What is a Panga ?
Panga is the name for the heavy duty fiberglass shallow draft fishing boats used in the Cabo area. Many have recirculating bait tanks. They have rod holders built into the sides of the boat. Powered by 70hp to 90hp outboard motors. Also, they are equipped with collapsible sunblock that can be opened to provide shade.
Panga means "long blade" or machete' in Africa! Because of the boat's shape it was named Panga by the consumers! In addition, it's because they slice thru the waves like a Panga. Central & South Americans have adopted this name for these boats as well.
What is Punta Gorda ?
Angling Abroad: Cabo's great panga fishing
(from ESPN article)
SAN JOSE DEL CABO, Mexico — Neon blue dorado with bright yellow tails jump just for the joy of jumping. Find a school of them, then hold onto your rod, because they hit anything cast into the water.
Wahoo breach 20 feet into the air, making scorching runs and are scrumptious to dine upon.
Tuna fight deep and pull and pull and pull until you think your arms are nearly yanked from their sockets.
Marlin and sailfish makes towering acrobatics, tail-walk across the surface and a large one fights almost forever.
All of these and roosterfish, sierra, pargo, amberjack and large grouper are caught at Gordo Banks, eight miles off the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula. Combined they make the area surrounding San Jose del and the neighboring resort city of Cabo San Lucas — otherwise known as Cabo — one of the best fishing spots in the world.
"These fish make epic battles towing the panga tens of miles, often lasting all day and far into the night." |