Private Fishing in the Panama Canal, Gatun Lake
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Gamboa, Panama
- 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
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What's Included
- Bottled water
- Soda/Pop
- Snacks
- snacks
- sandwich
- Alcoholic Beverages
- energy drinks
- Transportation Additional cost
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Lynda_N
We’d heard great things about fishing with Rene, and they were all true: our morning combined everything about the wildlife and the beauty of Panama, along with a great day of fishing. From Peacock Bass to an Orange Oscar to a 9.5-lb. snook, we fished what seemed like untouched wilderness to the Panama Canal, passing monkeys, iguanas, an alligator, and a capybara. And Rene was the perfect guide, narrator, and host. We can see why he got so many five-star reviews, and now he has another. This is a trip you definitely want to book.
Reviews
5.0
based on 53 reviews
Elliott_F, Mar 2026
I don't know what the best part of the trip was...hard choice between the scenery, the fish and the guide! Guide was AWESOME! Highly recommend to anyone. 10/10
Zenettra_L, Mar 2026
We had a great day fishing with Captain Carlos. He kept us on fish throughout the trip and even took photos of our catch. My friend was a first time angler and Captain Carlos was patient with instructions and helped her every step of the way. She ended up with the catch of the day. Highly recommend and we will definitely fish with Fishing Panama again.
Lynda_N, Mar 2026
We’d heard great things about fishing with Rene, and they were all true: our morning combined everything about the wildlife and the beauty of Panama, along with a great day of fishing. From Peacock Bass to an Orange Oscar to a 9.5-lb. snook, we fished what seemed like untouched wilderness to the Panama Canal, passing monkeys, iguanas, an alligator, and a capybara. And Rene was the perfect guide, narrator, and host. We can see why he got so many five-star reviews, and now he has another. This is a trip you definitely want to book.
Christin_T, Feb 2026
Captain Rene was absolutely an amazing captain. We left early and did a 5.5 hr trip and caught several fish and seen monkeys, birds, and iguanas. Speaks great English and easy to understand. Being in the canal an right next to the ships was a pretty cool experience!
Douglas_J, Feb 2026
What a great experience! Our captain knew where all the fish were and was an excellent teacher. He is very skilled and knowledgeable and made it a great trip! We also enjoyed being able to go in the Panama Canal alongside huge ships and seeing wildlife, including monkeys.
geng_W, Feb 2026
Very nice experience. My childrens are very happy. Got bass, big snook fish. Saw monkeys. Nice captain!!
Shelley_P, Feb 2026
We booked a 3-hour fishing trip, the captain Renee absolutely delivered. From the moment we headed out, he worked nonstop to put us on fish, constantly adjusting spots, gear, and technique to give us the best chance of success.
What really stood out was his effort and attitude. he never treated it like a “quick trip” — he treated it like a full charter and made sure every minute counted. Because of that, the time flew by while we were fishing,but it felt like we got the experience of a much longer outing. However, I would recommend the 5 hours if possible.
If you’re considering a shorter trip, don’t hesitate. With a hardworking crew, you’ll still get a great day on the water. Highly recommend!
An added bonus was their transportation service (to/from) and recommendations on lunch choices!
Boat was great!
Joost_R, Feb 2026
Very knowing gide!!! Good fishing good compani, best view of panama canal....
Best day so far here in panama
Usher_W, Feb 2026
The trip was amazing, Rene is an amazing captain we had a great time with him,
Highly recommended!!!
nathan_f, Jan 2026
Caught a ton of peacock bass. Captain was on time, perfect English, and very easy to get along with.
Kristie_K, Jan 2026
Captain Rene was the BEST! The trip was absolutely amazing! We caught fish, saw monkeys, toucans, parrots, and other wildlife, in addition to catching incredible fish and learning a lot. The trip was so great! Book it, don’t hesitate.
Susan_O, Jan 2026
Best day of our trip to Panama. I am not a fisherman and can get seasick but this was perfect. It is a combination Panama Canal, wildlife trip and fishing trip. Water was like glass. We went by monkey island and were close to a howler monkey. Saw iguanas perched high in trees, a bird eating a snake and caught dozens of fish.
No one was around so we had the rainforest to ourselves except for the boats going through the canal. Rene is the owner guide. His English is great and everything was organized and professional and a fabulous host!
Jennifer_H, Jan 2026
Amazing day! Very accommodating to people at all skill levels. We caught a lot of fish plus saw a monkey and a sloth! Communication was great and they were easy to work with. Would highly recommend!
Shanna_P, Jan 2026
My husband and I took our two kids fishing with Rene for over 5 hours- and none of us had ever fished before!! My son caught 12 fish! And my daughter caught so many different types of fish- they were both so happy.
Yeah It was honestly one of the most fun days of our entire trip (and we’ve had some pretty great days)! Rene was absolutely outstanding as a trip leader- and I highly recommend this trip!
Chad_C, Sep 2025
The whole experience was amazing. Renee was a great captain and was able to get us in spots to catch fish. I would highly recommend this trip.
Christian_W, Sep 2025
Simply amazing. We caught fish using lures, live bait, and trolling. Very knowledgeable. We’re coming back
Chad_T, Aug 2025
Had an absolute blast! Would definitely recommend this experience to anyone. The guide is knowledgeable, friendly and makes you feel like family. 10/10!
Matthew_N, Jul 2025
This was hands-down one of the most fun experiences I’ve had in Panama! From start to finish, the trip was incredible. Our boat captain was not only super knowledgeable and friendly—he even brought us breakfast! Total legend.
We caught somewhere between 25 to 50 fish (we lost count because it was nonstop action!). The variety and excitement were amazing. On top of the fishing, we got to see monkeys swinging through the trees and massive ships passing through the Canal—it was the perfect mix of nature and engineering marvels.
If you’re thinking about booking a fishing trip in Panama, do it—and try to get this captain. He made the whole experience effortless, relaxing, and unforgettable.
Graham_L, Jul 2025
We had a great time. Took the wife and 4 year old son and had a blast. We caught 50+ peacock bass and a few snook. Highly recommend fishing with these guys. Will be coming back.
Malenda_B, May 2025
It was an awesome day! We caught snook and tons of peacock bass. He took us to see monkeys too!! Very polite, definitely knowledgeable and fun to spend the day with. He had snacks, sandwich and drinks for us. We would definitely go back!! Also he's a good photographer 📸
Carlos_G, Mar 2025
Local knowledge of fish locations and fishing techniques were great. After the experience guide was thoughtful in sending pictures and a videoclip !
Adam_S, Feb 2025
This was absolutely the highlight of our vacation to Panama. Rene (host) was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and accommodating. He provided us with any food/drink that we requested, and he even picked us up some local breakfast on the way. His boat is clean, smooth on the water, and has ample room so you don't feel cramped at any point. We caught a large amount of peacock bass and snook, and Rene lets you decide if you want to change spots/methods for different species or keep fishing the same fish. As somebody who has grown up fishing freshwater and saltwater, this is something I definitely recommend.
Michael_Y, Feb 2025
Rene is really great to fish with, his positive attitude and personality make your day very enjoyable. As someone who fishes extensively each year it is clear to me he has a real passion for fishing.
matthew_w, Jan 2025
perfect day of fishing in Gatun lake. guide Rene is awesome and perfect english/spanish. we were veginners snd Rene took good care of us.
David_K, Jan 2025
Rene is a great guide, I like to fish but I’m no expert, he was very helpful and got us on a lot of fish
John_G, Dec 2024
My grandson Quentin and his good friend Caden are experienced fishermen and Peacock Bass was on their bucket list. Captain Rene provided amazing service acting both as an instructor and cheerleader. The boys caught over twenty Peacock Bass in four hours and were absolutely thrilled. Additionally, they immediately bonded with Rene and raved about his wonderful chicken salad wraps. They will be back. Thanks Rene for providing such a memorable experience for the boys. Highly recommended.
Keith_F, Jun 2024
Rene is an amazing guide an we had an incredible day fishing with him. He is extremely kind and knows everything about fishing. The experience was absolutely perfect and the price is a great value. We will definitely be back.
Elizabeth_S, Feb 2024
Rene has a great boat and great equipment and quickly got us catching fish. He is very nice and was responsive when I had questions before the trip. He also asked what type of fishing gear we were most comfortable with. We spent the previous night at the Gamboa Rainforest Lodge and he picked us up there and took us down the short drive to the marina. We fished for peacock bass and caught quite a few. He also let us try fishing for snook. We had one on and lost it. It was a very fun 3 1/2 hours of fishing with Rene. It would be perfect for experienced fishermen or for those without experience. He is knowledgeable and patient.
Anna_D, Dec 2023
I booked this as a surprise Christmas present for my boyfriend, and he absolutely loved it! I Cannot recommend this experience enough - 11/10!!!
Amilcar_S, Jan 2026
Spectacular...
René has a lot of experience, is very attentive and patient and knows very well the best places to find the fish!!!
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From $250.00
per group (up to 3)up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Private Fishing in the Panama Canal, Gatun Lake
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