Since launching this website early in 2020, we’ve posted nearly 2000 articles, snippets and gear guides aimed at helping people with their fishing travel. Yesterday we outlined the top ten posts of 2024. Here are the top ten performers of all time.

The popularity (or lack thereof) of certain HPFC posts continues to amaze me. Sometimes we’ll write something that we expect to resonate with our readers and it flops, while other times an expected “throwaway” post goes gangbusters. Here are our ten top-performing posts from 2024.

As we’ve gotten more involved with offshore fishing, we’ve learned of the power of bait balls. Species including sailfish and yellowfin tuna herd up various forage species and then strategically feast upon them until they’re full. Plenty of clothing manufacturers give you a way to wear that obsession.

If you’re always or nearly always the best angler in the boat, it may be an ego boost, but it’s not a learning opportunity. You need to get your ass kicked once in a while and learn from it. 

After two decades of writing outdoor writing, I remain passionate about the creation process. I often still go to bed thinking about the last piece I wrote and wake up ready to write the next one. It’s a constantly-changing industry, but I’m proud of the fact that I’ve bobbed and weaved effectively, such that I’ve yet to be knocked out.

When I got together with some of the Megabass team, I asked their pros about their “Death Row Meals.” Their answers are in this video. What they all have in common is that they all gravitate to a taste of home.

Recently I asked “Do Fish Eat Boogers?” in order to list a bunch of lures with “booger” or “snot” in their names. Suddenly my feed was filled with all sorts of suggestions at the intersection of snot and fish. I had no idea how much research and inquiry had been done into more in-depth explorations of mucophagy.

We travel to Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala largely for the unparalleled sailfishing, there’s another species that plays a critical role: the mahi mahi. Most of the boats have kitchens onboard where the mates will prepare a hot lunch. If you catch a mahi early in the day, that’s what you’ll get.

Gaffing is surprisingly satisfying, and only slightly harder than it looks. If it's something that you like to do, there are plenty of shirts to express that passion.

I’ve previously blogged about the connection between Brooklyn, the Notorious BIG, and fishing, apparently the obviousness of it all extends all the way to New Zealand. OTL Lures came up with the “Big Popper” t-shirt and as the website says, if you don’t know…now you now.

I’ll admit, when we hook a jack crevalle in Panama there’s a tinge of disappointment. That’s unfair because they’re aggressive biters and dogged fighters. So if you are a late-to-the-party fan of this underrated fighter, you can show your love with a shirt.

Sometimes in addition to being wise financial instruments the best investments help you to fish more — and more effectively.

If redfish are your obsession, remember to put your money where your mind is -- with a wallet or money clip celebrating this hard-fighting sportfish.

I’m sure that on fishing trips to Mexico someone has referred to me as a “pinche gringo” – probably more than once. If that’s how you self-identify, now there’s an entire brand dedicated to the category. Wear one of their products with pride.

The city of Mazatlan provides incredible access to Lake El Salto and Lake Picachos -- and it's remarkably affordable. Would it be a solid choice for retirement? What are the pros and cons?

It’s probably the first or second question we get when we tell people about our fishing trips to the Amazon region: “What about that little fish that crawls up your pee hole and gets stuck?” Spoiler alert: Not true.

I’ve enjoyed catching deep fish from halibut to snapper, but there’s something special about a violent strike from ankle-deep water. We’ve chronicled gear dedicated to “River Rats,” but if you’re looking for another way to represent the skinny water lifestyle, consider one of these hats.

Whether you’re trying to hammer some success at Casa Vieja Lodge, Anglers Inn, Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge or Bear Trail Lodge, it pays to dress the part. I like to get geared up for our adventures by painting my fingernails and toenails to reflect my quarry.

Do you know what a “square grouper” is? It’s not a fish on our bucket list. It’s the slang term for bales of marijuana, typically found off the Florida coast – either unintentionally discarded by smugglers or disposed of to avoid being caught.

My recent interview with Kade Gewanter reminded me of a fish called burbot.” I’ve never caught one, but I spent parts several summers around Walker, Minnesota, home to the famous “Eelpout Festival.” Our friends to the north talked glowingly of this hideous fish, but I always chalked that up to copious amounts of alcohol consumed.