I thought you guys were going to Golfito to WORK on Thumper? I hear you’ve been fishing non stop.I’ll be in Wednesday and the boat better be shining inside and out or I’m kicking me some ass.

This structure is often bypassed by traveling fisherman, instead opting for the world famous black marlin grounds,Banko Hannibal nearby.Just off the Island and it’s long string of rockpiles to the west all pelegics dwell.However, for me the magic is the inshore action.This southern most outcroping sitting 60 miles offshore, hard on to the 500 fathom line,is a food chain utopia.A viable anchorage off the northern sandy beach (except on a north wind) in 10 fathoms will put you over a nightfishing cornucopia(you can see bottom).Always keep a nite watch as fast current,shifting winds and 15 foot tides can cause havoc with your ground tackle.Utilize a variety of light sources and after a few hours of chumming/ chunking the water off the transom transforms to a Pacific version of the Baltimore aquarium.Nice big live baits(locally called torpedos) on subuki’s can be circle hooked off a rigger or fished under a balloon and bottom fished on a slider rig.Don’t forget to load up the livewell as these same baits are pelegic candy out on the grounds.Drop down some chunk baits for the sweet Rock Snappers,Blue Trevallies and ass kicking Cubera.A skiff here is a huge advantage for throwing surface poppers like the Yo-Zuri Sashimi Bull(strengthen the factory hook rig) on the shoals and/or putting ashore(you can always swim in).If you are so inclined day drifting in 100to120 feet just west of the shoals produces huge African Pompanos, mullet snappers(look like a 20 lbs.red striped bass),yummy triggers and other non-stop action.The 400 acre Island is totally protected and is a pristine palm fringed vision with NO ONE THERE but you.Sorry,no blackberry service.Shhhhhhhh,don’t tell anybody.

Blue Trevallie

Rock Snapper

Mullet Snapper

Food Chain! Baby squid eaten by small predator take from the stomach of a Mullet Snapper.

February 15, 2010, our second day on the grounds. Water temperature 90 degrees(la nina year), locals have moved in shore looking for action as only one marlin has been raised in the last five days. Our first day produced yellowfin on live bait, Mahi on poppers, a few sails but no marlin. We’re running an all big plastic bait and switch spread today as any meat in the pattern is immediately demolished by the huge Mahi. At 8:05 AM we have a Marlin up on a short rigger teaser. To be kind, lets write that one off to AE. We add some hooks in the spread and at 8:55 AM a Black annihilates a jumbo Moldcraft chugger red and black with a number 12 J hook stiff-rigged off a short rigger. In 40 seconds she has 600 yards and we’re in chase pointy end first on plane till we catch up with just ten turns left on the Penn30W.In 20 minutes we gained 3/4 of the spool and we’re in full backdown when the fish goes deep and dogs. We get the beast up in 40 minutes, she’s tail wrapped and drowned.We should have broke her off as soon as she wouldn’t run. We spend 20 minutes trying to revive her, finally tying her off and pulling her at 8 knots for an additional 15 minutes with no sign of life. There happens to be a small local panga on the grounds bottom fishing. We sterned up to the father and his wide eyed young son and helped them load her on to their boat and they head in with an old man and the sea vibe. Many thanks to Charley P. and Chris D. for a valiant effort to save her. That’s the sport, that’s fishing. It happens, man up.

It’s Tuesday morning, February 16 and we’re 80 miles off the coast of Panama, having drifted all night swordfishing. At first light we fire the MAN’s, set out the hard marlin troll spread and head in towards the grounds at Banco Hannibal. I’m up top checking the instruments, position, etc. when out of the corner of my eye I spot a panga with four guys, machine guns, and black ski masks coming on @ 50 knots. In 15 seconds they’re alongside and the first guy is already onboard.

Here’s a quick rundown of Harry’s daughter Maya’s trip with friends so far:

We took Thumper out into the Golfo Dulce on Monday for a quick test run before leaving on a big trip on Tuesday. We bait fished for an hour and caught a ton of Blue Runners, but no Jacks, Roosters, or Snook. We headed back and got diesel and groceries and made a pretty early night of it.  Cap’t Ronnie fired up the boat around 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning and were out and fishing by about 6:30. We fished north toward Drake Bay, but didn’t catch too much: Justin pulled in a nice sail, Jer got a Dorado (Mahi Mahi) and Maya had a little Bonita (a small type of tuna). The Dorado made great eating for a couple of days, though, so it worked out perfectly. We stayed the first night in a small bay called Aquacaste (maybe?) just before Drake Bay.  We anchored, did a little swmming, tried for some Snapper, had another great meal of Dorado courtesy of Cookie (Jeremy), and turned in early.

We headed out on Wednesday and fished all day, but basically got skunked. Actually, both the girls got Bonitas, but they’re not good for much beyond bait.  We anchored at Drake Bay Wednesday night, as our friend Johnny was set to meet us there in the morning.

We had a leisurely morning Thursday before taking the dinghy to shore to get Johnny. He was waiting right on the beach when we arrived! We cruised through the village a bit and picked up some extra supplies and then headed out to Isla del Caño. We fished our way out, but didn’t get much action and then anchored off the island, which is a pristine nature preserve and diving/snorkeling destination.  Everybody climbed in the water and had a nice snorkel before heading back for dinner. We suffered through some pretty rough seas before Cap’t Ronnie decided to head back out and get us to calmer waters. We headed back toward Golfo Dulce and woke up to much calmer seas.

Friday was our day for fishing: Everybody but Maya caught a sail and we got another Dorado. We headed back to Golfito, had the kitchen at the marina cook up our Dorado, and had a nice relaxing evening.

That brings us to today. Everybody slept in a little bit and caught up on sleep. Our friend Beto, the first mate of Thumper, is going to take us over to Zancudo for a few hours this afternoon. We’ll meet up with Cap’t Ronnie and we’ll see what develops.

Here are some pics:

It’s been almost two years to the day since us kids have been in Golfito and it’s nice to be back! We brought along some good friends. We’re provisioning for a trip out to Isla Caño and Drake bay where we’re going to pick up our good friend Johnny who’s flying in from DC on Thursday. Here are some pics:

Arrived at the rivermouth at dead low.Anchored up in 3 feet of muddy,brackish water along a 30′ dropoff..Casted out the Sand Key pilchard sized live herring on circles and drifted them Key West style.As the tide turned we had 3 strikes in 30 minutes with 2 25 lbs. class Pacific black snook and an ass kicking cubera…….Let’s go Rooster fishing,It’s only 9:30

First suprise was a 50 lbs.class Cubera Snapper.Mean fish that took the spinning road around the boat a few times.Next morning while running the planners with the clark’s looking for livebait,a 100 lbs.Pacific Sail ate it and we had our first of many…..This area of Panama is so pristine because it is so difficult to get too and no marinas or provisions.Our third trip to the area and again saw not another boat.Thumper has Feb and March trips booked.Caught my first Black on the banko in 07.Google Banko Hannibal Panama for video

Thumper visited our friends at Tropic Star on Dec 19,20.At daybreak we stopped at Zane Grey Reef to fill the tuna tubes.As we approached the acres of thrashing bonito I observed huge fish flying out of the sea feeding on them.From experience I initially assumed they were spinning dolphins or some variation.But no..as we approached I realized they were 200 lbs.class yellowfins.Pass the Wasabi and soy por favor.

OK, I bad……Since leaving Morgan Stanley earlier this year (after 30 years) with my team to start our new business at Royal Bank of Canada,I have been consumed with work.Wall Street banks have leveraged up and are headed for a train wreck.It was painfull but I needed a different platform for myself and my clients to work from.Thumper is in Golfito anxiously awaiting our return.Since this site is about offshore adventure and my nose has been in a computer instead of my engine room my news is too boring to report.However our fortunate retired fishing friends are on the hunt so I will pass on their reports.Golfito got hot early this month with the Marlin showin’ everyday.JW and Pat Bones had their new boat (TEXAS MOJO)delivered and are having excellent success 10 to 17 miles off Montapalo on the big Pacific sails and Blues.Capt Tom on SHAMROCK is working the Panama border waters at the Burica seamount (512 foot rise )near the 1000 fathom line and raising a handfull of Blacks and Blues every day.(that’s were Inta took her big blue last year)Our goal now is to fish the Banana Bay IGFA last weekend in March.If you are catching them up at your location,forward your reports and we’ll keep this going till Inta and I return to the hunt.