"Exotic" Fishing Travel

[Pete Robbins]

My wife and I have built a website based on our love of fishing travel (www.halfpastfirstcast.com) and we're trying to anticipate the questions that other anglers might have.

We know that many bass anglers don't want to fish for anything but bass. That's ok. We've led trips to El Salto and Picachos for a decade. Now that we've branched out into other areas -- Brazil, Alaska, Panama, Guatemala -- we've really enjoyed trying to catch new species with different techniques.

Curious -- if you are resistant to traveling, or hesitant to travel to fish, what's keeping you from doing so? Is it the cost? The time away from home? Practicing for tournaments? Fear of the unknown?

Thanks for your thoughts,
Pete

[Quillback]

Some of those places are just too darned far away for me to travel to. Brazil would be neat to fish, but it's not worth it to me to spend that much time to travel there.

[1stindoor]

Great pics. I was fortunate enough to spend a good part of my military career traveling throughout Central and South America and was able to do a lot of fishing on local rivers and lakes.

[Lightning 6]

Awesome pics. Was in same SF Group as 1stindoor ..... lived & fished in Panama (2.5 yrs) and Puerto Rico (1 yr). Fished in Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Honduras on deployments. Fished El Salto as my retirement trip.....and hoping to fish Rio Negro some day!

[Pete Robbins]

We are headed to Panama in three weeks with a group of bass anglers to pop for big tuna. That's been on the list for a long time. Really excited about it.
I just wish I had paid more attention in high school Spanish class.

[Ranchhand02]

Safety is my main concern. I would love to take a trip to Mexico or central America to fish, but I am concerned about the safety.

[MMyles]

The only thing stopping me from doing any traveling is the mask mandates.

M

[Pete Robbins]

Would love it if you all would check out the website and provide feedback. We have addressed some safety issues in the past. For example:
https://www.halfpastfirstcast.com/bl...urh8h33bkmg5fp
https://www.halfpastfirstcast.com/bl...id-19-pandemic

[Fishysam]

I want real quality gear down there especially rods, I can bring a hand full of reels if I do not like what you have on the rods. Just make sure we know what line to have.

travel plans through Mexico need to imply safety has been why things are the way they are.

[250bassFL]

Nice fish!

[BCapes]

This!

Safety is my main concern. I would love to take a trip to Mexico or central America to fish, but I am concerned about the safety.

[BigEasy]

Nice website Pete.

Travel is a function of time and money. I do a couple of guide trips a year but it is a total luxury and usually less than $3 grand for a week. Sometimes I learn something from a guide but mostly I’m using them for their boat and local knowledge.

I’d love to go to the Seychelles and fish for GT’s, or Saskatchewan and fish for monster pike but $10-15 grand for a week is just a little bit to much of a stretch. If I did a trip like that it would be the only trip I could do for 2-3 years.

[Pete Robbins]

GTs in the Seychelles is #1 on my list, but also outside of the budget.

I should have noted that because we are not independently wealthy, part of our focus is on saving money where appropriate. Actually, one of my wife's favorite trips last year was one of the least "exotic." She went up to Lake St. Clair with friends and they crushed the walleyes in the morning and then fished for smallmouths in the afternoon. Anyone with a boat or a cheap plane ticket can do that one.

https://www.halfpastfirstcast.com/bl...tuzl97omif3yi2

[tcesni]

I think information on any needed vaccinations or prophylactic medications (malaria for example) and/or prescriptions to bring (Cipro) would be useful. Getting the trots is always a concern when traveling, it really ruins a trip and the local pharmacia may not be nearby.

[Ranchhand02]

GTs in the Seychelles is #1 on my list, but also outside of the budget.

I should have noted that because we are not independently wealthy, part of our focus is on saving money where appropriate. Actually, one of my wife's favorite trips last year was one of the least "exotic." She went up to Lake St. Clair with friends and they crushed the walleyes in the morning and then fished for smallmouths in the afternoon. Anyone with a boat or a cheap plane ticket can do that one.

https://www.halfpastfirstcast.com/bl...tuzl97omif3yi2

Can you PM me a price and info on a trip to Lake St. Clair for smallmouth?

[Pete Robbins]

My wife and her friends fished with Spencer Berman and his crew: https://www.spencersanglingadv.com/

I've musky fished with them, but haven't been out for smallmouth/walleye. They all work their butts off, at least on the musky side. Sun-up to sun-down. Total professionals.

[team houston]

I have been lucky enough to fish for Peacocks in Brazil and Venezuela. The thing that keeps me from doing it again is cost.

[Alumicraft145]

Great information. I only speak for myself here. I would enjoy a exotic fishing trip in the future. I really don't want a guide though. Boat, some bait tackle, a bit of inside info, simple food and lodging. I have no interest in being waited on hand and foot. Quick list here. Fly in for walleye. Baja mexico( inshore). Bottom fishing bahamas. Catfish, canada. Bay of st Lawrence has always interested me.
Fla keys ... Roof over head, small boat, shrimp. I'm all set.

[alpine4x4]

GTs in the Seychelles is #1 on my list, but also outside of the budget.

I should have noted that because we are not independently wealthy, part of our focus is on saving money where appropriate. Actually, one of my wife's favorite trips last year was one of the least "exotic." She went up to Lake St. Clair with friends and they crushed the walleyes in the morning and then fished for smallmouths in the afternoon. Anyone with a boat or a cheap plane ticket can do that one.

https://www.halfpastfirstcast.com/bl...tuzl97omif3yi2

Man I would love to go to Seychelles for some GT action, like everyone else though its too cost prohibitive. Oman is another GT destination I wouldnt mind hitting up...

[Dixie-Raven]

Cost would be my only concern.