Colombia

Top at the Pacific

Colombia

Top at the Pacific

 

Next level popping & jigging

 

Our location is in Puntardita, 60 miles north of Bahia Solano, on the west coast of Colombia on the Great Ocean. Because there are no other fishing locations in this remote part of Colombia, the fishing here is still pure and completely undeveloped. This applies to both offshore and inshore fishing. Serious sizes of fish are no exception here and if you put the list of species in a row it is not the question if you will catch but rather when!

 

This is what our pilot trip looked like!

 

 

Read here the article in BEET-magazine of April 2018 by John Smit.

 

Marlin, sailfish, tuna, roosterfish, cubera snappers, sierra, wahoo, tarpon, amberjack, needlefish, snook and many other groupers and snappers. All in all an impressive list that you rarely get so complete in one location. Besides the amazing fishing, nature is also an important factor that completes the experience on this fishing trip. There is a beautiful flora and fauna with a lot of wild animals that you encounter on land and in the sea. The sea changes directly into the beach followed by the jungle. This guarantees impressive views and top fishing. An extra attraction are the humpback whales that you can find here from July to October. They swim so close to the coast that you can sometimes see them from the beach.

 

Depending on the season, you can do any type of fishing at this location, all of which are effective. Fly fishing, spinning, popping, jigging, trolling with lures or live bait. Every type of fishing is possible and provides cool fishing. All the basic equipment is already here and you only need to bring your own terminal tackle like jigs, leaders, swivels, poppers, stickbaits etc. Here you have a wide choice of top material which consists of a selection of the following:

 

  • pe 8 popping/ stickbait outfit
  • pe 5-6 popping/stickbait outfit
  • light tackle outfit
  • pe 4-6 jigging outfit

 

This material is of good quality and includes Daiwa reels, Black Hole rods, Shimano rods, Jjigging World rods as well as top material for fishing on Marlin. This material is standard included in the fishing trip! (max 4 people jigging equipment) So you don't have to bring this yourself! Of course it is also possible to bring your own equipment.

 

 

In Medellin you will be picked up from the airport and brought to the comfortable Diez hotel in the city itself. This drive takes about 40 minutes. In the immediate vicinity of the hotel there are a couple of nice bars where you can have a drink after your arrival.

 

After arriving in Medellin you fly early the next morning to Bahia Solano. There the boat is already waiting for you and you go fishing with all your luggage directly to the boat. While fishing you go to the private Darrien lodge in Puntardita at the Panamanian border. Here is an extremely comfortable private lodge only for our group of fishermen. The lodge is located on the beach and consists of 8 bedrooms of which two are soingles and 6 are twin rooms. The beds are 200 x 120 cm each and every bedroom has its own shower and bathroom. This is a highly comfortable location and way to relax after a hard day fishing.

 

 

The rooms are equipped with airconditioining and this is an ultimate adventurous stay which is also comfortable. This is a stay on the edge of the jungle. The views and location of this private lodge are only 8 kilometres from the border of Panama and makes it super unique. But that also means that sometimes a lizard or other animal can walk around on the porch or in the restaurant. That is all part of the adventure. In addition, the personal service and meals are an absolute plus at this location. This private lodge is only used by our anglers and also the fishing locations are only fished by us. so it is completely untouched here. The first popping spots are already 300 meters (!) from the private lodge.

 

The last day you will sail back to Bahia Solano where you will stay the last night in hotel Balboa. The 3 star hotel Balboa is the best hotel in town and you will stay here on the basis of full board on the last day in Bahia Solano. There are several double rooms available, each with a private bathroom with shower / toilet. You will stay here on the basis of a shared double room. There is a safe at the reception where you can drop off your valuables and go fishing. There is Wi-Fi and a swimming pool so you can relax before or after fishing!

 

At this location we have two perfect fishing boats at our disposal.

 

Both are 36 feet custom made with center console and 2 x 200 HP Suzuki engines. Tuna tube and Simrad electronics with chirp sonar, side scan sonar, structure scan and 4G radar. There is a special 3.8 meter long elevated casting platform built into the boats.

 

These boats are perfect for popping, live bait fishing and jigging. The boats are equipped with a live bait bun. The cruising speed of both boats is over 30 knots. So they are high quality, comfortable fishing boats that leave nothing to be desired. For the group trip we make a rotation schedule with a division of the participants over the boats per day.

 

All the equipment is already here and except for the terminal tackle as jigs, leaders, swivels, poppers, stickbaits etc. you don't have to bring anything yourself. Here you have a wide choice of good material which consists of a selection of the material below:

 

  • pe 8 popping/ stickbait outfit
  • pe 5-6 popping/stickbait outfit
  • light tackle outfit
  • pe 4-6 jigging outfit

 

This material is of good quality and includes Daiwa reels, Black Hole rods, Shimano rods, Jigging World rods as well as top material for fishing on Marlin. This material is standard included in the fishing trip! So except for the terminal tackle, you don't have to have it yourself! Jigging rods for up to 4 participants! But off course it is also possible to bring your own equipment.

 

At this location we fish all year round for cuberas, roosterfish, groupers, snappers, tuna, jack crevelle etc. However, there are specific seasonal features that apply to the fishery. January and February are the two top months for offshore fishing. Blue, black marlin, 100 lbs + yellowfin tuna, trophy sailfish and bull dorado are the extra targets. In March and April the numbers of marlin are slowly decreasing but the inshore dolphin fishery is top. And this is also the best period for large yellowfin tuna. May and June are sailfish months as the large schools of baitfish migrate from the south and the sailfish follow them. Several fish a day and double and triple hooks up are common. Slow trolling with live bait is also very productive during this period for large grate fish and pacific tarpon. In July and August the temperature gets a little cooler and the marlin gets closer to the coast and especially the inshore fishery for Cubera Snapper is at its peak. September and October guarantee great wahoo, good inshore fishing and in the offshore fishing the blue and black marlin also pass by again. November and December are good all-round months with large schools of dorados, sailfish, cuberas, jack crevelles and amberjacks provide a very varied fishery. A very varied fishery all in all.

 

Because the amount of luggage is limited to 10 kilos plus 5 kilos of hand luggage, bringing your own set of equipment is subject to additional costs. The additional cost per kilo is around 1.5 euros per one-way trip. This can be paid in cash at check-in at the local flight.

 

After the last fishing day back to Bahia Solano for last night here. The next day transfer to Medellin and return flight or another night stay in hotel depending on the available return flight.

 

The prices for this complete fishing trip with 5.5 full fishing days are as follows:

  • 3 persons 4250 euro pp
  • 4 persons 3850 euro pp

More or less days is possible on request.

As the location can only be reached by airplane, the trip looks like this.

 

Day 1: Journey to Medellin. Private transfer to hotel and stay in a double room based on bed and breakfast.

Day 2: Early transfer to airport and flight (60 minutes) to Bahia Solano. After arrival you will go to the hotel to get your fishing gear in order and after that the fishing starts directly.

Day 3-8 : Five full days fishing and back to Bahia Solano for last night here.

Day 9: transfer to Medellin and return flight or another night stay in hotel depending on available return flight.

 

It is important to know that Colombia is a safe country nowadays. The region Bahia Solano where this fishing trip takes place is classified as a safe area according to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Included in this price are:

  • airport transfer Medellin
  • hotel Medellin based on double room and bed + breakfast
  • Domestic return flight Medellin-Bahia Solano
  • stay 6 nights in accommodation based on full board
  • 5,5 days boat charter incl. lunch & drinks*
  • consumption of 5 cans of fresh / beer p.p.p.d. during the fishing tour is included. Extra drinks at extra cost
  • fishing license
  • rod/reel (jigging max 4 per group)

 

Additional costs

  • Return ticket to Medellin
  • Lost or damaged rod material will be charged.
  • Personal expenses Medellin, drinks and meals
  • Additional (alcoholic) beverages outside package
  • Tips for the crew about 200 euro pp
  • Contribution of € 15 for the GGTO travel guarantee fund and € 25 booking fees

 

The domestic flight from Medellín to Bahia Solano includes 10 kilos of luggage and 5 kilos of hand luggage per person. Additional luggage is limited and costs 1.5 euros per kilo one-way extra. This must be paid for by credit card / cash at check-in on the local flight. To go along on this fishing trip it is advisable to bring sunglasses, thin rainwear, long sleeve shirts, (casting) gloves, water shoes and a fishing cap.

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