60 Years of action in the remote jungles of Panamá
TROPIC STAR LODGE
In a world dominated by hotel consortiums and growing populations, it's rare to discover a place that truly feels pure. Pure to its purpose, people and authentic surroundings. Tucked away in the remote jungles of Panama, 100 miles from the nearest road, such a place exists - and it’s been likened to Disneyland for anglers.
All legends have an origin story.
Tropic Star Lodge is steeped in history. The origins of the fishing resort date all the way back to the 1930’s, when angling pioneers like S. Kip Farrington and the Schmidt brothers visited the region in search of the famed Black Marlin. Whisperings of a specific hotspot, where various currents from all across the Pacific converged, would lead the explorers here. This natural wonder later became known as the Zane Grey Reef, named after the famed author Zane Grey, who discovered the hotspot while fishing his way south from California to Tahiti just before the Depression.
The area sits squarely in a major migratory corridor for Billfish, and consists of three pinnacles/columns that come up from the ocean floor in 350 feet of water to within 125 feet of the surface. The upwelling provides nutrients that attract an incredible amount of bait. The Billfish spend a considerable amount of time in this hotspot while migrating through, due to the sheer volume of sustenance available to them. This results in incredible volumes of Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Striped Marlin and Sailfish, as well as other big game species.
It would be another 30 years before the first iteration of Tropic Star Lodge was born in this idyllic location - and despite being incredibly remote and expensive to operate, this famed resort has truly stood the test of time. Rebuilding after an earthquake in 1976, surviving the dictator-ravaged reputation attached to Panama in 1989, and most recently, recovering from a global pandemic that shook the tourism industry to the core. The resilience of Tropic Star Lodge is a true testament to the passion of the anglers who flock there year after year.
So, what makes this place so special?
It's pretty hard to round it all up to one thing.
The incredibly unique fishing experience is at the heart of the operation, with short runs (average of 20 minutes) up to the reef, an abundance of Billfish through most of the year, and many many other coveted trophy species (including MASSIVE Yellowfin Tuna, Roosterfish, large volumes of Dorado, Trevally and Cubera Snapper). But there is so much more to Tropic Star. This is a place that lives on across generations. It is a place where life-long friendships are formed. A place where legendary stories find their origin. Home to over 350 IGFA world records, more than any other place on earth.
The magic is in the details - the intimacy and authenticity of the experience. From the moment you board your small charter plane, the adventure begins. Flying over the Panama Canal, the Bridge Of The Americas and the natural beauty of miles of rainforest and azure waters. Seeing your remote destination come into view - the famous dock jutting out from the unassuming location, carved out of the hillside of the Darien.
Upon landing at the tiny airstrip in Piñas Bay, the anticipation is palpable. Anglers gather, boarding a colorful bus that takes them through a rugged jungle path, to their next leg of the journey, facilitated by a panga. This small but mighty transit boat makes for a fun ride.
Rugged, tree-lined hills jutting out of the ocean, the mighty pacific crashing against the craggy coastline, tranquil waters as far as the eye can see, and of course, the Tropic Star rainbow fleet ready and waiting for angling action. The warm welcome once you set foot on the dock will make it immediately obvious that it wasn’t just the fleet awaiting your arrival. Every member of the team will have been eagerly anticipating your presence, ready to set the trip of a lifetime in motion.
When the panga swooshes around the corner, revealing the famous approach to Tropic Star - it's hard not to be overcome by the magnificence of your surroundings.
Before you even get to the thing that has made Tropic Star Lodge so famous over the years - the exceptional fishing - the pieces will start coming together. What makes this place so special is truly a sum of its parts. Friendly, smiling faces of people who wouldn’t choose to be anywhere else on earth. Comfortable, luxe accommodations. First-class amenities, such as a full treatment spa and rainforest pool, that transport you to a tropical paradise. Boundless adventure for thrill seekers, with jungle tours and experiences. Lucious, untouched jungle surroundings.
And the food. OH the food! There is no way a place SO remote should be able to pull off gourmet dining the way that Tropic Star does, but they do - every time. Globe trotters who have visited some of the most celebrated culinary destinations in the world have cited this place, 100 miles from the nearest road, as having some of the best food they have ever tasted. While not every story that departing guests may share back home will be 100% true (we all know catches get a little bigger over time) one meal in, you’ll know that this one is.
The behind-the-scenes stuff is where this resort truly thrives. It’s almost impossible to fathom that there are over 100 members of staff catering to guests within the relatively small resort. Most don’t realize that the entire operation is entirely self-sufficient. Everything from the water/electricity supply, to maintenance and waste management, is managed by the Tropic Star team on-site. Over and above the Captains and crew, guest services and dining staff, there are plenty of hands hard at work in the background to provide the experience that visitors to Tropic Star have come to expect.
From the culinary team waking up at 4:00 AM to bake and prepare fresh ingredients daily, to a supply barge that delivers provisions on a regular basis, the remote location means that everything has to run like clockwork to provide a 5 star experience for guests in the middle of the jungle, and this requires serious man-power. As with lodge maintenance, the impressive fleet is meticulously maintained. Every boat piece or part can be repaired or fabricated on-site, with railways in place to haul boats, rebuild engines, perform paint and fiberglass work, and much more. There is also a full tackle workshop with a dedicated team and tackle master who maintain fishing gear, even making adjustments based on the fishing preferences of each and every group.
The truth is, it takes a village.
The secret behind the exceptional fishing experiences at Tropic Star is something that the resort takes great pride in. It is home to some of the best Captains in the world, who train for decades as mates to be considered for the coveted position of Captain. Hailing from the nearby village of Bahia Piñas, these Captains have an intimate, lifelong knowledge of the waters on Piñas Bay. As the primary source of economic activity in the village, the community relies on the operation, with more than 10% of the population employed by the Lodge. Any angler worth their salt cannot help but feel admiration for those at the helm - their instincts, abilities and unspoken understanding of a piece of the earth that holds such a special place in the memories of so many generations.
Despite the fact that this is what they have done ceaselessly for decades - they head out with unbridled passion, and the relentless dedication to make every single experience as good as the last. They live humble lives, and have no grand ambitions of being known the world over… but the irony is that they are celebrated by prolific anglers, and some of the most important contributors to the world as we know it today. That’s the beauty of this place. No matter whether you’re the CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation, or an average Joe looking for a good story to tell - your Captain won’t give you anything less than everything they have to give.
Speaking of Captains..
Tropic Star Lodge has long been a leader in Conservation, focused on protecting the ocean and its inhabitants, as well as the surrounding jungle ecosystem. The fishery universally adopted the use of circle hooks in the early nineties to improve the survival rates of released fish. Tropic Star, along with various leaders of Panama have been responsible for establishing a 20-mile non-commercial fishing zone around the plentiful waters off Piñas Bay along with a Billfish decree that protects all Billfish from being killed commercially.
Their ongoing conservation efforts also resulted in the Panamanian Government recognizing and declaring that Roosterfish are all catch and release in Panama. The operation, and all those involved, strongly believe that it is up to them to protect the waters of Panamá, and the future of all species passing through. As a conservation lodge, Tropic Star releases all trophy species, only keeping fast-growing, populous species like Yellowfin Tuna and Mahi-Mahi for sustenance. They only ever keep what is needed to feed guests and staff - with the rest released. Conservation is the key to sustainability of the sport, and it is something that Tropic Star is working hard towards making a priority across the industry.
A little less conversation, a little more conservation.
Tropic Star has long partnered with highly impactful marine conservation organizations, such as the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF), Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) and Nova Southeastern University (NSU). The Eastern Tropical Seascape Research Project, spearheaded by these institutions, is a five-year flagship study of the ecology migration patterns and genetics of major game fish and sharks in the water surrounding Tropic Star Lodge. The project was joined by the Beyond Our Shores foundation in 2018, to include the Dolphinfish Research Program. Tropic Star Lodge and their guests are in great support of these initiatives, and work towards tagging species during trips and various conservation tournaments hosted at Tropic Star Lodge, in addition to hosting scientists and facilitating research of the fishery on a regular basis.
Getting down to business.
The Tropic Star Lodge Fishing Experience in motion:
Offshore at Tropic Star Lodge
Inshore at Tropic Star Lodge
Despite the fact there is so much to love about this place, it always comes back to the fishing - and with a fishery that has produced countless records, why wouldn’t it? Tropic Star Lodge has 3 seasons, and is open 11 months of the year. There truly is a season for everyone, and each year, the fishery attracts anglers of all backgrounds and skill levels.
Black Marlin Season (January February)
January is one of the most popular months for Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna (100 to 250 pounds), big Sailfish (over 100 pounds), and big Dorado (50 to 60-pound range). It can get bumpy at this time as the north trade wind brings cooler water and tailing marlin with a great shot at getting a grand slam.
February is very similar to January. Blue Marlin and Sailfish are being released offshore with the occasional Striped Marlin. The Black Marlin are on the Zane Grey Reef and shallower waters around the Lodge. February is one of the best months for Grand Slams.
Inshore Season (March - May)
March is one of the top months for MASSIVE Yellowfin Tuna, and great inshore fishing for big Roosterfish, Cubera Snapper and Grouper as the colder water makes its way inshore. Bait fish are hatching in the shallows bringing the Grouper and Snapper to feed inshore. This time of year brings the famed Snapper boils and great Broom tail grouper fishing.
April the inshore bite is excellent and record-sized Roosterfish are biting along with Cubera Snappers, Grouper, possibly even Tarpon and a host of other inshore game fish. Groups of school-sized Yellowfin Tuna (20 to 60 pounds) invade the coastal waters surrounding Piñas Bay. Billfishing is sporadic and the seas are typically flat and calm. Most boats are concentrating inshore during this period.
In May, Tropic Star Lodge hosts their annual Roosterfish tournament. The numbers of Roosterfish at this time of year is great and anglers are also hooking up to Cubera Snapper, Bluefin Trevally and Grouper in the shallows. The Sailfish start coming through and anglers start seeing them just a few miles offshore. The seas are typically flat and calm.
Blue Marlin Season (June - September & December)
In June, the Sailfish season is in full swing with multiple bites per day including double hookups. Black Marlin and Blue Marlin can be hooked at this time, and inshore can be a bonanza. June and July are some of the best months for big Roosterfish, some over 70 pounds.
July is one of the best months for Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, and Dorado. Grand Slams are common. Inshore fishing can be very productive for big Roosterfish and Cubera Snapper.
August is an incredible time for big Blue Marlin and Sailfish, with some Black Marlin being hooked closer inshore. It is a great month for a Grand Slam. Yellowfin tuna feed in frenzies and those giant 50lb. Dorado start coming through. Inshore fishing for Roosterfish and Cubera Snapper can be very productive.
September can be excellent for Black Marlin, Blue Marlin and Sailfish. The Offshore bite for large Yellowfin Tuna and Dorado is excellent. Inshore fishing is normally very productive, with the Wahoo bite at its best.
December is a great all-round month for most species. Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna (100 to 250 pounds), and Dorado (50 to 60-pound range) are biting. Inshore fishing for big Roosterfish and Cubera Snappers can also be targeted on occasion.
Latest News from Tropic Star Lodge...
In late May, Tropic Star reported a new lodge record for this time of year - seven Blue Marlin releases in one day (plus two Sailfish) with Captain Fidel on Pollyanna. The forty-five foot Hatteras returned to the dock triumphant, with their many flags flying high. The six proud anglers who experienced the adrenaline of going toe-to-toe with these magnificent creatures got to enjoy some serious bragging rights, and the entire team shared in the joy of creating lifelong memories for another group of special guests.
This week, the celebrations continued when the above-mentioned record, set only two weeks prior, was SMASHED by Captain Luis on thirty-one foot Bertram, England. Luis secured EIGHT Blue Marlin releases in one day (plus four Sailfish), capping a total of sixteen Blue Marlin releases in two consecutive days, with another eight Blue Marlin releases the very next day.
The excitement didn’t end there. Captain Yiyo and his guests released six Billfish (four Blue Marlin; two Sailfish) on thirty-one foot Bertram Darien, with Captain Jose releasing the same on thirty-one foot Bertram Panama. Captain Candelo got to celebrate a special win - a Grand Slam for the anglers aboard thirty-one foot Bertram Australia, with a 500lb Black Marlin, a Blue Marlin and a Sailfish released.
All in all, the Tropic Star team is proud to have shared these special moments with their guests. Facing off with the giants of the deep is no easy feat. “It brings the team great pride to congratulate all those anglers who came out on top with these impressive releases! You may feel the burn in the days to come, but the weight of your angling accolades will live on long after the aches and pains of the fight subside” says White.
Fishing is a sport that brings so much joy, pride and exhilaration to all those involved. The commitment of anglers to keeping the practice alive for generations to come is a true show of the unrivaled passion that serves as the bedrock for this important pastime.
“If the start of this season is anything to go by, our guests are in for an exceptional ride” says Richard White, Fishing Director at Tropic Star Lodge. “Although we have very limited availability for the rest of the season, we encourage you to get in touch with us if you’re looking for the opportunity to get in on the red-hot action.”