"There are five or six fishing tournaments in Panama every
year," hotel and real estate magnate Herman Bern noted, "but none of
them in fresh water." Given that the crown jewel in his portfolio, the Gamboa
Rainforest Resort, is on the Chagres River just on the other side of the bridge
from the Panama Canal's ship channel, one might expect that he'd want to change
that. And he will.
The first annual Gamboa Rainforest Resort Fishing Tournament
will take place May 5 and 6 on the Chagres and in Gatun Lake, with fishing boats
departing from Bern's upscale resort and returning to weigh their catches at
the same place. The competition will feature seven categories and three species
(tarpon, snook and peacock bass), with prizes for the biggest fish rather than
the greatest number caught.
The tournament, in which people with their own boats are encouraged
to use the resort's boat launch and for which the resort's boats may be rented,
has the support of a number of corporate sponsors and the government's National
Institute of Sports (INDE). Speaking for INDE, recreational sports director
Guillermo Vleig noted that the government views this first event as a stepping
stone to a big international tournament to coincide with the Republic of Panama's
centennial in 2003. "It promotes Panama's image abroad," Vleig noted.
The prizes for the tournament are in the form of boats, fishing
tackle and other goods rather than cash, which add up to more than $7,000 in
value. All of the nation's major fishing clubs are taking part, as are the principal
sports fishing equipment vendors.
The final weigh-in will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday May 6,
after which there will be a big barbecue at the resort's activities center.
