What fish can you catch in Bocas del Toro?

Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), snook (Centropomus undecimalis), permit (Trachinotus falcatus), bonefish (Albula vulpes), jacks, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi, and Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus).

What is the best time to fish Bocas del Toro?

August through April for tarpon. March through October for best overall weather. Water temperatures stable at 26 to 29 degrees Celsius year-round.

Where do tarpon concentrate in Bocas del Toro?

At the mouths of the Changuinola and Sixaola rivers, where freshwater meets saltwater. Migratory individuals can exceed 70 kilograms.

Is bonefish and permit fishing available in Bocas del Toro?

Yes. On grass flats, permit and bonefish are fished by sight from the bow or wading. Caribbean spiny lobster is also present on coral bottoms.

How many islands does Bocas del Toro have?

9 main islands and 52 cays. Water temperatures hold between 26 and 29 degrees Celsius year-round.

Bocas del Toro: Fishing in the Panamanian Caribbean

Tarpon, snook, reef fishing. Wild Caribbean.

Bocas del Toro is an archipelago of 9 main islands and 52 cayes, small sandy or coral islets, often barely above water, some uninhabited, others covered in mangrove. Waters range between 26 and 29°C year-round. The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute maintains a permanent station in the archipelago, a marine and terrestrial research platform since the 1970s. The zone constitutes one of the most scientifically documented Caribbean ecosystems in Central America.

Christopher Columbus anchored in the archipelago in 1502 during his fourth voyage. The Caribbean waters surrounding the islands shelter remarkable terrestrial and marine wildlife: howler monkeys and white-faced capuchins in the forests, sloths in the canopies, poison dart frogs whose colors vary from island to island, spectacled caimans in the channels. Between February and July, leatherback turtles come to nest on several beaches of the archipelago.

Tarpon

The tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, can exceed 2.5 meters and 125 kilograms. It is one of the fish with the highest hook-pulling rate in combat: it jumps, shakes its head, and poorly placed hooks on a bony jaw do not hold. The season runs from August to April. Large migratory individuals concentrate at the mouths of the Changuinola and Sixaola rivers, where fresh water meets salt water and concentrates bait. Resident inshore individuals are smaller but more numerous. The best sessions take place early in the morning, from dawn until 10am, and in the late afternoon from 3pm.

Snook and Inshore Species

The snook (Centropomus undecimalis) holds against structure. The cast is placed a few centimeters from mangrove roots and hard edges. The retrieve is immediate. A snook that misses its attack does not return. Jacks (Caranx latus, Caranx ruber) hunt in packs through the passes between islands.

Reef Fishing

Around the coral reefs of the archipelago, cubera snapper, groupers and barracudas are present on bottoms between 5 and 30 meters around isolated cayes. Spearfishing in these zones produces varied species on clean, lightly pressured grounds.

Caribbean Spiny Lobster

The Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) is present on coral bottoms and seagrass beds of the archipelago. Its fishing is regulated by an international agreement: annual closure from March 1 to June 30 across all signatory nations, including Panama. Open season from July to end of February.

Seasonality

Tarpon: August to April. Lobster: July to end of February. Best general weather conditions from March to October. Water temperatures stable year-round between 26 and 29°C.

Frequently Asked Questions

What species can be fished in Bocas del Toro?: Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), snook (Centropomus undecimalis), jacks (Caranx latus, Caranx ruber), cubera snapper, groupers, barracudas, Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus).
What is the best time to fish tarpon in Bocas del Toro?: August to April. The best sessions take place at dawn and in the late afternoon. Large migratory individuals concentrate at the mouths of the Changuinola and Sixaola rivers.
What is the lobster season in Bocas del Toro?: The Caribbean spiny lobster is closed from March 1 to June 30, under an international agreement signed by Panama. Open season from July to end of February.
What is a caye?: A caye is a small, low-lying, sandy or coral islet, often barely above sea level. Some cayes in the archipelago are uninhabited, others covered in mangrove. The 52 cayes of Bocas del Toro each form distinct fishing zones, reefs and natural shelters.
How many islands does the Bocas del Toro archipelago have?: 9 main islands and 52 cayes. Waters between 26 and 29°C year-round.

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