News

Top fishing men and women from around Panama gathered recently in Punta Chame, one of the world’s best fishing destinations, for the “Chame Extreme Fishing” Sport Fishing Tournament.

The tournament is one of several events in the area, which regularly attracts anglers from all around the world. More than 30 boats participated in the tournament, according to coverage in La Prensa, which included pictures of massive red snapper and snook.

The lure of big fish is one of the reasons nearby Playa Caracol is so popular these days with developers and home buyers. In addition to easy access to Punta Chame’s beauty, Playa Caracol offers beautiful sandy beaches, spectacular surfing, and access to one of the world’s most spectacular untouched ecosystems. Less than 90 minutes from Panama City, the region is setting up as the next big destination in Latin America.

But the lure of the big fish is strong, and the conditions along the West Coast can’t be duplicated. If you love sport fishing, there are few better places in the world to live. From May to December, Chame is known for sailfish, blue marlin, black marlin, yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo. During the rest of the year, snapper, jack mackerel, grouper, pompano dolphinfish, and albacore tuna are abundant.

The categories for the recent tournament were snapper, corvina, and snook, and participants fished from kayak, boat, and with the shore. It’s also worth noting that biologists were on hand to track captured species and ensure conservation regulations were followed, part of the region’s efforts to protect Chame’s beautiful ecosystem, La Prensa reported.

One team received the “Responsible Fisherman” from the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP) for obtaining 20 releases of various fish specimens, the newspaper reported.

For those of us helping to build the community in the area, the efforts to preserve and protect the area’s natural resources are like a security blanket, knowing our clients’ investments are protected.

Surfers, hikers, birders, and eco-tourists, in general, love the Chame region, but it’s extra special for anglers. And, for the uninitiated, sport fishing tournaments are serious business.

Prices included new boats and thousands of dollars in cash. To submit a valid entry, every participant had to document their catch with a video, showing the catch in action, and follow strict guidelines.