Despite being one of the most majestic and distinctive fish we’ve caught, I don’t feel like many people consider an Arctic Grayling as a prime candidate for the wall. That’s a mistake, because grayling punch above their weight and stand out in a crowd.

I wish I liked cigars more, because I think they befit my curmudgeonly appearance and attitude. I smoke one every few years, and tend to enjoy them, even if I don’t know much about them. They seem like a great way to celebrate an exceptional day on the water.

While there were plenty of boats, swimbaits and clothing at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, the one product that might interest our fellow travelers most was in Matt Robertson’s booth – Picture Me 3D photos. They produce high-definition photos of you with your trophy fish – and the fish protrudes out in three-dimensions.

Kurt Dove is one of the busiest and most diversified businessmen in the bass fishing industry, but I believe his best idea was his Pro Bass Camp. This year they’ll have sessions on Amistad, Toledo Bend and Oneida. If you want to attend, or you know a kid who needs to go, there still may be some spots left.

I’ve enjoyed cataloguing my favorite taxidermy from SCI events. I’m not necessarily looking for the biggest, baddest or most coveted species. If you’re looking for conventional whitetails, moose and bears, I’m not your guy, but if you like the oddities, check out what stood out to me in Nashville.

We’re hoping that 2025 is the year of the marlin for Half Past First Cast. To get in the mood, I’ve been noodling around with some hat designs. I’m expecting the Cabo trip to be our best chance to whack on ‘em, so I’ve leaned heavily on the striped marlin, but a blue or black would be absolutely fine.

Long fins are a hallmark of yellowfin tuna, and part of what make them powerful and agile — but the ones in Panama don’t have the sweeping “sickles.” Are they a different species?

Bassmaster acknowledged they could be doing a better job of welcoming women into the sport and has introduced the BassmastHER program. They provide workshops at Elite events. The seminars teach fundamentals for beginners and more advanced techniques for those who have more experience.

When we retire in a few years, I hope to build a house that has an oversized outbuilding for my boats and gear. Accordingly, I’ve been studying various “man caves” online. I’ve started looking at sources outside of the bass world for inspiration.

We’ve never targeted arowana, but we’ve inadvertently caught a few while fishing for peacock bass and other exotics in various parts of Brazil. They’re actually surprisingly cool fish – who knew we’d have to visit Hanna’s hometown to taste a beer named after them?

We got our stateside introduction to exotic fish when we caught peacock bass in Miami airport over a decade ago, but we need to make a trip back. There’s another bizarre fighter that’s high on my list: the Clown Knifefish. If we capture one, we might want to commission a replica.

We’re hoping that Hanna’s marlin drought ends when we go to Baja this November. She’s paid her dues and deserves to get that notch in her belt. At that time, however, I will insist that she take some drastic step to memorialize the catch — perhaps with ink.

For years we’ve been told through t-shirts and bumper stickers that “A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work.” I don’t know who came up with this theory, but if you believe it, then you’ve been hoodwinked.

Brandon Palaniuk says he was never hazed during the 2011 Elite Series season, when he finished 37th in the points as a rookie. In fact, he said everyone was friendly, bordering on encouraging. Even when they played the “veteran card” on him, it was to help him be more efficient – as in this story with Zell Rowland.

My love of fish and fishing is second only to my love of dogs, especially our dog Rooster. After our last amazing Casa Vieja Lodge sailfish trip we traveled to Lake Atitlan, the volcanic lake in Guatemala and I fell in love -- with the villages’ dogs.

How is it possible that we never tried Tucunaré Premium Lager from Cervejaria Geada Negra (Black Frost Brewery), a beer that celebrates one of our favorite fish — the peacock bass?

We’ve added a Testimonials page to our website so you can see what our travel companions think about our services. We want to give you the best fishing experience possible — and thought it would pay to hear what we can give from unbiased travelers.

The Bimini Twist creates a double line with the loop at the end – and retains a substantial amount of the line’s strength. It’s not an easy one, but there are a wide variety of tutorials on the internet to guide you through the process. Here are some of my favorites.

Fishing isn’t just a hobby for us—it’s a culture built on passion, adventure, friendship, and a love for the water. At Half Past First Cast, we celebrate every aspect of it, from the first cast of the day to the last cast of the trip, and we want you to share in the lifetime of enjoyment as well.

I’ve recently determined that my favorite sort of fishing doesn’t involve a particular species, but rather a particular way to catch them – topwater. I also like beer. Here are a few that combine those two thrills.