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A Trip to Panama II

November 21, 2008
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

And the children couldn’t wait. The village of Pinas Bay has provided a steady workforce for TSL since its beginning in the 1960s. The Andrews feel a sense of stewardship for the natives that live there.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

The clowns get ready.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

They danced and played games…
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

Like wheelbarrow.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

And then, there was the big surprise…
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

There aren’t any reindeer in Panama… just four-wheelers…
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

But he had plenty of presents.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

But we came here to fish… and fish we did aboard TSL’s fleet of classic 31 Bertrams.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

We fished aboard the Canada…
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

And made an early morning getaway.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

The first stop was Zane Grey Reef to catch some bait and try our hand at marlin fishing.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

The tuna tubes were full after only a few passes.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

The crew bridled the live tunas and sent them out…
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

The crew bridled the live tunas and sent them out…
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

And it didn’t take long – exactly 5 minutes – for Juliana Kuhnke to get her first bite.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

Here, she celebrates her first black marlin with the crew.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

But soon, it was time to go offshore, and the crew took our remaining baits and made Panama strip baits for bait and switch fishing…
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

Our first sailfish on fly for the trip.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

Then we went into the rocks and tried our luck. This is a potential world-record roosterfish taken by the author on fly tackle – except one engine was still in gear when the cast was made.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

Bluefin trevally love surface poppers.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

As do mullet snapper.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

But this is what we were looking for… floating debris…
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

Debris of any kind means dolphin… and lots of them.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

They hit stripbaits.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

Dolphin love popping plugs on light tackle.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

The larger fish seem to prefer the strips, though.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

If you can keep the dolphin from smashing the strips, they’ll eagerly take flies.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

As will the sailfish.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

Sails are one of the original targets for the Panama stripbait.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

Now that’s a teaser.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

An unexpected dinner guest.
A Trip to Panama II

A Trip to Panama II

Villagers share their wares prior to guests departing for Panama City on the return.
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