Seven Things That Were Different About Our Sixth Trip to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge

Travel

Jun 22

Jonathan Wilson of Texas with a big Panama Yellowfin Tuna

As I’ve written many times, we first visited Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge in April 2021 as a “once in a lifetime” trip. Obviously we’re not very good at predicting the future because we just completed trip number six and we’ve already started planning for number seven and possibly number eight.

If everything about the experience had remained the same we’d still come back again and again. But that’s not how SFPIL owner Shane Jarvis and his team operate. They’re constantly trying to improve your trip.

Here are seven things that were different about the trip that we recently led for a group of 20 very happy anglers, 16 of them visiting for the first time:

View from the 66th floor bar of JW Marriott Panama City — **The Hotel**

Part of the SFPIL VIP package is a night in a Panama City hotel. Historically, that was the Hilton, which was perfectly acceptable and had a great steakhouse just a couple of blocks away. This year we moved to the JW Marriott, which is slightly more upscale and a bit closer to the airport. We enjoyed drinks at a bar on the 66th floor and then had a nice group dinner at the Masi restaurant inside the hotel.

Chef Nelson at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge — **The Chef**

You could go to SFPIL for the food alone and leave happy. The quality of the ingredients (especially those from the sea) is exceptional and the amounts you’ll be served border on excessive. This year, however, somehow the food got even better with the addition of Nelson, a classically-trained chef who has cooked all over the world.

Fresh Sashimi on a sportfishing boat yellowfin tuna — **Sashimi on the Boat**

Obviously we’ve eaten lots of tuna on our trips to Panama, and we’ve always joked about eating it immediately after catching it, but this time our mate Michael took us up on the idea. He sliced up a plate of fresh yellowfin and had soy sauce and wasabi ready to go. No lemon, so he substitute pineapple. To be honest, it’s a bit better after it rests and has a chance for the fibers to break down, but the experience was glorious.

Captain Owen Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge — **New Captain**

Our friend Owen may look like he’s 15, but he’s a badass veteran of the fleet, and this year he got promoted to captain, running a boat with his mate Daniel. He led us to giant tuna (which he somehow hoisted solo), plus roosterfish and cubera snapper. I hope he has a long career with the lodge.

New guesthouse at Panama Fishing Lodge duplex — **New House**

On our 2025 trip to Panama, the new guest house had been built, but this was our first time staying in it – a duplex with two comfortable rooms, each with its own bar, bathroom and outdoor shower. It’s just far enough to stay away from the noise of the communal gathering area, but close enough to slip over for a drink or meal.

Gift shop at Sport Fish Panama Island lodge sponsored by Costa Del Mar — **Gift Shop**

In the past, you’ve been able to buy lodge-branded shirts or Yeti products from the dining area, but since our last trip master builder Steve Volk crafted a gift shop to show off the wares. There are new hooded shirts and all sorts of gifts to bring home for yourself or your friends and loved ones who now wish they’d made the trip.

Massive cow yellowfin tuna — **Tuna Size**

Compared to all of our past trips, the tuna seem to have gotten bigger. We caught very few under 80 pounds and the average size was pushing 100. We had grown-ass men wishing for a school of tunitas to let them get the thrill of the strike without leaving them with sore backs and arms. If you want to test yourself against big fish, this is the place to do it.

We can’t guarantee that there will be further changes, but we can guarantee that adventurous anglers will love the experience in Panama. If you’d like more information, or you think you want to join us next year, send us an email and let’s get you down to the promised land.