By: Jessica Hendrie
As the calendar flips to a new year, anglers everywhere feel that familiar spark of hope, that this is the year to land the fish we’ve been dreaming about. Whether you chase billfish offshore, bass in the lakes, or anything that bends a rod, the New Year is the perfect time to set intentions that make every trip on the water more meaningful. My personal goal this year is to catch a marlin in the country of Panama! Although one of the best resolutions anyone can make is simply to slow down and enjoy the process! Too often, we get caught up counting catches, measuring inches, and comparing photos even though those are still fun themselves. This year, I will be committing to appreciating the hobby over what I can show I did. Something else I challenge you to do this year is to learn something new. We tend to get stuck in our ways thinking we know how to do it, we’ve been doing it for years, however, try to learn a new way, and who knows, it may even lead to more fish in the boat. For all of us who dream big, 2026 can be a year of firsts, bucket list catches and overall experience. Saying all of this brings me to the most important task this year, fish more with people who matter. Invite a friend who’s never been or who’s never even held a fishing pole, take someone who only fishes offshore to a lake, or even schedule that big 2-day fishing trip with your best fishing partner. At the end of the year, that is what you will reflect on and it’ll be pretty cool if you catch fish too. So, here’s to a new year of bent rods, tight lines, and new memories!