Panama Fishing Vacation

Packages

Fishing Info

Seasons

Destinations

Available Species

FAQ’s

We’ve made planning your dream Panama fishing vacation even easier with a selection of packages sorted by interest, species, and our top destinations. Panama is a land of sport fishing lore: huge blue and black marlin, acres-wide boils of feeding yellow-fin tuna, and roosterfish and cubera snapper that strike so hard they give you goosebumps. Even the name ‘Panama’ means ‘an abundance of fish’ in a local indigenous language. All of our Panama fishing packages are customized and private, so once you inquire with us we will work with you personally to create the perfect fishing vacation for you based on your group, your budget, and the fishing experience you desire. Trust our decades of local expertise and see why nearly 40% of our anglers are repeat & referral guests!

Panama Sport Fishing
Panama Tuna Fishing
Panama Inshore Fishing
Panama Marlin Fishing
Panama Tarpon Fishing
Panama Peacock Bass Fishing

Panama Fishing Info

Panama is the tiny isthmus that forms the ‘Bridge of the Americas‘ connecting North America to South America. It’s “bottleneck” geography between the two continents has blessed Panama with a rich culture, amazing wildlife, and of course world class sport fishing. Panama is home to two 1,000 mile long coastlines on two different oceans, hundreds of islands, giant mangrove and estuary systems, and world famous offshore hot spots like the Hannibal Bank, Zane Grey Reef, Isla Montuosa, and the Tuna Coast. Whether you are a seasoned angler or a novice, we will gladly custom design the perfect Panama fishing package for you. From big game offshore fishing to jigging & popping for 30+ inshore species to freshwater fishing on the Panama Canal, Panama truly is an anglers dream.

Offshore Fishing in Panama

It starts with incredible sport fishing on the Pacific, which is what has made Panama a top fishing destination for anglers around the world. The Tropic Star Lodge put Panama on the map decades ago by breaking 300 world records from their dock in Piñas Bay, and since then Panama has become synonymous with big marlin. Today there are several luxury fishing lodges in Panama spread throughout the Azuero Peninsula and the Gulf of Chiriqui. While it may have been the Zane Grey Reef in Piñas Bay that made Panama a known quantity, today hot spots in Western Panama like the Hannibal Bank, Isla Montuosa, and Coiba Island are just as well known. Tuna fishing in Panama is always in high demand as it’s one of the best yellow-fin tuna bites in the world. Few places consistently offer you the opportunity to cruise up to an acres-wide boil of tuna and chuck topwater lures into the fray like Panama. In addition to the huge black & blue marlin and tuna frenzies, offshore fishing in Panama also offers large Pacific sailfish, big mature adult dorado (mahi), and wahoo.

Inshore Fishing in Panama

Big marlin and tuna may have made Panama a household name decades ago, but today the inshore fishing in Panama is just as popular. On our Pacific Coast we can catch over 30 species of fish including three kinds of jacks, mackerel, grouper, several species of snapper, sea bass, snook, African pompano, sharks, and of course everyone’s favorite – roosterfish and cubera snapper. The inshore fishing is so consistently productive, we offer several inshore-only fishing packages and there are even lodges that 100% dedicate themselves to ‘lures only’ fishing and don’t even offer offshore trolling. If you love doing battle with big fish but have no interest in long runs to the offshore fishing grounds to troll all day, then inshore fishing in Panama may be the right trip for you. Whether it’s slow trolling live bait, casting poppers and stick baits towards the rocks, or jigging you are sure to spend much of your trip with a bent rod.

Tarpon Fishing in Panama

Over on Panama’s Caribbean Coast we also offer tarpon and snook fishing. While not as abundant or consistent as Costa Rica to the north, the river mouths and mangroves near the popular archipelago of Bocas del Toro can offer up some quality fishing in season. In addition to tarpon and snook, you can also find jacks, mackerel, and barracuda inside the reef. The Caribbean is where you expect to find tarpon, but Panama is one of the few countries where we can actually catch them on the Pacific as well. What started as a rumor several decades ago is now proven fact, tarpon have made their way through the Panama Canal and have established themselves on the Pacific Ocean. We have one river 1.5 hr east of Panama City where we routinely fish for tarpon on the changing of the tides. Although rare, we do catch tarpon on the Panama Cnala itself so in Panama you can actually catch tarpon on the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the freshwater Panama Canal.

Peacock Bass Fishing in Panama

Last but not least, can enjoy freshwater fishing on one of the most exotic and well-known waterways in the world – the Panama Canal itself. A century ago, the Chagres River was dammed and formed Lake Gatun, which is a crucial part of the 50-mile long Panama Canal. The main target species here is peacock bass, which is not native to these waters but was introduced in the 50’s or 60’s and has since flourished. In Panama, the peacock bass don’t reach the size of their South American relatives but 5 lb – 8 lb fish can still get caught with regularity. The Panama Canal is a fascinating place to fish because sometimes you truly never know what is on the other end of your line. Each boat that transits the canal requires roughly 52 million gallons of water, so along with that comes coastal species that were never meant to be found in freshwater lakes and rivers. We catch snook on a regular basis, and although much rarer it is a known fact that there are tarpon in the Panama Canal as well. A few years ago we started seeing more jack crevalle, so in addition to light tackle freshwater species you can also run into some hard charging inshore species.

When is the Best Fishing in Panama?

Knowing when to plan your Panama fishing vacation is as important as where you stay and who you fish with. In addition to seasonal patterns of the game fish, Panama has two main weather seasons and multiple different microclimates. Panama runs from east to west and is nearly 1,000 miles long, so the weather patterns and fishing seasons in the Gulf of Chiriqui in the far west varies greatly from Piñas Bay in the far east. In addition to that, the Caribbean Coast follows completely different weather seasons than the Pacific Coast. Below is a Panama fishing calendar to give you a better idea of locations and seasons, but keep in mind this is not exact science but rather a general overview of historical patterns. We custom design 100% of our Panama Fishing Packages so we’ll be sure to put you in the right spot, at teh right time for the fishing you want to do.

Where is the Best Fishing in Panama?

With nearly 1,000 miles of coastline on both the Pacific and the Caribbean, there is no shortage of places to fish in Panama. While the Caribbean Coast can offer quality light a tackle species like tarpon and snook, and in places even bonefish and permit, it’s the Pacific Coast of Panama that has turned it into one of the world’s most popular sport fishing destinations. Offshore anglers can find huge black and blue marlin, Pacific sailfish, dorado (mahi mahi), wahoo and of course yellowfin tuna waiting for them at famous hot spots like the Hannibal Bank, Coiba Island, the Pearl Islands, and Piñas Bay. As good as that is, it’s the inshore and bottom fishing in Panama that really sets it apart from other sport fishing destinations. Not only do we routinely catch trophy species like roosterfish, cubera snapper, and amberjacks weighing over 50 lbs, we catch an absurd about of variety with some weeks producing as many as 25-30 different kinds of fish. Of course, knowing when to visit – and where to go – is of the utmost importance so below we’ll break down the best fishing destinations in Panama.

Gulf of Chiriqui

Located in Western Panama near the border of Costa Rica, the Gulf of Chiriqui offers the best all-around fishing in Panama. Out of all the best fishing lodges in Panama, the majority of them are located in this region. Anglers looking for marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna and dorado can run straight south to the famous offshore hot spots like the Hannibal Bank, Montuosa Island, and Coiba Island. The Gulf of Chiriqui shows a very gradual slope as the depth slowly increases with each mile covered. Once you hit the continental shelf about fifty miles from shore, the bottom quickly drops from a few hundred feet to a few thousand feet in an instant. This drop off creates the upwelling of nutrients that in turn kicks off the food chain, all the way up to the trophy pelagic species that we are targeting. During the season, marlin can be found patrolling the famous Hannibal Bank or circling the back side of offshore islands like Jicaron and Montuosa Island as water depths can change from 50-60 ft to several hundred feet in just a few minutes of drifting baits. We also use the Hannibal Bank as a starting point to search for the topwater yellowfin tuna action that makes Panama so famous from March through July every year. While we can find the surface boils, or “lavadoras”, there a lot of times, that bite can happen just miles from the coastline of Coiba Island all the way to the Punta Burica near the border of Costa Rica.

The inshore fishing in the Gulf of Chiriqui is arguably the best in the world. Home to over 200 islands, including the 12-island Islas Paridas Marine Reserve and the 38-island Coiba Island National Park, the underwater habitat is ideal and endless. These rocky islands and volcanic reefs provide the perfect structure for multiple species of snappers, four kinds of jacks, groupers, mackerel, amberjacks & almaco jacks, sharks, and of course, our beloved roosterfish.

With so much structure to fish, anglers will be able to choose between chucking poppers towards the rocks, casting and retrieving swim baits, jigging, chunk baiting, or slow trolling live bait based on where they are fishing and what is working that week. Since these islands lie between the mainland and the offshore fishing grounds, it makes it easy to combine inshore and offshore fishing in the same day.

Azuero Peninsula

Nicknamed the “Tuna Coast”, the Azuero Peninsula is Panama’s southernmost point. This 60-mile wide peninsula is remote and largely cattle country, but once you make the trek out here it literally puts you right on top of the fishing. Located just a few miles from the continental shelf, the Azuero Peninsula is one of the few places in Central America where you can just as easily fish offshore as you can inshore from a panga. Pangas, or super pangas, are the preferred boat in this region of Panama as they can easily be pulled up and launched from a beach, they can punch through the waves of river mouths, and they can quickly and easily take you to the different fishing grounds. The two main departure points for fishing trips in the Azuero Peninsula are Pedasi and Cambutal. Both quiet beach towns, with most of the young men here busy surfing if they aren’t fishing. Whether it’s jigging on the various pinnacles or casting towards the rocky coastline of the Cerro Hoya National Park, the inshore fishing here offers both quantity and quality. With no marinas, ports, or major beach towns, the commercial pressure in this part of Panama is also very light. If you love inshore fishing, light tackle battles, and chasing fish on pangas, the Azuero Peninsula should be on your list the next time you fish in Panama.

Gulf of Panama

The Gulf of Panama looks like an ideal fishing destination on a map, but unfortunately the reality tells a different story. With the capital of Panama City located right on the Pacific Coast and the largest beach resorts in the country just 1.5-2 hrs away, the Gulf of Panama should be the ideal hunting grounds for any charter fishing operation. Unfortunately, due to pollution from the city, agricultural and industrial runoff from some of the most densely populated towns, and heavy pressure from the national commercial fishing fleet, the Gulf of Panama is not a great spot to spend your next fishing vacation. It would be ideal of all the business travelers in the city could run out and catch fish on a free day, but unfortunately it isn’t that easy. The run times to the offshore fishing grounds often take 2+ hrs, and from December through April there are often very strong winds coming from the north which makes your run back home long, slow, and bumpy. The Pearl Islands are the lone bright spot, as located 40 miles offshore they offer a strategic launching spot for farther offshore expeditions.

Bahia Piñas

Located in the far eastern side of Panama near the border of Colombia, Piñas Bay is home to arguably the most famous fishing lodge in the world – the famous Tropic Star Lodge. Established over 60 years ago, Tropic Star Lodge is home to over 300 IGFA world records and is one of the best places on Earth to target blue and black marlin. Most of the fishing at Tropic Star Lodge is done around the Zane Grey Reef, which is another large sea mount that comes to within 150 ft of the surface. Located just a few miles from the lodge, many anglers have had marlin on the line before they finished their morning coffees. December, January, and February offer the best marlin fishing of the year, but the other months offer a great variety of fish ranging from tuna & mahi offshore to roosterfish, cubera snapper, and broomtail grouper inshore.

Bocas del Toro

Located on the Western Caribbean side of Panama near the border with Costa Rica, Bocas del Toro offers the best fishing on Panama’s Caribbean Coast. This archipelago is widely popular with foreign tourists looking to snorkel, enjoy remote beaches, and revel in over-the-water accommodations. The vast system of mangroves, reefs, and a couple major river mouths also make for some pretty productive fishing. Any angler who lays eyes on this place would assume that it is teeming with tarpon and snook, but unfortunately local gill netters have taken a heavy toll on the local population. While not as productive as it’s Central American neighbors like Costa Rica or Belize, if you want to catch a tarpon in Panama this is the best place to make it happen. Other light tackle reef species like barracuda, snapper, snook, jacks, mackerel and kingfish are also available.

Available Species in Panama

Panama sport fishing is famous for it’s giant blue and black marlin and incredible yellow-fin tuna fishing, but it offers so much more than just the offshore trophies. Perhaps our favorite aspect of fishing in Panama is the sheer variety of game fish species we encounter. On any given week, we can catch up to 30 species fishing inshore and offshore on the Pacific Ocean alone. Once you factor several more species on the Caribbean, including the beloved tarpon, and then peacock bass on the Panama Canal itself you’ll begin to understand why the word Panama means “an abundance of fish.” Your Panama fishing vacation will be custom designed to focus on specific target species or put you in a spot to see how many different species you can catch in a week.

Offshore Fishing

Black Marlin
Blue Marlin
Striped Marlin
Sailfish
Yellowfin Tuna
Dorado
Wahoo

Inshore & Bottom Fishing

Roosterfish
Cubera Snapper
Jack Crevalle
Bluefin Trevally
Horse-eye Jack
Red Snapper
Rock Snapper
Mullet Snapper
Squirrelfish
Lane Snapper
Schoolmaster Snapper
Pacific Snook
African Pompano
Amberjack
Almaco Jack
Broomtail Grouper
Black Grouper
Needlefish
Mackerel
Barracuda
Rainbow Runner
Tarpon
Corvina
Snook

Freshwater Fishing

Peacock Bass
Tarpon
Snook

Panama Fishing Lodges & Accommodations

For a long time, tourism in Panama consisted of business hotels in the city and gigantic, big-chain all inclusive resorts in the Bay of Panama an hour away. Such was life for a country that’s main focus was the Panama Canal and the shipping, logistics, and banking industries it required. Fortunately, over the past two decades international tourism in Panama has become more of a focus and that has brought a diverse and exciting selection of new hotels to choose from. For you Panama fishing vacation you’ll have the choice between exclusive boutique hotels, luxury beach resorts, exotic eco-lodges, and of course some of Central America’s best all inclusive fishing lodges. As a luxury vacation outfitter, we only work with the nicest 3, 4, and 5-star properties 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 Canal day tour

Panama Day Tours & Excursions

Your Panama fishing vacation doesn’t need to be all fishing, all the time. In addition to world class sport fishing, Panama offers two gorgeous coastlines with hundreds of islands, rain forest, cloud forest, ancient volcanoes, amazing wildlife, and fantastic history including of course the Panama Canal. Whether it’s an off day from fishing or for the non-anglers in your group, there are several great cultural, 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:

  • Panama Canal Tour
  • Partial Panama Canal Transit
  • Canopy zip-line tour
  • White Water Rafting
  • Waterfall rappelling
  • ATVs
  • Horseback Riding
  • Surfing
  • Golf
  • Guided tours of national parks
  • Waterfalls
  • Island Hopping Tour in the Gulf of Chiriqui
  • Snorkeling
  • SCUBA Diving
  • Coffee plantation tour
  • Birdwatching
  • Visit local Embera or Kuna Indigenous Villages

How Much Does it Cost to Fish in Panama?

Many Panama fishing vacations involve staying at an all inclusive fishing lodge, but in some areas day charters are available as well if you are staying at a resort or condo. A full day fishing charter will cost $1,000-$1,700 on a quality 28′-34′ center console boat. The all inclusive fishing lodges in Panama typically provide a per person rate, which is usually between $2,500 to $5,500 per angler.

The final total cost of a Panama fishing vacation, with all transfers/hotels/tours included, depends on numerous factors, such as:

  • How many nights you stay
  • Which hotel/resort/lodge you stay at
  • The number of people per room
  • The number of people fishing per boat
  • How many days you fish
  • The size of the boat you fish on
  • The time of year you visit

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

What Our Guests Love
About Fishing in Panama

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Anglers from all over the world travel to Panama to partake in the incredible top water yellowfin tuna bite. Few places in the world can you witness an acres-wide boil of feeding tuna, and running & gunning after them in speedy center consoles while you chuck poppers into the fray is a fishing experience everyone should try.

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Between the world-famous Tropic Star Lodge in the east and the Hannibal Bank in the west, few countries offer better marlin fishing than Panama. Every year our anglers book their trips with us in hopes of finally checking off the fish that is on every saltwater angler’s bucket list.

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Panama is home to some of the best all-inclusive fishing lodges in Central America. Our anglers love paying upfront and having all meals, drinks, tackle, gas, and fishing days included in their package price.

E

A fun way to start your fishing vacation in Panama is to book a day of peacock bass fishing on the Panama Canal. Not only does it allow you to check off a new species, you’ll also be very likely to see some amazing wildlife such as birds, sloths, monkeys and tamarin. In addition to peacock bass, you’ll also be able to catch snook, jacks, and possibly tarpon as well.

What We Love
About Fishing in Panama

E

While the big black & blue marlin and epic yellowfin tuna fishing steal most of the headlines, the best fishing in Panama is often the incredible inshore fishery it offers. In any given week we catch 20-30 different species, and few destinations on Earth can even come close to that.

E

Costa Rica steals the spotlight when it comes to conservation in Central America, but Panama actually excels when it comes to conservation of its marine species. While not a law, nearly every sport fishing operation will release all cubera snapper and roosterfish that are caught. This not only protects their population for future seasons, but in turn Panama is the place to fish if you want to catch a 50 lb trophy rooster or cubera.

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All of our trips start and end in Panama City. Many first-time visitors understandably have some trepidation about exploring a new country and capital city on their own, but they are all pleasantly surprised by how modern, clean, and safe Panama City is. Whether you are taking a guided tour of the Panama Canal, exploring the historic Casco Viejo district, or just enjoying the bevy of international restaurant and exciting nightlife – spending a night or two in Panama City is definitely worth your time on your next fishing vacation to Panama.

More About Vacationing to Panama

The Republic of Panama is the long and narrow isthmus that connects Central America to South America. There are differing opinions of etymology of Panama, but the most common belief is that it literally means “an abundance of fish.” With the Panama Canal, Zane Grey’s Reef, and the Hannibal Bank it would seem fitting even today. Panama is much more than just the home of the Panama Canal, it offers rich European history, incredible rain forests and biodiversity, over 1,500 miles of coastline between two ocean, and hundreds of tropical islands.

Being the land bridge between Central and South America Panama has a long history of diversity and change. The oldest indigenous artifacts date back to 2000 BC as local tribes lived by hunting, gathering, and fishing. The Spaniard Rodrigo de Bastidas was the first European to discover Panama, followed by Christopher Columbus in 1502. In 1513 Vasco Nunez de Balboa was the first explorer to lay eyes on what the indigenous people had been telling everyone, that Panama was a narrow isthmus with an entirely separate ocean than the one they arrived on.
Like many of its neighbors, Panama gained independence from Spain in 1821 and became part of the Gran Columbia (Columbia, Venezuela, and Ecuador). That union lasted only nine years and in 1830 Panama remained part of Columbia. With the help of the United Sates, Panama gained its independence from Columbia in 1903 and quickly thereafter signed an agreement with the USA to start construction on the Panama Canal.

After the extreme conditions, heat, and disease thwarted several attempts by the French to build a canal, the US Army Corps of Engineers began construction in 1904. Ten years later the Panama Canal was finished and remains as one of the world’s greatest feats of engineering 100 years later. In the year 2000 the United States gave full control of the canal to Panama, a proud day in the country’s history. Despite growing industries of banking, international business, and tourism the Panama Canal remains the largest industry in Panama today.

Panama continues to have a rich and varied culture drawing influences from all over the globe. Being the land bridge between two continents Panama is home to indigenous tribes, Central Americans, South Americans, Chinese descendants, Afro-Caribbean slave descendants, and even a faction of American-Panamanian descendants from the 100 years the US military occupied and managed the Panama Canal.
The population of 3.6 million is steadily growing and in general well educated. Of that, the vast majority (over 70%) are mestizo (European & indigenous descent). The remaining minorities include mulattos, Afro-Caribbean, and local indigenous tribes. With a high standard of living, good healthcare, and job opportunities Panama attracts foreigners from all over the Americas. Panama itself features two main cultures – Panama City and everywhere else. The people in Panama City are a business-minded folk and they work hard, dress well, and live for business. Outside of the city Panamanians are much more relaxed, easy going, and take each day at as it comes.

Panama is a long narrow isthmus that actually runs east to west, not north and south like the rest of Central America. It sits at about 9 degrees north and 80 degrees west. With two oceans Panama has an abundance of coastline – over 1,500 miles of it – and literally hundreds of islands. It features dry rain forests, tropical rain forests, cloud forests, over 500 rivers, and a volcano with the highest point in the country at 11,40 ft. (Baru Volcano). Whether you are bird watching in the dense Darrien Jungle, fishing at the Hannibal Bank, or white water rafting near the volcano Panama has something for everyone.

Being a tropical country with two coastlines one can imagine that the weather in Panama can be pretty diverse. A general rule is that the dry season runs from December through April while the green season is from May to November. During the green season most days start off hot and sunny and then cloud up with a quick afternoon shower. September and October tend to be the wettest months of the year although it can rain at any time on the Caribbean Coast. Panama does not have to worry about hurricanes being so far south. Temperatures average in the low 80s but humidity is often in the 90s so Panama can be quite hot and muggy, fortunately however air conditioning is everywhere.

  • 29,119 sq. miles (75,420 sq. km) territory
  • About the size of South Carolina
  • Population of 3.6 million and growing fast
    • Mestizo – 70%
    • Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) – 6.7%
    • Caucasian – 14%
    • Amerindian – 6%
  • Government – Democratic Republic
  • Capital City – Ciudad de Panama
  • Biggest industry – Panama Canal
  • Official language – Spanish
  • Official currency –US Dollar
  • Official Religion – Roman Catholics (85%)
  • Literacy rate – Over 94% (one of the highest in Latin America)
  • World class banking services
  • Over 29% of country’s land mass is protected national park and nature reserves
  • Strict catch & release laws on all billfish
  • In 2010 banned the use of purse seiners for tuna fishing

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.

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

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

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

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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!

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

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
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