Do these letters ring a bell? If you have fished for giant Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna or have dreamed about it than you know they stand for Prince Edward Island, Canada. One of our very good clients fished the area last year and spoke highly about the fishery and catching these enormous tuna which can attain weights up to 1500 pounds. Of course watching the reality show Wicked Tuna has done wonders to stoke the internal fire to tangle with these monster Tuna.
I have done some research in fishing these magnificent fish and it seems that the season is short with the prime time being August 15 thru October. The fishing area is just a short run out of the harbor about 15 minutes, from my understanding you have one hour from the time its hooked to catch and release a fish, with the tackle they use it’s not as hard as you would think, most fish are to be at the boat with in that time. Once a fish is released the boat has to return to the harbor and tag up then return to catch a second one. They have strict restrictions on these fish and how you fish them in order to preserve the specie and increase the population. This all catch and release.
I would like to put together a small group to go and fish these guys and am wondering how many of you would like to go with me? Just to throw out some prices so that you have an idea on costs boats charter from $1300.00 and will comfortably fish 4 anglers per boat and include everything you need to fish, so if we put 4 guys on a boat your looking at $325.00 per day fishing costs, lodging will run about $75.00 per night per person and round trip airfare around $900.00 from LAX. So for a 5 night stay, 4 days of fishing and airfare it should work out to about $2600.00 per person. Once I know how many are interested in joining me I can finalize all the costs. Ideally I would like to go toward the end September so if you would like to go or want more information you can either e-mail me at fishwithcass@gmail.com or call me at (800)593-6510…..Cass
In the year 2000 I read an article in Sportfishing magazine by my amigo Tony Pena about Panama’s Tuna Coast, he told of the village of Pedasi, it’s people and the fabulous Yellow Fin Tuna fishery the area had to offer, thus the name “Tuna Coast”. The article got my juices flowing so I contacted Tony and asked him on his next trip to Panama if I could tag along so I could experience it first hand and the possibility of adding Panama as a destination to our trips inventory. Well a couple of months later Tony invited me to join him on a trip to Pedasi of which I eagerly accepted and the rest is history.
I found the country of Panama to be beautiful in both its landscape and its people and the fishing outrageous for tuna and wahoo, wow what a country! Pedasi is a small fishing village located on the Azuero Penninsula about a 5 hour drive from down town Panama City. Not much there except for a gas station, a small mercado (market) and dulceria (sweet shop/bakery), it’s not a main tourist destination but it does have a few small boutique motels serving the few fishermen, occasional tourists and surfers who visit.
Needless to say I fell in love with Pedasi and began taking small groups once or twice a year so that our clients could experience the country as well as the fabulous fishing. I called this trip “Panama on a budget” because compared to other Panama fishing destinations this was really affordable. About 5 years ago I got side tracked when I was introduced to Pesca Panama an outfitter that fishes out of an area near David and which in my experience offers world class sport fishing for giant Yellow Fin Tuna, Black and Blue marlin in such famous fishing areas as Coiba Island, Montossa Island and world famous Hannibal Bank. Needless to say this area got my attention and kept me away from Pedasi, well it’s time to go back to Pedasi and visit my old friends and once again fish this great area.
So if your interested in joining me on this “Panama on a budget” trip June 24 to July 1sthere are the details, we arrive in Panama, June 24th and over night at a hotel next to Tocumen Int’l Airport, the following morning we will be picked up by our private bus and transported to our hotel in the village of Pedasi where we will spend the nights of the 25ththru 29th, we’ll fish the commercial pangas for 4 days returning to Panama City on June 30th where we will spend the night, the next morning July 1st we will transfer to the airport for our flight home. Included in this package will be all ground transfers in country, all lodging including daily breakfast, 4 days fishing and taxes.
I’ve scheduled this trip during prime time for Yellow Fin Tuna as well as Wahoo, Dorado, Sailfish, Cubera Snapper, huge Sierra and quality Roosterfish. The cost for this trip is $1464.00 per person, airfare to Panama is extra, Copa Airlines offers 3 non-stop flights a day from LAX as well as other U.S. cities. If you don’t have a fishing partner I can team you up with some one. Call me for further information or reservations at 800-593 6510 ext 6 or by e-mail at fishwithcass@gmail.com.
