goal: trophy roosterfish for a fiberglass replica

Besides lose weight and make sure I don’t get COVID, the same goals I have had for the last two years, I’ve added a few more to my list 2022. I think they’re obtainable, but not easy, so bear with me as I try to make them happen.

Roosterfish art

We don’t have many spots left on the wall, so all that real estate is precious, but I am holding a space for my roosterfish replica. We have a return trip to Panama scheduled for November, and I’m praying that a big, fat, roosterfish bites my bait, on my turn, stays hooked and ends up the boat. I also hope that it’s a pretty one -- that the yellow, the blue/green and the purple colors glisten in order to demonstrate its real beauty.

The best sailfishing in the world is at Casa Vieja Lodge Guatemala

Catch a sailfish on my own

I can’t wait to get back to Guatemala. I want to take what I learned about catching a sailfish on our last trip and do it on my own. This is what I remember: When the captain yells out that he sees a sailfish come up in the spread, and indicates where it is – you take the rod and release the rigged ballyhoo in the same line as the teaser. Hopefully the “hot” sailfish bites, then let them have it, free spool for a 5 count and then engage the reel. Most importantly, DON’T SET THE HOOK, just let it come taut. They often run in groups so even when someone is hooked up don’t take your eyes off of what is going on because there may be another. Doubles and triples (and a possible quad) are part of the game.

Backing up the boat

We all might want to leave 2021 behind but I need to get behind the wheel and learn how to back the boat in the water. I want to drive up to the ramp, not have that pit in my stomach, dump the boat into the water and not feel like a load of bricks fell off my shoulders. This needs to become second nature. I need to take the bull by the horns. There is no way to get better at this other than to practice. This means I need to get my writing done during the week and get my ass up and go fishing in any kind of weather. I need to be helpful when I go fishing with others, even if it is only on occasion. I’m willing to take instruction from anyone other than Pete.

I want to write a widely-read blog post in 2022

Going viral

No, I will not be taking my clothes off, but I would like one of my blogs, pictures or videos to go viral. Not just for my sake but also for Half Past First Cast, to really put us out there as the equipment, information, travel gurus of the fishing world.

There are so many websites out there but I really think that Half Past First Cast is unique and we want anyone and everyone who thought they couldn’t or didn’t know how to be able to take that trip or purchase that equipment to let us help them along the way.

Catch a tarpon

Have you ever caught a tarpon? I tried catching a tarpon, a few years ago, on a vacation in the British Virgin Islands but those suckers are skittish. Every night we would turn on the lights under the catamaran on and you would see ten to twelve Tarpon just staring at the boat. We would throw our bait out and the fish would swim up to it, look at it….and turn away, each and every time. Maybe we didn’t have the right tackle, the right line or hooks but this just gave us a mission and a new species to go after. After a little research and a recommendation from our friend Elliott Stark, Half Past First Cast is going to Islamorada Florida to fish with Captain Mark Cockerham and Key Hopper Charters. After speaking with Captain Mark, I felt like I had known him for years and he assured us that he will put us on tarpon and other species of fish and will go home with more notches on our belt.

FYI, I have a few more spots open on this May 14 to 18, 2022, trip. Shoot me an email if you’d like to join.

Take THAT picture

I want to be in the right place, at the right time and have my eye to the camera. I want to take an absolutely flawless, eye catching, badass picture that you can’t stop admiring. If that means putting down the rod to make this happen, get out in nature more to find perfection or just always having the camera with me for that “just in case” moment, that’s what I will do.

As much as I know you all love to read my blogs, I know you would much rather oooooh and ahhhhhh over my photography. The places I go and the things I see should really be seen, and not just by me. Maybe my favorite picture won’t be your favorite picture but I would love to hear your opinions.

Happy New Year to one and all. We would love for your goals to come to fruition too. It pays to dream big! Please let us know if Half Past First Cast can help in any way, shape or form.