I love hosting fishing trips to great places because it gives me a front row seat when anglers – experts and novices alike – make their catches of a lifetime. I was fortunate to see a bunch of them in 2024, and here are some of my favorites.

During our most recent trip to Panama, I had the thrill of watching my friends Lisa Vicars and Tammi Hill reel in a 180 pound yellowfin. They’re both petite but in good shape, which proves that it’s not about sheer mass, but rather technique and willpower.

We are fortunate that the Half Past First Cast family includes lots of women — of all experience levels — who love to travel and fish. Here are a few of the ones who’ve gone on the most trips with us.

Part of the fun of traveling to distant fishing destinations, especially ones that we’ve visited before, is living those experiences through others’ eyes. We were fortunate to be joined in Panama by Carl and Lisa Vicars. Carl saw a post that I made on Bass Boat Central, reached out, and booked two spots the next day. Making that even more impressive, it was their first time out of the country.