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Fishing Report
Our 2006 Season is filling up fast. Don't get left at the dock!
Call Bonnie in Orlando for availability- 800-682-3424.
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Hennie & Ursula Marais manage to keep you in fish stories. |
Feb 28 - March 3
Fishing improved slightly with 4 Black Marlin and 1 Blue Marlin released under very difficult fishing conditions. Tuna fishing continues to be excellent with 103 Tunas caught most over 100 lbs. Inshore fishing good with Roosterfish 64lbs, Snapper, Pompano, Wahoo and many more species caught.
The Action:
Puerto Rico with angler Dave Richards hooked into a magnificent 400lb Black Marlin, it was a quick release for Dave’s first ever Black Marlin, well done!
On the Miss Canada, angler George Noonan released his first Pacific Sailfish while angler Mathew Myers released his first Black Marlin on the Miss England.
Mrs. Franco from Mexico was very excited when she released a Roosterfish which was larger than she was! Wow way to GO!!!
Fishing Conditions:
The cold water stayed with us another week; this phenomenon happens ever year and is part of what makes the fishing so amazing here at Tropic Star lodge. The South Current runs up the Panama coast, when this current hits the underwater contours upwelling occurs and brings nutrient rich water to the surface.
One can typically see small Bonitos and other fishes in feeding frenzies when this happens.
During the dry season we have strong north winds which blow offshore moving the surface water out of the bay of Panama and bringing up huge quantities of nutrient rich waters. This is when fishing is at its best, lots of bait and water temperatures of 79 F.
This is slightly cooler water from the normal 83F/84 degree water but brings in more Striped Marlins and brings Swordfish to the surface.
At this stage fishing is absolutely magical, Super Grand slam time , and it’s the only time of the year this happens, Black, Blue Striped Sailfish and Sword fish can be caught, and we have caught 4 species not just in a week but in 1 day by 1 boat and by 1 angler. This must be the only place this has been done in the Pacific.
Timing is everything though, if the wind blows too hard or long the upwelling is severe and we will get plankton blooming leading to green cold water and poor bill fishing, if the condition deteriorates even further we can have red tide which will shut fishing down. I have only seen this happen once in the seven years that I have been here.
The cold water can last 2 to 6 weeks and I have seen it from late February to the first week in April.
Fishing is normally at its best just before and just after these periods.
We have had a phenomenal season so far and it looks like we may catch more Blue Marlin this season than Black Marlin, a first for the lodge and its due to better boats, equipment and fishing in different areas.
Tight lines,
Hennie
Previous 2006 Season Fishing Reports:
Previous 2005 Season Fishing Reports:
Previous 2004 Season Fishing Reports:
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