The Fourth of July holiday is just around the corner and we all want to dress to impress – even on the water. I love getting dressed up in red, white and blue. Check out some of the coolest fishing and sosrt-fishing apparel that’ll drape you in those colors from head to toe -- provided by many of the fishing tackle and apparel companies we all know, plus Amazon.

Independence Day is fast approaching and fortunately just about everyone looks good on the water in red, white and blue. The apparel and tackle companies know that, so they’re sure to provide you with plenty of opportunities to show your love for Old Glory. Here are some of our favorites for men.

South America is a continent that is near and dear to our hearts, if nothing else because it was our 2011 trip to Brazil that really jump-started our love of “exotic” fishing travel. Accordingly, we try to keep tabs on what is occurring both in the countries we’ve visited and in the ones that are still on our bucket list. Here are some of the links that have stood out to us lately.

We love to travel and we love sharing our travel “hacks” and tips with receptive readers, but we’ve never held ourselves out to be all-knowing experts. A big part of Half Past First Cast is documenting and memorializing our learning process. We read and study tirelessly and then share some of what we learn from others.

Islamorada has a lot to offer besides sport fishing — food, drinks, scenery and great beach vibes. Here are some of our favorites from our first (but not last) trip, which took place in May 2022.

Travel is our passion, and we’ve enjoyed lots of great food in remote locations, but we’re also fortunate to have a lot of great restaurants within a short walk or drive of our Virginia home. Here are four of our “go-to” options.

Flying fish are one of the wonders of the natural world. Check out some of the lures, beers and other products that they’ve inspired. Maybe it’ll make you want to hit the saltwater.

Part of the tuna’s distinctive anatomy – and one of the reasons they’re so damn strong – is their tails. They derive a lot of their power from the caboose section. Accordingly, anglers have long immortalized the tails as signals of their victories. There are tail mounts, tail art, and plenty of clothing.

Someday we’ll go to the South Pacific to fight the fearsome dogtooth tuna, but until then here’s some clothing and art to scratch the toothy itch.

“Die with memories, not with dreams.” That’s one of my favorite sayings – ok, not the part about dying, but definitely the part about the importance of memories. Luckily, with modern technology it’s possible to have vivid photographic evidence of the great moments of our lives. Here are seven individual photos and collages that are among my favorites.

Some people may think that the bowfin is an ugly or undesirable fish but there are nevertheless many people celebrating them by many different names — with art, clothing and food.

Fish replicas are one of our favorite ways to commemorate and celebrate our epic fishing trips.. We’ve written quite a few blogs about this obsession, but there’s also a good library of links available from others. Here are some that we’ve enjoyed.

If you like to fish, you owe it to the sport to give back — through donations, membership or sweat equity. Here are some organizations and efforts worthy of your help.

We surf the web so you don’t have to – and also because we’re addicted to the process. Yes, we spend lots of time watching YouTube fish porn and reading fishing articles, but many pieces that ostensibly have nothing to do with angling or travel prove meaningful because they reflect our values, goals and interests.

The biggest hindrance to becoming a happier angler is ego. Once you realize that it’s OK to suck at the outset, your learning curve will spike upward and you’ll enjoy your time on the water more.

Every angler has his or her favorite gamefish. Perhaps it’s the one they chase the most, or one they’ve never even chased but dream of capturing. I think that the mahi mahi may be the greatest. I’ve caught quite a few, in several different countries, and hope to chase many more before I make my last cast.

There are thousands of books about all facets of fishing available to the consumer — if you know where to look. Here are some places to start your search.

Hanna and I got our first taste of South American exotics when we fished the Miami Airport canals in 2010 with guide Alan Zaremba and that’s what inspired us to make multiple trips to Brazil. If for any reason – cost, fear, logistics – you can’t make it to Brazil, Florida remains an amazing option for all kinds of illegally-introduced-but-fun-to-catch-species.

Our second trip to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge scratched my roosterfish itch a bit, after a 26 year lag between Pez Gallo captures. If you too are fascinated by these inshore brawlers, there are plenty of hats, shirts and artwork depicting them. Here are nine more examples that have caught my eye recently.

If you’re compiling a “life list” of fish species, buy a chart so that you’ll know exactly what you’ve seen or caught. Here are some we found for fishing in Panama.