Tropic Star Lodge in Panama. Sport Fishing at Pinas Bay

Soon after Ray Smith built Tropic Star Lodge in 1961, he caught one of the first IGFA World Record marlin on 12-pound line. "There are going to be all kinds of records set here now that the place is being fished a little harder," he was quoted at the time. His prophecy has come true. Many people fish at Tropic Star Lodge to catch their record fish, also, they come to catch their first Black Marlin or other billfish. Our crews can help you as much or as little as you require. We issue beautiful certificates for those who catch their first billfish at the lodge.

Marlin Fishing in Panama with Tropic Star Lodge

Black, Blue and Striped Marlin abound in numbers unheard of elsewhere. Pacific Sailfish are there year-round, and from April through July multiple hookups are the rule rather than the exception. Dolphins are also caught all year long and average from 20 to 60 pounds. Inshore there are amberjack, snapper, grouper, roosterfish, pompano, rainbow runner, mackerel, jack - the list keeps on going. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE I.G.F.A. WORLD RECORDS BROKEN IN PINAS BAY THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD -- over 170 World Records!

Tropic Star Lodge holds over forty world records at the present time! The majority of these records are for black, blue, or striped marlin and Pacific sailfish. Most of the records at the Lodge were taken on light and ultra light line -- which is what Pinas Bay is recognized for throughout the World! Also, recently we have recorded over 23 Junior Angler World Records!

A typical fishing at Tropic Star day starts with catching bait and then bridling them up on circle hooks for a good soaking around the reef. Crews usually give the reef two or three hours to produce in the morning, and if the blacks don't show, they either head offshore to target blues, stripes or tunas or turn inshore to target the huge numbers of sails in the area. Black marlin here average 350 pounds, but 500- and 600-pounders are commonplace. (The first time I came down to the lodge, I watched light-tackle expert Raleigh Werking fight an estimated 600 pound black for over six hours on 16-pound test before eventually breaking off the fish because of darkness.)

Prime time for blacks here runs from August through March, with the winter and fall months producing greater numbers. (The lodge is closed during October and November.) When clean, blue water moves in over the reef and combines with a strong current, the black marlin bite turns on strong. In early September 2001, Larry Dahlberg, of the Hunt for Big Fish television show, went 10-for-13 on black marlin (most pushing 500 pounds), using live baits and circle hooks over a six-day period. Even if you don't hit it at the hottest time, however, you can expect at least one visit from a black marlin each day.

Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Striped Marlin and more in Panama