The Travel Blog
Exotic fishing travel may be our driving passion, but we love a good road trip just the same. It’s all about leaving work behind, seeing new things and expanding our horizons.. Each new trip is a chance to catch new species and meet people who make us more complete.
What You Missed at the 2023 Bassmaster Classic
The Bassmaster Classic is widely known as the “Super Bowl of Fishing.” I’ve been to about ten of them. Each one is different. It can be watched live on the internet, and more recently on the FS1 television station. Why would anglers or non-anglers want to attend?
Tale of the Tape – The 12 Days of Sailfish
We’ve now gone to Casa Vieja Lodge in February for four straight years, and we’ve loved every minute of it. Fortunately, the captains and the lodge keep very detailed records of each boat’s raises, bites and releases. Accordingly, we have accurate numbers for our dozen days on the water.
Is It Safe to Take a Fishing Trip to Panama?
You’re considering a trip to Panama. Before putting down your deposit, you probably want to know “Is it safe?” That’s almost always the first question I get when I speak to people about traveling to Panama to fish at one of our most favorite resorts, Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge.
Lessons for Fishing Lodges
We’ve been fortunate to fish with many great fishing lodges across the globe. Sometimes, however, it’s hard to recognize just how good something is until you experience a less-stellar operation. Accordingly, it’s worth noting that that we’ve also been to some average and even sub-par operations – and they’ve helped us to appreciate what our favorites do well.
Sights, Sounds and Surprises from the 2023 Nashville Safari Club International
The crew at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge asked us to help in their booth at the Nashville Safari Club convention. We love the lodge and the people behind it, so sharing that love to get more people to travel there is no sweat. That way it’ll stay open for ever and ever and ever.
Casa Vieja Lodge: You’ve Got Questions, We’ve Got Answers
After four trips to Guatemala’s Casa Vieja Lodge, we’ve battled our way through figuring out all of the basics about the experience. It hasn’t been hard, because once you book the trip it’s pretty much a turnkey experience. They’re travel pros and they make it easy for first-timers and veterans alike — but we’ve learned that most people have similar questions.
Forty Eight Hours in Antigua Guatemala
Prior to going to Casa Vieja Lodge, we spent an action-packed yet relaxing 48 hours in the historic city of Antigua, Guatemala. We ate, relaxed, shopped and climbed a volcano. Highly recommended.
An April/November Romance With Panama
When the opportunity arose to fish at Sport Fish Panama Island lodge for a second time in the same year, I was a bit nervous. Honestly, our April adventure in Panama was life-changing, so I knew that the potential was there, but I had no idea if the fishing in November would be anywhere as good. Here's a trip report.
Yes, the Perfect Multi-Species Fishing Vacation Exists
Some of our favorite destinations are focused on chasing a particularly desirable, elusive or hard-fighting fish. On the other hand, there’s definitely nothing wrong with a trip to a multi-species Shangri-la. I’d never tell someone NOT to go to a multi-species fishery but as with everything else it pays to have a strategy to make the most of your vacation.
Guatemala Travel Notes – February 2023
For the fourth straight February, we ventured to Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala to escape the cold, relax a little, and battle loads of sailfish. As has become the norm, we took a different path to and from Guatemala – part of that was flight economics, part of it was because we had to spend a few days on the way back in Nashville for the Safari Club International Convention. Here are some notes, in no particular order.
New Copa Flights: Austin to Panama and Back Again
One of the things that make fishing trips to Panama so easy is the wealth of direct flights between the United States and Tocumen Airport. Later this year Copa will start flights between Panama City (PTY) and Austin, Texas (AUS) on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Our Stay at the Hotel Camino Real in Antigua, Guatemala
Casa Vieja Lodge provides a list of hotel recommendations in both Guatemala City and Antigua on their website, but they called the Camino Real (owned by Westin) their “best pick for your stay in Antigua” so we decided not to overthink it and just booked two nights.
Alaska Fishing: Not Just Trout, Salmon and Halibut
We’re headed back to Alaska and like most visitors we’re excited to catch the species of fish that made the state a holy land for anglers – trout and salmon in the streams and rivers, and halibut in the heavy salt. It’s understandable why they’re the main draw, but they’re not the only game in town.
Don’t Let Seasickness Limit Your Fishing Opportunities
Seasickness can be miserable, but the fear of it shouldn’t prevent you from experiencing life-changing fishing opportunities. There are numerous strategies, products and medications to reduce or eliminate the pain and lead you to fishing happiness.
It's Not What You Expect, It's What You Inspect - Bear Trail Lodge, Alaska
This July 31 through August 4, 2023, we head back to Bear Trail Lodge for another spectacular journey to the last frontier. Pete and I are going a few days before and will be exploring Anchorage and Seward and most likely will be fishing for halibut. Here is our itinerary and an invitation to join us.
Eight Reasons to Take An Ozarks Bass Fishing Trip
I’ve been fortunate to fish for bass all over the United States, from the far southern Texas fisheries that overlap into Mexico, to the northern natural lakes that stretch into Canada., as far west as you can go and all up and down the east coast. Yet despite it not necessarily being known as a “trophy destination,” I think that the Ozarks region needs to be on more traveling anglers’ radar.
Things to Do During Brief Stopovers in Anchorage
While Alaska is of course the largest state, with seemingly endless things to see and do, and Anchorage is a cosmopolitan city, you don’t need to go far to see the wildlife the state is known for or enjoy a range of outdoors activities. Within the city itself there is plenty to do. Here are a few resources to get you started.
More Good News from Copa for Mid-Atlantic Travelers to Panama
We recently published an article about the best ways to fly to Panama for an epic tuna popping trip. Many of the options were from Copa, including direct flights from our home airport, Washington-Dulles. Copa since announced that starting June 28th they’ll be adding service between Baltimore/Washington International Airport and Tocumen four times weekly.
Our Trip to the 2023 Richmond Fishing Expo
The Half Past First Cast team attended the Richmond Fishing Expo in Doswell Virginia on Saturday, January 21, 2023. There was a little of this and that for sale, but the best part was seeing people we have not seen in quite some time. I had the opportunity to meet some of my social media fishing friends in person for the first time.
Alaska Airlines Flight Resources 2023
Alaska Airlines offer the most choices from the Lower 48 to Anchorage. Their service, their timeliness and even the pancake machine in the airport lounge are top notch. Others with more knowledge of the flight game have already done the heavy lifting for us – providing insight into how to get the most out of this carrier’s options.