Welcome to the exciting world of sport fishing in Panama! Near the shores of Panama, you’ll encounter a couple of fascinating fishing approaches worth exploring. Among them is inshore fishing, a method that centers around catching fish in shallower waters.
The warm waters of this Central American country consistently yield remarkable record-breaking catches throughout the year. With a vast tropical coastline stretching 2,490 km and an array of over 1,000 islands, Panama claims its position among the globe’s premier game fishing destinations. Panama stands out with its consistent year-round fishery.
Panama boasts some of the world’s finest inshore fishing experiences. In the western part of Panama lies the Gulf of Chiriqui, home to over 200 islands that create an ideal habitat for various inshore species.
Whether you’re a fan of jigging, poppers, crankbaits, or slow trolling with live bait, spending a week in Panama for inshore fishing assures you of returning home content and with pleasantly tired arms.
This article will explore inshore sport fishing in Panama in detail, providing tips and tricks for anglers to have the best possible experience. We will discuss the inshore fishing species found there, prime fishing spots, top-notch techniques, the best places to stay, and the perfect fishing seasons.
Short Summary
Panama’s Fishing Paradise: Discover the thrill of fishing in Panama’s abundant waters, known for year-round opportunities and a diverse range of fish species.
Premier Game Fishing Destination: With an extensive tropical coastline and over 1,000 islands, Panama offers some of the world’s best game fishing spots for anglers seeking thrilling adventures.
Best Techniques and Location: Explore the most effective techniques and best fish locations to ensure a rewarding catch in Panama City’s coastal waters.
Locations to stay: Pick the perfect place to stay while fishing – we’ve got you covered with the best options, ensuring your comfort and convenience.
When to Go Fishing: While you can fish year-round, find out the best times of the year to catch different kinds of fish, making your fishing trips super successful.
Unforgettable Fishing Adventures: Join us in exploring Panama City’s fishing paradise, combining expert techniques, ideal spots, perfect timing, comfy stays, and loads of fun!
What is Inshore Fishing?
Inshore and offshore fishing vary in water depth and distance from the shoreline. Inshore fishing happens in waters less than 30 meters deep and within nine miles of the shoreline.
In inshore fishing zones, the waters are usually calmer and easier to access. You won’t need as much time, effort, or special boat features to get there. Coastal conditions are more predictable, offering a peaceful experience, and you’ll catch different types of fish compared to offshore fishing.
Why Fish in Panama?
Panama means “a lot of fish”. It sits between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Panama’s coastline provides a year-round fishing haven for over 30 gamefish species.
Panama’s Pacific coast, alongside the Azuero Peninsula, is known as the Tuna Coast. This region is renowned for its monster billfish population, featuring abundant blue, black, and striped marlin, along with sailfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and swordfish.
Furthermore, Panama presents anglers with a wide array of coastal pelagic species, including sought-after catches like roosterfish and cubera snapper (also known as Cuban snapper).
Best Places for Inshore Fishing in Panama
1. Gulf of Chiriqui
Situated in the western region of Panama, the Gulf of Chiriqui is home to more than 200 different islands. These islands provide an ideal habitat for these inshore species. The bottom containing mud gently slopes from the shoreline towards the continental shelf, so the reefs and volcanic rocks offer a habitat for game and bait fish.
2. Azuero Peninsula
The Azuero Peninsula is famously known as the ‘Tuna Coast’ because of its close proximity to the continental shelf, allowing for catching yellow-fin tuna in pangas merely a short distance from the shore. However, it is the inshore fishing here that has turned it into a prominent fishing destination.
Along the rocky coastline, you’ll discover river mouths, mangroves, and reefs, creating a rich habitat for a diverse range of species.
3. Bocas del Toro Archipelago (Caribbean)
The Bocas del Toro Archipelago is a group of seven islands and over 200 islets in the northwest of Panama in the Caribbean Sea. It is a picturesque destination featuring coral reefs, mangroves, and significant river mouths that are home to tarpon and snook.
4. Piñas Bay
Piñas Bay is Panama’s top fishing spot, with over 200 deep-sea fishing records set here – more than anywhere else. It’s also a beautiful place with interesting culture, making it great for everyone, not just fishermen. The surrounding regions provide a range of magical experiences, from the urban area of Panama to mystical mountains, dense jungles, and azure seas.
Widely known for the popular Tropic Star Lodge, Piñas Bay is famous primarily for its marlin population. It offers more than marlin as the roosterfish and other inshore species experience significantly less pressure than other locations.
Best Seasons for Inshore Fishing in Panama
Panama has long coastlines on two oceans – the Pacific and the Caribbean – so the weather and fishing times are different. The good news is that many of the fish are not migratory, giving anglers an option to enjoy fishing year-round. But some months are better for fishing because of the sea condition, the fish’s food, and seasonal pattern.
For the most part, February and March are the top months for inshore fishing in Panama. These months are when catching cubera and roosterfish gets really good. March is especially fantastic, but you can have good results from March all the way to August.
Best Inshore Fishing Techniques For Sport Fishing In Panama
Panama is a perfect spot for anglers who love fishing near the shore. With two oceans, a vast coastline, many islands, and over 30 types of fish to catch, there’s plenty to enjoy. You can also try different fishing methods in Panama based on your preference. Below are some of these methods you can try:
1. Live Bait Fishing
When fishing near the shore in Panama, using live bait is the best way to catch fish. There’s an abundance of game fish and bait fish in the mornings. Blue runners are the favorite live bait in the Pacific, but you can also use lookdowns, mackerel, and sardines. And if you’re aiming for the huge trophy cubera snapper that Panama is famous for, a big bonito hooked on a circle hook might be used.
2. Popper Fishing
This technique is as effective as live bait fishing. Almost every angler dreams of watching a cubera snapper or a roosterfish attack their topwater popper. The size of the popper that works can change each day, but typically, poppers between 4 inches to 8 inches are effective. Colors like blue, purple, black, green, and red/white always work well. You should cast these close to rocky islands or right over reefs to entice the fish and grab them.
3. Stick Baits, Swim Baits & Crank Baits
Many people who like using light coolest fishing gear also enjoy stick baits, swim baits, and crankbaits. These can work even better than poppers, especially when the conditions are a little choppy, as it goes a little deeper.
4. Jigging
Jigging is becoming increasingly popular as it is very technical and hands-on. In Panama, jigging can involve various techniques, from lowering metal lures deep down for snapper & grouper to moving a butterfly jig through the water or even using soft baits to try and catch a snook or sea bass close to the river mouth.
Anglers who plan to focus on jigging during their Panama fishing trip must have their own gear or keep buying fishing gear. We recommend using 60# to 80# braid on all reels and with various sizes and colors in your jigs.
5. Trolling
If the day has been quiet with no bites, if the sea isn’t great, or if you’re just tired from casting or jigging all day, you can switch things up and go trolling. Although it might not be the most interactive way of inshore fishing, it allows you to cover a larger area and try something different if the other methods aren’t working.
Best Places to Stay When Sport Fishing in Panama
When it comes to fishing in Panama, a fishing lodge is the way to go. Most lodges are found on the Pacific Ocean, but you can also find fishing resorts on both coasts. Here are four incredible places to stay, each offering a unique fishing experience.
1. Tropic Star Lodge
Tropic Star Lodge, located in Pinas Bay, is one of Panama’s top fishing spots, providing exceptional inshore and offshore adventures. Its global reputation is well-earned, with over 300 IGFA world records accomplished on its waters. It has more fishing records than any other resort. It is situated 150 miles southeast of Panama City in the Darien jungle.
2. Panafishing Adventure Lodge
Panafishing Adventure Lodge is found on the southeastern tip of the Azuero Peninsula, specifically designed for those who love popping and jigging. Depending on the time of year, their strategic location allows you to fish either to the south or east of the peninsula.
During the green season, you can fish with light tackle to catch impressive roosterfish and cubera snapper in their finest location.
3. El Rio Negro Lodge
The El Rio Negro Lodge is one of the oldest fishing lodges that is located on the western side of the Azuero Peninsula. El Rio Negro specializes in serving smaller groups seeking a comprehensive fishing experience.
This lodge features air conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi, and all meals and beverages provided.
4. Tranquilo Bay Eco Lodge
On the Caribbean coast, the Bocas del Toro archipelago is the home to many luxurious hotels in Panama. One of them is Tranquilo Bay Eco Lodge. This boutique hotel is surrounded by the Bastimientos Marine National Park on Isla Bastimientos, providing top-notch, all-inclusive, four-star accommodations.
On this coastline, the primary catches are tarpon and snook. Additionally, during the right season, you’ll encounter other species, such as black-tailed trevally, barracuda, dorado, blackfin tuna, mackerel, and wahoo.
Inshore Fishing Species found in Panama:
Panama features over 30 different species of fish, and here are some of the key ones:
- Roosterfish
- Cubera Snapper
- Mackerel
- Barracuda
- Jack Crevalle
- Horse-eye Jack
- Bluefin Trevally
- African Pompano
- Amberjack
- Almaco Jack
- Needlefish
- Rainbow Runner
- Black Grouper
- Broomtail Grouper
- Lane Snapper
- Mullet Snapper
- Red Snapper
- Schoolmaster Snapper
- Yellowtail Snapper
- Squirrelfish
- Wahoo
- Snook
- Tarpon
Inshore Sport Fishing in Panama: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the difference between inshore and offshore fishing?
A: Inshore fishing occurs in waters less than 30 meters deep and within nine miles of the shoreline, offering calmer and more accessible conditions. Offshore fishing involves deeper waters and greater distances from the shore.
Q: Why should I choose Sport Fishing in Panama For fishing?
A: Panama’s extensive coastline between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea provides a year-round haven for over 30 different gamefish species, making it a prime destination for anglers seeking diverse and thrilling fishing experiences.
Q: What are the best places for inshore fishing in Panama?
A: Key locations for inshore fishing include the Gulf of Chiriqui, Azuero Peninsula, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, and Piñas Bay, each offering unique habitats and species for a fulfilling fishing adventure.
Q: What fish species can I expect to catch while inshore fishing in Panama?
A: In Panama’s waters, you have the chance to catch a diverse range of species, including roosterfish, cubera snapper, mackerel, barracuda, jack crevalle, tarpon, snook, wahoo, and more.
Q: Where can I stay when I go inshore fishing in Panama City?
A: There are many different places where you can stay when you go inshore fishing in Panama City, including:
- Fishing lodges
- Hotels
- Resorts
We have discussed this in detail in the article.
Q: What non-fishing activities can I enjoy besides fishing in Panama?
A: Panama has so much to provide other than sport fishing, including lush rainforest with incredible wildlife, beaches, islands, and the Panama Canal itself. If you have non-anglers in your group or it’s their off day from fishing, Panama offers a diverse range of experiences beyond fishing, including canopy zip-line tours, white water rafting, ATV adventures, horseback riding, surfing, golfing, guided national park tours, waterfall visits, island hopping, snorkeling, kayaking, coffee plantation tours, bird watching, cultural and historical tours of Panama City, and Panama Canal tours.
In conclusion, exploring the world of inshore sport fishing in Panama City promises a thrilling and diverse experience for anglers of all levels. With its rich coastal waters, abundant marine life, and various fishing techniques, Panama offers an unparalleled opportunity to reel in impressive catches and create unforgettable memories.
Beyond fishing, the country’s natural beauty, historical sites, and adventure activities make it an ideal destination for both anglers and non-anglers. Whether you’re chasing trophy fish, immersing yourself in local culture, or enjoying thrilling eco-tours, Panama’s fishing paradise will surely leave you with a lasting sense of awe and satisfaction.
