PanaLake
Fishing · Gatún Lake

Fish the lake that
built the Canal.

Gatún Lake holds one of the densest peacock bass populations on earth, plus snook, tarpon and jack crevalle, in the flooded jungle of the Panama Canal.

World-class sportfishing

Explosive strikes,
all year round.

When the Canal was built, an entire jungle valley was flooded, and the drowned forest became a perfect habitat for hard-fighting fish. Today Gatún is a bucket-list fishery about an hour and a half from Panama City, and we live right on it.

Your captain, Luke Cowan, lives on the lake and fishes it every single day, so he knows where the fish are holding in any conditions. Fluent in English, Spanish and Afrikaans, he tailors every trip to your pace, first cast or thousandth. Tackle and bait are provided; you just bring the energy.

4+
Target species
365
Days a year
1.5 hr
From the city
Golden sunrise over the Gatún Lake fishery at PanaLake

The catch of
Gatún Lake.

Four hard-fighting species, one extraordinary lake. Here’s what’s waiting on the end of your line.

Trophy peacock bass caught on Gatún Lake at PanaLake

Peacock Bass

Cichla

The crown jewel of Gatún. Explosive topwater strikes, electric colours, and a relentless fight. The fish most anglers travel here to chase.

Snook caught on Gatún Lake at PanaLake

Snook

Centropomus

Powerful ambush predators that hit like a freight train and dart for cover the second they’re hooked. A prize for sport and the table alike.

Tarpon caught on Gatún Lake at PanaLake, the silver king

Tarpon

Megalops

The silver king. Acrobatic, huge, and legendary, once hooked they launch sky-high and fight until your arms give out. Landing one is a badge of honour.

Jack crevalle caught on Gatún Lake at PanaLake

Jack Crevalle

Caranx

Pound for pound one of the hardest fighters in Panama. Not glamorous, but they’ll bend your rod to the limit and test every bit of your stamina.

Capt. Luke Cowan at the helm with a rod at sunset on Gatún Lake at PanaLake
Meet your captain

Capt. Luke Cowan

Owner, captain, and your guide for the day. Luke lives right on Gatún Lake and fishes it every single day, so he reads the water season to season and knows where the fish are holding in any conditions.

Fluent in English, Spanish and Afrikaans, he’s the captain of choice for visitors who want a professional, English-speaking guide with a genuine personal touch. Whether it’s your first cast or your thousandth, he sets the pace around you.

Plan a trip with Luke

How a day
runs.

Simple, flexible, and built around the fish. Stay with us and roll out of bed straight onto the boat.

01

Dawn launch

Meet Luke at the dock as the lake wakes up. Tackle, bait and cold water are already aboard.

02

On the fish

Run to the structure and coves he knows cold. Half-day and full-day trips available to suit you.

03

Back to the porch

Return to your own casita, clean up at the outdoor table, and watch the sun drop over the water.

Fresh-fried fish and patacones lunch at a lakeside restaurant on Gatún Lake
Optional add-on

Lunch on the water

After a morning on the water, we can take you straight to our favourite local restaurant right on the lake. Pull up to the dock and sit down to fresh-fried fish, patacones and a cold drink with the water at your feet, then head back out or home to the lodge.

Just let us know when you book and we’ll build it into the day.

Add lunch to a trip

Recent
catches.

Real guests, real fish, every one caught right here on Gatún Lake.

Angler with a jack crevalle on Gatún Lake
Guide with a large peacock bass on Gatún Lake
Angler with a peacock bass in the jungle channels of Gatún Lake
Angler holding two peacock bass caught on Gatún Lake
Angler with a jack crevalle on Gatún Lake
Angler with a peacock bass at sunset on Gatún Lake
Angler with a peacock bass on Gatún Lake at PanaLake
Guests with a snook caught with a guide on Gatún Lake

Stay & fish

Book your trip.

Tell us your dates and how many rods. We’ll sort the boat, the guide, and a casita to come home to, all in one WhatsApp chat.

Find us

La Arenosa, La Chorrera
Gatún Lake, Panamá

PanaLake

A family-owned lakefront lodge on Gatún Lake, Panama. Lakeside casitas, world-class peacock bass fishing, kayaks and sunset cruises, booked direct.

© 2026 PanaLake · Family-owned on Gatún LakeAccommodation on Gatún Lake · Fishing Gatún Lake · Panama