Tag: cubera snapper fishing

  • Tropic Star Lodge, Panama

    Tropic Star Lodge, Panama

    Aerial of Tropic Star Lodge and the Bertram fleet in Piñas Bay, Panama
    Black marlin jumping off Piñas Bay near Tropic Star Lodge, Panama
    Marlin jumping on a green line off Tropic Star Lodge, Piñas Bay, Panama
    Tropic Star Lodge marina and sportfishing fleet at sunset, Piñas Bay, Panama

    Piñas Bay, Panama — marlin and sailfish:

    Tropic Star Lodge

    Black marlin

    Zane Grey Reef

    Bertram 31s

    Overview

    Tropic Star Lodge sits on remote Piñas Bay in Panama’s Darién Province, about 20 minutes from Zane Grey Reef. Guests fish black marlin, blue marlin, and sailfish offshore, and roosterfish and cubera on the inshore grounds, from Classic or Premium Bertram 31s. Twenty-three air-conditioned rooms and villas take up to 45 guests.

    Guests fly to Tocumen International (PTY) in Panama City, overnight, then take a 30-minute drive and a charter of just under an hour to Bahía Piñas. A short bus and 10–15 minute water taxi finish the trip to the lodge.

    Peak weeks (January–February) run as 7-night, 6-day packages and book 1–2 years out. Inshore (March–May) and Standard / blue marlin weeks (June–September and December) also offer shorter 3- and 4-day packages. The annual Billfish Tournament is in November; the Roosterfish Tournament is in May.

    Black marlin, blue marlin, sailfish, roosterfish, yellowfin, dorado

    Piñas Bay / Darién, Panama — Zane Grey Reef 20 minutes out

    23 rooms and villas — up to 45 guests

    Classic or Premium Bertram 31s

    Dates: Peak Jan–Feb · Inshore Mar–May · Standard Jun–Sep

    Call or use the form for information about billfish and inshore fishing at Tropic Star Lodge.

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    Fishing Tropic Star Lodge

    Piñas Bay’s offshore bite is black marlin (heaviest in January and February), blue marlin (June–September and December), and sailfish that regularly top 100 pounds. Yellowfin tuna, dorado, and wahoo run with the billfish. Grand slams are common in July.

    Inshore, roosterfish are the draw from March through May, with fish over 70 pounds on the books. Cubera snapper, bluefin trevally, broomtail grouper, and tarpon in the backwaters keep a second rod busy. Local captains and mates — many second- or third-generation on this coast — run the Bertram 31s with GPS, VHF, tuna tubes, and live wells.

    Sailfish held alongside a Tropic Star Lodge boat, Piñas Bay, Panama
    Villa sitting room with jungle view at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama

    The lodge

    Twenty-three air-conditioned rooms and villas look over the bay or the garden. Options run from double-occupancy lodge rooms to two- and three-bedroom villas and private residences. The Palace is the three-bedroom villa with master suites and a view of Piñas Bay.

    Dinner is four courses at the Bayview Restaurant, wine included. The Marlin Bar faces the water. A freshwater jungle pool and hot tub sit in the trees; the rainforest spa is part of shoreside packages (three treatments and three jungle excursions).

    23 rooms & villas

    Up to 45 guests

    Bayview dining

    Jungle pool & spa

    Tropic Star Lodge 2026 rates

    Book through Angler Adventures. These 2026 figures are for a Bertram 31, two anglers, six fishing days (Doug, 25 August 2026). Season names below are the ones we quote: Peak, Inshore, and Standard. The lodge site lists the same windows as Black Marlin / Inshore / Blue Marlin.

    SeasonDatesPackageRateNotes
    PeakJanuary–FebruaryBertram 31, 2 anglers, 6 days$8,590Black marlin weeks. 7-night / 6-day packages.
    StandardJune–SeptemberBertram 31, 2 anglers, 6 days$7,750Blue marlin weeks.
    InshoreMarch–MayBertram 31, 2 anglers, 6 days$6,240Roosterfish and cubera.
    Transfer / charterYear-roundPanama City to lodge$745Per person plus room tax. VIP meet-and-greet, up to four ground transfers.
    2027Not postedAny week, including 26 Feb–6 Mar 2027Call 860-434-9624Lodge has not posted 2027 dollars yet.

    Rates still vary by boat (Classic or Premium Bertram 31), party size (1–4 anglers), and package length. Room upgrades extra. Seasonal discounts and other boats — call or email us.

    2027 lodge rates are not posted yet. Call 860-434-9624 for the week you want, including 26 February–6 March 2027. Our services are free.

    Included

    • 7 nights lodge accommodations (for 6-day packages)
    • All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and wine with dinner
    • Daily guided fishing
    • Use of the pool, bars, restaurant, and spa
    • 3 spa treatments and 3 jungle excursions for shoreside guests

    Not included

    • Round-trip charter from Panama City ($745 per person)
    • Room upgrades
    • Gratuities for guides and staff
    • International airfare to Panama City
    • Travel insurance and personal items

    Getting to Tropic Star Lodge

    Fly to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City. Lodge staff meet you and transfer you to the overnight hotel. In the morning a 30-minute drive and a charter of just under an hour land at Bahía Piñas. A short bus and a 10–15 minute water taxi finish the trip. Panama City to the lodge is about 2–3 hours of travel time after the overnight.

    Billfish at Tropic Star

    on Piñas Bay, Darién, Panama

    Black and blue marlin

    Peak January–February is the black marlin window. Blue marlin weeks run June through September and December. Sailfish over 100 pounds mix through both seasons.

    Roosterfish and inshore

    March through May is roosterfish, cubera, bluefin trevally, and grouper. Tarpon hold in the backwaters for a fly rod.

    Black marlin jumping off Piñas Bay near Tropic Star Lodge, Panama

    Tropic Star Lodge FAQ

    Where is Tropic Star Lodge?

    Tropic Star Lodge sits on Piñas Bay in the Darién Province of Panama. Guests fly to Tocumen (PTY) in Panama City, overnight, then take a charter of just under an hour to Bahía Piñas and a short water taxi to the dock.

    What do you fish at Tropic Star Lodge?

    Black marlin, blue marlin, and sailfish offshore, plus roosterfish, cubera snapper, yellowfin tuna, dorado, and more than a dozen inshore species. Zane Grey Reef is about 20 minutes from the lodge.

    What are the 2026 Tropic Star Lodge rates?

    Angler Adventures quotes a Bertram 31, two anglers, six fishing days at $8,590 Peak (January–February), $7,750 Standard (June–September), and $6,240 Inshore (March–May). Transfer / charter is $745 per person. 2027 lodge rates are not posted yet — call 860-434-9624.

    When is black marlin season at Tropic Star?

    January and February are Peak / black marlin weeks. Those dates book 1–2 years out and run as 7-night, 6-day packages. Blue marlin weeks run June through September and December. Inshore weeks (roosterfish and cubera) run March through May.

    How do I get to Tropic Star Lodge?

    Fly to Panama City (PTY). The lodge transfer ($745 pp round-trip) covers the VIP meet-and-greet, up to four ground transfers, and the charter to Bahía Piñas. International airfare to Panama City is separate.

    Does Tropic Star Lodge have a 2027 rate sheet?

    Not yet — tropicstar.com has not posted 2027 dollars. Call Angler Adventures at 860-434-9624 for the week you want, including 26 February–6 March 2027.

    Aerial of the Tropic Star Lodge dock and sportfishing fleet, Piñas Bay, Panama

    It’s time to begin planning your trip.

    Save time with Angler Adventures. We’ve been doing this for 43 years.

    Call or use the form for information about billfish at Tropic Star Lodge on Piñas Bay.

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  • Casa Blanca Lodge

    Casa Blanca Lodge

    Updated on

    Doug Schlink of Angler Adventures participated in the record-setting week at Casa Blanca, November 6th – 13th, 2004, when 18 anglers landed 56 permit on the fly and racked up 10 Grand Slams. Click here to read more about the record-breaking week for permit and Grand Slams at Casa Blanca & Playa Blanca. Dr. Ralph’s Cifaldi’s magic Permit crab fly, “the Gyno Crab” accounted for 17 of the 35 permit! Please click here for more information and tying instructions on the Gyno Crab.

    bonefish, permit, tarpon, cuba snapper, jacks, snook + baracuda

    Favorable weather conditions year-round

    A varied fishing paradise with expansive flats

    Book now, get a quote, or chat with us about Mexico fly fishing!

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    Casa Blanca Lodge is located in the heart of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. This beachfront lodge is situated on the southern lip of one of the world’s greatest flats fisheries, Bahia de L’Ascencion, better known as Ascension Bay.

    Ascension Bay comprises a large portion of the massive 1.3 million acre Sian Ka’an Biosphere Preserve. The Biosphere is wild and virtually uninhabited except for the tiny fishing villages at Punta Allen and Punta Herrera on Bahia Espiritu Santo. The Sian Ka’an is home to over 100 species of mammals and over 330 species of birds and is managed to minimize human impact.

    Protected by the world’s second longest barrier reef, Ascension Bay offers miles of shallow bays, secluded mangrove-rimmed lagoons, white sand beaches fronting dense coastal jungle and countless miles of flats. Ascension Bay provides ideal habitat for the world’s top saltwater gamefish including bonefish, permit and tarpon. An angler landing all three of these species in a single day has just accomplished the coveted “Grand Slam”! Ascension Bay likely produces more Grand Slams and Super Grand Slams (add the snook as the 4th species) than any other fishery in the world.

    Fishing can take place anywhere for 3 minutes to 60 minutes from the Casa Blanca marina. In fact, many bonefish are caught on the flat where the boats are moored. And tarpon, permit, snook, cubera snapper, jack crevalle and a host of others have been landed from the beach or the pier at Casa Blanca. Guests typically leave the dock around 7:30 am, two anglers per boat/guide in a Dolphin Super Skiff flats boat, spending an 8-hour day on the water. Bonefishing is both from the poled skiff or by wading as Ascension Bay has miles of firm bottomed, wading flats. The Bay is blessed with a huge number of resident bones, and while smaller on average than their Bahamian brethren, the average size has increased over the years, thanks greatly to commercial fishing restrictions within the Biosphere.

    Permit are also available year round. They are sometimes caught while wading, but they typically prefer slightly deeper flats so the skiff fishing is usually

    more effective. Ascension Bay’s permit average around 12 – 14 pounds, but trophies to 30, 40 and even 50 pounds have been taken. For some unknown reason, Ascension Bay fish seem to take the fly much better than permit in others areas. The Casa Blanca guides are particularly adept at both finding permit but also coaching in the techniques needed to hook this challenging quarry.

    Ascension Bay is without question one of the world’s top permit fisheries and our top recommendation for flyrodders in quest of the elusive permit.

    Tarpon are more seasonal. The big migratory fish arrive in late March or early April and populate the bay through November. From December through March, tarpon on the flats should be viewed as a bonus species. However, resident juvenile tarpon are found year round in a few areas such as Los Rios and other brackish water spots near the back of the bay. Casa Blanca also offers trips to their secret tarpon lagoon where resident fish from 10 – 50+ pounds are available year round. This special fishery is strictly limited to 3 boats per week to minimize any negative impact from over-fishing. Tarpon lagoon days must be requested at the time you make your reservation and are allotted on a irst-come-first-serve basis.

    Snook are also year round residents of the bay, mostly in the backwater, brackish areas. While abundant (and big on average), snook can prove to be the most tricky to catch. They typically hold tight to cover (usually mangroves) requiring accurate casting into tight pockets. Unlike a tarpon, a hooked snook almost always runs for cover. It takes some skill and a stout leader to horse them out quickly so they don’t break or cut you off on a mangrove. On occasions, snook can be seen out cruising open flats, frequently mixed in with “the other three” species.

    Other species found in the bay include barracuda, sharks, jack crevalle, mutton and cubera snappers, ladyfish, tripletail and many other reef species.

    Commensurate with this world class fishery, Casa Blanca is truly one of the top saltwater fishing lodges in the world. Situated on the northern tip of a private island known as Punta Pajaros (Parrot Point), the lodge provides comfortable accommodations in spacious air-conditioned rooms, each with private bath. The main “Palapa” is a traditional Maya thatched-roof open air common area overlooking the beautiful white sand beach and the emerald and blue hues of the Caribbean. This is where most fishermen will land after a day out on the water to enjoy a cocktail and share tales of the day’s fishing before dinner. Adjacent to this is the dining room/bar/kitchen area where libations are poured and gourmet meals are prepared by their talented chef and served by an attentive wait-staff.

    The guides at Casa Blanca are among the most experienced and dedicated that you’ll find anywhere. Many of the guides have fished the bay for 20 years or more. They all speak sufficient English for the task, but more importantly they know the bay, the tides, and its sub-aqueous inhabitants intimately. And they love to get their anglers into fish and work hard to make it happen.

    Casa Blanca Fishing Lodge 2026 Rates

    HIGH SEASON (February – June)

    Package DetailsDouble OccupancySingle Occupancy
    7 Nights/6 Days (Saturday→Saturday)$7,192$9,610
    ↑ (1 non-fishing)$5,778Call
    5 Nights/4 Days$6,074$8,164
    ↑ (1 non-fishing)$5,468Call

    Low Season (July – January)

    Package DetailsDouble OccupancySingle Occupancy
    7 Nights/6 Days (Saturday→Saturday)$6,787$9,182
    ↑ (1 non-fishing)$5,336Call
    5 Nights/4 Days$5,701$7,285
    ↑ (1 non-fishing)$4,774Call

    Rates are per person in USD$ and subject to change. Contact us for seasonal promos.

    Take the guess-work out.

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    Rates Include: Deluxe Seaside Accommodations at Casa Blanca; all meals; non-bottled beverages; use of boats; guide service; refreshments on-board boats; round-trip air charter between Casa Blanca and Cancun (Saturdays only); snorkeling; wind surfing; sea kayaking; bicycling; natural history excursions; birding; unlimited use of recreational equipment.

    Not Included: All scheduled commercial air transportation as required by itinerary from point of origin through return; alcoholic beverages; baggage overweight charges; surcharge if less than 3 passengers on charter aircraft; use of phone; laundry service; guide and staff gratuities.

    Partial Week Itineraries: Itineraries for partial week packages should begin or end on a Saturday. In general, the lodge will not accept reservations, which span a Saturday, since this would eliminate the possibility of booking two full week packages. We can occasionally make an exception if space is available. Additional air charter charges will apply for groups of less than 4 or for which extra flights are required. See Air Charter Surcharges.

    Air Charter Surcharges: The cost of the air charter from Cancun to the lodge is included in the rates listed, but these rates apply only to flights on Saturday. For itineraries requiring travel on days other than Saturday, there will be a surcharge based on the number of passengers on the flight. These surcharges will apply to all early/late arrivals or departures and to all Partial Week Itineraries. This includes extra charters required because of late arriving airline flights.

    The following rates are one way/per person charges for extra charters required because of late arriving, canceled, or delayed airline flights; or other delays out of the direct control of Casa Blanca: 1 passenger: $1,818; 2 passengers: $909 per person; 3 passengers: $606 per person; 4 passengers: $454 per person. These rates apply to all early or late departures on regular weekly packages. These amounts are to be added to all Partial Week Itineraries.

    Reservations and Deposit: To confirm reservations, a 50% deposit is required within ten days of booking. The balance is due 95 days prior to scheduled arrival at the lodge.

    Book now, get a quote, or chat with us about Mexico fly fishing!

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  • Pesca Maya Fishing Lodge

    Pesca Maya Fishing Lodge

    Updated on

    Pesca Maya Fishing Lodge is located 90 miles south of Cancun in the amazing 1.3 million acre Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve– Sian Ka’an is Mayan for “where the sky is born”. Situated on a long, narrow strip of barrier beach, the lodge is virtually surrounded by water. To the east lies the blue Caribbean and a few hundred yards off shore, the Palencar Barrier Reef, the second longest barrier reef in the world, stretching from southern Belize to north of Cancun. To the western side lies the vast “El Rio” system of flats, channels and mangrove. 10 miles to the north is the famed inlet through the barrier beach known locally as the “Boca”. And 4 miles to the south lies the incomparable Ascension Bay, offering some of the world’s greatest flats fishing for bonefish, permit, snook, tarpon and more.

    bonefish, permit, tarpon, cuba snapper, jacks, snook + baracuda

    Favorable weather conditions year-round

    A varied fishing paradise with expansive flats

    Book now, get a quote, or chat with us about Mexico fly fishing!

    Destination Inquiry

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    Fly Fishing at Pesca Maya

    Ascension Bay

    The Fishing: The waters of Ascension Bay and the adjacent lagoon system are most noted for flats fishing. Pesca Maya’s location is ideal to fish both areas. The dock is a short walk from the lodge and productive fishing can begin immediately.

    When fishing Ascension Bay, the boats run 10 minutes south to the outlet of the lagoon into the bay. From there, running times to some of the most productive areas are: 5 minutes to Maravilla, 25 minutes to Cayo Culebra; 40 minutes to Tres Marias; 30 minutes to Esperanza or the tip of Vigia Grande. Blessed with the protection afforded by the barrier reef, the bay is a unique ecosystem providing literally miles of flats and ideal habitat for bonefish, tarpon, permit and snook. Ascension Bay is widely regarded as one of the world’s finest permit fisheries. The average size permit is around 12 – 14 pounds but the Bay has produced monsters topping the 50-pound mark! And for some unknown reason, Ascension Bay permit seem to eat flies better than permit in other areas. For flyrodders in quest of landing this most coveted and challenging of species, we know of no other fishery that produces more fly caught permit than Ascension Bay.

    While migratory tarpon up to 100 + pounds may be encountered on the flats anytime from April through November, resident juvenile tarpon are found near the back of the bay year round. Areas like Los Rios (The Rivers) bring fresh water into the bay providing an ideal brackish water environment tarpon favor.

    The back of the bay is also where you’ll find the snook. Ascension Bay produces some exceptionally large snook, some topping 30 pounds! They are typically found tight to the mangroves presenting dual challenges of getting the fly to them, and then landing them! But on occasion, you’ll find them crossing the flat. Seeing a 20 + pound snook cruising across shallow open water is a thing of beauty!

    The bay opens to the east and periods of strong easterly winds can make fishing difficult. One solution is to fish the El Rio lagoon system, which runs north and south and offers miles of flats protected from the easterly wind by the barrier beach and vast mangrove system.

    Fishing El Rio Lagoon

    Fishing the lagoon can begin at El Rio Lagoon, and fish are sometimes caught within poling distance of the Pesca Maya dock (one client caught a 20 pound permit within 100 feet of the dock!). Heading north the lagoon system are San Miguel Lagoon (20 minutes); the “Boca” and Boca Paila Lagoon (45 minutes); and the Campachen Lagoon (60 minutes). Bonefish and permit are found the entire length of the lagoon and there a few known hot spots for baby tarpon and snook.

    Bonefish are plentiful at Pesca Maya and will average 1 – 3 pounds in the lagoon system and 2 – 5 pounds in the bay. In recent years, the average size of the bones seems to have increased, and fish in the 6 – 8 pound class may be encountered in the bay. There are an abundance of good wading flats for bonefish on Ascension Bay, and permit are often taken by the wading fisherman.

    This fishery has produced more “Grand Slams” (bonefish, permit, tarpon in a single day) than any other fishery in the world, and the rare Super Grand Slam (the snook as the 4th) has been achieved a number of times. Other species you might encounter include barracuda, jacks, mutton snapper, ladyfish, triple tail and cubera snapper.

    Lock in a trip to Pesca Maya in 2025

    Tap a button below to inquire, get a quote, or book!

    Fishing from the Beach

    Fishing from the beach at Pesca Maya can also be productive. Beach fishing can be done on your own before or after the guided fishing day. Available species from the beach include: bonefish, barracuda, jacks and mackerel. For jacks and mackerel try poppers or sinking lines.

    Pesca Maya Boats

    Pesca Maya runs a fleet of 23 foot, shallow draft “pangas” powered by 50 – 60 hp 4-stroke Yamaha outboards. All 8 boats were completely redone with new gel coat and paint in 2013. The boats are equipped poling platforms and casting decks with optional leaning posts, rod holders, comfortable bucket seats for the anglers, radio and safety equipment including life preservers and first aid kits. These pangas are exceptionally seaworthy and feature higher gunnels, which provide added protection from splash on windy days.

    Pesca Maya boats carry 2 anglers, one guide and one “apprentice guide”. All of the guides speak English, (some better than others) and have years of experience. In fact the core of the guide staff have guided for the lodge since it opened in 1996. The apprentice’s are part of Pesca Maya’s innovative guide training program. Each must participate in the lodge’s “Guide School” (and pass) before spending several years as an apprentice guide. Those who excel ultimately are promoted to Guide. The apprentices are adept at basic guide skills including knot tying and spotting fish and can be a tremendous aid to the anglers, especially when wading.

    Pesca Maya’s rental tackle inventory has also been beefed up with the addition of 8 new top of the line Sage Xi3 rods with Hatch reels spooled with new Rio Bonefish taper flylines. 10 new Shimano spinning rods and reels are also available for spinfishers.

    Accomodations at Pesca Maya Fishing Lodge

    Pesca Maya offers accommodations in a beautiful 4-bedroom house for up to 8 anglers at a time.  The house is located a few steps from our white sand beach.  Close enough where guests can enjoy the Caribbean breeze and the sound of the waves. The four double occupancy rooms are well appointed and very comfortable, each has air conditioning and a quality Starlink internet connection.  Pesca Maya uses solar panels to provide the electricity.

    The house has a comfortable dining room where Pesca Maya serves a variety of Mexican dishes for dinner.  Breakfasts are also expertly prepared and served in the dinning room. A lunch buffet is set out each morning consisting of a selection of meats, spreads, breads, condiments, fruits and other snacks for anglers to build their own designer lunch.  There is a comfortable sperate sitting area with a sea view where clients are often found enjoying a cold beer after a long day of fishing.

    While first and foremost a fishing lodge, non-anglers will feel welcome at Pesca Maya. Besides miles of world-class beaches to comb, the lodge can arrange a number of ecotours or sightseeing excursions including a boat trip to the Mayan ruins at Tulum.

    Fishing Calendar at Pesca Maya

    DatesWhat to Expect
    JANUARY – MARCHBonefishing and permit fishing is excellent. Some tarpon and snook may be taken
    APRIL – JUNEBonefishing and permit fishing remain excellent. The larger migratory tarpon arrive in early April and stay well into November.
    JULY – SEPTEMBERThese are rainy months but winds are usually light, which facilitates seeing and casting to bonefish and permit. There’s a “Little Dry” season in August. Tarpon fishing continues to be very good.
    OCTOBER – DECEMBERExcellent for all flat species. The rainy season diminishes through October, and November and December are dry months. An excellent time for “Grand Slams”. The migratory tarpon start to move out in late November.

    Pesca Maya 2025 Season Rates & Information

    Length of StayPrice Per Person
    7 night/6 day$4,962
    6 night/5 day$4,690
    5 night/4 day$3,972
    4 night/3 day$3,164
    3 night/2 day$2,401
    2 night/1 day$1,638

    (Rates are per person and subject to change) | Rates listed are still being confirmed as of Feb 11, 2025

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    Included: round-trip ground & boat transfer from Cancun Airport to Pesca Maya; lodging in beach front cabana with private bath and air conditioning; three meals a day; flats skiff with native guide daily; use of lodge’s tackle (offshore trips only); use of lodge’s fly tying facility and materials; beverages, table wine, beer, liquor; Sian Ka’an entrance fee.

    Not included: air travel to Cancun; baggage overweight charges; airport departure tax; laundry bills and other items of a personal nature (NOTE: cellular phone service is available at camp for emergency use. Long distance and cellular charges will be added to your final bill); tackle; gratuities for guides (suggested $50 – $58 per boat per day) and kitchen/housekeeping staff (suggested $20 per person per day); fishing license; special transfer costs necessitated by late arriving, early departing or missed flights ($250 per vehicle trip); optional trips to fresh water lagoon and Mayan Ruins (arranged in advance with resident manager).

    Get a Grand Slam at Pesca Maya!