| Panga! |
by Ed Kunze
In Mexico, the two words “panga” and “fishing” are synonymous. In all of history, there probably has never been a style of boat, of similar size, that has been as versatile and has caught as many fish as the Mexican panga. That statement may raise a few eyebrows, because the panga has only been around the last 50 years or so. However, when you consider that Mexico has some of the richest waters in the world for fishing, the worldwide demand for fish, the advent of the outboard engine, and the thousands of pangas fishing these waters, it is not a statement to be taken lightly.
What is a panga? A panga is a style and size of a boat that is usually 24 to 26 feet in length. It features a bow that rakes
down sharply, creating a deep vee at the water line. With a squared off stern for an outboard motor, the floor is honeycombed with cross bracing, and is rarely over 7 feet in width. The rails are curved upward to help lift the bow up out of the water for a dry ride, even when running at higher speeds. Simple in design, inexpensive in it’s fiberglass construction, bulletproof in durability, the panga has become the boat of choice for fisherman on every Mexican coastline.
It is not very clear where the word panga is derived from, but it appears to come from a succession of small boats that historically worked the Mexican waters. The older men I have talked to say it is a shortened version of the word “pequeña” (small) and “lancha” (boat). First, there was the canoa, a small boat with pointed ends and a wide middle. Smaller, yet squatter than its northern cousin, the canoa is still used today. You can observe several canoas each morning, in many of the bays all over Mexico, as the lone fisherman uses his cast net to provide for his family. Then a mid-sized boat developed, called the pango. It had a squared off stern and a wider beam than the canoa, yet was always less than 12 foot long. This larger, yet very light boat, allowed for a couple of people to fish. Instead of a paddle, oars or even one of the new prototype small outboard motors that were becoming popular were used for propulsion. When outboard motors started gaining popularity, a new boat had to be designed to handle the heavier sizes and bigger horsepower of the engines. Partially as a cross between the old pangos and the lifeboats used on the big ships, the panga was created. It was created to specifically handle a large outboard engine and be able to take its owner safely out to sea.
The panga is so popular and versatile that a new breed of fishermen was created: the pangero. The pangeros use their boat for just about anything you could imagine. Included among the things a panga is used for on a regular basis is: setting nets, commercial fishing offshore for tuna, night fishing with a gas lantern for red snapper on an inshore reef, or taking tourists out for a day of fishing. The panga is also used as a taxi for people to get to an island or remote beach, snorkel or skin-dive for octopus and lobsters, or as a work boat to load and haul construction materials.
The pangero is a fisherman who pits his luck against the sea, and wins. Life is hard in a country like Mexico. The skills the pangero must attain to make a living, make many a good fisherman with an expensive boat and a full set of electronics look like an amateur. Gas is currently over two dollars a gallon in Mexico. Imagine how difficult it must be to travel out 25 to 45 miles and catch enough fish to just pay for the gas consumed, in order to be able to fish tomorrow.
These men love their work and they love to fish, but the pressure to find the fish is incredible. Only the absolute best can survive, with the average fishermen being weeded out very quickly. The pangero must have skills, honed to perfection, to catch fish day in and day out, or they do not eat.
Most commercial pangeros in Ixtapa/ Zihuatanejo use a “no frills” model panga. There is no shade cover and they are completely exposed to the elements. Powered by a single 48 to 75 horse power engine with a pull rope start, there is no radio, and usually they only have a compass. In just the last couple of years, a few of them have obtained a hand held GPS. To make things a little easier for them, they will place a section of PVC pipe over the tiller handle. This allows them to stand on the bench seat and watch for birds or breaking fish. An auto pilot is not going to happen, so they tie off a rope on the back of the motor and a bungee chord in front. This places pressure on the outdrive, making it harder to steer. But, it holds a decent course for traveling long distances, with very little effort by the pangero. Instrumentation for reading temperature breaks is not needed, the floor of the panga tells his bare feet the water temperature. A live well is located under the stern platform. The live well does not have a bait pump, just a couple of holes in the bottom of the boat to circulate the water. When he stops for any length of time, an occasional bucket of water keeps the bait alive.
To fish on a panga, with the pangero as your guide, is an experience every adventurous fisherman must do at least a few times in his lifetime. Because of the panga’s abilities, several fishermen who are veterans to Mexico’s sport fishing, use nothing else. In a panga, with a good pangero, there is no problem catching blue marlin, giant tuna, and sailfish offshore. Then, with the same boat, they can also fish inshore, and right up against the rocks or the surfline for pargo and roosterfish. Several of these experienced fishermen have money enough to fish on anything they want, but for fishing in its purest form, they prefer the panga.
For a first time fisherman going to Mexico, it would probably be best to book through a reputable outfitter. He knows the boats, your needs, and the best captains. After you have been here a few times, feel free to contact the pangeros direct. You will be dialed in and will have comfort level for what you want. The only thing to remember is to book in advance during the “high season”. The really good captains are usually booked out, and are fishing every day.
The panga is here to stay and future generations of pangeros will learn from their Fathers. The cycle will repeat itself, because your sons will be fishing with them and enjoying the same experiences you had. And, the basic design of the panga will remain unchanged. The simplicity and versatility of the panga assures it of a place in history.
Ed Kunze is a charter boat captain himself and writes this column from his own expertise and personal knowledge of the captains and their boats. He lives in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo year round and can be reached at 554-4876 or edkunze@prodigy.net.mx
For more information on Captain Ed and his boats go to www.sportfishing-ixtapa.com or www.zihuatanejo.net/seaandsand
December 2003 |
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