Why Half Past First Cast?
The idea for this website arose when we both realized that we were approaching our 50th birthdays. We’ve been fortunate to visit some incredible places, meet wonderful people and catch lots of exotic fish, but there’s still a lot more that we want to do and see.
The truth is that once you’ve made your first cast, you have a finite number of casts left in your life. The trick is to make the most of them. The one thing that makes us all equal is time – whether you’re a billionaire or a pauper, there are only 24 hours in your day.
While those people who are wealthy beyond belief or have unlimited free time may not have constraints on their ability to chase their fishing dreams, most of us do not have those luxuries. Our money is finite. We have jobs that don’t want to let us get away. We have families and other obligations. If you allow those factors to prevent you from living your dreams, though, you’re just making excuses.
Our goal in developing this website is to share some of our dreams, some of the experiences we’ve enjoyed, and some ways that you can live your best fishing life going forward. We’re planning to make the most of our remaining casts, and hope you’ll join us for the journey.
Pete & Hanna
Pete Robbins
Birthdate: February 20, 1970
Why I Fish: It must be a recessive gene. No one in my family fished, but it’s all I’ve wanted to do since I was 6 years old.
Favorite Color: Silver Metalflake
Most Memorable Fish: 29 pound payara (aka, Vampire Fish) in Mato Grosso, Brazil, September 2019.
Bassmaster Classic Walkup Music: Either “Tumbling Dice” by The Rolling Stones or “It’s Tricky” by Run DMC
Favorite Domestic Fishing Locations: California Delta; Lake Winnipesaukee, NH; Bristol Bay, AK
Favorite International Fishing Locations: Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama; Zambezi River, Zambia; Lake El Salto, Mexico
Bucket List Fishing Destinations: Seychelles Islands or Oman for Giant Trevally.
Bucket List Non-Fishing Destinations: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia
Death Row Meal: Kung Pao chicken, Diet Dr Pepper, pumpkin pie
Surprising Facts: I’ve been published in Goat Rancher Magazine and on the website for a pet crematorium.
Hanna Robbins
Birthdate: November 1, 1968
Why I Fish: It’s the most fun you can have with your clothes on and I have to beat Pete.
Favorite Color: Orange and anything that isn’t metalflake.
Most Memorable Fish: 14 pound Tiger Fish on the Zambezi River, Zambia (Fall 2016). it was the largest one caught that season at the lodge and now it’s mounted and hung above the mantel.
Bassmaster Classic Walkup Music: “American Girl” by Tom Petty
Favorite Domestic Fishing Locations: Lake Winnipesaukee, NH; Bitterroot River, Darby, MT
Favorite International Fishing Locations: Rio Negro, Brazil; Zambezi River, Zambia; Lake El Salto, Mexico
Bucket List Fishing Destinations: Alaska for rockfish, halibut and lingcod (caught salmon and trout there in 2020!)
Bucket List Non-Fishing Destinations: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Germany, Russia, China and Antarctica (Alaska, New Mexico and North Dakota – last 3 states to hit all 50).
Death Row Meal: Deep dish sausage pizza, combination fried rice and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.
Surprising Facts: I was in a McDonald’s commercial and I have been to six of seven continents.
Our Partners
Partner With Us
If you think that your business, organization, guide service or lodge could benefit from an association with us, please email fishmore@halfpastfirstcast.com today to get the ball rolling. We're always looking to create new partnerships that allow us to enjoy distinctive fishing experiences and tell new stories.