The Billfish Report is counting down its Top 10 Billfisheries of the Year, and coming in at #3 Pinas Bay, Panama. Criteria for our Top 10 include fish numbers, variety of billfish species, average size of fish, length of season and numbers of boats fishing.

Variety, Size and a Year Round Season. Does it get much better than this? Pinas Bay, Panama better known as home to the world famous Tropic Star Lodge (TSL), has just that. It seems that literally every day the Tropic Star is open, we seem to get a report of marlin released. Not every boat, but boy do they seem to find them. While TSL does have a number of private boat visitors, they vast majority (and lovely pictures we might add) come from them.

We received reports of 43 Marlin over 500 lbs, consisting of 34 Black Marlin and 9 Blue Marlin. The Blue Marlin and Black Marlin in these waters average 300- 400 lbs. and the sheer number of marlin caught in these waters is amazing. While we did not receive any Granders in 2012, these waters have certainly produced fish of those size.

The Blue Marlin and Black Marlin are the main show in these waters, but plenty of Sailfish are caught here too. Striped Marlin also patrol this area, but are not as common. This is a true year round fishery and if TSL did not close, we would probably have even greater numbers of billfish to report. While this is the Billfish Report and this did not factor in the ranking, these waters are teaming with some of the greatest variety of inshore and offshore species in the World

Congratulations to Pinas Bay, Panama our #3 Billfishery of 2012. Here are some of the Highlights!

Pinas Bay, Panama – Tropic Star Lodge released 61 Marlin in a week.

Pinas Bay, Panama – Capt. Ty Valli and Crew on the Reel Quest released a 450 lbs. Black Marlin and a 500 lbs Blue Marlin.

Pinas Bay, Panama – Capt. Matt Mauldwin on Click Through released an 800 lbs. Blue Marlin.

Pinas Bay, Panama – Panasea went 9-11 on Marlin over 5-Days (6 Blacks & 3 Blues) Blue Marlin up to 600 lbs., Black Marlin up to 700 lbs.