Tarpon, Snook & Jack Crevalle

Tranquilo Bay is known for Tarpon, the action is world class and provides the best sport fishing we have to offer.  That is why some like to call this Tarponville.  March, April and May are prime time for Tarpon and Tranquilo Bay’s central location in the archipelago puts us close to the action.  Tarpon show up in various bays and lagoons throughout the archipelago and there are 10 rivers in Bocas del Toro that are within fishing range from Tranquilo Bay.  We have spotted or caught Tarpon at almost every one of them.

Feeding alongside the Tarpon we also find big Jack Crevalle and several species of Snook.  Schools of Tarpon at this time of year can be huge numbering in the hundreds of fish and cover large areas.  When conditions are perfect we have been in schools that stretch a quarter mile on either side of the boat.  These months bring furious action and big fish.  The Tarpon we catch range from 30-200+ pounds with the average fish weighing about 75 pounds.

The fall brings our best weather and calmest seas of the year.  September through mid-November are good months for Tarpon and probably the best Snook fishing of the year.  During these months we will be fishing river mouths, passes, and shore breaks.  When wading the shore breaks and passes anything can happen.  Light casting tackle and artificial lures such as buck tail jigs, spoons, plugs, plastics and flies can draw some explosive strikes in the surf.  The Snook forage the area in schools like a pack of wild dogs making double and triple hookups common.  Tarpon can often be seen thrashing in the waves or rolling in the surf while attacking baits.

While fishing for Tarpon we use several proven baits and techniques that produce fish in similar habitats throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.  The most effective techniques are casting artificial lures to rolling fish, drifting live baits bridled with circle hooks and trolling near river mouths.

Fly equipment can be used, but Panama is not primarily a sight casting area such as the flats of the Florida Keys.  The Tarpon in Panama more consistently frequent deeper water, and spend less time on flats.  During the spring, there are some flats the tarpon visit providing chances for sight casting, but the best action is in deeper fast moving water.  We use weighted fly lines and shooting heads, with big flies that move water, to produce the most strikes.  Blind casting with a retrieve, casting towards rolling fish, and “dredging” can produce strikes by Tarpon and big Jacks Crevalle.