Let us start with the USA Legal Definition from uslegal.com: Pursuant to 16 USCS § 1802 (3), [Title 16. Conservation; Chapter 38. Fishery Conservation and Management; Generally] the term charter fishing means “fishing from a vessel carrying a passenger for hire (as defined in section 2101(21a) of title 46, United States Code) who is engaged in recreational fishing.” To put it in less legal terms: A fishing charter then is an entire boat chartered (adjective) carrying you or your group only, that you have hired to engage in recreational fishing. A key concept to a charter at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge is that it is private. You or your group has one of our World Cat boats with an assigned captain and mate. We may have other groups at the lodge, but the fishing experience will be unique to your group. Fishing in the Gulf of Chiriquí, Panama is unique, as you might expect, to other recreational fishing locations in the world. Easy to get to the lodge Generally calm seas year around. Relatively short runs to prime fishing grounds. There are over 50 species of game fish.