Sport Fishing on the Pacific Coast of Veraguas

If you like to defy nature and fight huge fish in the open sea, plan your next vacation with a good sport fishing trip on the Pacific Coast of Veraguas. With hundreds of miles of coastline, marine life refuges and an ideal climate, this is a perfect destination for fishing on the coast and open sea, during all months of the year.

Ports and Destinations

On the Pacific Coast of Veraguas, you'll find several ports to start your sport fishing adventure.

Check with the Veraguas Yacht Club for tours and rental options. Visit Palo Seco, Playa Reinita, Santa Catalina and Playa Banco to combine the experience with a day at the beach and many more activities. From these ports you can start your adventure, whether in the open sea or in shallow waters.

For deep-sea fishing, visit the coast of Mariato and Cebaco Island, where you can chase mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus), among many others. Or sail to the Gulf of Chiriqui, visit Coiba Island and Hannibal Bank to find blue (Makaira nigricans) and black marlins (Istiompax indica), wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri), sailfish and many more.

If you want to fish in inland waters, sail through the Gulf of Montijo, famous for having a lot of fish. Here you'll find cubera snapper, grouper, sea bass, and yellow croaker. In Palo Seco, look for more snapper, tuna and wahoo and in La Reinita don't miss the abundant sea bass that are caught from the seashore.

Fishing Season

Although you can fish on the Pacific Coast of Veraguas throughout the year, the best time for you to visit us is “the green season”, from the end of April to the beginning of December.

Although those months are rainy, there is very little wind, the sea is calm and navigation is much easier. During these months, you'll be able to sail to the most remote islands. In addition, the pelagic (deep-sea) fish rise to the surface and give you the opportunity to find very interesting catches.

From May you will find tuna, but it is in July, August and September when they reach their peak, along with the dorados. If you want to chase marlins, the best month is June. In August, you'll see more wahoos as they go from being solitary to gathering in schools of up to 100 fish. In these months, you'll also find pejegallo (Nematistius pectoralis), near the rocks.

With the end of the rain, in December, you'll have to make shorter trips or keep an eye out for currents and winds. If you find a good day, you'll see how the currents bring giant schools of small fish that attract larger predators, such as black marlin. Finally, if you like to compete against marlins, in February you can find blue, black and striped marlins.

Fishing Tours

Depending on the port you choose to set sail from, on the Pacific Coast of Veraguas you'll find different sport fishing trips.

Look for charter boats or all-inclusive tours. Travel times will vary depending on where you depart and where you're going, and fares, starting at $300, vary as much as the options.

Combine your days at the beach, surfing, diving, hiking, and visiting natural parks by booking a sport fishing tour. The tour operator you choose will make sure to equip you, and inform you of the closed months and protected areas, so that you can enjoy fishing responsibly.