ripplefisher
Senior Member
Hi Guys,
Well, another goal of mine had been to try and experience the often hectic YFT bite off the Panama coast, ideally to try and get some fish on popper. I stayed at Paradise Lodge - despite pretty awful weather - it rained every day, and sometimes for hours on end, we still got some decent fish. The YFT shoals were not as thick as they could have been, and surface action was sporadic, but I still took 15 or so on popper - mostly smaller (20-50 lb fish) but I did have a 100lb plus on popper, and we had more on livebait.. Actually, the first case I even made with a popper in Panama waters resulted in a 30lb YFT to the boat..lol..!
This big YFT - hit the scales at 210 lb's - took a live bonito, and was at the boat in 20 minutes - sunset drag as it hit late on the last day - serious pain, even with stand-up gear..
Of course there are other targets too - roosterfish are lovely - we only had two - the biggest took a popper, the biggest took a popper, the smaller fish a livebait.
The cubera fishing can be good - we did not do well as the currents/swells were hectic, and we could not hold bait on the bottom. Interestingly, jigging was poor this time - only a few small grouper, snapper and a modest Amberjack the result, but we did only pursue it for a limited time.
All in all an interesting trip - reasonable results, but it could have definitely been better. In terms of the lodge and service = superb, you could not want for more - all fully A/I - I don't think I needed to get my own drinks all week!
Tight lines,
RF.
Well, another goal of mine had been to try and experience the often hectic YFT bite off the Panama coast, ideally to try and get some fish on popper. I stayed at Paradise Lodge - despite pretty awful weather - it rained every day, and sometimes for hours on end, we still got some decent fish. The YFT shoals were not as thick as they could have been, and surface action was sporadic, but I still took 15 or so on popper - mostly smaller (20-50 lb fish) but I did have a 100lb plus on popper, and we had more on livebait.. Actually, the first case I even made with a popper in Panama waters resulted in a 30lb YFT to the boat..lol..!
This big YFT - hit the scales at 210 lb's - took a live bonito, and was at the boat in 20 minutes - sunset drag as it hit late on the last day - serious pain, even with stand-up gear..
Of course there are other targets too - roosterfish are lovely - we only had two - the biggest took a popper, the biggest took a popper, the smaller fish a livebait.
The cubera fishing can be good - we did not do well as the currents/swells were hectic, and we could not hold bait on the bottom. Interestingly, jigging was poor this time - only a few small grouper, snapper and a modest Amberjack the result, but we did only pursue it for a limited time.
All in all an interesting trip - reasonable results, but it could have definitely been better. In terms of the lodge and service = superb, you could not want for more - all fully A/I - I don't think I needed to get my own drinks all week!
Tight lines,
RF.
