Panama: New Mexico, good times, good fishing

For the last week we have had the pleasure of having a boat load of easy going, laid back guys from New Mexico. The group is from Mack Energy and they came with two goals in mind: catch fish and have a good time. In terms of analysis (the big picture, nonbiased sort), the guys chose a good place for their recreation. In the Perlas Islands, Panama, we don’t really do too much that doesn’t relate to trying to attain just that—good times and big fish.

We have been fishing three boats, leaving us the flexibility to alternate inshore and offshore to give the guys the full experience of the fishing options available here. If there is one thing about Panama, it is that are indeed fishing options available. The options present themselves not just in terms of diversity of species, but in fishing gear as well. The guys came down with fly gear from Royal Journeys Sportfishing Company. It is great to work with Russ Johnson and Royal Journeys, they are true professionals.

There is more to fishing experience than simply statistics, but when the catch reports read like a bucket list, the stats are worth listing.

Rick caught his first marlin, a blue of about 500. On the leader she came up jumping and thrashing. It can be stated with relative assurance that it made an impression on all aboard. Rick is as nice and outgoing a guy as there is and it was an honor to get his first marlin aboard the Sula Sula. Jerry caught a sail of about 100 pounds and when it was his turn in the chair he left little doubt as to his intentions. Any man that boards the Pacific Provider in cowboy boots is a friend of mine, and his quick dispatch of the sail indeed resembled the way in which a rodeo man hog ties a calf. The sailfish must have been friends with the snapper community, because two days later a mullet snapper chomped down on Jerry’s t-shirt while posing for a prerelease picture. Harold and Destry caught lots of roosterfish, six of them, up to 45 pounds aboard the Cape Knox. Harold is as nice a guy as they come and his dry wit and conversational timing are great. It is always good when you can outfit a good story teller with fishing stories, and his roosterfish, snapper and sailfish should outfit him until he comes back. We have caught lots of amberjack in the 40 pound range, the biggest was 63. We have caught 4 cubera in between 25 and 40. We’ve also experienced good numbers of rock snapper and some big mullet snapper. Most of these fish have come trolling blue runners, with some caughFor the last week we have had the pleasure of having a boat load of easy going, laid back guys from New Mexico. The group is from Mack Energy and they came with two goals in mind: catch fish and have a good time. In terms of analysis (the big picture, nonbiased sort), the guys chose a good place for their recreation. In the Perlas Islands, Panama, we don’t really do too much that doesn’t relate to trying to attain just that—good times and big fish.

We have been fishing three boats, leaving us the flexibility to alternate inshore and offshore to give the guys the full experience of the fishing options available here. If there is one thing about Panama, it is that are indeed fishing options available. The options present themselves not just in terms of diversity of species, but in fishing gear as well. The guys came down with fly gear from Royal Journeys Sportfishing Company. It is great to work with Russ Johnson and Royal Journeys, they are true professionals.

There is more to fishing experience than simply statistics, but when the catch reports read like a bucket list, the stats are worth listing.

Rick caught his first marlin, a blue of about 500. On the leader she came up jumping and thrashing. It can be stated with relative assurance that it made an impression on all aboard. Rick is as nice and outgoing a guy as there is and it was an honor to get his first marlin aboard the Sula Sula. Jerry caught a sail of about 100 pounds and when it was his turn in the chair he left little doubt as to his intentions. Any man that boards the Pacific Provider in cowboy boots is a friend of mine, and his quick dispatch of the sail indeed resembled the way in which a rodeo man hog ties a calf. The sailfish must have been friends with the snapper community, because two days later a mullet snapper chomped down on Jerry’s t-shirt while posing for a prerelease picture. Harold and Destry caught lots of roosterfish, six of them, up to 45 pounds aboard the Cape Knox. Harold is as nice a guy as they come and his dry wit and conversational timing are great. It is always good when you can outfit a good story teller with fishing stories, and his roosterfish, snapper and sailfish should outfit him until he comes back. We have caught lots of amberjack in the 40 pound range, the biggest was 63. We have caught four cubera in between 25 and 40. We’ve also experienced good numbers of rock snapper and some big mullet snapper. Most of these fish have come trolling blue runners, with some caught on poppers. Kevin caught a dorado that went 35 pounds or so that we found on a floating tree that was covered up with bait. The guys have been introduced to yellowfin on poppers with spinning gear. I think we have some converts. Kevin pulled one off that was upwards of 100 after 30 minutes two days ago. Jerry got one that was around 40 pounds. We have seen a great number of humpback whales as well. It is the calving season and there are lots of mothers and little ones swimming about.

We usually have a pretty good time here in Panama, this week was no exception. General prescriptions for repeating this scenario, that being a good time and a week of shooting the bull, may very well include fishing in Panama’s Pearl Islands. Including a boat load of good folks from New Mexico makes for a safe bet as well.t on poppers. Kevin caught a dorado that went 35 pounds or so that we found on a floating tree that was covered up with bait. The guys have been introduced to yellowfin on poppers with spinning gear. I think we have some converts. Kevin pulled one off that was upwards of 100 after 30 minutes two days ago. Jerry got one that was around 40 pounds. We have seen a great number of humpback whales as well. It is the calving season and there are lots of mothers and little ones swimming about.

We usually have a pretty good time here in Panama, this week was no exception. General prescriptions for repeating this scenario, that being a good time and a week of shooting the bull, may very well include fishing in Panama’s Pearl Islands. Including a boat load of good folks from New Mexico makes for a safe bet as well.