Yellow [Fin] Fever

Amid the Confines of Pristine Natural Habitat, Tuna Aplenty Defines This Pacific Island Hideaway

- Captain Steve Dougherty

CONNECTING TWO MASSIVE BODIES OF WATER, the Panama Canal is a marvel of the modern world that forever changed trade routes across the high seas. Its tumultuous construction led to major economic growth, yet the canal-zone jungle was rife with disease. In completion of the daring project carved out of the tropical isthmus many obstacles were overcome, with yellow fever one of the greatest adversaries. While it is no longer a threat to modern society, initial symptoms of this viral disease comprised backache, muscle pain, nausea and fatigue.

Ask a group of avid anglers to define the most determined fish in the sea and votes will likely stack in favor of the Thunnini tribe, with drawn-out fights resulting in symptoms strangely similar to the scourge of the canal’s construction—backache, muscle pain, nausea and fatigue. While flats fishing enthusiasts argue bonefish are superior pound-for-pound and marlin maniacs think anything lacking a bill is bait, tuna unquestionably pull harder for longer than any other sport fish. Breaching billfish are certainly formidable predators, but their airborne antics are taxing and limit endurance as they exert unnecessary energy in attempt to shake the hook. Tuna have a completely different strategy and simply sound for the depths in hopes you run out of backing.

With reliable seasonal migrations of schooling tuna along the famed Gulf of Chiriquí, anglers are now threatened by yellowfin fever amid pristine and remote jungle landscapes. This easily diagnosed malady is difficult to cure and after a trip to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge (fishpanamatoday.com), you’ll be forever hopelessly infected.