I booked a 4hr Lake Gatun trip with Rene at Fishing Bookers. As soon as I booked it (45 days in advance), Capt Rene reached out through the app to answer questions and to find out what type of fishing experience I wanted.  I opted for a trip focusing on peacock bass, snook, and tilapia. I also wanted to see the monkeys that populate some of the small lake islands. I needed transportation from Panama City to the boat launch in Gamboa. He provided assurance that this would be a great trip. Today (4/25), he arrived early for pickup and got to the boat with no problems.

The ride out to the fishing spots was very scenic and he gave some quick tips on fishing with his lures and live bait. He knows what he’s doing. We caught at least 15 peacock bass and 4 snook.

We then went to the small islands where we saw three types of monkeys up close (howlers, tamarins, and capuchins). The capuchins even got on the boat to get a late breakfast of peanuts that we had on hand.

The trip back was easy. We arrived back at our Panama City hotel at 10:45a with the whole day ahead of us.  I could not provide a stronger recommendation to use Capt Rene.

We had to reschedule with Rene due to personal issues ad Rene agreed to take us out later in the day. We arrived late and he patiently waited for us and then to us out as scheduled. Once on the water he gave us the lay of the lad and took us to feed the monkeys. Shortly after, he put us on some peacock bass and our trip concluded. This guide was professional and very knowledgeable. We only fished with him for three hours, but we had a blast and would definitely go again if in the region.

Fishing with Capt Renè was great. He was prompt, organized, personable, and knowledgeable. He had beverages and snacks and his boat and equipment were in great condition. We really enjoyed fishing the bridge, the canal, and remote spots on the lake on our 5.5 hour trip. The weather was perfect and we caught a lot of peacock bass and a tiger fish, saw a lot of birds, heard many troops of howler monkeys and saw a huge caiman when we came back in. Added bonus, Renè looks photos and videos of our experience throughout the day and compiled into a short fun adventure video. Highly recommend!

As an avid fisherman, catching a peacock bass had been on my bucket list for awhile.  That box is now checked.

Rene was great. He came to pick us up early in the morning. When we got to the lake and the sun started to rise, it was a magical site.  So calm and like a dream.  Was finally able to complete my bucket list when I used a top water lure and caught a 3 to 4lb peacock bass.

As the 4 hour trip ended, we passed a huge cargo ship that was headed to the Panama canal.  That was amazing to see. 

We ended up going to a Panamanian restaurant with Rene and the place he suggested was great.

5+ star experience!

Quan from Texas

We had an amazing fishing trip in the Gamboa Reserve with Captain Rene! From the start, he was incredibly responsive and set clear expectations, which made the whole experience, from pick up to drop off, smooth and enjoyable.

Captain Rene has a wealth of knowledge about the area, fish behavior, and water conditions, and he was more than happy to share insights with us throughout the trip. His expertise showed right away — our first cast brought in a nice Snook!

He had all the right gear — plenty of rods, lures, and bait — which made the trip even more enjoyable. One of the highlights was also a video Rene put together for us just a couple of hours after the trip!

Overall, it was an amazing trip, and we can’t recommend Captain Rene enough for anyone looking to fish in Panama City!