I have started my search for a new destination for fishing travel this year. last year I went to ambergris caye, Belize in late April and had an amazing time catching bones, permit, jacks, barracuda, etc. on the fly and spin tackle (saw a few tarpon but it was a little early for them). while a return trip to ambergris is still an option I was thinking about exploring another country and maybe some waters with less pressure. i have stumbled upon the bocas del toro region of panama and was curious if you knew of the quality of fishing in that area.
just looking at the charter boat web sites it looks like sailfish is the big offshore game around there and inshore it looks to be a good big tarpon fishery. additional pictures and reports suggest there are bone fish, snook, and jacks inshore and tuna's, snappers, bottom fish offshore (offshore there is only like 3-5miles from what I have read). what I have not found is any report of how consistent the fishery is there.
My main intent is to (weather depending) split time between inshore (fly casting/spin/popping) and offshore (vertical jigging/popping/fly)
I have found some reputable reports of quality fishing on the west coast of panama for a trip like this but the lodging and charters are twice as expensive. The east coast just seems to be either under explored, under reported or maybe just half as good as the west coast fishery.
Please let me know your thoughts on this location and if you have any other suggestions for destinations that would be a good fit.