If chasing big Pacific Sailfish tickles your fancy, well this is definitely the place to be. Acres of sardines have invaded our coastline and the sails are here in very large numbers. We’ve released over 240 last week and they show no signs of letting up soon.  Some anglers have also ventured into the rocks and were able to pick up several roosterfish.

IWFA OFFSHORE TOURNAMENT
Tropic Star once again was a fabulous host for the IWFA Offshore Tournament. From the airport pick-up to the Panama City hotel; then the flight to Pinas Bay – all went without a hitch. Impossible to be any easier!

Day One was a late start with a tropical rain delaying our departure for a few hours. The lodge mentioned this type of delay was either rare or a 1st…..but being Election day in Panama, this gave the crew time to vote then get back to take us fishing. We anglers were all strategizing to make the best of the day. First fish was caught around 1:00pm by Gwen Hahn. After a slow start 7 sails were released and Fran McKelvey was Top Angler for day one “on time “.
Day Two was sunshine and calm seas. First fish was released by Grace Canfield at 8:13am while the rest of us were still catching bait.  Top angler for Day 2 was Grace Canfield with 3 sails released. A total of 17 sailfish for Day Two…much improved over Day One.

Day Three had all the signs of epic fishing. Boats went directly to the fishing grounds, not stopping for bait and the first release of the morning was at 7:06am by newcomer Pat Ricciardi. Tears of joy appeared and her fishing partner Joan Kelley congratulated then said, “Get ready for # 2”, she did and released her 2nd ever sailfish before lunch! We celebrated as a whole and she went into the pool later in the afternoon…no sharks there!!
Day Three continued to be a much better bite with all boats releasing for a total of 18 sailfish. This makes the total release for 5 boats at 35. Slow for Tropic Star standards but each one appreciated by the anglers.

Winners of the IWFA Annual Billfish Tournament in Panama were as follows:
1st Place: Grace Canfield
2nd Place: Gwen Hahn
3rd Place: Joan Vandergriff
First Fish: Gwen Hahn
Last Fish: Grace Canfield
1st Place Team: Grace Canfield and Molly Fleming
2nd Place Team: Gwen Hahn and Pat
3rd Place Team: Lisa Everett and Joan Vandergriff
Top Angler (Day 1): Fran McKelvey
Top Angler (Day 2): Grace Canfield
Top Angler (Day 3): Grace Canfield

All ten ladies fished, ate, made merry and fished again, each day and night better than the first.

We also had a number of guests here at Pinas Bay who were not entered in the IWFA Tourny. They all got in the sailfish bite, and for those who stayed on later in the week “all hell broke loose”. The sailfish were everywhere. Doubles, triples even a couple of quad hookups were recorded. Patrice Kaupe, Pat Riccairdi and Arthur Hayman all released their first Pacific Sailfish this week. Congrats!!
Grace Canfield released her first Roosterfish this week around 45 lbs.

I look forward to next week as I am pretty sure that all anglers will be leaving here with sore arms and fond memories of perhaps one of the most spectacular sailfish bites in the world.

Tight Lines!!!!

Albert Battoo
DOCKMASTER