An update of the new series and the performance of Fox Sport Fishing products from Bill Boyce. Bill has been filming the second series of WFN Saltwater Adventures in Panama & Guatemala and the action will be screened later this year.

Accompanying images can be found here: PREVIEW: WFN IGFA Saltwater Adventures Season 2 In Images

PANAMA: We just returned home from two very successful filming expeditions to finish episodes 3 and 4. First stop was the secluded mother ship / sportfisher destination of Cebaco Bay, Panama. The boat sits in a very serene bay on the south side of Cebaco Island on the Pacific side of Western Panama. Our host, Hennie Madai and the awesome crew of the operation made the 6 day trip very successful even before we wetted a line. It was our second filming trip to Cebaco Bay for the series, and it was OFF THE CHARTS. We were joined by Jim Johansen and his fiance, Carmen in their quest for their first blue and black marlin.

We fished 4 full days and hooked up two large black marlin, the first snapping us off at the TUFF-Line braid / monofilament line connection (my fault, I never checked on the mates attachment of the 50 lb. mono "top-shot" to the 80 lb. TUFF-Line braid (IT should have been 100 lb. mono). They were not familiar with the extreme strength and small diameter of this superior braided line and when we set the drags to fish the 80 lb. TUFF-Line, the lighter mono line snapped as the 500 lb. black marlin took off on a torrid 200 yard grey-hounding run. The second black marlin bite just came un-buttoned after it picked up the bait and was merely "bill wrapped". We did have amazing success on two beautiful yellowfin tuna. A 70 lb. tuna caught on a 20 - 50 lb. FOX five piece travel rod, with a EOS star drag casting reel, loaded with 50 lb. TUFF-Line braid. A great fight on film, and many on-camera vocal tributes to the MOJO line of clothing that was keeping me extremely comfortable in the Panama humidity, and shout-outs to the toughness of the line, and the durability of the rod and reel combo. On-camera mention to the NCMC (National Coalition of Marine Conservation) new WILD OCEANS Campaign was made during the fight to inform people that wild oceans like what we were experiencing in Panama is the thrust of the campaign in the U.S. to keep our fisheries in balance to achieve the same fishing opportunity results. This yellowfin was followed up with another one of 100 lbs. This one being caught and subdued quickly on the super powerful 50-80 lb. four piece stand-up FOX travel rod, and 80 lb. TUFF-Line braid. Both were caught live baiting in porpoise schools.

Our lure sponsor, STEMSON just introduced their GIT LIT series of plastic baits that are more realistic than ANYTHING currently on the market. We couldn't wait to wet them and see what would eat them...!!! They performed INSANELY..!!! We caught almaco jacks (a close brethren to the amberjack) snappers, jack crevelle, and a nice 15 lb. "schoolie" yellowfin tuna. In fact, we were trolling the MINI MACK right beside the most fished tuna lure in the world, a STEMSON Cedar Plug, and the MINI MACK got chewed first...!! We also caught a nice 25 lb. dorado on a 14" STEMSON "Reflex" marlin lure that made a great dinner for all on the ship that night.

We fished inshore with the new FOX Stratos 20000 TWO-SPEED spinning reel, the worlds FIRST ever produced and it proved it's effectiveness on a few inshore fish, a barracuda on a STEMSON popper, and a nice bluefin trevally on a STEMSON popper caught by my #1 cameraman, Daryl Van Slack at the famous Sombrero Rock.

On the last day, time was running out for Jim and Carmen on their marlin quest and they previously had three marlin bites that went un-hooked. They were fishing live tunas on the Aguja Reef, (where we had had our two previous bites) and at the top of the tide at noon on the last day, they hooked up... !! In fact they both hooked up.. the same marlin on two lines.!!! The hungry blue marlin was huge and was successfully caught and released, albeit not IGFA legal but they were both super stoked..!! Then an hour later, they called us on the radio to report a second marlin hooked up, we throttled up and slid in on that fight to get some footage. Jim did a great job on a 250 lb. black, giving us all a great show.

We fished the reef beside them and our mate, Aliso, landed a "donkey-sized" 60+ lb. almaco jack on a STEMSON Butter Flutter jig. A great trip for the sponsors gear and awesome exposure for the Cebaco Bay operation that put us on such amazing fishing.


GUATEMALA: This was our second episode of season 2, that was shot with the Team A-FIN-ITY Charter Operation out of Iztapa, Guatemala; owned and operated by the B.C.S. Tournament Series Champion, Davis Clapp and his Captain, Gilfredo Lopez who knows these water extremely well and whom is also credited with several Central American Tournament wins. The first episode, shot in late October was great, but the green water offshore kept us from the typical fishery found in these bountiful waters. Well, I happily report that last weeks fishing was "beyond Thunderdome"..!!! We had three days to fish for the show but pretty much had a great show on the first day, when we raised 41 sailfish, got 30 bites, and released 14. Humm.. Some may say 14 sailfish releases for 30 bites is a bad average. But when you consider the gear we were fishing, it was awesome numbers. We started out with some heavy FOX stand-ups to set up a story line. After a 23 mile run offshore, we put lines in and it only took 45 seconds to raise a double..!!! Ten minutes later more sails in the pattern, we knew what was in store that day. We fished everything from FOX multi piece stand-ups to their 5 piece 20-30 lb. casting rod, down to the 5-15 lb. BONEFISH five piece inshore spinning rod..!! the little FOX Diablo 350 spinning reel loaded with 15 lb. TUFF-Line Duracast braid landed a 80 lb. sailfish that was caught on the new STEMSON GIT LIT "Deener" sardine plastic lure.. The sailfish took that lure 6 times before we finally stuck it in the mouth with that light action rod. The MINI MACK plastic GIT LIT caught a few more sails and got 6 solid bites fished out of the long rigger, with the sails actually preferring it to the rigged ballyhoo we had out..!! We then ventured down to 8 lb. tackle and ended up successfully fishing 4 lb. line outfits for the ultimate array of tackle selection on the water that day. The next two days were just as productive and everyone got into the mix with all kinds of our sponsors tackle. The MOJO clothing proved super effective in the Central American heat and the "wicking" effect of the material kept us dry and really comfortable all day. When we were splashed during the fight and the "back-down" procedure, the clothes dried quickly and without and stains from the action. The new series of MOJO shorts were like wearing underwear to fish in. I mean, the stretch of the fabric, the lightweight feel and comfort of the shorts made me feel as if I was fishing naked.. LOL..!!! MOJO also supplied my film crew with the latest shorts, and rash guard line of shirts, and the boys were STOKED to say the least. In fact, everyone we fished with, wanted out clothes..!! We hate to see grown men cry but we didn't have extra to give out.

The FOX rods and reels performed flawlessly, and as a testament, the Captain, Gilfredo "Jaunga" Lopez wants to get two 20 - 30 FOX Trek casting rods to his girlfriend to fish the tournament season with. Worthy of note: Carla's family just happens to own the largest boat and sportfishing tackle business in the entire country of Guatemala in Guatemala City. She fished with us for two days and inquired about how she could get info on the MOJO, STEMSON, TUFF-Line, and FOX brands for her store.. That is what it is all about folks, exposure to the viewing audience as well as with the prominent folks we happen to fish with.

Back on the docks of the Pez Vela Marina, the "buzz" was the GIT LIT series of plastics. All the Captains and Mates came by the boat to see the MINI MACK, the DEENER, and the line of offshore lures, jigs, and poppers we had brought. Their thoughts of rigging the GIT LITS as Dredge Teasers and Casting Teasers for their light tackle, and fly fishing charter clients had them all asking where they could get them. During the wide-open sailfish bite sequences, we again mentioned support for the N.C.M.C. WILD OCEANS Campaign that will help promote the proper management of the commercial industry in the U.S. and elsewhere that could insure quality fishing experience in the waters off both of our coasts.