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Reserve your Package | Panama Canal & Lake Gatun | Testimonials | Saltwater Fishing

Peacock Bass in the Panama Canal...

 

Challenging and tough fighters, Peacock Bass are a great Gamefish.

 



Hi!  I’m Rich Cahill, owner with my wife Gaby, of Panama Canal Fishing... thanks for stopping in.

All of us here at Panama Canal Fishing were born & raised in Panama, have been fishing since we were kids and... just  love to fish! more on us here

Fish the shores of pristine, wild rainforest jungle.

 
I spent the day with Richard Cahill fishing for peacock bass, oscar and hopefully snook.  We had a great time and caught a boat full of bass, a few oscar but, on this day, no snook.  All are plentiful in this beautiful lake.  ...    It is also a unique experience with uninhabited islands, monkeys, tucan, parrots, sloths and gigantic freighters passing by.  I recommend that you give it a try.  It will add to your experience in this wonderful country.
Lee Lukes (client)
Former Sportfishing Lodge Owner 

We often see wild monkeys... and stop for fotos if desired.

 


The Cahill Panama Canal Fishing expeditions are a lot of fun - the fish, the wildlife - and are a truly unique experience. The water is crystal clear, absolutely priestine. It´s a thrilling and enjoyable trip for those who think they´ve ¨fished it all¨ and for those new to angling, too.
Randy Kennedy (client),
Boston, Massachusetts

 

Our friendly guides grew up on these waters, and have won local tournaments fishing for snook, bass and tarpon.

 
 

Brief description:
World-class fishing package on the Panama Canal & Lake Gatun, with opportunity to catch dozens of Peacock Bass, as well as troll for snook and tarpon.

Time:
Pickup at your hotel:  5:30Am    /    Drop-off at hotel:  1PM   (varies)

Boat & Equipment
Hurricane Fundeck 201
Fishing poles, lures, live bait, everything needed to fish.

What is included:
Roundtrip 35 mile transport Panama City to Gamboa
Expert fishing guide
Hurricane Fundeck Boat, fully equipped & fueled
All fishing equipment
Picnic lunch and cold drinks
Ice chest with beer (if requested)

What to bring:
Sunscreen (boat is shaded but still a good idea)
Warm weather clothing

Price:
$395 plus 5% sales tax is total CHARTER package price, and allows for up to 2 anglers. Additional anglers over 2, add $20.

Possible Add-ons:
• Monkey Island tour
• Barbeque shore lunch on   Panama Canal island
• Extended fishing time (some   people like to reel in the   bass in the morning, have   lunch, and than troll for   snook and tarpon in the   afternoon)

Contact info:
Book online (click here)

Or telephone us at:
507 6678 2653 or 507 6070 9230 (Panama)

World-class Peacock Bass, Snook and Tarpon fishing in the Panama Canal(!) ...Surrounded by Pristine Rainforest Flora and Wildlife...
Hosted by our (Tournament winning) Friendly, Expert Local Captain and Guides.


Fish in Total Comfort with our ¨Everythings Included¨Fishing Packages... from our Luxurious Hurricane Fundeck 201 Fishing Boat.

Fishing the eighth wonder of the world – the Panama Canal - is truly a once in a lifetime experience. We, Rich and Gabriela ‘Gabby’ Cahill, the owners of Panama Canal Fishing, specialize in this fishing experience and are happy to be able to share our passion with you.

You will catch lots of Peacock Bass...a world renowned, sought after gamefish.   We  typically reel in about 20 to 30 fish per person.  The younger 2 to 3 pounder Peacock bass abound in these waters and swim in schools in certain selected areas.

As the guidebook Adventures in Nature Panama (author: William Friar,  2001), described it:

“The fishing here [Lake Gatun/ Panama Canal] is terrific- the peacock bass population, accidentally introduced decades ago, is so out of control fishermen are actually encouraged to catch them to restore some kind of ecological balance.  It’s not uncommon for an angler who knows the good spots to catch dozens of fish an hour.”

Underwater structures are what make for great fishing. The Lake Gatun/Panama Canal water basin (at one time the largest manmade body of water in the world)  is made up of 164 square miles of flooded forest, hills and plains that provide amazing coves and grass knolls, in other words, prime fishing terrain.

Along with the sheer fun of catching a lot of fish, you experienced fishermen will enjoy the challenge of going for the larger, more elusive 5 to 8 pounders that nest and travel in pairs. Working the bottom in shadowed,  jungle canopied inlets formed by the the hundreds of miniature islands that dot the Lake and Canal,  and hooking in to what are considered one of the more aggressive and challenging gamefish - with sudden strikes, followed by repeated long passes through the water, alternating with high,  somersaulting leaps... it´s a real thrill.

You can troll for snook and tarpon as well.   Your chances of catching these fish will depend on the season, moon phase, angling skill, and other factors.   If you’re especially interested in snook or tarpon,  let us know and we’ll give you our assessment for the dates requested.    Snook is often caught on our trips,  tarpon much less so.... but the chance is there. (Also ask about fishing trips for tarpon & Snook in the Bayano River. negrita)

 

There’s a local tournament that fishes our waters with the goal of achieving a  “Grand Slam”... catching trophy-size Peacock Bass,   Snook  and Tarpon.  One of our guides,  Ariel,  won this tournament last year.  

 

 

You will fish in an amazingly beautiful setting... surrounded by abundant birdlife (this is the same general area where the world birdwatching record for most species of birds sighted in 24 hours is held) and abundant wildlife  - we frequently spot  crocodiles,  iguanas,  sloths, monkeys, and other animals from the boat (and we are happy to get close up for pictures or closer viewing  if desired). 

 

We board our boat in Gamboa at the junction of the Chagres River and the Panama Canal... and than speed out onto the Panama Canal itself,  racing past big giant Panamax ships as they wind their way through the Canal... and than turn into the jungle water pathways that wind around  hundreds of rainforest covered islands, offering many dark shaded inlets to explore alone.  (In case you are wondering, bugs are not a problem during the times we go fishing.)

Even the drive from Panama City  to Gamboa (where our boats are docked) is  a scenic tour in itself,  a 40 minute drive from your hotel  through the old Panama Canal Zone,  by two sets of Panama Canal locks (the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks) and lush, pristine, (screeching, hollering, buzzing) dense rainforest.

Our boat is a Hurricane FunDeck 201 ...  the most comfortable and well-prepared charter fishing boat  on the Panama Canal.       It comes fully equipped with shade canopy,  electric trolling motor, 2 front swivel chairs, live bait box, full tackle, rods and reels.

Just wanted to let you know that I've been boating all my life, about 50 years and our new Hurricane boat is the finest boat we have ever had. I owned a bass boat for over 20 years and my wife thought I would never give it up. I did for your deck boat and I've never regretted it. It is the most comfortable fishing boat I have ever been in.
(Comment from client on Godfrey Marine website)

For fishing the Bass, we use Shakespeare Demenion rods & reels...   for trolling we have trolling rods equipped with  Penn 190 reels.   And of course a full complement of lures and live bait.

Although we cater to experienced anglers...   we’re also a great alternative for beginners, children, and families that want a fishing adventure.  Children will enjoy the ease of catching the smaller 2 to 3 pounders (still a large fish, over a foot in length), and the sheer volume that can be caught in such a short time.  Families will enjoy the gentle instruction and natural friendliness of our guides.    

We can also tailor our packages to make them more interesting for family members that want to fish less, and see more.   We can reduce the fishing time and replace it with some of the following popular activities (additional charges apply in some cases, please let us know your special desires and we will provide a quotation).
- a visit to Monkey Island where the chances are almost 100% that you will encounter a a wild group of Capuchin monkeys, that will often come right up to the boat.
- anchor & exploration of one of the larger Panama Canal Islands 
- barbeque lunch on Panama Canal island (with early drop-off of those who just want to fish a couple of hours... and than play & relax on the island)

Everything is included in the all inclusive charter price

- Full outfitting for one or two anglers
- 35 mile airconditioned, comfortable transport to and from Panama City to Gamboa
- Expert guide captain
- 21’ Hurricane Fundeck 201 luxury fishing boat
- Complete fishing equipment for both Peaccok Bass angling and Snook fish Trolling, including lures and live bait
- Picnic lunch and drinks
- Ice chest of beer (if requested)

(We can lower the price to $350 plus 5% tax if package does not include transport to and from Gamboa)

We’re very accessible...from when you step out of your Panama City hotel  to when you step on our boat in Gamboa, you’re on the water fishing in less than an hour.     (We pick you  up at 5:30AM in your hotel and have you back by usually 1PM.)


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