Fishing in Santa Catalina, Panama
Fishing in Panama is unrivaled both in abundance and quality of catch. Within minutes of the Santa Catalina beaches, fishermen can be surrounded by a war zone of dive bombing seabirds attacking wounded baitfish that huge schools of tuna have driven to the surface. The variety ranges from bottom fishing for snapper, grouper and other reef dwellers, to trolling for world record marlin, sailfish and other deep water species. In addition to the local dwellers, Santa Catalina Panama’s location and warm waters make it a seasonal home for fish from both hemispheres escaping their respective winters, providing year round action.
Typical fishing trips out of Santa Catalina involve hiring a local “panga”, and taking a ride out to “Puente de Parga.” Parga is the Spanish name for snapper and they are here in large numbers. If you are willing to fish the local method and jump on with a panga that is already going out, this type of trip can be extremely affordable; sometimes costing nothing more than contributing to the cost of the gas. The local method of fishing is essentially hand to fish combat. The line is reeled off the plastic spool on which it came from the manufacturer and is hand rolled on as you fish!
If you prefer a more advance fashion of fishing, boats are available in Santa Catalina Panama for private charter using the appropriate equipment and lures. The boat of choice will still most like be a 25 ft panga with a 70 hp outboard. Half and full day trips can range from $150 to several hundred dollars. The cost of and difficulty in acquiring fuel is the largest factor in determining cost.
The panga is a deep vee’d bowed fiberglass boat with a wide flat beam across the back preferred locally because of the large tide changes. With daily tide changes of 15 to 20 feet, the boats are moored just past the beach break and are brought to the edge of the sandy beach to be loaded and unloaded. Establishment of docks and protected harbors is inhibited by the large Pacific Ocean tide changes. This makes the panga the boat of choice for fishing villages up and down the Central American coast.For a complete Panama fishing adventure, Ricardo (Richard before slipping out of Florida!) at Santa Catalina Boat Tours can arrange for multi day trips to Isla Coiba National Park and other excellent fishing banks int the Santa Catalina area. Using his personal Panga and a Panamanian captain, Ricardo offers one of the only organized fishing packages out of Santa Catalina.
Other Activities in Santa Catalina, Panama
In addition to surfing, scuba diving and fishing, Santa Catalina offers a world of other nature activities. There are numerous trails that lead to remote beaches and through the jungle that offer wildlife viewing andserene walks in nature. Most trails are unmarked and used by locals so asking the assistance of a local guide or having a portable gps unit is definitely a good idea.
Eco-tours of the area including day and overnight trips to Coiba Island are offered by a number of local businesses. One of the more interesting tours can be arranged by California transplant Javier Elizondo.
For birdwatchers, a large variety of birds inhabit the hills around Santa Catalina with flocks of parrots a regular sight.
Trips can also be arranged through local businesses to visit Coiba Island, which is the only remaining nesting site of the Scarlet Macaw in Panama. It also offers several species of birds found only on the island.
Eating in Santa Catalina, Panama
Eating in Santa Catalina is relaxed and affordable. Most eating establishments in this part of Panama are open air facilities. The food is homemade and very good. Santa Catalina offers a surprising variety of food both in type and ethnicity. Options include Italian pastas, Argentinean steaks, Pizza and authentic Panamanian food.
A few of the restaurants are located a long the paved main street of Santa Catalina, however most are along the dirt road to El Estero and the roads that branch off of it toward the sea. They are located either in the various surf camps and hostels or along the road to them.
Few are open all day, instead having specific times for each meal. For breakfast, the most dependable choice is Vasquez at the corner next to the store. It is not the best, but usually open and works in a pinch. When they are open, the best value for a home cooked meal at a cost of about $1.00, is the Tropical Fruit stand on the main street. It is 1 block from Playa Santa Catalina. Either of these will also prepare a sandwich to take on day boat trips for visitors headed to Isla Coiba or other near by islands. Also check with Mike and Michelle at La Vida Buena to see if their American style café is open for breakfast and lunch.
Most establishments open for dinner around 7:00 pm. In Santa Catalina, dinner is often a combination, evening meal and social event. Visitors gather to share experiences in the day’s surf, dive and fishing trips. One of the favorite spots is the Pizzeria Jamming shop where a very good brick oven pizza is shared over a local Panama or Atlas beer.
Donde Viancka’s is the best choice for a locally owned restaurant offering high quality Panamanian meals and is one of the few open most of the day. The charming Viancka operates the open air eatery herself with the help of a pair of nice local ladies. She offers local seafood purchased fresh daily and other local dishes. It is a great place to sit and spend a lazy afternoon as locals and visitors make their way up and down the adjacent road.
Other popular spots are Los Pibes and the Oasis Surf Resort restaurant. Both are east of town. Los Pibes is down the road to Playa Estero and up one of the side roads. The turn is well marked. It is an Argentinean owned restaurant which offers steaks and an excellent burger. The Oasis is located at the end of the main dirt road and across the river that creates Playa El Estero. At the Oasis, Italian brother and sister David and Sylvia oversee the creation of authentic pasta dishes.
Coiba National Park
Coiba National Park (Nacional Parque Coiba) is group of 38 islands including Coiba Island (Isla Coiba) and the waters surrounding them. Coiba National Park is located in the Gulf of Chiriquí off of Panama’s Pacific coast covers 430,825 acres.
Because of its rich and well preserved natural resources Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005. Cited for its high levels of endemic mammal, plants and birds and ongoing evolution of new species, Coiba National Park is consider by UNESCO to be an “outstanding natural laboratory for scientific research” and a key to the survival of numerous pelagic fish and marine mammals.
Access to Coiba National Park
Management of Coiba National Park is administered by the National Authority for the Environment (Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente, ANAM). The park is accessible only by permit from ANAM. A number of tour operators in Panama offer ecotours, fishing, and scuba diving trips to Coiba (see details) and can assist in obtaining appropriate permits. The tour operators depart from several different places on the Panamanian coast. Santa Catalina is the closest access point with about an hour and fifteen minute boat ride from Santa Catalina’s beach to Isla Coiba.
Overnight on Isla Coiba
The only overnight facility available in the Coiba National Park is at the ANAM ranger station on Isla Coiba. The station offers 6 modest 2 room cabins with air conditioning. To Contact ANAM call (507) 998-0615, fax (507) 998-4387, or the National Park office (507) 998-4271
The Islands of Coiba National Park
Coiba National Park covers 60% of the continental shelf and 90% of the islands within the Gulf of Chiriqí. The 38 islands that are included in Coiba National Park exemplify tropical paradise. White sand beaches, hardwood tropical forests and wildlife found nowhere else in the world make these islands breath taking. Islands: Coiba, Jicaron, Brincaco, Uva, Rancheria, Canal de Afuera, Jicanta, Pajeros, Afuera, Montuosa and 28 smaller islets.
