The Introvert’s Guide to Fishing Travel

I am an introvert. Growing up, there wasn’t really a name for it. People like me were told that we were too shy, not outgoing enough, or needed to be more sociable. Many of us internalized that and saw it as a defect, but now introversion is having a moment. Through books like Susan Cain’s Quiet, we’ve learned that while introversion can be difficult and even counterproductive at times, not only are there ways to deal with it, but in some situations it may actually provide evolutionary benefits.

Indeed, many of us who like to fish were social distancing long before there was a term for it. I don’t know if getting away from people was a big part of what attracted me to the sport, but it’s definitely something that I like about it. After a challenging week of work, I truly enjoy spending 10 or 12 hours in the boat by myself, alone on the water with my thoughts. I know many fellow anglers who can’t or won’t do that – they need the constant chatter to keep them going.

It’s not that I categorically dislike people. It’s just that dealing with them – even with people whose company I genuinely enjoy – drains my batteries. I need some “alone time” every day to recharge them. That’s easy to do when I’m at home, but not so easy when we’re on the road or on a trip with a group of friends. Accordingly, I’ve developed strategies where I can truly benefit from having fishing friends along with us, but not to the point where it overwhelms me. If you’re a fellow introvert, these may save your vacation. If you’re not an introvert, but you may have one in your life, perhaps some of these suggestions will make your trips together better.

Pick the Right Partners

Fishing alone is great — but remember you need someone to take the picture of your trophy catch.

It should go without saying that certain people are just incapable of toning their personalities down or ever shutting up. They may be great people and even better anglers, but if I have to spend 8, 10 or more hours in a confined space with them, I may end up plotting their demise. I couldn’t have a regular team tournament partner or a regular traveling partner who was a chatterbox. Hanna definitely talks more than I do, and she’s something of a verbal processor, but it’s not overwhelming, and she knows when to be quiet.

Pick the Right Kind of Trips

My father is not interested in fishing at all, but when I showed an interest in it as a kid, he used to take me on the New York party boats for bluefish and other species. It’s a remarkably inexpensive way to get someone into the sport, and while I valued getting the option to catch some hard-pulling fish, I also often felt overwhelmed by the number of people there. On the flip side, dad is a definite extrovert – even if he’d loved to fish, being around that diverse set of people would have been his primary attraction. Those early trips were a good compromise for us because it allowed both of us to get some enjoyment out of the process, but if you’re going to spend thousands of dollars on a bucket list trip, consider the type of outfit or location you’d prefer: One on one with a guide? A small lodge for four to eight people? A bigger outfit that can handle 30 or 40 at a time? Even if you’re not with them on the water, the time back at the bar and dinner may affect your overall enjoyment.

Assign Roles

One of the many benefits to having Hanna as my most frequent traveling partner is that our skill sets complement one another. When it comes to dealing with big picture issues, travel destinations and tackle planning, I can spend dozens of silent hours alone getting things organized. When we get to the point of brass tacks, particularly when dealing with a wide range of personalities, she’s more suited to the task. She’s more patient with people who don’t get things done, and she’s certainly more willing to stay on long-winded phone calls that would wear me out (yes, despite spending hours on the phone every day, my number one goal on every call I get on is to get it over with).

Tricks, Tools, and Toys

When my brother was a kid, he didn’t like peanuts or almonds. He definitely wasn’t allergic, but when he’d be at a restaurant or someone else’s house, he’d nevertheless say that an allergy prevented him from eating them. Why? Because it avoids uncomfortable conversations. I’ve used his early strategy to help me as an introvert for whom small talk creates a feeling of death and discomfort. While I’ve had great conversations on planes, as a general rule (particularly in the time of COVID) I want to avoid them. That’s why I usually pick an aisle seat, which cuts down the chances of those conversations in half. Other ways to do this? Get yourself a set of headphones or an eyeshade for sleep and people will generally leave you alone. If you’re on a charter boat with a group and you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, volunteer to be the photographer, and get in some out-of-the-way place, like on the tower, to get away from it all. Everyone will thank you for the great action shots of their leaping fish later.

Take Some Form of Siesta

Depending on where you are and what you’re fishing for, there may be an opportunity for a siesta. At most of the Mexican bass fishing lodges, they bring you in for lunch and a brief siesta before heading back out in the afternoon to fish until dark. At the saltwater lodges we’ve been to in places like Guatemala and Panama, there are usually a few hours to decompress, shower and enjoy happy hour after fishing but before eating dinner. If you’re an introvert, take advantage of these times, even if you’re not tired or don’t need a shower (spoiler alert: you probably need a shower).

Just Walk Away

It may sound silly to some of you, but every day provides a variable amount of energy to deal with people. There are days when they make the trip substantially better, and days when I need to reduce overall contact. In the midst of a great trip, even the introverted (my wife would say “grumpy” or “curmudgeonly”) Pete Robbins can get into the flow of storytelling and socializing, particularly if I’ve had a few alcoholic drinks. A big part of the ability to do so is that I’ve learned to manage my strengths/weaknesses, and also that our repeat traveler friends tend to be a pretty great group of people. Even in the best possible scenarios, though, I still get wiped out by people. Hanna has told me that it’s rude just to disappear from a gathering without saying anything, so the strategy I’ve settled on is to just say, “I’m going to work on tackle.” At venues like El Salto and Picachos this is probably true. Elsewhere, it may not be. Either way, it provides me a polite out and allows others who really enjoy heavy socializing to keep on going.

Who is an Introvert May Surprise You

Many people who know me, even for a while, are surprised that I characterize myself as an introvert. I’ve overcome much of the shyness associated with the caricature, and now most of my introversion manifests itself in a need for “alone time” or a general dislike for large gatherings of people I do much better one-on-one or in a group of fewer than eight people than I do at a massive party or festival. Fishing’s the perfect sport for me for that as well as many other reasons, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve also learned to extract the many benefits that come from associating with certain other people. Find your personal balance and it’ll help you enjoy every trip even more.