Here I was last week planning my daughter’s arrival from the US and setting up a little boating with a friend in Boca Chica when I get this call from Dubai. Dubai, what the heck!!! Well it was a guy named Mark Charman who introduced himself and proceeded to tell me that he is the guy who bought the legendary Panama Big Game Fishing Club in Boca Chica and he enjoyed reading my blog. He invited me to visit with him sometime and I told him that I would stop by and check out his resort when I took my daughter boating. Well one thing led to another and before I knew it my daughter and I were at his resort enjoying a wonderful evening and preparing for a day of fishing.
Arrival is via boat then a short funicular ride up to the resort on top of the hill. And of course the complimentary beverage and shrimp cocktail!
The resort has been completely rebuilt and an infinity pool was added with a swim up bar overlooking the water where we enjoyed an incredible sunset.
Amazing how good pictures look with a drink in front!!!
The water was lit up with the color of the sky that turned orange as the sun set.
The next morning we were up before dawn and headed out to sea by 6:15 on the hunt for big game and we were not disappointed.
The long ride out was smooth and uneventful as we were on a classic 31 Bertram Sportfish powered by new Cummins diesels. Before we knew it we were in a pod of dolphin that follow tuna and in one cast we were hooked up.
Next up, 4 more of these nice fish and then off to catch bigger bait for bigger fish. We got some nice bonito, loaded up the tuna tubes and then set out a nice spread of bridled baits. And oh yes, our mate Jeffrey can bridle a bonito in under 30 seconds insuring fresh presentation in the water.
Within 45 minutes the right outrigger clip popped and we had a FISH ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I had hooked up my first blue marlin and set in for a long fight. After an hour and fifteen minutes, I could not raise the fish as it sounded and with the mates help, we got the fish to the boat in an other 15 minutes where we released it unharmed. Better to break a IGFA rule and have someone help manage the line while you crank so you do not kill the fish. Estimated weight — 500 pounds, yeah baby!!
We arrived back at the resort and I can tell you that this was probably the most memorable fishing trip in my life. After catching a few smaller black marlin here in Panama, I finally tagged a big blue and was I happy! This was after I caught the 5 tuna to 50 lbs. The chef prepared a wonderful spread of fresh yellow fin sashimi and we ate every last piece.
The next morning was a beautiful day waking up at poolside watching the monkeys playing and eating in the trees next to us.
We could not have had a better time and I looked forward to coming back to Panama Big Game Club soon and fishing with Mr C.
A little about the Panama Big Game Club
PBGC has just been awarded a Certificate of Excellence by the worlds largest online travel company TripAdvisor, and they are the only five star rated fishing lodge in Panama, and the first fishing lodge in Panama to receive such an honor. They only joined TripAdvisor on September 9th,2011 so to achieve this recognition from their guests in only 8 months is quite something, to put this award into perspective Tropic Star Lodge has been a member of TripAdvisor since 2005 and is rated 4.5 stars and has never been awarded this honor.
Isla Boca Brava, Panama, Central America
Latitude / Longitude: 8N26, 82W26
(786) 600 1672 Miami local number
+44 203 287 2672 UK and Europe
Owner: Mark Charman ‘Mr C’
mrc@panamabiggamefishingclub.com
Capt Mike mobile in Panama +507 – 6674 – 4824
mike@panamabiggamefishingclub.com