Winter tuna, marlin, big water fishing ideas ?

[dobiel]

Panama is too rich for my blood, too. *shrug* I just said "screw it" and started doing the research and booked it. The fishing down there is just too amazing to pass up and I want to get in on the "experience" in case it dries up and we end up having to travel to even more remote and expensive places. Good thing is it looks like they're pretty protective of their sportfishing species down there, which I can't say for many places in Mexico. Biggest YFT was this past March and was estimated around 175lbs. Kicked my a$$!!! It broke the base of a Shimano TLD50 2 speed off the rod. Anyways, we recovered but it was pretty dramatic when it happened. Tough fish down there in PV in all that oxygen rich water!

[traveler]

Nice fish:) Heres mine...

Yours looks quite a bit bigger...mine was weighed. Maybe they underestimated yours?? Wish I could just say screw it, but my wife has been pretty darn understanding with my trips, I think I've pushed it about as far as I dare!

Besides, it's time to go back to Alaska:)

[dobiel]

Camera angles my friend, camera angles. When you see mine next to a real cow(200lb+) you realize how "average" it was. Still, an absolutely amazing species. I have a new found respect for just how powerful they are. Did you see the record just got broken earlier this year...405 pounder I think, on a long range boat out of SD. Did you fight in a chair or stand up harness? As far as not being able to do the Panama thing, I don't think you'll miss out on any "big" fish if you're willing to fish during the right seasons in Mexico. It's just that Panama's season is so wide open for good examples of all the species nearly all season long. Only time will tell if it's worth the extra expense and logistics of the trip and I surely won't mind if I'm economically relegated to great spots like PV or Cabo.

[traveler]

Can't wait to get the chance to shoot pics of a 200 + Yes, I heard of the 400 lb.der...they also landed 2 in the 380 range on the East cape this year, one of them from a panga!

I fish standup all the way, but on that tuna my buddy was useing my belt and I had to hastily put on the one they had on the boat...a small harness that didn't fit worth a darn. After about an hour and a quarter of pain, it put me in the chair for the last 20 minutes. Still had a ton of fight left at the transom as they were sticking it with the gaff. Amazing power...I've fought a ton of marlin, but that tuna beats 'em hands down for brute strength!

[dobiel]

For sure, the Tunas are the brutes of the sea pound for pound. First time catching a Bonito on light tackle spinning gear my buddy was laughing at me because I was kinda struggling. Then it was his turn and I got to sit back and laugh back at him..."I told ya they are tough!"

You gonna hook me up with the info on a good boat and captain if I decide to do Cabo next fall? We're probably going back to PV in March but I may try to swing a long weekend trip down to Cabo and hopefully get myself into some of those Stripers. How's the bite in late Nov/early Dec?

[traveler]

For sure, the Tunas are the brutes of the sea pound for pound. First time catching a Bonito on light tackle spinning gear my buddy was laughing at me because I was kinda struggling. Then it was his turn and I got to sit back and laugh back at him..."I told ya they are tough!"

You gonna hook me up with the info on a good boat and captain if I decide to do Cabo next fall? We're probably going back to PV in March but I may try to swing a long weekend trip down to Cabo and hopefully get myself into some of those Stripers. How's the bite in late Nov/early Dec?

Sure thing Dobiel. If I had to pick a "best" time of year to nail lots of stripers, it would be exactly the timeframe you mention! Except this year...something funny going on, the stripers that usually make thier way down the coast to winter around Cabo are running a little late.

We have a little tournament every year right around Halloween; last year I got 10 stripers and a sail in the 2 day tourney, and could have caught more if not for the 5 per species rule we have. This year I got only 5 in the 2 days, and had to work for those.

Not many places you can go and land 5 marlin in 2 "slow" days!

[wahoo]

Remember to check out the equipment used. It can vary greatly boat to boat, even at the same resort as many times boats (at the East Cape for example) may be Captain owned or maintained. Some boats may have gold Penns or Shimanos but very little light tackle. It isn't a lot of fun to catch small, 20-30 lbs Dorado for example, on 80 lb gear.

I usually, when possible, bring my own gear--or at least 3 rod/reel combos. Big tuna I use Shimano Tiagras, Medium fish (striped Marlin) a smaller Tiagra or Avet with 50/60, and smaller outfit depending on what you target.

Also, if you want the whole experience, make sure you tell the Capt up front you'd like to hook the fish yourself or, many times, they will bait the fish set the hook, and hand it to you.

Nuff of this. Getting ready for hard water fishing in fabulous MN!!!

[IamZombie]

Head down to Louisiana and go get on the reds!

Here's a smaller one my cousin caught.

[KeystoneLight]

I'll be in Costa Rica, Rui Guanacaste, in mid-January, any suggestions on fishing charters? How about any sight seeing tours?

[dobiel]

Go over to the Panama/Costa Rica forum on bloodydecks.com and ask those guys for any recommendations. A friend of mine fished up on the northern end a couple years ago and had a good day on the water with one really nice Sailfish and a big bull Dorado in the boat during the same time of year that you're going. I'm sure you'll find plenty of zip lining and eco tours up there, too. I'm sure you can find plenty of reviews and recommendations on that stuff on trip advisor.