Bahia Solano Saltwater
2026 TRIP REPORT

Group Size:  4 anglers + host

On May 1st, I returned from an incredible fishing trip to Bahía Solano, Colombia.

We were fishing with Afloat, a premier outfitter in Colombia. They have a few peacock bass operations in the jungle, including a peacock bass and payara trip.

This fishing trip was a saltwater adventure at Bahia Solana, located on the Pacific Coast about 80 miles south of the Panamanian border. Four guests, Dave, Torsten, Bob, and Dan, and I arrived in Medellin on Thursday, April 23rd. The outfitter had arranged for us to stay at the Hotel Deiz, a very nice place, within walking distance of many restaurants.

We took a very interesting tour of the city on Friday. Then on Saturday, a driver met us at our hotel for the short 15-minute drive to Olaya Herrera Airport for our 40-minute flight to Bahía Solano. The small plane held about 20 passengers, which added a bit of adventure to the trip. Also joining us was Daniel, Afloat’s social media manager, who traveled with us for a couple of days to capture photos and videos for their marketing program. He did a fantastic job documenting all the action!

We left the hotel dressed in our fishing clothes, ready for the day ahead. As we landed in Bahía Solano, we were met by Juan, our head guide for the week, and driven a short distance to the marina, where we boarded our two fishing boats. Our luggage was transferred to the Lodge separately.

We planned our trip for 4.5 days of fishing, which I’d say is about the right amount of time for this destination.

Edwin was our captain aboard one of the boats, a 30-foot open boat with a T-top for sun protection and comfortable seating. It was perfectly suited for the type of fishing we’d be doing on this adventure. Powered by twin 300 HP outboards, it could troll slowly when needed or accelerate quickly to chase schools of feeding Yellowfin Tuna.

Carlucho captained the second boat, a 26-foot open design very similar to the larger boat, just slightly smaller. It also featured a T-top for limited sun protection and was powered by twin 150 HP engines. It moved quickly when needed and proved to be an excellent fishing platform as well.

On the first day, we ran a few miles outside the bay and quickly found schools of tuna exploding on the surface as they fed on sardines. It’s a spectacular sight to witness that kind of action!

The captains positioned the boats close to the feeding schools of Tuna, and the guys cast spinning rods rigged with poppers, jigs, and subsurface lures. At times, both anglers would hook up at once. Some fish came unhooked, but the ones that stayed connected provided an unforgettable fight. Occasionally, one angler would even hand off the rod to his fishing partner to take a break. One tuna took two anglers 3 hours and 20 minutes to land!

These were big tuna—ranging from 50 to 150 pounds—and on spinning gear, every fish was a serious battle.

That day also brought a truly special encounter with a 20-foot whale shark that swam right alongside the boat. Being that close to such an incredible animal was spectacular.

One boat landed four Yellowfin, and the other boat landed three Yellowfin, which was a great start to the fishing trip!

Anigua Beach House (the Lodge) is rustic, but very comfortable. We had separate rooms with hot-water showers and views of the bay. There was no air conditioning, but ceiling fans kept the rooms comfortable, and the evening temperatures cooled enough for a good night’s sleep.

Afloat’s operation is owned by two brothers, who happened to be at the Lodge during our stay, overseeing a major upgrade to their 38-foot Bertram yacht. They were replacing the aging diesel engines with three 300 HP four-stroke outboards and making several other significant improvements.

The Lodge supplies bottled water, soft drinks, and beer, while wine and other alcoholic beverages are available at an additional cost.

Everyone in our group agreed that the food was exceptional. The chef, Magdalena, was the same talented cook who had been with Afloat’s operation on the Tomo River when I visited in January 2024, so I already knew we were in for a treat. The meals there had been outstanding as well.

During our second day of fishing, we stayed inside the bay until around noon, trolling live bait for sailfish. We used spinning rods for the sails, which made for an exciting morning. A couple were hooked, but unfortunately the guys couldn't bring them to the boat. Later, we headed back offshore, where both boats got into some more quality yellowfin tuna action.

Daniel's Video of our Tuna Action

The next day, we headed offshore to troll live bait and cast lures along the spectacular coastline. While the fishing was slower than we had hoped, the scenery alone made the day worthwhile.

We caught a few small snappers—one of which we kept for an appetizer—along with some small groupers, a bonita, and a few other species. Torsten also landed a nice Jack Crevalle in the 10- to 15-pound range.

No roosterfish were caught, which all of us had been hoping for. I believe the inshore fishing can be very productive at times; it just didn’t come together during our visit.

On our final day of fishing, we once again trolled live bait inside the bay. Between the two boats, the four anglers landed an impressive nine sailfish! Fighting these fish on spinning rods was an absolute blast.

In the past, most of my sailfish fishing had been with heavy conventional tackle, so this was a fun change of pace. The spinning rods had plenty of backbone, and the reels, spooled with 100-pound braided line, were more than capable of handling these powerful fish.

After the sailfish action, we headed outside the bay in the early afternoon, where schools of yellowfin tuna were feeding surprisingly close by. A couple of other sportfishing boats were working the same area, along with about ten local boats from the community, harvesting tuna for personal use and commercial sale. The catch is flown to Medellín for market.

The next morning, after breakfast, we left the Lodge for a 15-minute boat ride to the town of Bahía Solano to prepare for our flight back to Medellín. Before heading to the airport, we spent about 20 minutes driving around town to get a feel for the area, which was both interesting and worthwhile.

After arriving in Medellín, we were transferred to Hotel Diez. Bob and Dan later took an Uber to Comuna 13, an area we had visited during our earlier city tour that’s known for its street art, food vendors, and small shops catering to tourists.

That evening, the five of us gathered for one final nice dinner and said our goodbyes, as our flights the next morning had us leaving for the airport at different times.

I’m planning another hosted trip to Bahía Solano next April, and we’re still working out the details. Guy Schoenborn and I are always happy to answer any questions you may have about this unique fishing adventure.

Bahia Solano 2027 Hosted Week:

5 nights / 4.5 days guided fishing
$5,200 per person
• April 10-17, 2027
Brad Staples hosts

Book anytime.
You are not limited to our hosted weeks.
(Rate is subject to change.)

Brad Staples
Cell: (503) 250-0558
1-800-205-3474  ext. 3
Email:  brad@fishingwithlarry.com

Guy Schoenborn
Cell: (406) 698-0874
1-800-205-3474 ext. 3
Email:  guy@fishingwithlarry.com

Request a Bahía Solano
Information Packet  

Bob with his first Sailfish of the trip.

It's a 40-minute Flight from Medellin to Bahía Solano.

We fished from a 26-foot Boat with a T-top.

Host Brad Staples, Bob, and Dan with a Yellowfin Tuna

Edwin, the Captain, with one of our group's tuna (150 lbs)

Anigua Beach House

Torsten with Yellowfin Tuna

Torsten with a Sailfish

Dan with a Sailfish

Group Shot and Dave with a Yellowfin Tuna

Brad Staples with Yellowfin Tuna + Dave and Torsten.

Join Brad's 2027 Hosted Week

Visit Bahia Solano's main page.