rock snapper caught in panama while on panama fishing trip

Sport Fishing Panama | Expected Species

While sport fishing on the Azuero Peninsula, you will find a wide range of different species. Throughout the year, you can encounter striped, blue and black Marlin. You will also find huge Amber jack, Cubera Snapper and Rooster fish. Large Pacific sailfish are also quite common. The huge number of raw fishing spots is what makes sport fishing Panama such a delightful activity.

The area is known for being home to several types of big game fish. Located in Playa Reina, near Cebaco Island, we are able to fish Cioba Island and Cerra Hoya, two of Panama’s top national parks. If you are planning on sport fishing in Panama, you can find some of the amazing species in the area.

Below, you will find information about some of the most fiercest and exciting fish in the Panama area. There are also additional details about the top five most popular game fish that you will have an opportunity to catch.


For anyone planning some sport fishing in Panama, the area was named for the massive schools of yellow fin tuna that migrate to the area. A famous angler, Tony Pena, has even referred to the area as Panama’s Tuna Coast.

It is common for anglers to wrestle fish weighing over 100 and 200 pounds. These huge fish species are frequently caught with poppers and live bait, and they represent some of the most exciting battles between man and fish.

You can find rooster fish in the area throughout the year, but they are especially active between March and May because the water is at its coolest during these months. The rooster fish is one of the purest catch-and-release fish that you can find, and there is no doubt that it Is a favorite among anglers.

5 Most Popular Big Game Fish in more detail


blue-marlin-panama-sport-fish-lodge-boca-chica-coiba

– Other names: Another name for this fish is Aguja Azul.

– Physical Description: These Pacific and Atlantic specimens look almost identical, and they both have a dark upper and back body. The color of these areas is cobalt blue, which includes the first dorsal fin. The lower part of the body has silver and white coloring. It is not atypical for these specimens to have as many as 15 vertical stripes, which consist of narrow bars and small dots. When the Pacific Blue Marlin is hooked or ready to strike, the stripes become incredibly bright but disappear immediately after the fish is retrieved from the water. The other fins on the blue marlin are blackish brown. The anal fins are known to have a silver and white tinge. Examining the shape of the dorsal fin tip is the best way to distinguish the blue marlin from its relatives. On blue marlin, the tip should be pointier.

– Range: Blue marlin live in warm and tropical waters all over the planet, but they prefer the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Out of the billfish family, blue marlins are the most tropical. It is frequently caught in waters that are close to the equator. In eastern Pacific waters, blue marlins are commonly found in southern California and Peru.

– Feeding Habits: Blue marlin almost always feed near the surface, but they might also dive deeper for food. Their diet consists mostly of fish, but they’re known to eat other sea life near the surface. A typical blue marlin diet might consist of octopus, squid, mackerel and tuna. They might also eat other fish species that are indigenous to the area.

– Sporting Qualities: When sport fishing Panama hot spots, most anglers would say the blue marlin is the best of all ocean fish. Since it is a strong billfish, it can fight very hard for hours, and it can also run away fast. Blue marlin is known to dive deep or jump wildly. Once hooked, it is not uncommon to see a blue marlin jump 40 or more times. There is no doubt that blue marlin can test the skills of the toughest anglers. For anglers sport fishing Panama hot spots, it’s one of the top types of fish.

– Habitat: There is not much information about the blue marlin’s biology, which includes spawning habits and migrations. They are, however, known to be highly mobile and prefer traveling warm ocean currents. Blue marlins are known to live at depth of 600 feet and prefer water temperatures of 70 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Found along continental shelves, the blue marlin is an offshore species. It lives in underwater canyons and near oceanic mountains. In these environments, blue marlin is most likely to be caught near large sources of squid, mackerel and tuna. As they get older, they become far more solitary and can travel in schools of 10 members.