Owning a property in Santa Catalina Villas allows you to have a base from where you, your family and friends can store your boat or take a Santa Catalina fishing charter to fish some of the world class fishing locations around this incredible Pacific coastline.
Panama literally means “Land of Fish” according to the native indians who habitated the isthmus since the beginning of time. This small country is home to a handful of the world’s top fishing destinations, particularly for big game fishing. Massive schools of Yellowfin Tuna, and thousands of Spotted Dolphins, migrate from the South to the North, chasing spawning baitfish, feeding on squid, and crabs, among other fish and sea creatures.
Among the more well known destinations for sport-fishing in Panama include Piñas Bay, Hannibal Bank, and the Pearl Islands, however, few have heard of the Aguja Reef, just off the coast of Santa Catalina and Cebaco Island. Thanks to its geographic location, Santa Catalina is a “diamond in the rough” when it comes to sport-fishing in Panama, with easy access to Hannibal Bank and Aguja Reef, two of the top fishing spots on the planet.
Piñas Bay
Pinas Bay is a world renown sport fishing destination located on the coast of the Darién rainforest, and boasting more than 200 world records. January to March is the season for fishing, at which time it is among the top destinations on the planet to fish for the Black Marlin. Here it is common to encounter giant schools of wahoo, dorado, jack and other species of game fish. Zanes Reef is one of the main sport-fishing spots, where black marlin are common place. The tricky part of Pinas Bay is getting there, because there are no roads, and no commercial flights, visitors must get there by chartered plane or boat.
Archipiélago de las Perlas
Panamanians mostly sport fish in the Pearl Islands, in the Pacific Gulf of Panama, thanks to its convenient location, just a 2 hour boat ride from Panama City. This archipelago of 40 plus islands offers sport fishing from December to May, where red snapper, grouper and amberjack are the more common catch. At Pacheca Island and some of the other surrounding outer islands, it is common to catch giant jack, tuna, sailfish and wahoo, among other fish species. Thanks to the relatively shallow reefs, the Pearl Islands tend to attract fish species that come to breed in massive numbers in these sheltered Pacific waters of the Gulf of Panama. The attraction to the Pearl Islands is the beautiful views to the Panama City skyline, the beautiful white sand beaches along the coasts of the islands, and the convenience of access, as it is a short distance from Panama City, allowing family groups to enjoy the beaches, fishing, snorkeling or scuba diving.
Hannibal Bank
Hannibal is an offshore underwater atoll surrounded by deep water. The massive schools of game fish that migrate up the marine corridor encounter the unexpected shallower waters where the marine life is abundant for feeding. The massive schools of game fish that migrate up the marine corridor encounter the unexpected shallower waters where the marine life is abundant for feeding. Hannibal Bank, located on the Pacific coast of the Veraguas Province of Panama, is just off of the Coiba National Marine Park, and is considered among Panamas top sport-fishing destinations, most well known for its abundance of black marlin, yellowfin tuna, blue marlin, Pacific sailfish and dorado. December to April is the most popular season for fishing these fish species, however, there is good fishing all year long. The rest of the year at Hannibal Bank it is common to catch rooster fish, grouper, blackfin tuna, swordfish, wahoo and snapper in offshore waters, and the inshore fish species commonly include blue travally, sierra mackerel, rainbow runners, jack crevalle and other tuna family members like Bonito are fished around the estuaries and mangroves all year long.
Sport Fishing around the Natonal Marine Park of Isla Coiba is enhanced by the unforgettable experience of first hand visits to virgin uninhabited islands, marine wildlife reserves, picturesque white sand beaches, and deep rainforest jungles. In addition, these islands boast world renowned scuba diving in pristine waters with vast amounts of marine life, thanks to the marine park being a UNESCO protected wildlife refuge. Last but not least, the surf spots in this area of Panama are among the best in Central America, with excellent surf on Montuosa Island (next to Hannibal Bank), Isla Coiba, and Santa Catalinas famous point break.
Aguja Reef
Aguja Reef is, like Hannibal Bank, an under water atoll, surrounded by deep water, where the migration of game fish along the marine corridor encounter these shallower waters that are ideal for feeding. Aguja is located just a few miles offshore from Cebaco Island, with Santa Catalina only a 30 minute boat ride away. December to April is again the best season for the popular game fishing of black marlin, yellowfin tuna, sailfish and dorado, while the rest of the year it is common to catch grouper, blackfin tuna, swordfish, wahoo and snapper. Around the South-Western corner of Cebaco, the small Island called Tintorera offers bonito, mackerel, wahoo, dorado and yellow tail tuna, plus some beautiful pristine white sand beaches inside of small protected bay that is a wonderful location for family to enjoy the beach and snorkeling. Last but not least, Cebaco Island offers some great surf spots, including Playa Grande, a beach break with a slab reef point break in the middle of it.
