We are doing a trip to Panama and its coming up soon. I am getting calls and emails what to bring, what lure is best and the usual questions so I wanted to start a thread about what tackles and gear makes a successful trip in Panama. I was lucky enough to fish Panama for more than 30 days last year spread over 4 trips and our team took a second place finish in the 33rd annual Yamaha Tournament off Contradora with a #62 AJ - Raza caught on a Popper. We also had some luck in the tuna department, Largest yellowfin was 78" and estimated at over #280. The next day we caught three 150, 175 and a 230.
Raza's AJ
Raza, Peter and Reggie taking full advantage of the win to impress some ladies (chica's)
Last April's big girl 78x56 estimated 280
The next day, 14 School Yellowfin on on poppers by 11 AM, Three Cows by 12:30AM - time to go in early no more room for fish!!!
So here is what I would bring, no more no less
Two Popping Setups:
One for inshore, Cubera Snapper, Roosterfish, School Yellowfin and Mullet Snapper. The inshore rod should be 7'6" to 8'3" and paired with a Stella 10K reel. My favorite choices if you like to go super light - maybe Smith STK, if you like heavier then Smith WRC. I like to fish min. PE6 #70 test braid and it doesn't hurt to go with #80. I fish only wind on leaders these days as I get them for little cost but for inshore I like #100 leader at least as long as the rod and cut back from there. 10' leaders are good for casting and cut down.
Offshore popping rod for larger Yellowfin #100 to #200 PE8 line #100 to #130 leaders. I am going to bring my new Racepoint paired with a Stella 18K. I bring two spools for each reel one spool has #100 Daiwa boat braid the other has #100 JB Hollowcore in white. Again I fish wind-ons but a good PR knot will work but crashes the guides more than a wind-on. The JB gets a woven loop while the Daiwa gets a 30 turn Bimini with super glue.
Jigging:
One for inshore, JM 250g to 350g rods work well in this slot - inshore jigging is mainly for AJ, Cubera Snapper and sometimes African Pompano. I like a small reel Jigging Master PE4/5/6, Alutecnos 8V or Similar.
One for deep drop Snowy Grouper - yum! 350 to 450g rods that can work a 350 to 450g jig in over 400 feet of water. Groupers run #20 to #50 so PE 6 or PE 8 #70 to #100 braid and longer 20' Fluoro leaders. Here a low gear ratio is nice for cranking up your jig, a Snowy and maybe a Pargo Chino all at once. Alutecnos 12C worked great last trip with curved power handles. Accurate 665 2 speed or similar would be nice. I have on order new Daiwa Saltiga 40 2 Speed with "egg" handle on order for this.
Poppers:
Cubera Snapper are a favorite of mine to target inshore if the tides are right. For this you need a brightly colored popper that makes alot of splash. Cubera 125, Strike Pro Ace of Clubs, Halloween, or Red Squid poppers, Baby Runbah or Salas 7X are our go to Swimbaits. Peter Kim caught 5 Cubera in a 2 1/2 Hour span on a $9.00 Salas lure two trips back. Blue/white or Pink.
Tuna - I have had very good luck with short poppers like the OTI Wombat and also surface irons like Tady and Salas. Last trip I took a #106 on a Scrambled Egg Tady and a monster #50 Mahi inhaled a Black/Pink Salas the same trip.
Mullet Snapper - when they are schooled up they will eat anything of the same size more or less as the bait fish, so something 5" to 8" will work, Strike Pro, Frenzy, Komodo all work.
All hooks should be Owner ST-66 or ST-76 is preferred, for jigging Owner SJ-51 9/0 or VMC 7254 9/0.
Clothing/accessories:
Believe it or not, you will stay cooler if your whole body is covered. I suggest long sleeve Colombia SFP 50 shirts and long Colombia pants that unzip to become shorts. Many guys find its easy to cover up your whole face with a baclva (sp) than having sunscreen get in your eyes/ears/etc. Bring two pairs of casting gloves as well. I try to wear NOTHING that is cotton, not even underwear. Buy quick dry everything down to the underware you get it at REI or Cabelas. That way you can jump in if you like and you'll be dry in 20 / 30 minutes! Bring clothes for 3 days only, lodge will do wash for us.
Two pairs of very good quality sunglasses. Two pairs as if you loose one you will be a very unhappy camper 9 degrees from the Equator with no shades!
Bring two hats - one wide floppy hat with brim and one baseball cap.
Digital Camera, two batteries, two memory sticks and charger. Bring wipes to clean lens of salt water spray.
Gatoraid - buy it at home in the powder form at Dicks as its often $1.50 a bottle in David/Boca Chica. Boat needs one case of Gatoraid PER DAY or one large powder per two days. Water is fine but you will be sick of it and you need to drink all day non stop to stay hydrated on a center console boat. I find it easy to drink the Gatoraid then water.
Meds: Bring double the daily dose of all medications. Due to the high heat your body will be running at a higher rate of metobolism than back home so you will need twice the dose of many meds. check with your doctor please and have enough on hand. Better to have too much meds than not enough.
Shots: Highly recommended you get the malaria and Dengi Fever shots. This is nothing to mess with and two people one being my Dad and the other Capt Macho came down with Dengi fever in the past year! Its no joke. I also recommend you carry a five day dose of a very strong general purpose antibotic Z-Pack is good. Ask your Dr. Common to get travelers diarara but the water in Panama is fine, just watch the snow cones and street venders.
Sushi supplies: We will bring everything needed for Sashimi and Sushi down to the picked ginger and nori
Surge Strip: Hotels and lodge never have enough outlets for your camera, Ipod, phone, laptop I suggest bringing a surge strip with you.
Shoes: I like Teva or even better closed toe sandles like the KEEN - they are the best ones. Bring one pair of leather shoes like docksiders, Merrell, whatever not sneakers nightclubs in PTY might not let you in ... need leather shoes for our nights out in Panama City!
Sunscreen #50 or better, spray kind is nice. Bring two full new bottles min.
Enroute to Boca China from Panama City we will do some shopping at a warehouse club type shore. Here you can get your call brands of booze cheap, beer, gatoraid, candies, smokes, etc. Buy it when the bus stops you will never find anything cheaper, even cheaper than back home.
Less than 3 1/2 weeks to go!!!!
