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.

Most of our HPFC hats are one-offs, and while we love them the price tag makes it hard to produce them in larger quantities. Nevertheless, we’re still looking for additional options, and may occasionally surprise friends of HPFC with some swag to make your trips extra special.

After three trips to Panama, we’ve been so busy celebrating yellowfin tuna, roosterfish and cubera snapper that we’ve made scant mention of Amberjack and Almaco Jack, hard-pulling reef-dwellers that have attacked our baits and lures. While they have unfairly been denied our full respect, others throughout the world target these so-called “reef donkeys.”

While there are some quality bass fishing reservoirs in the Mid-Atlantic, most of our best fisheries are rivers – and specifically tidal rivers. If you fish around here you’re going to need to learn to deal with the tides, or else you’re going to struggle. Here’s the gear to get it right and look good doing it.

For some people, fishing is just an excuse to sit in a boat and drink beer. I’ve never felt that way – the fishing always comes first – but I do enjoy a libation on occasion. On every visit to Anglers Inn I have a few and they keep them coming. If you’re up to the challenge, your glass or hand will never go empty. Whether you want to celebrate a new personal best, or mourn the loss of a true giant, they’ve got an app for that.

Sometimes it seems that no one wants to be an outdoor writer anymore. That’s a mistake if you love to fish because it opens up worlds of opportunity — as long as you’re willing to make certain sacrifices and play by certain rules.

When we're out on the boat on a fishing trip, more than anything else I dress for function over style. I’m mostly concerned with protecting myself from the sun and not sweating to death. However, at some destinations, it feels nice to look a little dressed up in the evening. There’s no dress code, but I like to go to the bar area for a gourmet dinner and look fresh and trendy.

It doesn’t matter where you are in the country or around the world -- on the way to the beach, in the grocery store or driving through Nebraska, far, far from the ocean -- you are almost guaranteed see a SALT LIFE decal on multiple vehicles. Salt Life is not just a brand. It’s not a place. It’s a state of mind. We’re headed on several salty adventures in ’23, starting with Guatemala in February, and I wanted to make sure that I was properly outfitted.