Passport wait times are currently at historic highs. That means you need to act sooner rather than later — or potentially miss out on your next international fishing trip.

Join us in Guatemala in November of 2024. You and your group can reserve the Rum Line, Captain Terry Brennan’s 40 foot fish-catching machine. Check out the results from last November.

Last year we decided to reenter the world of premium credit cards, and we felt that the American Express Platinum offered the best benefits for our lifestyle. We didn’t take the decision to apply lightly because the annual fee is steep -- $695 for the primary user, plus $175 for each additional card. For us, that meant we had to at least exceed $870 in “value” to break even.

If you’re too busy ripping lips to read or watch or listen to the news, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, fellow anglers. We’ve assembled a hodgepodge of newsworthy and semi-newsworthy articles from other sources that might inspire or help you on your upcoming fishing travels.

Headwaters Lake in Fellsmere, Florida may be the best bass lake in the country right now — and you don’t need to haul a boat hundreds of miles to fish there. Palm Bay Outfitters offers top-flight aluminums, they’ll even deliver to the ramp with gas!

In the aftermath of the OceanGate tragedy I offered my thoughts on lessons that fishing travelers could learn from the disaster. While I still stand by what I wrote, I don’t claim to be omniscient about the matter. I try to absorb and analyze as many facts and opinions as possible, and the media has done its job of writing about the topic.

On our first trip to Anglers Inn Lake El Salto, Hanna and I went for 3.5 days of fishing. Since then, we’ve almost always gone for at least a week. On a handful of occasions when time was limited, we have jetted in for the shorter stay, and once we stayed for a full two weeks, but for most visitors I’d suggest that you fish at least 6 days.

You may never have the money to go on an expedition like the ill-fated OceanGate Titan submarine voyage. Even if you have the money you might never have the desire. Nevertheless, if you’re into fishing travel – or any travel at all, for that matter – there’s always a certain element of risk involved.

When we head up to Alaska, it will be my fourth trip to the 49th State, and Hanna’s second. I always find that my trips are more satisfying if I set up some attainable goals, while leaving my mind open to the possibility of being wowed by something completely unexpected. That’s highly likely on this trip, where the extraordinary could happen every day.

We recently wrote about “Sky Couch” seating and provided a general overview of Premium Economy services. Here are some reviews of various airlines’ premium econ offerings. They’re not our own, so we can’t vouch 100 percent, but they may help make your decision whether to spend the extra bucks on your next flight.

After nearly every trip to Lake El Salto or Lake Picachos, I write down some notes about the travel experience and then share them with you. It’s never the same trip twice going to and from Mazatlán, and whether it’s your first journey or you’ve visited dozens of times there are always a few wrinkles and snafus.

Whether you’ve done this trip a thousand times, or it’s only your second visit to the Mazatlán airport (see our arrival guide here), there are a few things that’ll make your departure go more smoothly. Having done this nearly 20 times, we’ve made all of the mistakes, so you don’t have to.

Rather than hoping you’ll have a whole economy row to yourself, now you can actually reserve an entire row. Air New Zealand calls it “Economy Skycouch.” Lufthansa calls it a “Sleeper’s Row.” Several others refer to it as a “Sky Sofa.” While there may be variations in exactly what is provided, typically it costs less than a business class seat, and less than purchasing the three seats separately.

We travel a fair bit, and spend lots of time trying to figure out packing hacks, but despite that effort we still overlook some necessary items. Even on a trip like those to Casa Vieja Lodge, where they take care of everything, it’s always possible to wish you had packed more. When we visited in February. Hanna and I both checked a suitcase and brought a carry-on, but I still ended up missing some things.

No one starves at Casa Vieja Lodge. If you somehow managed to do so, it would be your own fault. What makes it especially nice is that at dinnertime there’s incredible variety – no more tiresome rotations, but rather fresh four-course meals based on what the chefs found to be of the highest quality at the local markets.

If you live in New England, love to bass fish, and want to escape the frigid winters or just catch your PB largemouth at any time then Lake El Salto and Lake Picachos beckon. Unfortunately, due to the general dearth and occasional unreliability of flights to Mazatlán, it’s often a tough haul. Delta is adding a new route from Boston to and from Mexico City.

Costly travel, especially to remote regions, requires that you protect your investment and your well-being. Global Rescue is the leader in this area — and this FAQ will help you understand what they cover.

I don’t fish bass tournaments anymore, but the lessons that I learned when I was all-in on local derbies continue to contribute to my fishing success today. I keep them in my hip pocket when I travel.

Our fourth trip to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge will take place in May of 2024 — timed to coincide with great weather and the heart of the yellowfin tuna popping season. Don’t miss it if you love big fish on topwaters.

We get questions all the time – from experienced world traveling anglers and first-timers alike – about travel insurance. While we’ve made a few such purchases in the past, we’re not experts. That’s why typically send people to those who are. Half Past First Cast has teamed up with Global Rescue to get answers to those questions.