Will You Be My Yellowfin Valentine?

We’ve traveled to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge five times in four different months of the year, and each trip has been special in its own way. While all of the species – tuna, billfish, other offshore roamers and various inshore brawlers – are there year-round, we’ve divided the year into certain prime times: December/January/July/August are best for billfish, March through June is best for popping, and the fall is a great mix, with superior inshore action.

In hindsight, that’s not necessarily accurate. We’ve seen billfish in November and had great days of tuna popping in January. One of our best inshore trips took place in April.

More importantly, it leaves out February!

And this February has been one for the ages. Not only has the exceptional billfishing kept up, with ridiculous variety, but it’s produced some of the biggest yellowfin we’ve ever seen.

Last year our friend Greg Evers singlehandedly tamed a 247-pound cow. We knew they got bigger in the Gulf of Chiriqui, but we didn’t know how big or how often. Well, this February (the month we forgot to cheerlead for), produced several well over that mark, nearing three bills. So while we’ll never make a guarantee, don’t rule out February as a great time for the best of everything.

We won’t be going in February until at least 2027, but if you’d like to take a group down in 2025, 2026, or join us on our May 2026 trip, email us. You need to get some of these giants while the getting is good.