Fishing Report - 04/30/09

GREETING FROM THE TROPICS

THE BARGE SITS TIED TO THE DOCK AS PESCA PANAMA HAS A WEEK OFF FOR SOME R AND R. AROUND HERE THAT STANDS FOR REPAIR AND REFURBISH! THE CAPTAINS ARE BUSY GOING THROUGH THEIR TACKLE, SORTING OUT STUFF THAT HAS LAID WAY TOO LONG IN THE BOTTOM OF THEIR TACKLE BOXES. THE FIBERGLASS REPAIR MAN IS BUSY SPREADING WAX ON THE OCEAN MASTERS AND BUFFING THEM OUT. OUR MECHANIC HAS INSTALLED THREE NEW SUZUKI OUTBOARDS ON THE BOATS AND WITH MORE TO COME IN THE COMING MONTHS. OUR MAIN GENERATOR RECEIVED A NEW SET OF FUEL INJECTORS AS WE HAD ONE THAT HAD BEEN LEAKING FUEL. OUR REFRIGERATION MAN HAS CLEANED AND GASSED UP OUR ICE MACHINE AND THE AIR CONDITIONER IN THE BARGE'S SALON. THE DECK CREW HAS BEEN BUSY SANDING THE WOODWORK ON THE BARGE AND APPLYING VARNISH. IT IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE, "AN OLDER WOMAN WITH NEW MAKE UP. ALL BRIGHT AND SHINY BUT A LITTLE ROUGH UNDERNEATH."

I HAD ASK THE GUYS AT CROWDER ROD IF THEY HAD ANY NEW MODELS OF CONVENTIONAL JIGGING RODS THAT HAD TRIGGER HANDLES. THEY SAID THEY HAD TWO NEW MODELS AND THEY WOULD SEND THEM BOTH DOWN TO SEE IF WE LIKED THEM. THE RODS ARRIVED THIS WEEK AND THEY BOTH LOOK, "HELL FOR STOUT." ONE IS A 5'8'' ROD RATED AT 50-100 LBS AND IS STIFF RIGHT INTO THE GRIP. THIS SHOULD BE A REAL "STUMP PULLER." THE OTHER ROD IS 6' AND IS RATED AT 30-80 LBS. IT HAS A LITTLE MORE FLEX INTO THE GRIP AREA ALONG WITH A LIGHTER ACTION. I THINK BOTH OF THE RODS WILL WORK GOOD IN OUR AREA ON BIG FISH. I AM WAITING TO SEE WHAT OUR CAPTAINS AND ANGLERS PREFER AND THEN WILL BE ADDING MORE OF THESE RODS TO OUR EVER CHANGING ROD INVENTORY.

RICKY ZUNIGA, PESCA PANAMA'S RIGHT HAND MAN IN THE STATES, HAS BEEN WORKING WITH OCEAN KAYAK. THIS WEEK WE RECEIVED THREE NEW FISHING KAYAKS THEY HAVE SENT TO US. WE BUILT A RACK FOR THEM ON TOP OF THE BARGE'S WHEEL HOUSE. THESE KAYAKS SHOULD OPEN A WHOLE NEW AREA FOR US TO FISH. YOU SEE, THERE ARE FIVE TIDAL RIVER SYSTEMS ON COIBA ISLAND. MY IDEA IS WE WILL DELIVER THE KAYAKS TO THE MOUTH OF THESE RIVER, TIME THE ENTRY WITH THE TIDE AND THE ANGLERS CAN FISH UP THE RIVERS ON THE FLOOD TIDE AND THEN FISH THEIR WAY BACK DOWN ON THE EBB TIDE. NOW I KNOW THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE FOR EVERY ANGLER BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A HOOT. YEARS AGO WE FISHED THE BLACK RIVER ON COIBA ISLAND AND CAUGHT AND RELEASED LOTS OF FISH ON LIGHT TACKLE.

LAST NIGHT I VENTURED DOWN TO THE BARGE JUST TO CHECK THINGS OUT. WHEN I ARRIVED I THOUGH SOMEONE HAD LEFT THE BAIT LIGHTS ON THE BACK OF THE BARGE ON. WHEN I ARRIVED CAPTAIN LUCHO HAD HIS SONS DOWN THERE FISHING. NOW THERE IS A GOOD DAD. WELL, THIS MORNING WHEN I WENT TO CHECK ON THE PROGRESSION OF OUR PROJECTS THERE WAS LUCO. HE TOLD ME HIS BOYS HAD CAUGHT A LOT OF BAIT AND LANDED 4 SNOOK. THIS IS AS GOOD AS LIFE GETS.

TIGHT LINES,
CAPTAIN JULIAN JAY GUSTIN

P.S. OUR ANGLERS FROM CHILE ARE GOING TO BE FISHING WITH US NEXT WEEK. I WILL POST OUR FISHING REPORT WHEN WE RETURN FROM FISHING.