Last month we told you that the fishing at Casa Vieja Lodge was off the chain in March, and that it was critical to book asap if you wanted to get in on it the same time next year. April was just as good, if not better, and the boats are already filling up for spring of 2025.

We traveled a bit in the first quarter of the year, but less than usual. That means that we’re gearing up for a lot of go time over the next few months. We hope you’ll be adding notches to your belt, too. Here are some links that may inform or inspire your travel plans and goals.

The Brazilian government has been trying to reinstate visa requirements for travelers from certain countries. It has been pushed back multiple times. Due to continuing troubles getting the system to function properly, now they have announced that the date will be moved back a year – to April 10, 2025.

I have been speaking to David Leiffer about his stupendous idea of taking his son Ryan to Anglers Inn El Salto for his graduation present from high school close to a year. Based on how it went I think they both wish there was another graduation around the corner.

Despite T.S. Eliot’s warnings, I’ve never found April to be particularly cruel – the winter is in the rear view mirror, the bass are biting, and summer is close. You may be too busy to follow relevant travel news. Never fear – we take care of that for you. Here are some links that might impact or interest you.

Even after many years of traveling to fish, the whole process of tipping my fishing guide still makes me nervous. Like most of you, I don’t want to be known as a cheap sonofabitch, especially since I intend to return to many locations. Even if I don’t intend to make repeat visits, a sense of fundamental fairness leads to believe that tipping generously is the right process. No one ever made the world a worse place by tipping too much.

March is prime time for sailfish (and other species in Guatemala), with a realistic chance at a 20-50 (or more) fish day. Just be sure to book early if you want to be guaranteed a boat.

Brian Jackson and friend Paul Teagle had an incredible time on their first trip to Anglers Inn. The two Texas natives have experienced plenty of great bass fishing in their home state, but they were still amazed by the fishing on Lake Picachos and El Salto. In fact, Brian told me he is going through withdrawals upon his return.

Come join us in Panama in January of 2025 — on an island oasis with incredible food, fun people, and otherworldly fishing.

On our 2nd trip to Casa Vieja Lodge we fish on The Hooker. It’s a 48 foot G&S, and a fabulous fishing platform, but at the time we didn’t realize that it held a storied legacy. If you think that The Hooker might be for you, but you’re still on the fence, there’s a wide range of media that might put it over the top.

The city of David is our gateway to the great fishing in the Gulf of Chiriqui, but if you’re looking to make it a longer layover — or possibly even a retirement spot — here are some resources to get your research started.

Delta will resuscitate its MSP-MZT direct flight route, making it much easier for northern anglers to escape to Lake El Salto and Lake Picachos during the coldest times of year.

Copa continues to make it easier for North American anglers to get to Panama. Over the past year they’ve added direct flights between Panama City’s Tocumen Airport and US cities including Austin and Baltimore. Now they’re at it again, adding direct flights between Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Panama City.

You should be thinking about Alaska now. For most of us the travel season there is short – essentially June through August – and that makes it imperative to plan your trip as early as possible. There are several factors at play in terms of timing and resources.

It may be time for us to revisit a Mazatlan beach vacation. They’ve made major upgrades to the infrastructure and amenities in the resort town, and our friends who’ve stopped over for a while have raved about the experience.

Late in 2023, Alaska Airlines, one of our favorite carriers, acquired Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion. So whether you’re headed to Bristol Bay to chase trout and salmon, or to Kona looking for a grander marlin, if you’re somehow aligned with one of them, you likely now have more options.

If you have a limited amount of vacation time and love to travel and fish, you’ll need to be crafty to stretch the calendar. “PTO Hacking” has become a common strategy and if you don’t use it you’re missing out.

While long-term planning is usually preferable, sometimes the best way to book the fishing trip you’ve always dreamed about is to be flexible and have a bag packed.

I continue to dream about a fishing trip to Ascension Island. I may never get to do it in the style of Bad Company Fishing Adventures, but their 2024 trip gives me some hope for the future.

If you’re headed on a long-distance trip, the process of boarding the airplane can be mentally draining. We all want it to be efficient, but that means different things to different people. Collectively we have a stake in boarding progressing quickly, but individually we want to make sure that we’re there first and that our stuff is safe.