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  • Tropic Star Lodge, Panama

    Tropic Star Lodge, Panama

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    Tropic Star Lodge – Panama’s Premier Big Game Fishing Destination

    Tropic Star Lodge in Piñas Bay, Panama is one of the world’s premier big game fishing destinations. This remote, luxury lodge offers world-class fishing for Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Roosterfish, and more than 20 other species. Located in the pristine waters of the Darien Province, Tropic Star provides an unparalleled Panama fishing experience with 23 air-conditioned rooms and villas, choice of Classic or Premium Bertram 31′ boats, and multiple fishing seasons throughout the year.

    Piñas Bay is renowned for its exceptional sport fishing, with the legendary Zane Grey Reef just 20 minutes from the lodge. This remote location offers quick access to prime fishing grounds, making Tropic Star one of the most productive big game fishing destinations in the world. Whether targeting massive Black Marlin in January and February, pursuing Blue Marlin from June through September, or enjoying the incredible inshore fishing for Roosterfish and Cubera Snapper from March through May, Tropic Star Lodge delivers world-class angling experiences year-round.

    Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Roosterfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Dorado, Cubera Snapper, Tarpon, Bluefin Trevally, Broomtail Grouper + 17+ more species

    23 air-conditioned rooms and villas with ocean or garden views

    Zane Grey Reef just 20 minutes from lodge

    Classic or Premium Bertram 31′ boats available

    Multiple fishing seasons year-round opportunities

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

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    Call us 860-434-9624
    Black Marlin fishing at Tropic Star Lodge in Piñas Bay, Panama
    Blue Marlin catch at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama
    Sailfish catch offshore fishing at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama
    Roosterfish action inshore fishing at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama
    Yellowfin Tuna big game fishing at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama
    Dorado catch offshore fishing at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama
    Underwater Sailfish action at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama
    Fishing boat action at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama

    World-Class Fishing in Piñas Bay, Panama

    Tropic Star Lodge is located in the remote and pristine Piñas Bay, Darien Province, Panama. This world-renowned fishing destination offers exceptional opportunities for both offshore big game fishing and inshore light tackle angling. The lodge’s proximity to the legendary Zane Grey Reef, just 20 minutes away, ensures quick access to some of the most productive fishing grounds in the Pacific.

    Offshore Big Game Fishing

    Piñas Bay is famous for its world-class big game fishing. Black Marlin can be targeted year-round, with peak season occurring in January and February when these magnificent fish are most abundant. During these months, anglers regularly encounter Black Marlin weighing 300 to 600 pounds, with some trophy fish exceeding 800 pounds. Blue Marlin are also abundant, particularly from June through September and in December, with fish commonly weighing 200 to 400 pounds.

    Sailfish are another highlight of the offshore fishery, with large specimens regularly exceeding 100 pounds. The waters around Piñas Bay also hold impressive Yellowfin Tuna, typically ranging from 100 to 250 pounds, and Dorado (Mahi-Mahi) averaging 50 to 60 pounds. Wahoo are also available throughout the year, providing additional excitement for offshore anglers.

    Inshore Light Tackle Fishing

    The inshore fishery at Tropic Star Lodge is equally impressive, with Roosterfish being the star attraction. These powerful fish are abundant from March through May, with some specimens exceeding 70 pounds. The annual Roosterfish Tournament in May showcases the incredible size and abundance of these fish. Cubera Snapper, Bluefin Trevally, Broomtail Grouper, and Almaco Jack are also readily available, providing excellent light tackle action.

    Tarpon can be found in the backwaters and brackish areas, offering fly anglers exciting opportunities. The inshore fishery includes over 17 additional species, ensuring that anglers always have multiple targets available.

    Fishing Seasons & Packages

    Black Marlin Season (January – February)

    January and February represent the peak season for Black Marlin at Tropic Star Lodge. This is the most sought-after time to visit, and bookings should be made 1-2 years in advance due to high demand. During this season, only 7-night, 6-day fishing packages are available, reflecting the premium nature of this fishery. In addition to Black Marlin, anglers can also target Blue Marlin, large Sailfish (over 100 pounds), Yellowfin Tuna (100-250 pounds), and Dorado (50-60 pounds).

    Inshore Season (March – May)

    The Inshore Season offers flexible package lengths with options for 3-day, 4-day, or 6-day fishing packages. March features big Yellowfin Tuna and excellent inshore fishing. April offers record-sized Roosterfish and other inshore game fish. May is highlighted by the annual Roosterfish Tournament, with abundant Roosterfish, Cubera Snapper, Bluefin Trevally, and Grouper available. This season is perfect for anglers seeking world-class inshore action.

    Blue Marlin Season (June – September & December)

    June and July are excellent for big Roosterfish, with some fish exceeding 70 pounds. July is one of the best months overall, with Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, and Dorado all abundant, and Grand Slams being common. August offers big Blue Marlin and Sailfish, with some Black Marlin closer inshore. September can be excellent for Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, and Sailfish, with an excellent offshore bite for large Yellowfin Tuna and Dorado. December is a great all-around month for most species, including Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna, and Dorado.

    Luxury Accommodations & Facilities

    Tropic Star Lodge accommodates up to 45 guests in 23 spacious, air-conditioned rooms and villas. Each accommodation features private baths and views of either the ocean or tropical gardens. The lodge offers a range of options from double-occupancy standard rooms to upgraded villas, including two-bedroom and three-bedroom villas, as well as newly-built private residences.

    The crown jewel of the accommodations is “The Palace,” a luxurious three-bedroom villa with master suites and panoramic views of Piñas Bay. This exceptional property provides ample space and comfort for larger groups, making it ideal for families or groups of friends traveling together.

    Dining & Entertainment

    The Bayview Restaurant offers formal dining with gourmet four-course dinners, featuring fresh seafood and international cuisine. Wine service is included with dinner, and the attentive wait-staff ensures a memorable dining experience. For a more casual atmosphere, poolside BBQ dining is available on select nights, allowing guests to enjoy delicious grilled fare while taking in the tropical surroundings.

    The Marlin Bar is a sea-facing venue ideal for post-fishing relaxation, where guests can enjoy signature cocktails and share tales of the day’s fishing. The poolside bar serves refreshing drinks and snacks throughout the day. With three bars total on the property, guests always have options for refreshment and socializing.

    Recreation & Wellness

    The freshwater jungle pool with hot tub provides a perfect place to relax after a day on the water. The Rainforest Spa offers an array of treatments in a serene jungle setting, including massages, facials, and other wellness services. Shoreside guests receive three spa treatments as part of their package, along with three jungle excursions for wildlife viewing and nature exploration.

    Fishing Fleet & Equipment

    Tropic Star Lodge’s fleet consists of 31-foot Bertram yachts, renowned for their seaworthiness and fishing capabilities. Guests can choose between Classic Bertram 31′ boats or Premium Bertram 31′ boats, with the Premium option offering enhanced amenities and features. Each boat is equipped with GPS navigation, VHF radios, custom tuna tubes, and live baitwells designed for both inshore and offshore fishing.

    The experienced local captains and mates are among the best in the business. Many are second or third-generation fishermen who have spent their lives on these waters. Their intimate knowledge of the local fishing grounds, tides, and fish behavior ensures that anglers have the best possible opportunity to hook and land their target species.

    Getting to Tropic Star Lodge

    Travel to Tropic Star Lodge is a seamless and comfortable process. Guests begin by flying to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City, where they are met at the airport and transferred to their hotel for an overnight stay. The following morning, guests take a 30-minute drive to the regional airport for a charter flight of just under one hour to Bahía Piñas.

    Upon arrival at the airstrip, lodge staff escort guests via a short bus ride and a 10-15 minute water taxi to the lodge. The total journey from Panama City to the lodge takes approximately 2-3 hours, but the remote location ensures that once you arrive, you’re in a world-class fishing destination with minimal distractions.

    Transfer Fee: $715 per person (round-trip) includes round-trip airfare from Panama City to the lodge, VIP services upon arrival (meet-and-greet at Tocumen International Airport), and up to four ground transfers.

    Tropic Star Lodge 2025 – 2026 Rates

    For current 2025-2026 rates at Tropic Star Lodge, please call Angler Adventures at 860-434-9624.

    Rates vary by season (Black Marlin, Inshore, Blue Marlin), boat type (Classic or Premium Bertram 31′), number of anglers per boat (1-4), and package length. Transfer fee: $715 per person (round-trip airfare Panama City to lodge, VIP services, up to 4 ground transfers). Room upgrades available at additional cost.

    Contact us for seasonal discounts, special offers, promotional pricing, and to discuss the best package for your Panama fishing adventure.

    What’s Included

    Included in Rates:

    • 7 nights deluxe lodge accommodations (for 6-day packages)
    • All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
    • Wine service with dinner
    • Daily guided fishing (6 days for full package, varies for shorter packages)
    • Use of lodge facilities (pool, bars, restaurant, spa)
    • 3 spa treatments (for Shoreside guests)
    • 3 jungle excursions (for Shoreside guests)

    What’s Not Included

    Not Included:

    • Round-trip airfare from Panama City to lodge ($715 per person transfer fee)
    • Room upgrades (available at additional cost)
    • Gratuities for guides and staff
    • International airfare to Panama City
    • Travel insurance
    • Personal items and souvenirs

    Deposit & Payment Terms

    To confirm reservations, a deposit is required (typically 50% of total package cost). The balance is due 60-90 days prior to scheduled arrival at the lodge. Please contact us for current deposit requirements and payment terms.

    Booking at Tropic Star Lodge is easy:

    Tap a button below to start the conversation. Our services are free.

    Call us 860-434-9624
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    Casa Grande room accommodations at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama
    Villa accommodations with ocean view at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama
    Palace Villa accommodations at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama
    Lodge room accommodations at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama
    Presidential Suite accommodations at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama
    Tropic Star Lodge exterior in Piñas Bay, Panama
    Lodge facilities at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama
    Accommodations with ocean view at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama

    Special Events & Tournaments

    Tropic Star Lodge hosts special fishing tournaments throughout the year. The Billfish Tournament in November 2025 and the annual Roosterfish Tournament in May 2026 are highlights of the fishing calendar. These events feature special rates and packages. Contact us for tournament-specific pricing and availability.

    Tropic Star Lodge certifications
    Tropic Star Lodge trust indicators
    Tropic Star Lodge recognition
    Tropic Star Lodge certifications
    Tropic Star Lodge trust seals
    Tropic Star Lodge awards
    Tropic Star Lodge certifications
    Tropic Star Lodge trust indicators
    Tropic Star Lodge recognition
    Tropic Star Lodge trust seals
    Tropic Star Lodge certifications

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  • Captain Cook Hotel

  • St. Brandon’s Atoll

    ST. BRANDON’S IS NOW LAND BASED WITH A FASTER CROSSING!

    St. Brandon’s Atoll (Cargados Carajos Shoals) is a group of over 50 small islands (total land area of less than 1 square mile), islets, coral ridges and vast sand flats on an extended reef in the Indian Ocean, situated 268 nautical miles north-east of Mauritius. Many anglers have started calling St. Brandon’s Atoll the best bonefishing in terms of numbers and size of the bonefish, anywhere on the planet, and it’s hard to disagree. This fishery is virtually untapped and has unbelievable bonefishing.

    The fishing grounds are as remote and untouched as you can find these days. St. Brandon’s atoll is a 268 nautical milesfrom Port Luis, Mauritius, 16 hours on the high speed, wave piercing trimaran “Patrol One” and the only “consistent” human activity on St. Brandon’s is from a small population of Creole natives who live on Raphael Island in the north. In addition, fishing season is extremely short (12 weeks per year: late September – mid December and early April – early June) due St. Brandon’s location in the Cyclone Belt and effects of the winter monsoon winds.

    St. Brandon’s is protected by a reef measuring more than 50 km from north to south and 5 km wide, with only two major passes. The fishery itself is extremely diverse, comprised of scattered islands, vast connecting sandbanks and flats of hard white sand, broken coral, and less frequently some Turtle grass flats. In particular, the western side of the atoll’s bottom is comprised mostly of sand and pancake flats, making for some spectacular bonefishing.

    The bonefishing is comprised of casting to large schools of 6 – 7 bonefish and double-digit sized in singles or doubles. A massive bonefish of 15lbs was landed on St. Brandon’s, as have a great deal of bones over 10 pounds. St. Brandon’s may be the most productive fishery anywhere for Indo-Pacific permit. There are also a number of Trevally species, including the coveted Giant Trevally (GT) as well as large Bluefin, Golden, Yellow Dot, and Green Dot Trevally consistently available during a week of fishing. GT’s up can break the 100 lb mark, but they’re not always available and always unpredictable.

    Almost all of the fishing on St. Brandon’s is done wading. The atoll is mostly comprised of easily waded white sand flats. Although the sand flats are easy on the feet, there are areas with broken coral and other wading hazards, like Stingrays, Stonefish, Cone shells, and Sharks, so the appropriate footwear for wading is a requirement. Anglers are transferred from the Gryphon to the flats on four 17 ft locally built mono-hull tender boats powered by twin 15 HP Yamaha 2-stroke engines. The tender boats draft 8 inches, allowing the guides to access the shallow flats on the western side of the atoll. Fly Castaway’s utilized a guide rotation system, allowing guests to fish with each of the 4 guides on the vessel. Each guide is a qualified skipper, has first aid experience, is experienced guiding fly fishers in the remote fishing destinations of the Indian Ocean and fluent in English.

    As an example of the fishing at St. Brandon’s Atoll, here is an excerpt from the fishing diary of the head guide:

    “TR hooked another Bonefish when roughly 40 GT’s between 130cm & 170cm split into two pods and tore into the shoal of panic stricken Bones which had surrounded us. I instantly broke off TR’s Bonefish and he grabbed his 12wt. TR proceeded to hook two of these monsters with the hooks pulling out on both occasions. Third time lucky I reassured TR. He made a cast at another pod of fish that had moved within range and started stripping. Another monster fish of about 150cm charged in and ate the fly, this time the hook held firm and she steamed off. We jumped into the tender and started chasing the fish. After 35 minutes TR managed to pull the massive creature out of the shoal. She began tiring, rubbing her head against the flat in an effort to get rid of the hook. This was our last chance to land this monstrous creature, as we were about to hit deep water again. But, as if taking off on her initial run the fish ploughed forward for deeper water. The reel’s drag was cranked all the way up and there was nothing more TR could do…..38 minutes into the fight the sound of 80lb braid popping signaled we had been spooled.”

    Previous seasons on St Brandon’s were run as a live-aboard mother ship operation onboard MY Gryphon, as foreigners were not permitted by the Mauritian authorities to stay on land. The last 5 years of hard work has finally paid off and we are excited to announce the beginning of a new era in this project, the St Brandon’s land-based experience! The high-speed transport vessel ‘Patrol One’ will ferry guests to and from the atoll. ‘Patrol One’ consistently does the crossing in 16 hours, which allows for 7.5 fishing days on the standard 9 night program. This is a full extra day of fishing at a better price!

    Guests will be accommodated in a comfortable guesthouse on Raphael Island, situated in the fish rich northern part of the atoll. Although the guesthouse is by no means luxurious, it is clean, comfortable and considering the remote location, is all a travelling angler needs to enjoy the finest trophy Bonefish, Permit and GT fishing available in the Indian Ocean. To top it off, there is a highly productive, easy wading, flat a short walk from the front porch!

    The Patrol One is a 73ft two deck wave piercer trimaran designed to handle rough seas at high speed. A crossing to St Brandon’s on this cutting edge vessel takes between 14 and 16 hours (10 hours less than the MY Gryphon) and roughly between 12 and 14 hours on the way back. It offers a large external cockpit, an adjacent galley, a dinette and a bridge area capable of seating the skipper and seven passengers in aircraft style plus one extra seating arrangement. There are four cabins containing 8 single/bunk beds for those who would prefer to lie down during the crossing.

    Our Services are Free!

    Rates At St Brandon’s Atoll 2018 Season

    (subject to change)

    The 2018 rate for a 9-night/7-day fishing package on St Brandon’s Atoll is $8,000 per angler based on double occupancy accommodations and 2 anglers per guide each day.

    Included in the cost: 9 nights, double occupancy accommodations; All meals aboard the vessels; Fishing Licenses; 7 days guided fishing with 2 anglers per guides and tender boat; Water, Soft drinks, water & local beers.

    Not included in the cost are: International flights; Accommodations on Mauritius; Ground transfers on Mauritius; Tackle & Flies; Gratuities; Wine & Spirits; Medical Evacuation and Travel insurance (This is mandatory as the islands of St Brandon’s are remote); use of Satellite Phone; Personal Expenses.

    Sample Travel Itinerary for St. Brandon’s Atoll

    Day 1: Recommended Overnight in Mauritius
    Day 2: Patrol 1 departs for St. Brandon’s Atoll at 3:00 PM
    Day 3: Arrive at Raphael Island, Settle in, Fish for the remainder of the day
    Days 4 – 9: Full Days fishing St Brandon’s Flats for trophy bonefish, picky Indo-Pacific Permit, tackle-busting GT, and several other trevally species
    Day 10: Fish until 2 PM and depart St Brandon’s for Mauritius
    Day 11: Arrive Mauritius this morning. Overnight or start the journey home (after 2:00 PM).

    FlyCastaway’s “mission statement” is based around two key principles: First, taking clients to remote fishing destinations which are in as pristine a state as possible and which offer exceptional fishing and second, using guides which are extremely passionate, knowledgeable and professional, ensuring that clients get the best opportunity to experience the trip of a lifetime.