EP 932 - Tom Rowland | Tom Rowland Podcast

In this How 2 Tuesday episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, Tom shares critical advice from Elliott Stark, author of the book on travel fishing available at fishtraveleat.com, on how to avoid getting sick while traveling internationally. Elliott, who has extensive travel fishing experience, provides three essential tips to prevent illness from ruining your trip: bringing stomach medication like Imodium and Tums, being cautious about food and water in unfamiliar places, and calling ahead to lodges about any medical needs or dietary restrictions. This episode delivers practical strategies for anglers who have experienced or want to avoid the frustration of losing valuable fishing days to illness while traveling.

The Trip-Ruining Reality of Getting Sick While Traveling

Tom opens this episode with a scenario that many traveling anglers have experienced: you're incredibly excited about a fishing trip, you finally arrive at your destination, and then something goes wrong with your health. You get sick, and it essentially destroys the trip you've been planning and anticipating. Tom admits he's done this himself and has witnessed many other anglers suffer the same fate—arriving for a five-day trip but only getting to fish for two days because illness knocked them out. The frustration of losing precious time on the water, especially when you've invested significant money and planning into an international fishing adventure, prompted Tom to seek expert advice. He turned to someone who has logged far more international travel miles than most: Elliott Stark.

Elliott Stark's Essential Travel Medicine Kit

Elliott's first recommendation is simple but critical: always bring stomach medication. Specifically, he mentions Imodium A-D and Tums as essential items that should always have room in your travel bag. His reasoning is straightforward and memorable: "It's much better to sit in a fighting chair than to sit on a bucket all day." These over-the-counter medications take up minimal space but can make the difference between fishing and suffering. Elliott also addresses seasickness preparation, recommending that anglers who haven't done much offshore fishing should have no shame in bringing patches or seasickness pills. However, he shares a cautionary and somewhat hilarious story about proper dosage—mentioning a guy who wore a patch for three days, washed it off in the shower, put another one on, and essentially double-dosed himself to the point of seeing things funny. Elliott's complete medicine kit recommendations and dosage warnings start at 02:35.

Food and Water Safety in Unfamiliar Destinations

Elliott's second major recommendation centers on being cautious with food and water, particularly when you're not at a reputable lodge. If you're at an established lodge with a good reputation, he says you can eat whatever you want. But if you're traveling to a new place you haven't been to before and you're not accustomed to the food, exercise caution. Elliott specifically mentions things like raw lettuce and items that are sitting out or that you're not quite sure about—if you have a question about whether something is safe to eat, just don't eat it. He compares this to a story from elk hunting in Montana where his buddy found mushrooms and said "I'm pretty sure they're whatever"—Elliott's response was essentially "you guys have fun," because it's simply not worth the risk. The same principle applies to water, with the standard advice to avoid tap water in areas where it's questionable. Elliott's philosophy is clear: when you're on a valuable fishing trip, don't let curiosity about local cuisine cost you days on the water. The full discussion of food safety strategies starts at 02:56.

Why You Must Call Ahead About Medical Conditions

Elliott's third and perhaps most critical recommendation is about preparation and communication. If you have any medical need, dietary restriction, allergy, or predisposition to conditions like heat stroke or cardiac issues, you absolutely must call ahead and inform the lodge or operation where you'll be fishing. Elliott emphasizes this is "super important" because they need to be prepared in case something goes wrong. His reasoning drives home the reality of fishing in remote locations: even if you're just 45 miles offshore of New Jersey, you're remote—let alone if you're in the middle of nowhere internationally. Things can go wrong quickly, and the farther you are from medical care, the more critical it is that the people around you know about your conditions and have time to prepare. Elliott stresses: call ahead, be prepared, bring everything you need with you, and never assume you can get medical supplies or medications where you're going. Elliott's complete protocol for communicating medical needs starts at 04:17.

Final Thoughts from Tom

This episode hits on something I think we've all experienced or at least worried about—getting sick on a trip that you've been planning and looking forward to for months. I've been there myself, and it's incredibly frustrating to lose fishing time to something that could have been prevented with a little preparation.

Elliott's advice here is gold because it comes from someone who has genuinely done more international travel fishing than just about anyone I know. These aren't theoretical tips—these are lessons learned from actual experience on the water in remote destinations all over the world. The simplicity of his recommendations is what makes them so valuable: pack some basic medications, be smart about what you eat and drink, and communicate your needs ahead of time.

What I really appreciate about this conversation is that Elliott doesn't sugarcoat it. He tells the mushroom story, he mentions the guy who accidentally double-dosed on seasickness patches, and he's honest about the reality that when you're 45 miles offshore or in a remote international location, you need to be prepared because help isn't close by. If you're planning any kind of travel fishing trip, especially internationally, listen to this one. It's short, it's practical, and it might save your next adventure.