Jrzrider83
12-08-2009, 10:15 PM
greetings all. i am currently in panama and enjoying myself as you can imagine. here is my buddies post as well as mine for the trip status as of today.
[QUOTE=Jrzrider83;6663661]Hey Guys Dan here-
I am really really exhausted I don't think I've gotten more than 3 or 4 hrs sleep any night in the past week, so I'm sorry for the short post, everyone at lodge is on their computers and the max upload via the sat dish is only 128K if one person is on, so I am having a hard time uploading to Photobucket, keeps timing out
*********
Day One (Friday) Panama City, got checked into the Hotel Veneto, I usually don't like surprises but this is one that was very welcome to some weary travelers
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/IMG_1491.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/IMG_1497.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/IMG_1498.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/IMG_1503.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/IMG_1505.jpg
Day Two (Saturday)
The Virginia contingent arrived pretty early with all their gear in tact, Lucky John arrived next but less our rod tube - frigin Continental - they have gone downhill since joining the Star Alliance - the Hotel was fantastic and litterally called Cont. every 30 minutes, of course they don't answer there phone half the time, and its a good thing the tickets are not on my credit card or I would be protesting the charges. Next time I will ship my rods and gear down via DHL they have an office right on the way to the lodge, actually right next to famous Santiago McDonalds - never going to do that again way too stressful.
While we waited for the guys to arrive, Peter insisted on his favorite Panama treat, he likes to live dangerously
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/PC051493.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/PC051494.jpg
So after 20 phone calls, we decided to just drive to the airport, luckly the rods where there but it took over an hour to get someone to bring them out to us. Continental you suck big time very unprofessional. They had the rod tube on the plane and removed to make room for the strollers, dishwashers, TVs and other household items people where bringing down to Panama. Unbelievable is not the word, I guess they enforce the 'embargo' on some not others.
****
OK - the good stuff.
Saturday night Panama City.
We started the night having some drinks and shooting pool in the room, then down to the Casino. John D picked us up at about 11PM for a nite on the town. Went to an open air nightclub very much South Beach style called Pure - it was a lot of fun. Too much fun, we had bottle service and the first two bottles of absolute went down very well, third one was a really bad idea. Everyone was drunk! We made it back to the hotel about 3 or 4AM and got to sleep about 5 hrs before half the group headed to the lodge while the other half went to the airport to get the rod tube.
*********
Monday
Got a late start to the fishing grounds - but we made up for it !!!
First cast a big cubera rolled right on the Salas - Peter reels in a nice 40/50 lb Cubera. I came tight on some kind of crazy Snapper (rock snapper) not a Cubera but similar teeth and crazy colors.
Next a nice size Blue Travelly exploded on a Salas - in the boat but released after pics.
Next a bunch of Horse Eye'd Jacks - very strong fighters for their size, next Two Mullet Snapper - kept those very tasty.
Then it was slack tide and we where a little tired of popping so we went to make bait - nothing happening, throw the Salas - bingo bait. Next cast - Bonito - NO - nice Mahi - did a full cartwheel right off the side of the boat - the splash got me wet - fantastic. The Mahi was very green when they stuck her and right in the cooler - flipped out - broke both hinges off the cooler.
More to follow I'm beat and its getting late.... but it was a good day for the Salas not a touch on the runboh, Heru, Shimano, Shibuki and we fished those first. It wasn't till three fish came over the rail on a blue/white Salas, then everyone tied one on. All the fish today where on the Salas despite our swimbait and popping efforts. Thanks Matt - killer!!!! lures for sure.
BTW We are Salas dealer ;)
I fished the Synit Popping rod exclusively today - paired with a Stella 8K 10K spool - very light very strong, popping all day no problem. I also fished the OTI 300g custom (CMT/Kevin Bogan) and JM Custom Jigging Master (JPR/Paul) but no bites on the jig other than Triggers. Trigger fish like the Hammered Jig (CM220), the lure is 8" long and 7" triggers jumped on it all day. Even started a $20 jig pool to keep it interesting - I guess double or nothing Tuesday.
More pics to come I promise, Internet very slow right now will upload more manana
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/mulletsnapper.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/rocksnapper.jpg
Brian Here-
So here are the highlights of the first two days fishing on our boat. our crew included myself, ryan, george, and John.
PANAMA
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8NO064mHI/AAAAAAAAEgs/Wh9ygKBb_vU/s800/PC066041.JPG
fresh lures (did not stay that way long!!!)
The day we arrived at the lodge we broke out the fly rod and played with the local Jacks here is one of Ryan's
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8HZkjJHvI/AAAAAAAAEY4/TDwYh7SJ9GU/s800/IMGP0567.JPG
Day one: good action all around, numerous jacks, trevally, cubreas, snappers, etc.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8Usxa--9I/AAAAAAAAElE/MzovFqof-fg/s800/IMGP0583.JPG
My day one (and first ever cubera)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8Ie4QcuCI/AAAAAAAAEak/CqmaHCtHJlQ/s800/IMGP0657.JPG
John's Blue trevally
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8HIN9q3II/AAAAAAAAEXo/gKE2TwM7cuc/s800/IMGP0662.JPG
George's day one cubera (i believe his first as well)
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8Wp6qR4iI/AAAAAAAAEno/d9pXfBQ1vYA/s800/IMGP0645.JPG
George's day one blue trevally (i believe his first as well)
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8HEwG1mYI/AAAAAAAAEXI/LyJmlxkKOXI/s800/IMGP0621.JPG
day 1 cubera (my second of all time)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8MtoPVQeI/AAAAAAAAEgE/EuKtJtng6nA/s800/PC076110.JPG
Ryan's day 1 Hound fish (one of half a dozen he had day one)
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8MPATClgI/AAAAAAAAEes/fnVvxwkBI4U/s800/IMGP0633.JPG
day 1 pair of trevally's
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8MXt9pR_I/AAAAAAAAEfA/kZDNuy66wI4/s800/IMGP0655.JPG
Day 1 yellow snapper
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8MdP3AMBI/AAAAAAAAEfU/ktvGdZOwhFY/s800/IMGP0665.JPG
ryan's day 1 horse eye
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8MloPDCOI/AAAAAAAAEfw/EgoEAEuGs_k/s800/PC076063.JPG
The Destruction so far: courtesy of my two cubrea day one
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8HsEmsAQI/AAAAAAAAEmw/vuv6_YIMrnE/s800/IMGP0668.JPG
[QUOTE=Jrzrider83;6663661]Hey Guys Dan here-
I am really really exhausted I don't think I've gotten more than 3 or 4 hrs sleep any night in the past week, so I'm sorry for the short post, everyone at lodge is on their computers and the max upload via the sat dish is only 128K if one person is on, so I am having a hard time uploading to Photobucket, keeps timing out
*********
Day One (Friday) Panama City, got checked into the Hotel Veneto, I usually don't like surprises but this is one that was very welcome to some weary travelers
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/IMG_1491.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/IMG_1497.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/IMG_1498.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/IMG_1503.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/IMG_1505.jpg
Day Two (Saturday)
The Virginia contingent arrived pretty early with all their gear in tact, Lucky John arrived next but less our rod tube - frigin Continental - they have gone downhill since joining the Star Alliance - the Hotel was fantastic and litterally called Cont. every 30 minutes, of course they don't answer there phone half the time, and its a good thing the tickets are not on my credit card or I would be protesting the charges. Next time I will ship my rods and gear down via DHL they have an office right on the way to the lodge, actually right next to famous Santiago McDonalds - never going to do that again way too stressful.
While we waited for the guys to arrive, Peter insisted on his favorite Panama treat, he likes to live dangerously
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/PC051493.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/PC051494.jpg
So after 20 phone calls, we decided to just drive to the airport, luckly the rods where there but it took over an hour to get someone to bring them out to us. Continental you suck big time very unprofessional. They had the rod tube on the plane and removed to make room for the strollers, dishwashers, TVs and other household items people where bringing down to Panama. Unbelievable is not the word, I guess they enforce the 'embargo' on some not others.
****
OK - the good stuff.
Saturday night Panama City.
We started the night having some drinks and shooting pool in the room, then down to the Casino. John D picked us up at about 11PM for a nite on the town. Went to an open air nightclub very much South Beach style called Pure - it was a lot of fun. Too much fun, we had bottle service and the first two bottles of absolute went down very well, third one was a really bad idea. Everyone was drunk! We made it back to the hotel about 3 or 4AM and got to sleep about 5 hrs before half the group headed to the lodge while the other half went to the airport to get the rod tube.
*********
Monday
Got a late start to the fishing grounds - but we made up for it !!!
First cast a big cubera rolled right on the Salas - Peter reels in a nice 40/50 lb Cubera. I came tight on some kind of crazy Snapper (rock snapper) not a Cubera but similar teeth and crazy colors.
Next a nice size Blue Travelly exploded on a Salas - in the boat but released after pics.
Next a bunch of Horse Eye'd Jacks - very strong fighters for their size, next Two Mullet Snapper - kept those very tasty.
Then it was slack tide and we where a little tired of popping so we went to make bait - nothing happening, throw the Salas - bingo bait. Next cast - Bonito - NO - nice Mahi - did a full cartwheel right off the side of the boat - the splash got me wet - fantastic. The Mahi was very green when they stuck her and right in the cooler - flipped out - broke both hinges off the cooler.
More to follow I'm beat and its getting late.... but it was a good day for the Salas not a touch on the runboh, Heru, Shimano, Shibuki and we fished those first. It wasn't till three fish came over the rail on a blue/white Salas, then everyone tied one on. All the fish today where on the Salas despite our swimbait and popping efforts. Thanks Matt - killer!!!! lures for sure.
BTW We are Salas dealer ;)
I fished the Synit Popping rod exclusively today - paired with a Stella 8K 10K spool - very light very strong, popping all day no problem. I also fished the OTI 300g custom (CMT/Kevin Bogan) and JM Custom Jigging Master (JPR/Paul) but no bites on the jig other than Triggers. Trigger fish like the Hammered Jig (CM220), the lure is 8" long and 7" triggers jumped on it all day. Even started a $20 jig pool to keep it interesting - I guess double or nothing Tuesday.
More pics to come I promise, Internet very slow right now will upload more manana
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/mulletsnapper.jpg
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/BostonTangler/Panama%20Dec%202009/rocksnapper.jpg
Brian Here-
So here are the highlights of the first two days fishing on our boat. our crew included myself, ryan, george, and John.
PANAMA
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8NO064mHI/AAAAAAAAEgs/Wh9ygKBb_vU/s800/PC066041.JPG
fresh lures (did not stay that way long!!!)
The day we arrived at the lodge we broke out the fly rod and played with the local Jacks here is one of Ryan's
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8HZkjJHvI/AAAAAAAAEY4/TDwYh7SJ9GU/s800/IMGP0567.JPG
Day one: good action all around, numerous jacks, trevally, cubreas, snappers, etc.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8Usxa--9I/AAAAAAAAElE/MzovFqof-fg/s800/IMGP0583.JPG
My day one (and first ever cubera)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8Ie4QcuCI/AAAAAAAAEak/CqmaHCtHJlQ/s800/IMGP0657.JPG
John's Blue trevally
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8HIN9q3II/AAAAAAAAEXo/gKE2TwM7cuc/s800/IMGP0662.JPG
George's day one cubera (i believe his first as well)
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8Wp6qR4iI/AAAAAAAAEno/d9pXfBQ1vYA/s800/IMGP0645.JPG
George's day one blue trevally (i believe his first as well)
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8HEwG1mYI/AAAAAAAAEXI/LyJmlxkKOXI/s800/IMGP0621.JPG
day 1 cubera (my second of all time)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8MtoPVQeI/AAAAAAAAEgE/EuKtJtng6nA/s800/PC076110.JPG
Ryan's day 1 Hound fish (one of half a dozen he had day one)
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8MPATClgI/AAAAAAAAEes/fnVvxwkBI4U/s800/IMGP0633.JPG
day 1 pair of trevally's
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8MXt9pR_I/AAAAAAAAEfA/kZDNuy66wI4/s800/IMGP0655.JPG
Day 1 yellow snapper
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8MdP3AMBI/AAAAAAAAEfU/ktvGdZOwhFY/s800/IMGP0665.JPG
ryan's day 1 horse eye
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8MloPDCOI/AAAAAAAAEfw/EgoEAEuGs_k/s800/PC076063.JPG
The Destruction so far: courtesy of my two cubrea day one
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_awFQi5Q_Fkw/Sx8HsEmsAQI/AAAAAAAAEmw/vuv6_YIMrnE/s800/IMGP0668.JPG