Many American bass anglers like to travel to the Brazilian Amazon to fish for peacock bass, wolffish and payara

Even though neither of my parents traveled abroad until they were in their twenties, I was fortunate to be born into a family where international travel was an expected part of life. Indeed, among my nuclear family – my parents, my brother and myself – I have probably been to the fewest total number of countries, even though going abroad is one of my passions. Even my 17 year old niece has likely been to more countries than I have.

Fortunately, I have a lot of runway left ahead of me to visit more, and I intend to do so. At the same time, I realize that a lot of you may not have been to many countries outside of the US, if any. The reasons may be varied, to include finances and fear and family obligations, or some combination thereof. No one can force you to leave your homeland, but I’m here to tell you that it will make you a better and a more fulfilled person. It will also help you to increase your appreciation of many things about your home country.

On our second trip to Panama last year, one of the couples (both in their thirties) in our group were venturing outside of the US for the first time. It was the perfect first option — Not only was it exceedingly safe and the fishing exceptional, but it opened their eyes to all of the opportunities they’d been missing. Shortly thereafter the husband went to Lake Picachos in Mexico, and they’re both headed back to Panama this year. I don’t like to take too much credit for their broadened horizons, because I was simply a witness to the process, but it was a privilege to see their world opened and expanded.

I’d love to see some more first-timers on our subsequent trips to Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Panama and elsewhere. Even if you don’t go with us, reach out and let us assuage any fears or concerns that you might have. Sometimes everyone needs a little push.

Why Should You Go on an International Fishing Trip?

There’s lots of great fishing in the United States. Indeed, I’ve fished in a majority of the states, and for all sorts of different species, and I still haven’t touched a fraction of the opportunities that I want to try sooner rather than later. So why is it important to go abroad? Here are some of what I believe to be the most compelling reasons:

Wealth of Species – We’re fortunate in America to have a lot of fishing opportunities, saltwater and freshwater, warm water and cold. Yet There are certain species and styles of fishing that are not just better elsewhere, but markedly better. Sure there are some peacock bass here, but nothing like what you’ll find in the jungles of South America. There’s great sailfishing off Florida, but it doesn’t compare to the day-to-day in Guatemala. And some species – like Golden Dorado or taimen simply aren’t available here.
It’ll Make You a Better Angler – I can say that my many trips to Lake El Salto have made me a better bass angler when I’m fishing stateside – not least of all because I’ve gotten a wealth of experience using techniques like ultra-deep-diving crankbaits and swimbaits that I rarely use at home. At the same time, I can tell you that my tuna trips in Central America have taught me more about how to use spinning tackle, and my trout/salmon trips to Alaska (not foreign, but nonetheless remote) have helped me become a much better angler in current.
It’ll Make You a Better Person – Getting outside of your comfort zone, having to understand people on their turf, makes you more humble, more flexible and more grateful. If it doesn’t, you need more help than just a vacation.
It’ll Make You a Better American – I’m frequently baffled when I hear people who’ve never been out of the country say, “This is the greatest country on earth.” How do they know. Throughout my travels in the first, second and third world, I’ve come to greatly appreciate things about my country that I didn’t previously value so much, and I’ve also seen some things that could be improved.
The Cost Need Not be Overwhelming – You can go to Mexico or Canada for approximately the same price as a premium fishing trip within the United States. Search out bargains to prime locations. The more time you put it off, the more of any opportunity cost that you pay.
The World is Increasingly Connected – If you were cautious about going to another country in the past because you’d be isolated and unable to connect to work or family, those days are over. With smart phones and tools like WhatsApp, except in the most remote places you can always be available if an emergency should occurs – either an emergency that involves you, or one that concerns you.
Opportunities are Both Expanding and Going Away – It’s never been more possible to go to a variety of places across the globe. There are more developed fisheries and outfitters than at any time in history. At the same time, some of the places that you might want to visit most could evaporate due to political or environmental conditions. GO WHILE YOU CAN!

It is easy to get a United States passport expedited

The FIRST Thing You Should Do

Even if I haven’t 100 percent convinced you that you should go overseas on a fishing trip, if you’re even considering it, promise me that you will do ONE thing this week: GET A PASSPORT.

In recent months I’ve had two friends who’d never been out of the US who were offered bucket list fishing trips to foreign countries. Both called me to inquire about how to obtain a passport most expeditiously. One had enough lead time that he was able to take a (fully comped) dream fly fishing trip. The other one was too late and ended up staying at home (and I’d bet he still doesn’t have a passport). Start the process NOW so that you have no excuses if and when the opportunity arises – and upon receipt it should spur you to start planning.

If you’re an overachiever, also look into services like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.

The Second Thing You Should Do

Go get a physical and possibly consult a travel health service. Many of us do not take care of our health as well as we should, and few of us enjoy seeing the doctor. For several years prior to getting married I avoided getting an annual physical – to Hanna’s credit, she got me back on track. This is critical for two reasons: first, you want to know what sorts of trips you’re capable of taking; and second, for travel to some countries you’ll be required or advised to take certain precautions (vaccinations, anti-malarial drugs, etc.). Make sure that you’re up to date on all of the basics and in decent health – and as I’ve found out, the trips give me another great reason to stay healthy.

Getting through immigration in Third World countries can be challenging for first time travelers

How to Pick the Right First Fishing Trip Abroad

Maybe you’ve dreamed of a marlin fishing trip to Portugal, a barramundi trip to Australia, or a chance to chase Nile Perch in Africa. If that’s the case, and you’ve done your research, go for it. If you’re still on the fence about international fishing travel, though, here are some factors to consider:

Language – If you’re not used to being outside of your comfort zone, try to minimize the variables that will complicate your trip. One of those is language. If you speak a foreign language, go somewhere that skill would be useful. If not, think about places where English is the main language or is otherwise widely spoken.
Go With Someone Who’s Been Before – Navigating the international landscape – customs, etc. – isn’t usually difficult, but if it’s your first time you might experience some jitters. Go with someone who’s been through the process (and possibly even the particular venue) before. That way there will be fewer surprises. For example, we’ve tried to break down arrival to and departure from the Mazatlán airport in detail simply to make our friends’ trips less stressful.
Read and Watch Videos – There is some value in surprise and whimsy on vacation, but when it comes to the travel factor, do your research ahead of time. That’ll point out some of the likely pitfalls, and any speed bumps you’re likely to encounter. Understand how things are supposed to progress and how you might respond if there are any hiccups.
Seek Out the ‘Wow Factor’ – Going to a resort in Cancun can be fun and relaxing – we’ve done it several times, and may again in the future – but it’s essentially an extension of America, just on foreign soil. If bass fishing is your jam, Mexico is a great “gateway trip,” but if you’re not committed to any one style of angling or species, go for an option that is unlike anything you can do at home.
Avoid Danger Zones – This is a good general rule, but I know that some of the thrill-seekers and true trophy hunters are willing to push safety concerns to the side if it means a chance at an unbelievable catch. If it’s your first trip, go someplace stable and proven so you can focus on the fishing and the fun. If you’re looking over your shoulder the entire time, or you’re worried about getting detained by a junta, that’s going to sour you on the opportunities.
Budget Appropriately – Particularly if financial concerns have been a major reason for your hesitancy to travel abroad, keep things within reason. Sure, it would be fun to take a $15,000 a week per person five-star jaunt to the Seychelles, but if it puts a damper on your ability to pay your mortgage, that’s no bueno. It’ll hurt your enjoyment and more importantly it will hurt your ability to take future trips – and trust me, if you pick wisely the first time you’ll become an addict like me and need to keep the travel fund perpetually stocked.

Following up on that last point, the one reason that you shouldn’t go an international fishing trip (assuming that you love to fish) is that it’s addictive. It’s a drain on my wallet, my time and my energy — but in case you can’t tell from this website, it’s an obsession that I refuse to medicate.