Legend has it that Panama means 'land of many fish,' as the natives told the gold-seeking Spanish centuries ago. True or not, it perfectly describes Panama fishing today, arguably one of the best big fish locales in the world!
Where to go
Panama City
The capital of the country is famous for having premier fishing right off the coast. If hooking up big fish on light tackle revs your fishing engines, the Pacific waters of Panama are the place to be. The offshore waters are full of Blue and Black Marlin, Sailfish, and other pelagic predators but that's not the whole picture. Anglers looking to test their fishing muscles can target Jack Crevalle, Bigeye and Bluefin Trevally, and Roosterfish, just get ready for an impressive pull.
Isla de Coiba
The island is blessed with unique ocean topography – it's connected to the Galapagos Islands with an underwater mountain chain. That has led to a who's who of rare fish swimming around the island. As good as the nearshore action is on the gorgeous Isla de Coiba, it gets red-hot offshore! Hannibal Banks is a sea-mount approximately 20 miles west of the island, plateauing at around 120 feet of water, while surrounded on all sides by waters several miles deep. This natural phenomenon is a predator magnet, with all sorts of Billfish and Tuna converging here. If you're looking for the biggest Black Marlin, this is the place to be!
Atlantic Ocean
While Panama is known best for amazing fishing in the Pacific, the Atlantic Ocean has plenty to offer to any angler. The less-developed marine infrastructure on the northern coast has driven most anglers down south but things have steadily improved since the 1990s. This can work to your advantage too, as the fishing pressure is much lighter on the northern coast.
Where to fish
Offshore
Pelagic predators aplenty, the offshore waters of Panama boast some of the finest offshore fishing on the planet. Blue and Black Marlin are one of the staples of fishing here: you can target them year-round. The action heats up especially between December and April. Striped Marlin swim into Pinas Bay around March. You can hook up some real monsters, with the average Marlin being in the 300+ lb range. Wahoo, usually weighing over 15 lb, start rolling in just as the high season for Billfish closes, so you can keep the intense action going! Mahi Mahi, Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna, and Sailfish also stalk the offshore waters, waiting for the right angler to show up for a tough battle.
Nearshore
There are numerous islands dotting the nearshore waters off the coast of Panama, as well as many underwater reefs and other structures. This all leads to excellent fishing, whether you're a fan of bottom fishing, drifting, trolling, or casting. Tasty Cubera Snapper, various Groupers, Wahoo, and many other colorful species can be targeted. Panama Rooster fishing is known world-wide. You can target massive Roosterfish, a challenging fight worthy of including in your fishing stories! Nearshore action is good year-round, as long as you're with a captain who knows the right spots to fish.
Inshore
Snook and Tarpon are the stars of the coastline and rivers of Panama. The Panama Canal is a very productive spot to go after huge Tarpon – anglers report an average of around 100 lb with the occasional monster weighing at over 200 lb. Tarpon are best at the start of the year, in January and February. Stalking the mangroves for Snook is rewarding just for the gorgeous tropical nature surrounding you, not to mention the amazing Snook fishing! You can reliably target them in the mouths of rivers and further inshore from December to May.
Need to know before you go
You should catch and release the larger reef-dwelling fish. Larger specimens can disappoint you if you're interested in good eating – they might have the Ciguatera toxin which, while very rarely lethal, is certainly unpleasant. Smaller fish can go straight in the pan, though!
You don't need a license to fish in Panama and there are no limits on how much fish you can keep. If you're planning on fishing on Isla Coiba you should set aside $50, it's a fee paid per boat, per week. To protect the wildlife of the island, all fish are catch-and-release only.
Whether you're just looking to soak some rays and do some light angling or you dream of a trophy Black Marlin, Panama has the fishing trip for you! Book a trip in this tropical paradise now to take the first step towards your new favorite fishing destination.