Last winter, I got the kind of phone call all outdoor editors want to receive. “Jay, this is the Department of Tourism for New Zealand. We’d like to set up a fishing trip for you, if you can swing it. Hopefully, you’ll like what you see and possibly write something about it in Field & Stream.”

Four months later, I was on an American Airlines flight from New York to Los Angeles, then on an Air New Zealand 747 from L.A. to Auckland (on the North Island) and, ultimately, to Nelson on the South Island, where I’d begin my fishing adventure. Total travel time? With layovers, about 21 hours, but who’s counting? I watched “Crazy Heart” and “Avatar” on the flight out. Here’s the departure board at Auckland Airport.