Here are a couple of stills of a catch off Panama’s west coast from Inta’s video camera, courtesy of Chris Davis:

Thumper is ready to rock.Final pieces will be in place tomorrow and we are shooting for a wed. Canal transit.Then north up the Coast to Bocas del Toro for a little beach and diving time.Spent the afternoon in the old city(Casa Viego).Much like Bourbon Street in New Orleans.We love PC but it’s time.

More photos in the rest of this entry…
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yours truly scored our second black (billfish #103) and a day later it still hurt so good.We ended up putting in 3 full days offshore at Pinas with 4 shots.Missed 1 black and 1 blue.Bite was slow by local standards with the fleet releasing 9 blacks,1 blue,1striped and 1 sail during our stay.(see sidebar for tropic star link)Although slow the size of the Marlin was world class by any standard with a 500lb class average.Unfortunately the trip underscored our mechanical shortcomings with autopilot,watermaker,and glendenning still out.Also we have at least 1 injector out on the starboard engine.Fortunately yesterday we found James Tobiasson (jdt@manpanama.com)the MAN man who can and will put it together.Now all we need is a weather window on the Atlantic side(currently 12 ft.at 8 seconds..bouyweather.com)and we can transit the canal and make a run for Isla.

Have not been right since learning of my friends fathers death.It’s like I have no right to joy when I know he is in pain.Our deepest condolences to the Banta family.

conditions excellent today.As yesterday we are fishing live bonito on #20 circles with the 80 standups.Why Knot from Florida only other sportfisher here.

Zane grey reef produced a monster black marlin for Chris Davis today.Tropic Star is an gem in the deep jungle of Darian on the Columbian border.But no matter how remote,Inta has managed to shop till she changed the balance of payments in the local Chocuquano and Quarentano Indian economies.

Leaving Saturday for another shot at Tropic Star.Thumper is shipshape and the Black Marlin are there.Actually enjoyed my time in the North Country but time to get back to fishing.

Arriving Panama City tonight.

with a live volcano!