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Thursday, May 23 2013 @ 06:52 AM EDT

Fishing in Panama

Panama boasts some of the best fishing in the world. Fishermen based out of the Tropic Star Lodge near Panama's legendary Piñas Bay in the Darien region have broken more than 250 International Game Fishing Association World Records, more than any other location in the world. The Tropic Star Lodge currently holds more than 40 World Records, the majority of them being Black, Blue, Striped Marlin, and Pacific Sailfish. In Chiriqui the famous Hannibal Bank, actually a huge undersea mountain, quickly rises from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean from a depth of more than 3,000 feet to just under 124' where schools of Black Marlin and giant Yellow-fin Tuna gather. Freshwater anglers can catch Peacock (Sargento) Bass and Tarpon in Gatun Lake. In short, the Republic of Panama is a fisherman's paradise. Every year visitors spend thousands of dollars to travel here specifically to fish. Articles in this category are related to sport fishing in the Republic of Panama. If you require additional information about this or any other category of information regarding the Republic of Panama please take advantage of our powerful in-house search engine. And if you still can't find what you're looking for we even take requests! Welcome aboard, and please remember to tell your friends about Panama-Guide.com, the #1 English Language Website about the Republic of Panama. Salud.
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Five Panamanian Castaways Returning To Panama Today

FishingThe five Panamanian castaways who were rescued in a joint operation of the National Air Service (SENAN) and the authorities of Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and the U.S., will arrive today to their homeland, as confirmed by the Foreign Ministry. (more)

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Huge Black Marlin Sinks Fishing Boat in Panama

FishingA fisherman off Panama was battling a huge black marlin when the battle took a turn for the worse. The fish sank the boat.

Or as Marlin Magazine put it on its Facebook post, "Marlin Wins!"

Not all the details are in, but apparently the captain began backing down on the huge fish, a common practice in big-game fishing when a fish is taking line. He puts the boat in reverse to chase the fish.

One commenter on Marlin Magazine's Facebook post who apparently had some knowledge of the incident said that the captain fell as he was backing down on the fish at full throttle. The boat took on too much water and, finally, there was no correcting the situation.

Marlin Magazine reported that the boat went to the bottom of the sea and everybody on board was rescued by the photo boat. And, of course, the fish got away.

More photos as the boat sinks and the fish continues to jump:





By David Strege for grindtv.com

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Gamboa Rain Forest Resort Fishing Tournament on Lake Gatun

FishingBy DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Every year the Gamboa Rain Forest Resort sponsors fishing tournaments on Lake Gatun in the Republic of Panama. This year, on Saturday 13 October and Sunday 14 October 2012 more than 35 boats participated in the fishing tournament. Rene Gomez of Scuba Panama was the judge for the tournament. Javier Girón took second place in the "Sargento" (Peacock Bass) (Cichla Pleiozona) category with this fish weighing 7.2 lbs.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

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European Union Pressures Panama To Combat Illegal Fishing

FishingIllegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in Panama was the subject of a meeting of the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament, attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Oscar Osorio Casal. The European Union (EU) proposed a comprehensive strategy to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the EU and international waters. These practices pose a threat to the common fisheries policy, are detrimental to the conservation of fish stocks, marine biodiversity and fragile ecosystems, and are a disservice to law-abiding fishermen and coastal communities affected. Panama has to modify its laws, and verify using inspectors from the Panama Maritime Authority and with the help of technology, by inspecting vessels that are fishing illegally. In the meeting they discussed the efforts to initiate technical meetings, so that within six months the country will make the adjustments necessary to come up to international standard. In this activity participated Jose Ramon Macias of the AMP, the Ambassador of Panama in Belgium, Carlos Arosemena, the Commissioner of the European Parliament Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, and Giovanni Lauri, director of the ARAP. (Siglo)
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Dead Whale Found Floating In Limon Bay, Colon, Panama

FishingNear Pier 17, specifically in Limon Bay, in the province of Colon, port company workers saw a dark shape floating in the water, and when they looked closely they realized it was a whale. The employees reported their finding to officials from the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP), which together with staff from the National Environmental Authority (ANAM) went to where the whale was stranded, after after a review they realized that she was dead. Abdiel Martinez, regional manager of the ARAP, reported this is the first time they have seen a case of this kind, because an animal of this size has never reached Limon Bay before. Experts said the whale was probably hit by a ship, which dragged her to the place where she was found. (Siglo)

Editor's Comment: These days the greatest risk to whales in the ocean are not from whaling ships, but from the propellers of ocean going ships. Whale populations are increasing all around the world. Humpbacks migrate down to the Caribbean from the colder waters of the North Atlantic during breeding season, and to give birth.

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Four Missing Fishermen Found in Kuna Yala

FishingThe four fishermen from Las Palmitas, in the province of Colon that were missing, were found on an island in Kuna Yala. These people have been missing since Sunday September 30. These fishermen were found by community residents, who gave notice to the National Air Service (SENAN). Their relatives had reported they were contacted last night via cell phone. It is expected in the coming hours these people will be transferred to the province of Colon. (TVN)
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S.Korea to start 'scientific' whaling

Fishing(AFP) PANAMA CITY — South Korea said Wednesday that it planned to start whaling through a loophole that allows the killing of whales for scientific research, following the lead of Japan's controversial expeditions. At talks of the International Whaling Commission in Panama, South Korean delegates said they would submit future whaling plans to a scientific committee of the global body and were not looking for approval by other nations.
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Fishing For Peacock Bass on Gatun Lake (ft. Kenny, Jerin, Nicolle, Jonathan, and Armando)

Fishing By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Yesterday my son and I went fishing on Gatun Lake with some friends. As the saying goes "even a bad day fishing is better than a good day in the office" so I played "hooky" from work on a Monday to screw off on the lake. We had a lot of fun, caught 86 fish - more if you count the fish we threw back because they were too small to make a decent fillet.

I've been fishing on Lake Gatun hundreds of times, starting in 1987 when I was stationed on Howard Air Force Base. At that time we would mostly hire the guides out of Arenosa, and we went out a couple of times a month (shout out to Scott Birnel who went on a lot of those trips.) Then later after I retired from the military and moved back to Panama I bought a small fishing boat with a friend, but it's been neglected lately and I haven't been doing much fishing. With the project to expand the Panama Canal and all of the dredging being done to deepen the main channel, the water over by Gamboa is dirty and silted, so you have to motor all the way down to Barro Colorado and get off to the West to get into some cleaner water. Yesterday we went out of Arenosa, and the water was crystal clear - mostly because it's 12 miles away from where the dredging is taking place. The fish over there have not changed - you get more fish in the cooler, but they tend to be smaller. The "lunkers" are in deeper water and yesterday we (meaning, Jerin) only caught one of relatively respectable size. No matter - it was a lot of fun. And I've promised myself to get out there more frequently. Here's a YouTube video of our fishing trip in Lake Gatun to catch Peacock Bass in Panama;

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

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Fish Farming of Tilapia Helping Poor Neighborhoods in Panama

Fishing
Fish Farming Tilapia in Panama
Fish Farming Tilapia in Panama
In the community of Tres Hermanas, in the district of Capira, the harvest and eat tilapia, thanks to a program of the Multiple Services Cooperative of New Hope. They are receiving technical assistance from the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP). Hector Chiru, a resident of Las Tres Marias, points out that the project began in July last year, in which participating members of the cooperative are breeding fish. "The business is profitable, tilapia is sold for a dollar a pound," Chiru. Bernardo Jaramillo, director of the ARAP, said this project benefits to poor communities. "The program is an effective method of food security," said Jaramillo. The project has been in monitoring for eight months, and they expect to harvest about 10,000 pounds of tilapia. Eulalia Troy lives in the place and says for the first time she will be able to consume fish. Maria Gonzalez says through this project the communities of San Cristóbal, Los Uveros, La Mina, Paraíso, Pueblo Nuevo and Tres Hermanas will benefit. (Siglo)
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Fishermen in Rio Hato Prepare For Possible Eviction

FishingFishermen off the coast of Rio Hato will have a crucial week. Many fear the authorities will use Holy Week to carry out the eviction order in La Pacora, because the Justice of the Peace in Rio Hato, acting on instructions issued by Governor Fernando Nuñez Fabrega, reopened a case file that had been closed. The situation has caused disquiet in the community, who do not understand why the governor prefers the development of tourism for the benefit of foreigners, when fishing in Pacora along sustains some 300 families who, during these days, have stopped working to be on alert faced with any order.

History: Nelier Chong, an old fisherman, arrived in Pacora when he was 4 years old. His father took him there in 1942 when, along with others, he started fishing at this beach, and since then three generations of fishermen have been using this beach. He says he has been in this area his whole life, and it is unfair that now the authorities want to throw them out of there, after the authorities, based on measurements and drawings, determined they are not on private property, but on protected state land (that can't be given away or sold to someone else for development.)

Griselda Watt, an inhabitant, said La Pacora, Las Guías, and the surrounding areas are towns of working people engaged in fishing, who know if residents are evicted the beach area will be closed, and they will be out on the street with nowhere to get their daily bread. She added it was unfortunate that the governor says there, on that beach, there are no fishermen and they have been treated like they are criminals and intruders, which she considers disrespectful. She warned that they are peaceful people, but they will not allow the authorities to throw them off of the beach.

Meanwhile, Severiano Rodriguez, who has 38 years of age, has been a fisherman all of this life. "If there were no fishermen here, then who takes tons of fish to the markets every day? Mr. President, come here and see how we work. It's not fair that after you promised us titles for these lands that now they want to throw us out, as it is happening here, in Santa Clara, in Farallon, in Pedasi, and the coasts of Veraguas," he said. He believes it is pitiful that the authorities, headed by the governor, attempt to perform an eviction without providing alternatives. "It is just that, under the guise of developing tourism, the coastal people are forced to leave the beaches, though in many countries these are activities that go together," he says.

The conflict is still present, since the meeting held on Tuesday at the offices of the Governor of Cocle ended without agreement. The governor initially said they have presented several alternatives to the fishermen so they could leave the privately owned property they occupy, among them that the Ministry of Housing would build new homes for the few who actually live on the beach, and who suffer from floods at high tide. They also proposed the construction of a dock to place their boats and granted entry to the beach so they can engage in artisanal fishing. (Mi Diario)

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