Panama's Tranquil Island Escape Amid Explosive Tuna Fishing
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Mercury Rising Panama’s Tranquil Island Escape Amid Explosive Tuna Fishing STORY AND PHOTOS BY CAPTAIN STEVE DOUGHERTY Turn at Marker #78 off of the ICW and motor up the canal to the Cape Coral Yacht Basin. Welcome to Paradise! The Yacht Basin provides transient and annual wet slips for boats up to 50’. Boating on the ICW or out to the Gulf of Mexico is a breeze. The marina is a friendly place to enjoy the culture of boating. It is well protected and secure. Marina services include: electric and potable water; wet slips; racquetball courts and tennis courts; an Olympic class swimming pool; the only beach in Cape Coral; and a restaurant and fuel dock are steps to a 600 foot fishing pier. When traveling to Southwest Florida be sure to stop and spend some time with us! SOME JOBS COME WITH PERKS...a company car, tickets to the playoffs, stock options, four-day workweeks. Though, I somehow stumbled into a career that enables me to see things many will never see while traversing the furthest stretches of open water with only a few close colleagues for company. And through my travels nothing compares to what I’ve seen across the fertile waters surrounding the rugged coast of Panama. 239-574-0809 · capecoral.net Nearly 10 years ago I visited the Republic Islands evoke a unique feeling of simplicity of Panama to write a destination piece for this and isolation no matter their size, surround- very publication. It was one of my first interna- ing or development. And while they all share youryour portport ofof entryentry toto providenciales,providenciales, turksturks ++ caicoscaicos tional assignments as an editor and the experi- the defining feature of being encompassed by ence enlightened me to the legendary fisheries water, Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge on Isla that exist across the expansive Pacific Ocean. Parida offers more than one could ever imag- I was fresh out of school and already thought ine being so far off the beaten path. I had seen it all. But after spending a week of Originally built as a family vacation home, solitude on a private island paradise I was fully the remote retreat has since evolved into a convinced the various species found through- traveling angler’s paradise. Resting 12 miles out these unspoiled waters were stronger, offshore, Isla Parida is the closest base of smarter, larger and more damaging to tackle operations for anglers fishing the legendary than any location in the world. Hannibal Bank, and the largest island with- Almost a decade later with a now ink- in the Chiriquí National Marine Sanctuary. soaked passport, I’m watching the sunrise Mere words and photos alone cannot paint TurtleTurtle Cove Cove Marina Marina features features 65 65 deep deep water water slips slips and and on that same dreamy island in the Gulf of an accurate picture, but the cozy jungle lodge fullfull dockside dockside services services including including cable cable tv, tv, free free wifi, wifi, Chiriquí sipping coffee with Captain Shane features amenities to accommodate up to eight water,water, power, power, gas gas and and diesel. diesel. Our Our prime prime location location Jarvis and devising a game plan for the day. guests including a private chef, Wi-Fi, air con- offersoffers access access to to the the most most nearby nearby amenities amenities of of any any With a cast of proven journeymen includ- ditioning and hot water. However, even though marinamarina in in the the TCI TCI with with hotels, hotels, restaurants, restaurants, diving, diving, car car ing Captain Bill Wichcrowski from Deadli- you can connect to the Internet, you are still rentals,rentals, tour tour operators operators and and more, more, all all right right off off the the dock - just steps away from your slip! Call us on VHF est Catch, Raymond Douglas of King Sailfish very much off the grid and immersed in the dock - just steps away from your slip! Call us on VHF 1616 and and we’ll we’ll be be there there to to welcome welcome you you with with our our Mounts, and Scott Ruperchet of Pacific Fins dense jungle with exotic hardwood canopies complimentarycomplimentary Marina Marina Guide Guide Boat. Boat. Guatemala, I knew this trip orchestrated by Ozzy Delgado of Grundéns was going to be Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge 148 redefines roughing it on a deserted 149 one to remember. We were isolated in a re- island. Comfortable amenities (649)(649) 941.3781941.3781 •• [email protected]@ticway.tc •• mote jungle escape for a week and couldn’t in the vicinity of epic big game be more content with the current situation. fishing leave little to be desired. www.turtlecovemarina.comwww.turtlecovemarina.com •• followfollow usus FLORIDA SPORT FISHING SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 JOURNAL // ONLINE // TELEVISION FSFMAG.COM FLORIDA SPORT FISHING SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 and palm tree lined beaches edged in volca- development of Sport Fish Panama Island here are rich in plankton and forage, and the nic rock. Besides a few small trails, the jun- Lodge has recently set the fishing industry prolific predators that surround the seamount gle growth is impenetrable. on fire. Here, a full day of fishing is actually in astounding numbers are mesmerizing to even The lodge is amazing, right where you would a full day of fishing. the most world-traveled scientists. least expect it. And with the absence of mari- Although two of the area’s main angling at- From extensive acoustic seabed mapping nas and infrastructure along a majority of the tractions are Isla Coiba, the largest island in studies we know the bank ranges in depth Panamanian coastline, fishing these unspoiled Central America, and Isla Montuosa, where the from 170 feet to just over 1,300 feet. The waters can be a major undertaking otherwise. dense landmass rises from 10,000-foot depths, broad area it covers is roughly nine miles Over the years there has been a variety our late July trip was focused on the world-fa- long and four and a half miles wide, featur- of sport fishing developments in the area mous Hannibal Bank. And for good reason. The ing extensive zones of slopes, crests, gullies including mainland and mothership opera- tuna bite here is often wide open with chaot- and pinnacles. Detailed topographic maps tions, eco-lodges and boutique hotels, but ic frenzies unfolding daily as ruthless game fish display two extreme pinnacles to the north with long runs required to reach the grounds, attack from below and screeching birds crash most have come and gone. Shane’s offshore from above. There may be no better spot in island escape puts anglers as close as it gets the world to target 100+ pound yellowfin tuna. to some of the best fishing in the world. And Named after the USS Hannibal that discov- with much of the area remaining largely un- ered the area while performing survey work for Islands evoke a unique explored due to its remote location, the the development of the Panama Canal, Hanni- feeling of simplicity bal Bank is an underwater seamount that is so Many “fish of a lifetime” have significant its existence actually modifies lo- and isolation no matter been taken off Panama’s Gulf calized hydrographic conditions. The resulting of Chiriquí and the region has their size, surrounding become one of the world’s top fisheries and conditions are unique to the area. sport fishing destinations. Furthermore, the ocean currents that collide or development. There may be no north-flowing Columbia Current and the west- better spot in the ward Equatorial Undercurrent abruptly hitting world to target 100+ the area, my theory of fish growing stronger and larger here might be substantiated given pound yellowfin tuna. and southeast of the bank that have sheer the epic biomass recorded day in and day out. drop-offs of nearly 400 feet. Panama has long been associated with in- across numerous tuna frenzies each and every What’s more is this offshore seamount credible blue and black marlin fishing, but yel- day. We hooked tuna on surface poppers, live and surrounding pinnacles are heavily influ- lowfin tuna are available year-round, with peak bait, cut chunks, fly and subsurface soft plastic enced by an interaction with nutrient-rich up- season April to August. This is when fish well lures at the Hannibal Bank and along porpoise wellings bringing deep water to the surface. over 100 pounds and encounters with fish schools in open water. While every method With the south-flowing Panama Current, the eclipsing 200 pounds are a real possibility. This resulted in a screaming drag, catching tuna on year alone Shane captured cow yellowfin tuna poppers cast into boiling surface water is more Hannibal Bank's incredible tuna in the 200- and 300-pound class. fun than any angler should be allowed to have. fishery is remarkable due to the unique bathymetry dominated by Over the course of our time offshore we came The fishing here is world-class and the pronounced undersea structure. Seahorse Downrigger System The Seahorse® downriggers are made following a proven design that have earned its reputation for solid, dependable performance in both fresh and salt water environments and is recognized by many anglers around the world. Offering a reliable performance for any game in varied waters, it is built with the strongest and corrosion resistant components. It’s built to last. Backed by Troll-Master's 10 year warranty, the Seahorse® Downrigger is an ideal system for deep-water trolling. 152 153 The Downrigger System with complete line of Seahorse® downrigger accessories is available at: www.Troll-master.com www.Troll-master.com FLORIDA SPORT FISHING SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 JOURNAL // ONLINE // TELEVISION FSFMAG.COM FLORIDA SPORT FISHING SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 bartering ice, fuel, bait and fishing information.