Panama Sport Fishing Packages

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Packages

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Fishing Info

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Seasons

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Available Species

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Accomodations

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FAQ's

We’ve made planning your dream Costa Rica fishing vacation even easier with a selection of packages sorted by interest, species, and our top destinations. Costa Rica is an angler’s dream with some of the world’s best offshore and inshore fishing, multiple fishing venues from saltwater to freshwater, and both trophy and exotic species to tangle with. We know there is no single itinerary that is perfect for everyone, that’s why we customize every fishing vacation that we create. Below you’ll find our top Costa Rica fishing packages sorted by type of fishing and/or location. Once you inquire with us we’ll work with you personally to customize your dream fishing vacation. Trust our decades of local expertise and see why nearly 40% of our anglers are repeat & referral guests!

Panama Fishing Paradise

Popper Addicts

The Best of Panama

Fishing The Hannibal Bank

Inshore Fishing at Jurassic Park

Tuna Junkies

Panama Coast 2 Coast

Fishing Highlights of Panama

Artificials Only

Affordable Panama Fishing

Panama Mothership

Panama Private Island Lodge

Panama Sport Fishing Info

Over the past few decades, Panama has earned a reputation as one of the world’s top destinations for marlin fishing. So many trophy blue and black marlin, including a few granders, have been released in these waters the lore of big game fishing in Panama seemed to grow with each fish. It wasn’t just the size of the fish that lured anglers here, reports of multiple marlin bites during the peak season meant constant action throughout the week as opposed to searching for a needle in a haystack.

Very similar to it’s neighbor to the north, Costa Rica, Panama is fortunate to be at the confluence of two major ocean currents which holds baitfish throughout the year. While some months are historically better than others, marlin are always available and are caught 12 months a year. Nearly all marlin caught in Panama are blue or black marlin, striped marlin are not a common occurrence. Unlike Costa Rica and Guatemala where trolling a spread of teasers and dead ballyhoo is the gold standard, the main technique when billfishing in Panama is speed trolling plastic squids or slow trolling live bait. The ideal live bite when marlin fishing is bonito, but small yellow-fin tuna can also be bridled with a circle hook and sent down. In part because of this method the offshore fishing in Panama typically doesn’t produce the gaudy sailfish numbers like Costa Rica and Guatemala, but the Pacific sailfish that are caught here tend to be very large (100-150 lbs).

All billfish in Panama are strictly catch and release. Panama also mandates the use of circle hooks when fishing for billfish (sailfish and any marlin). This has proven to increase hook up ratios, but more importantly it has proven to significantly increase the survival rate of hooked fish. Circle hooks tend to imbed themselves in the meaty corners of the mouth and are less likely to be swallowed and hook the fish’s vital internal organs like J-hooks.

Of course a conversation about Panama sport fishing would be remiss if it didn’t include the incredible yellow-fin tuna fishery. Nowadays the tuna fishing in Panama is as popular, if not more-so, than the marlin fishing that put it on the map decades ago. There are few places on Earth that can offer such a consistent and reliable tuna bite year after year, and best of all most of this happens on topwater lures. When fishing with poppers and stickbaits the majority of the tuna caught in Panama are in the 40-100 lb range, but 200+ lb cows are caught with regularity in our peak season.

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In addition to the big game offshore fishing, Panama also offers fantastic inshore fishing as well. It’s so good in fact that Panama sport fishing might be one of the few destinations where the inshore fishing is just as popular as the offshore fishing. Here we can catch up to 30 different species in a week, though it seems nearly every angler has roosterfish and cubera snapper at the top of their list.

Where is the Best Offshore Sport Fishing in Panama?

Panama’s Pacific Coast is about 1,000 miles long from east to west, so it offers various departure points from which to enjoy the spectacular offshore fishing. From the Gulf of Chiriqui in Western Panama to Piñas Bay in Eastern Panama, giant marlin, sailfish and tuna are caught all along the coast. Fishing in Gulf of Chiriqui allows you to access legendary hot spots like the Hannibal Bank, Montuosa Island, and Coiba Island – all of which are about 50 miles from the mainland. If you visit the famous Tropic Star Lodge you can fish the Zane Grey Reef just a few miles from the dock. The Azuero Peninsula isn’t known for it’s billfishing, but it’s called the ‘Tuna Coast’ for a reason as big tuna can be caught just a few miles from the coast when they are migrating through the area. While the offshore game fish are highly migratory, the three main destinations we focus on when offshore fishing are:

1) Gulf of Chiriqui
Home to famous offshore fishing hot spots such as the Hannibal Bank, Montuosa Island, and Coiba Island, this may very well be the best big game fishing in Central America. These are 50 miles from the mainland, but between our mothership and our island lodges we can have you stay much closer to the action. Whether you are after big marlin or boiling schools of yellow-fin tuna, this is offshore fishing at it’s finest.

2) Azuero Peninsula
The Azuero Peninsula is not known as a destination for billfish, but the ability to catch yellow-fin tuna in pangas just a few miles from the coast earned it the nickname “the Tuna Coast“. The peninsula juts out into the Pacific and puts you right at the edge of the continental shelf where tuna, wahoo, dorado, and the occasional marlin will be enjoyed.

3) Piñas Bay
Home of the famous Tropic Star Lode, this is what put marlin fishing in Panama in the lime light decades ago. The famed Zane Grey Reef is just a few miles from the dock, so for anglers looking for some of the best marlin action in the world this is the place to be.

When is the Best Time for Offshore Sport Fishing in Panama?

The best sport fishing in Panama is done on our Pacific Coast. Being nearly a thousand miles long from Costa Rica to Columbia, the fishing seasons vary somewhat from east to west. Some months also tend to offer more sailfish and marlin while others offer more meat fish like yellow-fin tuna and dorado. All of this can be affected by on sea conditions, the presence of bait fish, and seasonal weather patterns so you can review our Panama fishing calendar below. Once you contact us and we have a better idea of what you want to fish for and when you are visiting, we can customize a package to put you in the right spot, at the right time for the species you’d like to target.

Available Species Offshore Sport Fishing in Panama

Blue Marlin

Black Marlin

Striped Marlin

Sailfish

Yellowfin Tuna

Dorado

Wahoo

Panama Sport Fishing Lodges & Accommodations

Sport fishing enthusiasts have been visiting Panama for decades so Panama is home to a fantastic array of fishing lodges and beach hotels. Your choices include affordable boutique hotels, luxury beach resorts, and all inclusive fishing lodges including an island-based lodge and our 70′ mothership that spends all week 50 miles offshore. We even have one fishing lodge in Panama that is 100% dedicated to lure fishing so they specialize in inshore and bottom fishing. As a luxury vacation outfitter, we only work with the nicest 3, 4, and 5-star operations that meet our expectations for quality, reliability, and service. Being local experts, we have personally visited every single property we represent so we’ll use our personal experience to hand pick the perfect fit for your group.

Panama Day Tours & Non-Fishing Activities

Our Panama Sport Fishing packages don’t need to be all fishing, all the time. Panama has so much more to offer than just sport fishing such as great history, lush rain forest with incredible wildlife, beaches, islands, and of course the Panama Canal itself. Whether it’s an off day from fishing or for the non-anglers in your group, there are several great eco and adventure tours available. We can also customize your Panama fishing vacation so you spend a few nights in different locations throughout the country so you can see how diverse it is. The list includes:

Canopy zip-line tour
White Water Rafting
ATVs
Horseback Riding
Surfing
Golf
Guided tours of national parks
Waterfalls
Island Hopping Tour
Snorkeling
Kayaking
Coffee plantation tour
Bird Watching
Cultural & Historical Tour of Panama City
Panama Canal Tours

What Our Guests Love
About Panama Sport Fishing

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What We Love
About Panama Sport Fishing

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Panama Fishing FAQs

Do I need a fishing license to fish in Panama?

Surprisingly, the answer is no. Despite being one of the world’s premier sport fishing destinations for a couple decades now, Panama does not require a fishing license.

How many people will be on my fishing boat?

All fishing charters booked by Central America Fishing are private, so the boat is 100% yours. We do not set up any shared charters.

What is the standard tip for a fishing charter in Panama?

A standard tip for a charter fishing crew in Panama is 10%-20% of the cost of the charter. If you stay at an all inclusive fishing lodge in Panama you may not know how much the boats cost per day as you probably were given a package price, but in general $150 per day would be the lower end while $200-$300 per day would be towards the higher end.

Can I bring my own fishing gear?

OF COURSE! Even though our private charters and fishing lodges provide all the fishing tackle, lures, leaders and bait you’ll need, you are always welcome to bring your own if you want to catch fish using your own tackle. Perhaps more than any other destination in Central America, in Panama avid anglers want to put their own popping and jigging outfits to the test against yellow-fin tuna and our prized inshore species. Fly anglers are should plan on bringing their own fly gear as that will not be provided.

Which fish in Panama are catch and release and which ones can I keep to eat?

By law, all billfish in Panama are strictly catch and release. While not a law, we also strongly encourage releasing all roosterfish, tarpon, and cubera snapper as they are such prized inshore species. Other species like tuna, dorado (mahi), wahoo, snappers, groupers, corvina, snook can be kept and enjoyed for a fresh seafood dinner.

Can I bring fish back home with me to my own country?

The short answer to this is yes, there is no law in Panama against bringing fish that you caught back home with you. If you are fishing in Panama on a local day charter it is understood that you are the paying client and any edible fish you catch is yours, but of course it is always appreciated when you share the meat with your hard working crew. When you stay at an all inclusive fishing lodge however the mindset changes a bit as the fish you catch goes to feed the lodge staff and other guests, it should not be assumed that you’ll get to take home every fillet you brought in. We understand you may love the idea enjoying a seafood dinner in your own home upon returning from Panama, and that may very well be possible if there is enough to go around, but the lodge typically takes what they need to feed everyone first. There are a few things you should consider when trying to bring fish home from your Panama fishing vacation:

1 – Unlike some other popular fishing destinations, in Panama there is no service that will package and ship fish home for you. If you want to bring fish home with you you’ll have to do it yourself in your own luggage. Our best advice is to bring down a soft sided, leak-proof cooler, have your fish frozen completely solid, wrap them in newspaper, and then check your cooler as part of your luggage since it will stay cooler in the cargo hold of the plane versus in the cabin as a carry-on. If you don’t have a cooler or forget to bring one, you can purchase affordable plastic coolers here in local grocery stores. Some of our higher end fishing lodges will have vacuum sealers, ask us when booking your trip.

2 – While Panama does not prohibit you from bringing fish fillets home with you, your international airline might. We strongly recommend you confirm this with your airline (in writing if possible) or you may have the fish confiscated from you at the airport check-in.

3 – Even if your airline lets you fly the fish home, your local customs may have an issue with you bringing in meat products from a foreign country. In our experience most customs agents don’t seem too interested in you bringing back frozen fish fillets from your fishing vacation to Costa Rica, but it can depend on the agent and depend on the day.

What if there is bad weather on our fishing day?

This is a question we hear a lot and typically requires a two part answer:

If the captain, lodge, or government deem the conditions are unsafe the trip will be cancelled. The first course of action is to try and reschedule you, but if that is not possible you will be refunded in full.

However, rain and dark clouds are not considered bad weather. We are in the tropics and rain is a common occurrence here so that is not a cause for cancelling the trip. Many great fishing days happen in the rain, especially for tuna – as they say the fish are wet anyway! If you don’t want to fish in the rain there will be no refund.

Every single Panama Fishing Vacation booked with Central America Fishing includes the following:

Free Vacation Planning (no fees + direct rates)
VIP Airport Meet & Greet upon arrival into PTY
Private, air-conditioned transfers with English speaking driver.
Domestic flights (as needed)
Luxury accommodations hand-picked and customized for your group. Choose between private condos & villas, luxury beach resorts, exclusive boutique hotels, and all inclusive fishing lodges.
100% private fishing charters on all our Panama Fishing Packages
All eco / adventure tours you’d like to include
All Panama taxes
Free quotes on travel insurance
Pre-arrival assistance with dinner reservations, tee times, pre-stocking your condo or villa, hiring a private chef, and special requests.
24/7 support once you are here in country

Why Fish With CAF?

We have been fishing, living, and traveling around Central America since 2003. Plan your trip with local experts to make sure you are in the right place, at the right time, and on the right boat. We’ll help you fish for what you want, the way you want.

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Free vacation planning + the best direct rates. No booking fees!

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Personalized service from pre-arrival to 24/7 in-country support.

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Hand-picked accommodations, fishing captains, expert guides for the best vacation experience.

Nearly 40% of our anglers are repeat & referral guests. CAF puts you on the fish!

We are proud to have a global reach and have hosted anglers from 14 different countries here in Central America!

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 77 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Justin McDaniel 
 22 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris did an amazing job planning our trip. Our group of 8 didn’t have to worry about any details after we landed in Costa Rica. The resort was amazing and the fishing was better! Transportation from the airport, from the resort to fishing, back to the resort… everything was planned for us. My Central America Fishing contact answered the phone or text immediately every time I reached out to him.

Everyone in my group kept complementing me on planning the trip. I kept telling them, “All I did was call Chris, this is all Central America Fishing’s work!”

This was my first time using a service like this, and I will use them from now on. Chris is already working on plans for our next trip.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Al Piwoschuk 
 26 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thank you Chris for the amazing Guatemala vacation!  We caught 28 sailfish, 1 blue marlin, 2 large tuna, and a bonita in 3 days of fishing before heading to the mountains for some scenic volcano hikes.  Accommodations were fantastic and all logistics went smooth.  10 out of 10!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Gerald Hurd 
 20 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A big thank you to Central America Fishing, our trip to Costa Rica was amazing. I had mentioned to Chris this was my first time traveling to Costa Rica and he put together the perfect trip.
All transportation pickup/drop-offs on the itinerary were on schedule and the villa in Manuel Antonio was amazing. Wasn't planning on having howler monkeys in the trees above the villa. We also saw scarlet macaw, yellow throated toucan, hummingbirds and black spiny-tailed iguana while at the pool area of the villa.
We had two days of fishing, caught mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna and a sailfish. Both fishing charters were very professional and put in the work to land fish knowing it was just family fun for us.
The domestic flight back to San Jose was so nice, the green of the tropical forest, rivers flowing out of the mountains and views of the pacific coast added to our adventure. Costa Rica is such a beautiful place.
Big thanks again for everything CAF, my vacation planning was stress free this year! Looking forward to more adventures in Costa Rica.

Gerald Hurd
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Sarah Doebereiner 
 17 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Unbelievable day on the water! If you are looking for a top-tier fishing experience in Belize, Central America Fishing is the absolute way to go. We had an incredible day out on the boat near Placencia. Our boat captain was extremely knowledgeable and knew exactly where the fish were biting. The action was non-stop! We had a blast reeling in a mix of hard-fighting Barracuda, beautiful Red and Yellowtail Snappers, and plenty of Jacks. The boat captain and guide was fantastic and their local expertise made the trip seamless and fun!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Tom Rigden 
 18 May 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris,
Can't thank you enough for the particularly detailed attention you gave us! The planning and  organization of our itinerary was far better than any other agency we have used. Being able to pick up the phone and ask questions directly was most rewarding as we are of the age that a direct conversation gets way more done than emails.
I have used many booking agencies and yours is the best and most "user friendly" I've ever been around.
The fishing, guides, and accommodations were all top notch.
Would definitely recommend your services to anyone seeking a Central America adventure.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Jason Bazemore 
 6 May 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris put together an amazing trip!  My airport pickup was waiting for me when I came out on the front end of the trip.  Pacific Fins was a great resort with excellent food, great accommodations, and very attentive staff.  The Maverick and her crew were top notch.  They put me on fish the entire time and customized each day of fishing to match my goals of getting the slam on a fly rod.  If you are looking for an unforgettable trip and first class accommodations, book with Chris and let him plan out the adventure of a lifetime for you!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Victoria Driggers 
 3 May 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris with Central American Fishing was amazing to work with. We had a wonderful time in Los Sueños and will definitely be back. We fished on the wing man and we caught 6 sailfish one day. Th next day we caught jacks, snapper and rooster fish.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   John Cast 
 11 April 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris was fantastic, from the airport shuttles to the 3 days fishing, great boats and crew. the perfect service.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   sam hightower 
 30 March 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Three of us just got back from our second excursion with Central American Fishing. This trip we scheduled 5 days fishing at Zancudo Lodge near Golfito, Costa Rica. It was a fabulous fishing trip and a 1st class place to stay and experience Costa Rican hospitality.

I’ve been asked how many fish we caught and I really can’t answer. After the first day, we lost count. We had 2 doubles on Sailfish, 2 doubles on Yellowfin Tuna, 1 triple and 2 doubles on Roosterfish. Additionally, we caught Cuberra Snapper, Spanish Mackerel, Yellowtail snapper, Mullet Snapper, etc. I believe it was day two we caught 6 Yellowfin Tuna (the largest 140lbs), 4 sailfish. We then went inside and caught 9 Roosterfish and 4 Cuberra Snapper - all in one day. They literally work hard to get you on fish. Tito, our guide, has been there 27 years. We left the dock every day at 6:00AM and most days got back to the dock around 4:45 PM-5:00 PM. It’s a full day of fishing.

This is a first class fishing operation. The lodging is excellent and meals are fabulous. I also have to mention the Costa Rican people are very friendly and do everything they can to make sure you have a good trip. I can recommend this trip highly. We are even considering going back in February, 2027.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Amanda Hill 
 30 March 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an awesome overall experience utilizing CAF for our honeymoon itinerary! Utilizing the WhatsApp communication real time throughout the trip was super helpful to ask any questions as they came up and we got really quick, helpful responses. Big win!

We really enjoyed all our transport drivers and were very impressed how on time, professional, knowledgeable and nice they all were. This made our trip so smooth knowing we had reliable transportation along the way!

Overall, great hotel picks and really smooth transportation. Even down to the small plane from Quepos to San Jose -we enjoyed the 15 min plane ride compared to a long car ride!

Manuel Antonio was definitely our favorite leg of the trip and we are hoping to return again soon for more adventures so hopefully we can stay in touch!!

Thanks so much for putting such care into our itinerary and making our honeymoon all we could have hoped for! Would 10/10 use CAF again 😊

About the Author

I first visited Costa Rica during a semester abroad in 2003 and instantly fell in love with the language, culture, and natural beauty. I caught my first roosterfish on that trip, and ever since then I knew that I wanted to live here. After graduating in 2004, I worked for a year in the corporate world, but I was unhappy and unstimulated, so I returned to live in Costa Rica full time in 2005. Today I can proudly say that I’ve been in Costa Rica for half of my life, I met my wife here, and my two boys were born here so they are “Ticos”.

I’ve been working in the sport fishing industry in Central America for twenty years, I’ve had articles published in fishing magazines, hosted fishing TV shows, fished in several tournaments, and I’m a four-time IGFA trophy club member. I am however most proud to say that 40% of our anglers are repeat and referral guests. I’ve personally visited every destination, hotel, and fishing lodge that we partner with so that your next vacation with us is one of the best you’ve ever had.

Chris Atkins - Angler & Owner of Central America Fishing

See Full Bios & Team

All fishing vacations booked with Central America Fishing include the following:

Free Vacation Planning (no fees + direct rates)
VIP Airport Meet & Greet upon arrival into SJO
Private, air-conditioned transfers with English speaking driver.
Luxury, private accommodations hand-picked and customized for your group. Choose between private condos & villas, luxury beach resorts, exclusive boutique hotels, and fishing lodges.
Private fishing charters
All eco / adventure tours you’d like to include
All Costa Rican taxes
Free quotes on travel insurance
Pre-arrival assistance with dinner reservations, tee times, pre-stocking your condo or villa, hiring a private chef, and special requests.
24/7 support once you are here in country