Bahia Solano Fishing - Colombia
Saltwater Sportfishing with Afloat's Anigua
Bahía Solano, on the Colombian Pacific coast maritime border with Panama, is one of the few unexplored areas left in the world. The area has the same fishing conditions as Tropic Star Lodge in Panama but less fishing pressure. Bahia Solano is remote, and like Tropic Star, this up-and-coming sportfishing mecca is only accessible by boat or plane. Several hundred miles of virgin jungle border the Pacífic Ocean with a mix of sandy beaches and rocky shoreline.
Anigua - Afloat - Colombia
Anigua Inshore and Offshore Fishing
Year-round fishing - all of the prime species are residents, plus roosterfish, huge cuberas, snooks, and more. A short-run offshore takes you into the fangs of the Humboldt Current, perfect waters for hoards of yellowfin tuna, marlin, sailfish, mahi-mahi, cubera snapper, amberjack, wahoo.
Inshore Season is March to June, with one of the largest sardine migrations in the world. Target marlin, sailfish, tuna, cubera snapper, amberjack, tarpon, and roosterfish. During the inshore season, anglers often battle fish with the beautiful jungle backdrop and whale sharks eating below the boat, a unique setting.
Offshore Season runs October to January. You'll go offshore looking for sea currents and big game such as blue marlin, black marlin, sailfish, huge tuna, and mahi-mahi. Between March and July, the sardine migration from Panama creates a feeding frenzy.
Offshore Fishing
The Perfect geographic location of Bahía Solano allows anglers access to prime bluewater in less than a 15-mile run. The Humboldt Current is known worldwide for holding the very best pegalic life. Huge schools of yellowfin tuna, black and blue marlin, Pacífic sailfish, wahoo, and mahi-mahi are abundant year-round, making it one of the most productive destinations in South America. Peak season runs October to January.
Fishing Facts:
Boats: 38-foot sportfishing Bertram (the only one in Bahía Solano) is fully equipped with live well, tuna tubes, and trolling equipment. Their 38 ft. Bertram twin cummings diesel inboard is loaded with first-class trolling Shimano gear and casting and jigging gear. The boat has full Garmin electronics, a cabin with full A/C, bathroom, kitchen, and berths. The captain and deckhand have over 20-years of experience.
Methods: Popping and jigging are popular methods, plus trolling and fly fishing.
Fishing Equipment: Trolling equipment is provided. Basic poppers are included, but they suggest bringing an assortment of poppers and stripping gloves to protect your fingers. If you bring some lures, single hooks are a requirement. Fly fishing equipment is not provided. There is a 33-pound baggage weight limit on the charter flight, so they recommend that you NOT bring equipment.
Please be aware that you will need to pay for any equipment that you damage due to negligence.
Fishing License: No fishing license is currently required.
Photographs: A photographer can be added on the boat for $150.00 per day.
Typical Fishing Day:
At 6:00 a.m., you'll have breakfast at the Lodge.
At 6:30 a.m., you'll leave for fishing. They can leave earlier, depending on the group. The day can be a mix of offshore fishing in the morning and inshore fishing in the afternoon. Offshore fishing depends on what you want to target. The guides will have you try different techniques like trolling lures or dead bait, live bait trolling, and bait and switch. If they spot a school of tuna, you'll change to popping and fly action for a while. With inshore fishing, the shoreline extends for hundreds of miles, offering amazing opportunities for fly, popping and jigging, and live bait trolling.
Midday: You'll remain on the boat for Lunch, enjoying regional food, snacks, wine, beer, and sodas.
About 5:30 to 6:00 p.m., you'll return to the Lodge. Dinners feature a variety of delicious regional dishes. You'll rest and enjoy drinks on the beach. If you would like to take a day off from fishing to explore birding, eco hikes, ethnic communities, they can help you plan out your day.
Getting To Bahía Solano:
You'll fly to Jose Maria Cordoba International Airport in Medellin, Colombia. An Afloat representative will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for your overnight stay. The hotel and ground transfers in Medellin are included in the package. In the morning, you'll take a 40-minute domestic flight to the José Celestino Mutis Airport in Bahía Solano, which has one asphalt runway. For this flight, the baggage weight per passenger is a maximum of 33-pounds. Checked baggage of 15 KG, 10 KG (22-pounds), and a carry-on of 5 KG (11-pounds). A Lodge representative drives anglers from the airport in 4 x 4 pickup. You'll make a quick trip to town for supplies. (Bahía is a small town made up of dirt roads and wooden shacks.) From there, you'll head to the pier where the Bertram is waiting. You'll take a 25-minute boat ride north to the Lodge. There is also the group option of a helicopter flight from Medellin to the Lodge. The helicopter lands on the Lodge's private beach. The one-way helicopter flight is an additional $3,500.00 divided between four to five anglers, and you'll need to take the plane back to Medellin.
Your Trip Begins in Medellin, Colombia.
You'll stay your first and last night in Medellin at the Diez Hotel Categoria Colombia. Both hotel nights are included in the package. Medellin is the second-largest city in Colombia and one of the most developed cities for tourism in Latin America.
The Eco-Lodge Overlooks the Pacific Ocean
Look closely, and you'll see four of the five cabins. The Lodge's private beach stretches for over 600 yards, with no neighbors in the immediate area. Laundry service is available at the Lodge.
Non-angler activities include hiking, snorkeling, bird watching, or relaxing on the Lodge's private beach.
Views From the Lodge's Common Area
The common area includes two lounge areas, dining areas, a kitchen, and bathrooms.
Communications:
The Lodge has satellite Wi-fi available in the common area only. If requested in advance, a computer can be provided for guests to use.
Meals Feature Regional Dishes
Hot-cooked breakfasts served with fresh fruit, tea, and coffee. Lunch, snacks, and unlimited beverages are available on the boat. Dinner feature the catch of the day, such as seared fresh tuna or fried snapper, chicken, special side dishes such as coconut rice or plantain chips, salad, fruits, and desserts. The Lodge has a wide variety of soft drinks, Gatorade, juices, beers, plus red and white wine. With advance notice, they can accommodate special diets. View Menu PDF.
Great Bird Watching
With around 1,876 species, Colombia has the largest bird diversity in the world. The country also has almost 70 endemic species, making it third for birdwatching in South America after Brazil and Peru.
One of the best areas for bird watching is Ensenada de Utría National Natural Park in the Bahía Solano area.
Fall Asleep to the Sound of the Waves
The private cabins are right on the beach, about 10 meters apart. The walk from the cabins up to the common area takes about three minutes.
Cabin Bedroom
Beachfront cabins have a view of the ocean, private bathrooms, and a porch with hammocks. Each room has a fan. The majority of the nights are cool.
2022 USD Rates
6-nights at Lodge and 5-days guided fishing
• 2-anglers per boat $5,100.00 per person
• 3-anglers per boat $3,900.00 per person
• 4-anglers per boat $3,500.00 per person
• 1-angler per boat $9,300.00 per person
7-nights at Lodge and 6-days guided fishing
• 2-anglers per boat $6,100.00 per person
• 3-anglers per boat $4,600.00 per person
• 4-anglers per boat $4,000.00 per person
• 1-angler per boat $10,800.00 per person
Packages Include:
All required ground transfers in Medellín and Bahía Solano, first and last night's stay at the Diez Hotel Categoria Colombia, roundtrip domestic flight from Medellin to Bahía Solano, boat transfer to the Lodge, lodging, meals, snacks, unlimited soft drinks and beer, guided fishing, trolling equipment, Groupomok travel insurance (see details under Deposit Policy), and 3-minutes of satellite calls. There is the option of a private photography package; additional charges apply.
