coiba island — coiba national park
Marine national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site on Panama's Pacific coast, with roosterfish, snapper, tuna and marlin in very protected waters.
Coiba National Park takes in Coiba Island, smaller islands and the sea around them, in the Gulf of Chiriquí, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Protection brings big fish close to the islands: roosterfish, Pacific dog snapper, Pacific crevalle jack and almaco jack (Seriola rivoliana) on jigs and poppers. Farther out, at Hannibal Bank and in the blue water: yellowfin tuna, sailfish, black marlin, mahi-mahi and wahoo. Fishing is casting, jigging and trolling, always with an authorized operator. Boats leave from Santa Catalina and other villages on the Veraguas coast, or from lodges in the region.
best season
Fishing year-round. From December to April, in the dry season, the sea is usually calmer for crossings to the park and to Hannibal Bank.
Local rules: Coiba National Park (Law 44/2004, 270,125 ha, MiAmbiente): sport fishing is only allowed with authorization and in zones defined by the management plan; boats without permits are removed by park rangers. Hannibal Bank and Montuosa Island are in the Special Marine Protection Zone. From December 2026, billfish and roosterfish are catch and release only, and in the protected area billfishing is only allowed where the management plan permits (Executive Decrees 9 and 10 of 2026). Fish only with an authorized operator and release what you won't eat. Check local rules.
- getting there
- From Panama City, about six hours by car to Santa Catalina (Veraguas). From there, a boat ride to the park.
- facilities
- Inns and fishing and diving operators in Santa Catalina, and fishing lodges on the Veraguas coast. Coiba Island has the park rangers' station; most accommodation is on the mainland.
- country
- Veraguas, Panama
tip
A big roosterfish will follow the lure to the beach: reel in fast to the end and let the popper sit still for a moment before lifting it out of the water.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
what you can catch here
before you fish in Panama
ARAP's new rules (Executive Decree 9, of June 10, 2026) take effect six months after publication, in December 2026. From then on, anyone over 12 years old needs the ARAP sport angler card (carné), issued online (immediately, for foreigners), at the Ventanilla Única or at the regional offices. For foreigners: B/.20 for 7 days, B/.60 for 30 days and B/.150 for 180 days. Customers of an authorized tourist fishing boat are covered by the captain's card, and the boat needs its own license. Until it takes effect, ARAP's previous rule applies (Resolution ADM/ARAP 002/2012): confirm with ARAP or your operator.
- Billfish (blue, white, black and striped marlin, spearfish, sailfish and swordfish): species of exclusive sport fishing interest, catch and release only; with natural bait, circle hooks are mandatory; taking the fish out of the water for photos is prohibited (Executive Decree 10/2026, from December 2026).
- Atlantic cubera snapper, roosterfish and tarpon are also to become catch and release only; the exception is keeping 1 swordfish and 1 tarpon per boat per day, not for sale (Executive Decree 9/2026).
- Sharks and rays: catching or keeping them in sport fishing is prohibited. Retention limit of 25 fish per boat per day (15 in tourist fishing) and selling fish is prohibited (Executive Decree 9/2026).
- In protected areas (such as Coiba National Park), fishing is only allowed where the management plan permits it, and the card or license does not authorize fishing in a closed zone.
The rules and closed seasons in the rest of the app are Brazilian. Outside Brazil, the regulations of the country and province apply: confirm with the official agency.
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- official Ley 44 de 2004 — crea el Parque Nacional Coiba (Gaceta Oficial 25104)Copy of the Official Gazette on FAOLEX; 270,125 ha; sport fishing only in zones defined by the management plan; Special Marine Protection Zone with Montuosa Island and Hannibal Bank
- official MiAmbiente — Parque Nacional Coiba festeja más de dos décadas (26 de julho de 2025)UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005; part of SINAP
- official MiAmbiente — Patrulhamento na Zona Especial Marina do Parque Nacional Coiba (12 de julho de 2026)Sport fishing yacht without authorization was removed from the park
- official ARAP — Decreto Ejecutivo nº 10, de 10 de junio de 2026 (peces pico o picudos)Billfish catch and release only; circle hook with natural bait; in force from December 2026