Charlie Johnston and friends
went fishing with us in the waters off Isla Cabaco and Punta Mariato, Panama
during the last week in January 2001, for two days of
fishing. Day one, we worked the rocks and points South of the Lodge. Both crews started
out targeting the elusive but typically large January Wahoo and Roosterfish with CD-14 rapalas. Tom's crew found bait size bonitos abundant so quickly targeted larger quarry.
Several bonitos got savagely munched, but no hookups. While dragging Bonitos around
looking for the monster fish, Alex's crew was steadily landing nice fish on poppers and
jigs worked around the whitewater. The total combined landings for the day were 2 Dorados,
4 Peruvian Amberjacks, 2 Cubera Snappers, 5 Jordan Snappers, 2 Bluefin Trevally, 3
Yellowfin Tuna, 2 Albacore Tuna, 12 Cero Mackerel, and countless Bonito and Jack Caravel.
Day two we headed east along the North coast of Isla Cebaco. Charlie had an early fight
with a 10lb African Pompano on a light bait rig. We drifted live Goggle Eyes and jigged
across a high spot in 150 feet of water all morning that produced plenty of Lunkers for
both crew. The final count was 14 Chernas (Broomtail Grouper) and 10 Peruvian Amberjacks.
We topped the day off with over a dozen Yellowfin Tuna caught midway back home on the
South side of Cebaco.
