For the first time since 2009, I attended a Bassmaster Classic and was not in a boat blogging during fishing hours. That set me free to write about things I wanted to investigate. That led to a morning analysis and evening analysis each day, but also some human interest stories. In case you missed any or all of them, here are links.

The various oceanic dolphins and porpoises are amazing – extra playful and a huge part of the fishing process in many places. Of the multiple varieties we’ve seen in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama, the Spinner Dolphins are the one that have captivated us the most.

Casa Vieja Lodge makes the local ingredients, including fruit, a key part of their culinary showcase – you get fruit on the boat, in the “drink of the day,” and in some of the entrees as well. My favorite sweets, though, are on the daily fruit plate that precedes your a la carte breakfast.

If you’re going to join two different lines, whether it be braid-to-fluorocarbon or braid-to-monofilament or something else, you want to make sure that you have complete confidence in the connecting knot. One great option is the “Crazy Alberto” knot, invented by Alberto Knie.

Like our occasional friend the bowfin, the basic crappie has a lot of different names, including one from Louisiana – as with “choupique,” the Cajuns have added some French to this unassuming-but-tasty panfish, naming it “Sac Au Lait.” That means “Bag of Milk.” While they’ll likely never get the glory of the smallmouth, the rainbow trout or the blue marlin, Sac Au Lait get their share of love.

I’ve previously written about how to obtain a job in the fishing industry. If you love to fish, this can become a path to a very fulfilling life. I’ve been fortunate to have mostly good experiences on this side of the fence, but I’ve stepped on a few landmines and narrowly avoided a few others. To help you travel more smoothly, here are four more rules you should consider.

Carl Jocumsen’s fans came from the other side of the world to cheer him on at the 2023 Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tennessee. Check out their early morning vocalizations.

If and when you’re fortunate enough to catch the trophy bass of a lifetime, you’ll want to memorialize it with a photo. Decades ago, that might’ve meant a single, fading Polaroid, or a snapshot from a cheap camera. Today, not only do we have incredibly advanced camera equipment, but the phone that you carry with you everywhere is likely as good as yesterday’s big SLR.

I don’t think the sight of a leaping sailfish will ever get old, and the constantly-changing menu keeps things fresh, but nevertheless there are always slight changes that enhance the extremely special experience at Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala. Here are five that we noticed in February of 2023.

In order to make the most of a side-hustle or dream career, you need to look at every bit of drudgery or repetition as an opportunity. Treasure what you GET TO do more than regret what you HAVE TO do.

Our five senses define our greatest fishing adventures, but it’s not always the same one or two that are most memorable. Our sailfishing trips to Casa Vieja Lodge on the Pacific Coast of Guatemala are five-sense endeavors. We see, touch, smell and taste all sorts of exotic things. It may be the sounds that best define the day.

Whether you’re headed “down the shore” to the pine barrens or elsewhere, there’s quite a bit of fishing diversity and excellence in New Jersey. Admittedly, I’m only fished there once myself – a bachelor party bluefish excursion out of Belmar – but I’ve fished the adjoining waters of Delaware and New York enough to know what it’s all about. Except for a few bass club jackets, I hadn’t seen much merch celebrating NJ’s heritage, so I set out to see what I could find.

If you love to fish, and you’re intrigued by multiple aspects of the fishing industry, a job related to that passion may seem like a dream come true. We all know the phrase “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” What could be better than getting paid to fish and getting free fishing tackle?

We’re back from round three of chasing big yellowfin tuna in Panama and my passion for this species has not diminished one bit. If anything, it has grown as I’ve learned more about them. If you want to represent, there’s a constant stream of tuna-related gear coming to market so it is literally possible to wear your love on your sleeve. Here are some newer favorites.

While we’ve been on multiple different float planes around the world and within Alaska, my favorite in terms of aura is the De Havilland Beaver, the “national” plane of the 49th state. It’s a Canadian-borne vessel that has short takeoff and landing needs, and was only made from 1947 to 1967, but is nevertheless revered for its reliability.

I appeared on BTL twice in 2022, and Matt Pangrac continues to be very, very good for my career, my ego, and HPFC. He was kind enough to invite me back on the show this past Monday to talk about some of the legendary and lesser-known beefs in the history of professional fishing.

If you have a peacock bass angler in your life who can’t get south of the Equator as often as he or she likes, you can always reward them with a token that demonstrates you understand their passion. There are plenty of items that will keep Brazil at the forefront of their minds. Here are some to consider.

Bass may be America’s favorite sportfish, but the bottom-dwelling, omnivorous catfish is pure Americana. We’ve caught giants here on the Potomac River, tried to catch them on blue soap in Zambia, and still hope to land some surubim in South America – but we’ve never had a brew named after one.

We have a rock climbing themed coffee shop near our Virginia home and while I’ve been to a few fishing-themed bar, it just seems like there should be more of them around the world.

If you’re going to get wet when fishing for sailfish you might as well have boardshorts or swimming trunks that fully represent. We’ve seen videos of anglers getting in the water for shots with their soon-to-be-released sailfish, but we’re more comfortable in and around the pool at the lodge, with appetizers and cocktails, recounting the raises, bites and releases of that day.