrient rich, when this water moves into the 'alcove' that is the Gulf of Panama the dormant nutrients it contains reach a depth where sunlight acts on them and this water then yields extravagant plankton supplies. Hence this area of tremendous upwelling is incredibly rich in marine life. Plankton and other organisms bloom at unusually rapid rates clouding water visibility with a venerable population explosion. The entire ocean area is affected as normal marine life is tremendously augmented and growth patterns are accelerated increasing various forms of fish aggregations spectacularly. This of course means sport fishing for Cubera Snapper, Big Grouper, Blue marlin, Black marlin, Sailfish, Dolphin, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, Big Eye Tuna, Amberjack, Roosterfish, Sierra Mackerel and various other snapper are quite good. These circumstances occur annually in the Gulf of Panama sparking a chain of events, growth, aggregations and development of marine life essential to the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. During this period surface water temperature in the Gulf of Panama cools from 84 degrees down to 62-69 degrees Fahrenheit. The fly fishing or sport fishing enthusiast is treated to fantastic and unusual deep sea fishing opportunities for game fish normally found only at great depths ordinarily beyond the scope of normal angling trips. Deep water extremely large shelf demersal and slope game fish species such as Rockfish, giant Groupers, Giant Sea Bass, huge Pacific Cubera Snapper, Cabrillas and monster Red Snapper assail the Gulf of Panama in formidable numbers and extreme sizes foraging in shallow water of 10 to 60 feet and up close to the islands, a sport fishing dream come true. The duration of this deep sea fishing phenomenon is fundamentally dependant on the wind and usually lasts from 4 to 10 weeks. Additionally at this time Panama sport fishing enthusiasts are treated to an extreme and well defined temperature break (as much as 10 degrees but usually from 76-82 degrees) that forms along the continental shelf drop-off attracting vast aggregations of warm water pelagic game fish. This type of angling features great groups of hungry Marlin, Tuna, Swordfish, Wahoo, Dorado and Sailfish that are steadily encountered along this zone by anyone saltwater fishing willing to drag a hook behind the boat. As the wind subsides and the water temperature raises sport fishing guides note that tremendous schools of offshore pelagic game fish invade and mass within the Gulf of Panama and close to its islands to benefit and feed from the occurring phenomenon. Offshore fishing trips in the Gulf of Panama encounter these great pelagic game fish as well as many straggling bottom behemoths the rest of the year from late May to early December. Therefore offshore sport fishing in the Gulf of Panama can be neatly divided into two principal angling pursuits - Trolling for pelagic game fish offshore or bottom fishing for shelf demersal and slope game fish species.

San Miguel, Isla del Rey

The Pearl Islands (Spanish: Archipiélago de las Perlas or Islas de las Perlas) are a group of 100 or more islands (many tiny and uninhabited) lying about 30 miles off the Pacific coast of Panama in the Gulf of Panama.

The most notable island is Contadora Island (or Isla Contadora in Spanish), known for its resorts. Contadora was said to be used by the Spanish conquistadors as a stop for taking inventory of booty prior to returning to Spain, hence the name (contador means counter or bookkeeper in Spanish). Contadora is a resort island, with many homes owned by wealthy Panamanians. There is a large hotel and other cabins available. Most of the resort workers live on nearby Isla Saboga. In 1979, the Shah of Iran briefly took exile on Isla Contadora. A small commuter airline, Aero Perlas, runs frequent flights between Panama City and Contadora.

The largest island, at about 30 square miles, is Isla del Rey ("Island of the King"), its name probably a religious reference rather than a reference to a secular king. Isla del Rey has several towns, most notably San Miguel. It is easily larger than the other Pearl Islands combined, and is the second largest island in Panama, after Coiba.

Other islands are Bolano, Buena Vista, Cana, Casaya, Chepra, Chitre, Cocos, Espiritu Santo, Galera, Gallo, Gilbraleon, Lampon, Marin, Mina, Mogo Mogo o Pajaro, Pacheca, Pachequille, Pedro Gonzalez, Puerco, San Jose, Senora.