That's My Story

SORRY TO START THIS WAY –

So, there was I was on Thursday evening strolling over to Hotel Los Arcos to meet my clients who were coming in from the airport. Parking was unusually difficult so I had to park some blocks away and as I got closer to the hotel there was quite a crowd around and I began to notice a lot of my friend who work at Hotel Marina and La Concha Beach Resort as well as other hotels here in town. I figured there must be a big union meeting at Los Arcos because most of my friends were waiters, room maids, porters, etc. As I greeted them, I laughing asked, “Where’s the party and how come I wasn’t invited?” They laughed back.

So, I walk towards the lobby and its PACKED! I walk smack into the TV cameras and crowds and find out that the hotel has gone on strike. Well…not the hotel, but the union of hotel employees. Apparently, the contract had come up and negotiations had stalled and BOOM…hotel suddenly closes! People were being turned away to other hotels. Current clients were being packed up to other hotels!

This is no bueno. The hotel, like all hotels and other tourist related businesses here in La Paz have been extremely hard hit by the Aero California situation and the lack of airflights into town the last 3 months to where various parts of the hotel had already been closed down. Now this!

Like most strikes…money is at the heart, but also a big political thing. Luis Cuppola is the owner (also owns the Finnesterra in Cabo) is running for the senate as the “choice of the worker.” Big black eye to him when his own hotel workers take a walk!

Bottom line, if you’ve got reservations at Los Arcos this week, better change them! I spoke with hotel management who hope it resolves soon, but we all said that about Aero California too. If you’re one of my clients this week, we’ve already taken care of you. However, many of you who read this are not my clients so talk to your agents or give us a shout to see what can be done. All of my clients have already been placed in other hotels. Once again…until further notice, Los Arcos Hotel is closed due to a workers strike!

OK…let talk fishing…

YOU WANT DORADO WE GOT DORADO!

I think I will dub this the official week that dorado and marlin season started. Still a bit windy, but the dorado bite went into full swing this week with good numbers of chicken-sized schoolies topped off with nice 30-40 pound bulls. It wasn’t wide open or all day, but some spots really produced and if you wanted dorado they were there to be caught. Additionally, marlin finally decided to get with the program instead of just cruising the surface and actually jumped baits and lures along with sailfish. On the La Paz side, areas such as Las Cruces, Coyote, the Canyon and Punta Norte all produced as did the sargasso weeds accumulating in the channel. On the Las Arena side, if you hit the right buoy it was dorado rodeo. You could dink dink all day and get limits or do it with one-stop-shopping if you hit the right buoy. Biggest dorado of the week was a 45 pounder by Rich Strauss of Cleveland who landed a personal best. Inshore as well, roosters, jacks, big bonito and pargo were still on the chew although drawing less attention now that the mahi are centerstage.

AERO CALIFORNIA UPDATES

Still on the ground, but according to the newspapers this week, all the planes have been tested. All the paperwork has been filed and submitted and turned into the government to get the planes back in the air. It’s in the governments hands now (always was!). For the first time, town is buzzing that Aero Cal will be accepting reservations again after June 12th. I want to believe!!!!! But…my optimism is tempered. I want to see their planes flying with people first! The planes have been flown around here, but not with clients…just yet!

In the meantime, most of our clients are either coming through Cabo San Lucas and we are shuttling them up or coming in on the limited flights offered by Aero Mexico.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Big jacks such as this one taken by Doug Oclassen (left) of Boulder CO, helped by his dad Glenn were voracious and could school up in huge spots. Using light tackle, the Oclassens got quite a few of these tough fighters and released them all.

That’s my story!
Jonathan