When you fish the Boca Chica area you must make a tough decision: What to fish for? The inshore fishing for roosterfish, cubera snapper, jacks and the many other challenging species is year round but during the winter months of January and February there are also great off shore possibilities for marlin and sailfish. On top of that, there are more dorados around than at any other time of the year. If you visit later in season, between April and July, the area is famous for it’s tuna fishery. The tuna fishing is peaking in May-June when huge schools of yellowfin tunas, ranging from manageable 50 pounders to rod (and man!) breaking 300 pounders, turn on during hectic feeding frenzies. The surface action can be unlike anything else you will ever encounter and depending on how the fish are feeding they can be caught on poppers, stickbaits, jigs or live bait.

With so many opportunities it’s a good thing that we fish long days – from 6.30 to 17.30 so we at least think that we can get it all done. Of course, we never quite will.

SEASON: Year round.

FLY TO: Panama City.

TYPICAL ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrival in Panama City, transfer to airport hotel.
Day 2: Transfer to Boca Chica.
Day 2-7: Five full days of fishing.
Day 8: Transfer to Panama City for the flight home.
Longer trips possible.

PRICE: From €2680 to €2775 ($2995 to $3150) for an seven nights, five days fishing package.

INCLUDED: Five full days of guided fishing (three to four anglers per boat), six nights at lodge (one of which can be at the mothership), all meals and beverages, round trip from Panama City to lodge, first hotel night in Panama City.

NOT INCLUDED: International flights to Panama City, gratiuties (approx. $250 per angler), possible Coiba fishing license ($100).

Recently, the lodge has starte using motherships anchored near the hottest fishing areas – and with our special “combo-trips” you get to fish these hot spots late in the day and early in the morning when the fishing can be at its best.

The boats at Boca Chica are in a class of their own and fully capable of making long runs to the famous fishing grounds of Hannibal Bank or Isla Montuosa. After a long day of fishing you need a cold beer, a dip in the pool and a cocktail or two followed by a good meal. Then you finish the day off with a goodnight drink before you crash in a clean, air conditioned room. It’s all there – and it’s all included in the package.

When you join our special “Boca Chica Combo” trips you will stay one night at the new mothership, anchored near one of the hot spots. You’ll be in for a treat!

We do our group trips – with the mothership combo – from January to March, for the simple reason that this is the best time to leave a dark and cold Europe but if you are thinking about targeting yellowfin tuna April and May is also worth considering. For special mothership expeditions to new fishing areas the fall months of October and November are also very good.

For light tackle you could consider bringing a fixed spool reel in the 6000 size and a lighter popping rod casting up to 100 grams.

For jigging we use a short rod of a little over five feet with a recommended jig weight of around 300 grams. We use a fixed spool reel the same size as when popping (10000 or 14000) but find it is easier to get away with a less expensive model than the Shimano Stellas or Daiwa Saltigas when jigging.

If you want to have a shot at marlin or sailfish trolling tackle is already on the boats.

After a long overseas flight from Europe you will arrive in Panama City in the afternoon.

We have booked a hotel for you for the night and on our group trips we often start the next day by visiting a tackle shop so our guests can stock up on lures and other needed tackle. After that it’s off to the domestic airport for a short flight to David. From here, we go by bus to the lodge at Boca Chica.