Any suggestions for a spearo retiring in Central America? I have been looking at the Bay Islands of Honduras but hear it's pretty fished out and spearfishing is prohibited, I'm waiting for the report from Panama. Not really looking for a tourist area but more of a place I can blend in with the locals. Panama, Costa Rica, Caribbean, Pacific? What say you?
Bo
Good place to retire in Central America
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They all have pluses and minuses. What do you like to hunt?
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I'm going to retire here in Belize. It wasn't a well thought out choice. I came here to work and now have a fairly large adopted family that would be hard to relocate.
It's kind of expensive to live here. Protectionist economy so everything is taxed coming in. Gas is over US$5 per gallon. Wetsuits, guns, shafts etc etc all have to come through customs.
You need a fair amount of gas to spear here unless you live in San Pedro or Caye Caulker, but it's even more expensive to live there so that would offset your gas savings. The reef is 12-20 miles out from the mainland. -
LunkerBuster...I like to hit the beaches and shallow reefs for snapper, grouper, lobster. I've never done the bluewater, but it's not out of the question.
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What about Panama? You have the Pacific and the Gulf side to dive. I had some friends buy a place on the beach and a place in the hills. That way they could move to a different location if the weather wasn't what they wanted. The 2 homes were still cheaper then one home in the states and they use the US dollar so you don't need to worry about exchange rates dropping.
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Thanks Hookinfish, good info, and confirms what I am hearing too. Last year there was a good article on MSN about Americans retiring in Panama.
Bo -
PANAMA
Look at Bahia Honda. New development in the north. You could be on the Hannibal bank or Cobia Island and be back at home in the same day. Last I heard a few years ago it was just getting started.
I was there for 3 months in 2003 and the fishing was Awesome. Saw a Wahoo in the first 30 seconds of my first dive. And it just got better from there. 200 + lb Tuna and TOOOO many others to nameI live in Belize and I don’t recommend it for retirement.
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Did you decide on anything? I am curious about this to. Not quite retiring but want to get away from things for a year or two (or a lifetime).
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Have not done anything yet, I've just returned to the U.S. after a one year assignment in the South Pacific. But it looks like Bay Islands (Guanja) is like alot of other places either over-fished or over regulated.
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So where did you end up and how is it?
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Hey Dan, I was looking at this post thinking what a great thread then realized it was mine, ha ha. For a few years I had hoped to make a trip to Panama and check it out but life got in the way and still have not made it to Panama yet. But I'm back working in the Marshall Islands on Kwajalein Atoll and not too bad, at age 61 feels like semi-retirement, chasing the doggies around is pretty addictive.
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Costa Rica
Panama ( i'm staying there for the WE: TUNA BONANZA!)
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That would be so much fun, Panama/YFT is on the list.
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