Hannibal Bank has become legendary among those in the know about serious fishing. This continental shelf area has contributed to many IGFA world records and is famous for the sheer size of its fish. A particular ocean current phenomenon and has made it one of the world’s most unique fishing grounds.
So called because it was discovered by the USS Hannibal in the early 1900s, the bank runs for about 5 miles and occupies an area roughly 3 miles wide as it meanders along this unique protrusion of the continental shelf. Here the Humboldt Current sweeps an enormous and rich supply of plankton biomass up from 1,000m to just 40m setting off an incredible food chain, with you the fisherman at the very top.
Hannibal Bank is 50nm from our resort. Perched on the edge of the continental shelf is Isla Montuosa (42nm); or ‘Monster Island’ as our clients like to call it, which is ideal for popping for Mullet Snapper and Jacks. For those anglers wishing to fish deep or on the bottom, then trophy sized broom-tailed grouper await.
The billfish and Tuna inhabit the waters a few miles out from Isla Montuosa and this is a popular spot where our clients catch huge Blue and Black Marlin, Sailfish, and trophy sized Yellowfin Tuna – up to 400lbs in May and June.
Closer to the resort is Isla Landrones and Isla Secas (both (17 nautical miles), where we often start out for live bait fishing or popping for Cubera Snapper, Roosterfish and various types of Jacks. When using lures or live bait, lines are often hit by huge Amberjacks, Wahoo, Barracuda and Rainbow Runners. In fact we don’t even need to go that far for those fish, since we can catch them ‘right on our doorstep’ at Isla Parida (2 nautical miles away), although not in the same numbers.
At the Southern end of ‘Jurassic Park’ lies Isla Coiba, part of a UNESCO world heritage site that is rich in marine life, and it’s a protected natural environment. The largest river on the island is the Rio Negra (Black River), where large Tarpon can be found at the river mouth. These fish are normally found on the Caribbean side of Panama but have found their way through the Panama Canal and are now resident in our waters. Since these are protected waters fishing permits are required ($50 per angler per week, not included in the package).
Various billfish are abundantly found on the open waters off the Isla Montuosa and Hannibal Bank. Black Marlin are resident in our waters year round, but are most prolific in the winter months and they are joined by the very aggressive Blue Marlin, as well as the acrobatic Sailfish. Yellowfin Tuna are also resident year-round, but the big ‘cow’ Tuna, reaching weights up to 400lb, are landed in May and June.
August and September see the arrival of the huge female Black Marlin that enter our waters to spawn, these fish tend to average in 500lbs or more, and sometimes weigh in at 800lbs. In fact every season a few lucky anglers land a beauty that tips the scale past the 800lbs mark.
Dolphin (Dorado) are also caught year round, but most abundantly and oversized from October through to February.
