Where to begin? That’s the question as I reflect on the last week and the opportunity we had to share this incredible place with family/friends - because these visitors are both. :-) This post begins while having coffee on the veranda and soaking in all the sounds of the forest, which are so different not only from last year but from 2 weeks ago. When we first arrived, insects seemed to be the predominant noise-makers. The loudest of them sounded a lot like our locusts, of which I have never been a fan. This morning the birds are the stars. Right now I hear parrots, toucans and so many birds that I can’t identify. To top it off, a humming bird just flew past my ear, made a razoo around the kitchen and headed back out into the forest! How can we not ❤️ Panama??? And we ❤️ that we shared this incredible place with others who I believe found it pretty awesome as well. 😁
One highlight of our week together was the day spent fishing with Gerardo on Lake Gatun - the man-made lake that connects the two lock systems, helping to create the canal. A three minute jaunt to the marina at 6:00 am and we were on our way with Kirby and Greg in one boat and Ed, Brandon, Meredith and I in another. We started off trolling for “something BIG” as Gerardo put it and within minutes both Ed and Brandon simultaneously had the short-lived thrill of a nibble and then the a slack line indicating the BIG ones that got away. It’s difficult to be disappointed in this environment while being entertained by Caimen silently slipping from the bank into the water and red-headed black buzzards roosting high in the trees with their wings sprawled out like they too need to air out their armpits (wingpits???) in this hot climate.
Shortly after this photo was taken, the guides pointed our boats in different directions and before we knew it the radio announced that Kirby had caught a large Snook. This changed everything! No more lally-gagging and looking at scenery. We had fish to catch! The friendly competition was on! However, as the morning went on, it looked bleak for our team as it seemed the Big ones that got away earlier would be our only nibbles.
Gerardo decided to change tactics and so we headed up river and into Peacock Bass territory to keep us in this competition. Stowing the large lures away, we began casting and using minnows as bait. Before long our luck changed and everyone experienced the thrill of connecting with a Peacock bass for a short conversation in the boat before releasing them to continue on their merry way. Ed even managed to bag both the bass and the minnow he used to catch it!
We had a ball casting, catching and releasing in such a unique environment. When they dammed the river, water took over a vast amount of jungle. We floated amid thousands of dead tree stumps, remnants of the forest before the lake took over. Curiously, there were piles of snail shells stacked high on top of the hollowed stumps. Gerardo explained that sea birds feast on the snails and then toss the shells into their version of a waste bin.
As much divertido (fun) as this was, we hadn’t given up the hope of one-upping Kirby and catching a fish bigger than his. We headed out to the deeper waters of the canal to troll for the BIG one. As entertaining as the wildlife was earlier, the awe inspiring work of man - in the form of ships - held our attention now.
It looks like Ed hooked an enormous ship in this shot.
Kirby and Greg are thinking they need a bigger boat! :-)
Once again, the radio interrupted our ship watching as we learned that Greg caught a tarpon - the fish most desired in this neck of the woods. Not only did he snag a tarpon, but a 37 inch long, 15 pound tarpon!!!
Yay, Greg - the new Morton Fisherman!
While celebrating for Greg and simultaneously begrudging the fact that we were going to hear about what lousy fisher-people we were for the rest of the week, Meredith felt a tug on her line. She pulled back and began the process of reeling it in. Ed hopped in to steady the rod and Meredith continued reeling, even while feeling the burn from this workout. We knew she had something when Gerardo reached for the bigger of the two nets to land this big boy in the boat. And it was something - Meredith landed an eight pound Snook.
The plan was to catch and release but Gerardo was doubtful that this fish would recover if released. He suggested that we take our catch to the resort where they would cook it for our supper. With Meredith’s 8lb and Kirby’s 7lb Snooks, we ate like kings that night: enjoying pescado frito (fried fish), ceviche (fish cooked in lime juice) and lemon garlic fish. Check out the spread below. The ceviche isn’t pictured here as we tore into it before the thought of a picture took hold. The dish in the middle is papas fritos (French fries) and plantains. After 6 people had their fill - correction 5 as Brandon is not a fish eater - we left with 4 carry out cartons of food. The fried fish was left for the wait staff to enjoy as it is better when eaten fresh. Greg’s tarpon was shared with the fellow operating their boat, as it is something the natives enjoy. To handle the rest of the leftovers, Greg invented “Ceviche Scrambled Eggs” (it tastes much better than it sounds) which we enjoyed for breakfast twice. Kirby and I have had 3 meals of the lemon garlic fish. Out of respect for the fish, we were determined that none go to waste - well they did go to our waistlines. Delicious!
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