Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge (Formerly "Propiedad de Paradise") : June 2013

Anglers Dennis Roark and Victor Maddens returned to fish with us to see if they could match the amazing time they had here in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama last July. They had seen my reports of all the Yellowfin Tunas here this part of year and wanted to give it a try. This time the guys decided to get in some rest & relaxation on the days in between the fishing and just hang out here at the lodge on the island. It was a good idea to get those rest days in because from right out of the gate we ran into some big Yellowfin Tunas!

The seas were a bit choppy and we dealt with some rain but it's the start of the wet season here in Panama and it's to be expected. We ran directly to Isla Ladrones area on the first day to see if we could spot any activity. A large large pod of Porpoises, with lots of Yellowfin Tunas, had been hanging around just south of Ladrones the week prior so I figured that it would be a good place to start. Sure enough... and only 12 miles from the lodge here on Isla Paridas, we come into some birds and Porpoises working. Less than 5 minutes after we put our first bridled Blue Runner in the water we get ate by a big 100# plus Tuna! The trend continued all day as Victor and Dennnis took turns on fish after fish until they could take anymore!

One day in between fishing the guys decided to take a trek around the island and go wildlife-watching underneath the island's rainforest canopy. Victor got some great photos of the wildlife here. If you didn't already know the lodge here on Isla Paridas is located 13 miles offshore inside the Gulf of Chiriqui National Marine Park. The park protects an area of 58 square miles (mostly ocean), 25 islands, 19 coral reefs and abundant wildlife. We are completely "off the grid" as the island has no roads or electricity. We generate our own power with a state of the art remote electric inverter system. Solar panels, a large battery bank, and diesel generator at night to power the air conditioning units. Our well in a nearby creek bed that produces super clean fresh water year round! The island is covered by pure jungle that is criss-crossed by hiking trails which lead to many white sand beaches and is home to nesting sea turtles, sloths, ant eaters, snakes, over 280 recorded bird species, and lot's of Iguanas.

The second day of fishing went alot like the first but the weather was much nicer. The guys wanted to take back some Tunas steaks so we ran out towards Isla Montuosa to see if we could get into some bigger fish. About 10 miles south of Isla Montuosa I noticed a big mark of birds on the "TOP Cat's" radar and we came across another large group of feeding Porpoises with Tunas. The action was automatic as the Tunas were eating every bait we threw at them! We wound up keeping a couple of large Yellowfins up to 150#s and releasing many more. It ended up being an even better day than the first! Enjoy the pics....

Capt. Shane Jarvis

Propiedad de Paradise Lodge

Isla Paridas, Panama

www.FishPanamaToday.com

shane@fishpanamatoday.com

Panama Cellular Phone 011-507-6675-7191

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Trip Advisor Page http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g612410-d1574533-Reviews-Propiedad_de_Paradise-Chiriqui_Province.html

The Panama Marine Resource Foundation had 32 boats, 121 anglers, and organized six local fishing lodges to host their "The Great Panama Fishing Challenge" Tuna/Marlin/Dorado Tournament on May 17 and 18, 2013. No small feat in it's first attempt as they were also able to attract big name sponsors such as...Shimano, Oakley, Suzuki, Rapala, Braid Products. Local sponsors Alta Pesca, The Fishing Store, Panama Red Rum, Pride of Panama Cigars, and Daisy also donated to the 1st annual event to benefit the sustainability of Panama's fishery for future generations.

We were fortunate to host the event's main sponsor Shimano Latin America here at Propiedad de Paradise Lodge on Isla Paridas. Representing Team Shimano were Elmer Alfafara, Bruno Egawa, and Thierry Kiou that were here to test out some new Shimano products including the brand new model Stella spinning reels and the new Orca top water lures.

Also here for tournament, and the days preceding, were South California's own Al Brandenburg, Leon Bundy, and Andy Rafkin. The couple of days before the tourney these guys were able to get some practice in and experience some awesome Panama Tuna frenzy action! Right out of the gate, on the first day, I found a large area of activity with birds and Porpoises just north of Isla Montuosa. We eventually came across a massive baitball with wildly feeding Tunas! Multiple hook ups on 100# plus fish and complete Panama Yellowfin Tuna mayhem was the welcoming committee for these guys!

Check out the video of the bait ball and exploding Tunas here.....

The guys were a bit sore from pulling on all the Tunas and wanted to switch it up and try some inshore action in the next day. We made the 18 mile run from Isla Paridas to Islas Secas and we missed our chances at a couple of decent fish but ended up releasing a couple small Cuberas. In the afternoon we headed back toward Isla Paridas and wound up with a pair of nice Roosterfish right in front of the lodge!

The next two days we had a full house at the lodge for the tournament. Team Shimano fished on the "Scandalous" with Captain Bartolo and the boys from SoCal fished with me on the "TOP Cat". They couldn't have chosen better dates because, as usual this time of year, both days were full on Yellowfin Tuna madness!

First day day of the derby we ran to Isla Montuosa to see if the action was still in the same area. En route we caught a 20# Dorado we found near a floating log. Which incedentaly, was one of only two Dorados weighed in the whole tournament. As we eventually arrived at Isla Montuosa we got pummled by a massive thunderstorm. There was no way getting around it so we decided to head tword Hannibal Bank and blast strait through it. It took a few miles to get to the blue skies on the other side of it and then we came across a big mark on the radar! We came across a big school of busting/feeding bonito. We pick up a few for the tuna tubes and slow troll a bridled Blue Runner & and Bonito around the school to see if there are any predators sniffing around. Sure enough the short Blue Runner gets eaten, the 5/0 Shimano Tiagra starts to scream, and were tight on a big fish! After about 10 minutes it's strange because the fish isn't fighting like a YFT...it's staying up on top and not diving strait down like a Tuna normally does. I'm thinking we're hooked up on a shark like happens sometimes when fishing around large schools of bait. As soon a I open my mouth to say "shark" a 350# Black Marlin sky rockets out of the water, jumps three times, and spits the hook!! Missed shot at a 100 point Marlin release! We continue on to Hannibal Bank and it's dead. A bunch of long liners anchored up on the high spot as usual this time of year and no fish. We search around some more and south of Isla Montuosa but find nada. Eventually I get a call from another Panamanian Captain friend of mine and he tells me that he's on a big school of Porpoises with Tuna at Isla Ladrones. It's 28 miles away but he says that it "vale la pena" or it's worth it! We make the run and sure enough it's another large area of YFT mahem. The center of activity was a lost floating bait pen (used by commercial long liners to attract and keep Tunas in one area) that had broke loose and was now keeping the fish around us. Bartolo came over with Team Shimano and we all had about an hour and a half of contant action around this school. I was able to get this footage on my GoPro Hero3.....

One after the other our Blue Runners were getting eaten and the guys took turns until we had our two Tuna per angler limit to weight in back at the lodge. Our biggest YFT for the day was only a 110# caught by Theirry Kiou. But the impressive part was that he caught it on a Shimano Tranx 500 baitcaster matched with a Terez rod!

The second day of the tournament was alot like the first but we got all the action near the lodge around Isla Ladrones. Both boats limited out again with YFT and we got back to the lodge a little earlier to enjoy some sushi and cocktails! Out of all the contestants

we wound up with 3rd place, the Shimano crew was able to put the screws to a bunch a big Yellowfin Tunas and thoroughly test it's gear, and we all had a great time! We are looking forward to next year's tournament to further enhance the awareness of the Panama Marine Resource Foundation and it's worthy cause. CLICK ON PHOTOS TO VIEW GALLERY.
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