We spent a wonderful six hours on the water with Luke. He's a true professional. We arrived at the departure point at 7 a.m. as agreed. Luke was there. The boat was fully prepared. Luke provided us with tackle and plenty of live bait. We settled comfortably into the boat. The fishing was excellent. Luke knows the lake, and we fished some very productive spots under his guidance. We learned a lot about the lake and its inhabitants. Luke is knowledgeable and enjoys sharing his knowledge with his guests. I've fished Lake Gatun many times with different guides, but Luke is definitely the best. I recommend his service to both experienced anglers and those who've never held a fishing rod. You'll have a great time!
Gallery
Real catches.
Real water.
Real catches and real reviews from real guests. This is what fishing Gatun Lake actually looks like. No stock photos, no staged shots.
The catches
A year on the water.
Trophy peacocks, snook, jacks, and tarpon. Plus the lake itself: drowned forests at dawn, jungle channels at noon, glassy sunsets at the end of every day. Scroll down for reviews from guests who've fished with us.































Reviews
Real words from
real guests.
Every review below is from Google. See more at our Google Business profile. First-timers, seasoned anglers, families, multi-day guests. Here's what they say.
Wow!!! 10 stars all the way. The best fishing vacation I have ever had. This place is right on the lake. Waking up and going to sleep with the sound of the lake. Amazing!! Luke took us fishing 6 days in a row, the best guide on the lake!! Wow, we got so many peacock bass!! You need to stay here and go fishing!!
I called Luke at Panalake Sport Fishing and asked if it was possible to do some fishing on Christmas Day. He got back to me and said sure, we can do that. I said fantastic, book us in for 2 nights and a day of fishing on Christmas. My wife and I arrived on the 24th and Luke checked us into this beautiful casita right over the water. It was perfect and the view is awesome. The next day we got going around 6 a.m. and Luke had us on fish in no time. My first cast and I had one on. He wasn't a big one but it sure was great. Later we were able to find some bigger fish and we kept 5 but threw a lot back as we couldn't eat them all. The weather was great, and the wind picked up a bit in the afternoon but Luke could still find spots out of the wind to continue catching fish. It sure was a great day and Captain Luke was amazing. Had dinner at the restaurant and met some amazing new Panamanian friends as well. If you were to book a trip with Luke, you will not be disappointed.
What a wonderful fishing experience with Capt. Luke and Panalake Sport Fishing. Highly recommend for a great time fishing on Lake Gatun. Our group of 3 experienced professional North American fishing guides had a fantastic time fishing two full days with Capt. Luke. We enjoyed great numbers of peacock bass of mixed sizes along with honest cracks at hard-fighting snook and jack crevalle. Capt. Luke planned the trips around fishing both live baits and artificials, so no matter a person's fishing experience they are sure to have a wonderful time. Capt. Luke's professionalism, courtesy, and a well-equipped full-time fishing operation located close to prime fishing areas has us anxious to return for another awesome adventure.
Went fishing with Capt. Luke on Gatun Lake in Panama. This is my fourth time fishing Gatun Lake, so I at least knew it would be fun. Capt. Luke did a great job of getting me into fish and we caught several peacock bass. I took my father-in-law on this trip also, who had never fished, and Capt. Luke was great with him and he also caught fish. Capt. Luke was very professional, kind, and really wanted to ensure we caught lots of fish. Do not be fooled by Capt. Luke's young age. He is one of the most knowledgeable fishing guides I have come across, and I have used several over the years. You will not be disappointed booking a trip with him.
Luke and Panalake Sport Fishing exceeded our expectations. Not just the fishing but the entire experience. Myself and 2 friends stayed in the lake cabin his family owns and the accommodations were really great, and everyone was so friendly and helpful. Can't say enough nice things about the family and the guide Luke. We caught a lot of fish in 2 days, but even if the fishing wouldn't have been awesome (and it was) the whole experience and Luke's knowledge made for 2 very memorable days. Highly recommend and I can't wait to go back!
We were with Captain Luke last February. My sister and friend TS, not known for their fishing prowess. Within 20 minutes, both were squealing with enjoyment. I think we totalled 37 on the boat and probably a dozen escapes. Captain Luke prefers sustainability, but we kept 2 for dinner. Respect, safety, and absolute fun. That's how Captain Luke rolls!
Oh my goodness, did we ever have the best time with Captain Luke! We caught so many fish that, despite the fact that we were going to enjoy a fish fry just after, we started throwing them back. They were beautiful! There were various sizes, we all had just the best time. So relaxing. Luke knew exactly where to take us and when we should move locations! We can't wait to do it again! Definitely take this trip, you'll be so glad you did. Stay for dinner by the way and eat the fish that you caught. A fantastic and wonderful experience.
I spent 3 days fishing with Luke. One day was a local competition. My target was the peacock bass, and Luke sure did not let me down, with many fish being caught each day. Luke has a very experienced head for a young skipper, and certainly knows his stuff. Will certainly return when back in Panama.
My first fishing trip with Panalake Sport Fishing was simply 10/10. I went with my brother, both of us having absolutely no experience, and Luke made everything easy and fun. He's very patient, attentive, and you can tell he loves what he does. He taught us from scratch, was always ready to help, was punctual, has everything very well organized, and knows all the best fishing spots. He also provides snacks and water during the trip, which is much appreciated. I 100% recommend him for both beginners and experienced anglers. I would definitely go back. Excellent service and a great experience!
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could be yours.
Book a trip and we'll send you the catch shots after every day on the water.