LEGENDS OF LOS BUZOS

Since we started at Los Buzos 24 years ago we have been blessed with a variety of contributors who helped shape and create what we are today. Some brought wisdom and experience for our benefit after stellar careers of their own elsewhere while others started their careers here with us and took their skills and experience on to new heights and adventures. We want to take some time to recognize them so that all who follow will know about the LEGENDS OF LOS BUZOS.

THE PIONEERS

Captain Richard Putnam

After a stellar career in the Gulf of Mexico including an unprecedented tournament run on The Punchlist, Richard helped us dial in on the very different fishery here in Panama. Had it not been for his constant commentary on Panama during our tournament years I probably would have turned down the consulting job that led to my discovery of Panama and Los Buzos. That experience bore fruit as we learned the key to Los Buzos – the fish – including the marlin- are in our back yard, not miles offshore as was our experience. Captain Richard is enjoying retirement in Alabama but still returns to Los Buzos annually to put on training seminars on rigging baits, handling and targeting big game fish.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Captain Skip gained fame early on as “the guy” at world famous Bud n Mary’s in the keys and later travelled the world as a Big Game Sportfishing Captain. Skip gets credit for “Discovering” the potential of Vaca our home reef that makes us a unique paddle out kayak fishing destination. Prior to Skips stint here most trips run by locals and ourselves simply passed by this amazing fishery and maybe stopped to throw a popper or two. Stuck here for an extended period when we only had a small panga Skip put his versatile inshore skills to work at Vaca and we soon learned that we had an amazing fishery just behind the lodge. Without this discovery I would have been highly skeptical when the next phase came along. These days when not travelling the world Skip still fishes the waters around Islamorada where on my last trip with him, he delivered a flats grand slam for me in less than a half a day.

THE KAYAK YEARS

Robert Field

Where do we begin with Robert? Robert’s epic stories literally put us on the map in the kayak fishing world. To this day no one captures and conveys the fishing experience like Robert and his epic dramas of his trips at Los Buzos introduced us to the kayak world and continues to bring people back to experience Los Buzos. Its amazing how many newcomers arrive and start telling us things about Los Buzos that even we don’t recall – of course they have watched all of his episodes and are anxiously awaiting the next.

OFF THE WATER

Ovidio Diaz

Ovidio hosted my first visit to Panama, my first fishing trip in Panama and my first visit to Los Buzos. Needless to say, we would not exist today had it not been for his early advice and encouragement. Subsequently Ovidio became our first manager and oversaw the construction of our original 6 room lodge – each room with 4 bunks that many of you recall from the early days. Today Ovidio is a leader in the tourism industry and holds the position of President of the Panama National Chamber of Commerce. Most recently Ovidio hosted a Presidential debate 100% on tourism for Panama. That is a far cry from 2001 when he and I were trying to convince people Panama was even an option.

Chef Jose Carles

Jose was chef #1 in Los Buzos. Prior to his arrival at Los Buzos straight out of culinary school in Costa Rica I had barely held down the cooking duties not daring to call myself a chef. Under Jose’s direction we learned that the food could be a major part of the Los Buzos experience. His flan recipe is still around to this day and of course we still live by the farm/ocean to table dining experience for which Jose is now one of the most famous chefs in Latin America. On your next trip to Panama stop by and check out Jose’s latest award-winning restaurant Fonda Lo Que Hay in Casco Viejo