That's My Story

WATERS WARMING AS PARGO START TO BITE BUT WINDS BACK UP TOO WHILE TUNA TEASE TO NORTH!

La Paz / Las Arenas Fishing Report for Feb. 18, 2008

Photo1 – These are the big cubera snapper or dog-tooth snapper generically called “pargo”

Photo 2– Beth is holding up another type of “pargo.” These are the “pargo lisa” or “mullet snapper.” Another tough fish to get outta the rocks. This is Punto Perrico behind her.

THE FISH REPORT

Waters warming rapidly. In some places from Espiritu Santo Island south to Cerralvo and Pescadero there’s patches of 70 plus degree waters. That’s unseasonably warm. However, after two weeks of really great weather, the winds kicked in again towards the back end of the week making the waters go bump. Sierra were the mainstay fish near the islands or anywhere there was a deeper drop off near rocks. We did have some of the big pargo start biting off Las Arenas. I say “biting” because “catching” is the other half of the equation and putting them into the boat after they bite is probably the toughest part. One of our clients had six “biters” but each time got busted in the rocks. The captains confirmed they were pargo and not rocks because the clients got pretty skeptical after awhile! Rocks don’t move!

I know we didn’t have many clients this week, but just by way of an outlook, with the way the water are warming, we could and hopefully will see more of the pelagic blue water species soon. From talking to amigos, that body of striped marlin that starts coming arond the Cape about November/December seems like it’s started it’s migration east and north up into the Sea of Cortez. If we do start to see them, many times they are just lying on the surface rather lethargically. It can get frustrating to see so many marlin being “flojo” lazy bums and not willing to take a bait, but it seems they’re just getting used to things. When they do start going, it can be all out pandemonium. There were times the last two years during the striped marlin run when we had 2, 3 and one time even five billfish going on at the same time. What a “firedrill” that was! Last year during May and June I could almost guarantee a billfish hookup. We’ll keep you posted if we start seeing them showing up. They’ll most likely hit the East Cape before we get them since the EC is about 50 miles further south.

Just a few notes:

Commericial pangeros had some 40 pound tuna come up on them at the north side of Cerrlavo Island. They were gone the next day and not worth the gas for us to check them out since there were no guarantees they’d still be there and the clients didn’t want to run that far for fish that might not be there.

Also, whales are really in nicely right now at Bahia Magdalena. We have clients out whalewatching this week and our clients last week had quite a few whales coming right up to the pangas.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Our next show is the biggie…Fred Hall Fishing and Boating Show at Long Beach. This is the largest show on the West Coast. It’s March 7-11 and always brings them out in droves. Alot of guys make an event of it and get a hotel room so they can spend a few days in the arena. I’ve usually talked so much that by the 2nd day, my voice is shot! Our booth is not in the traditional “travel section.” Look for us in our usual spot in the tackle area right next to Izorline and down from Calstar rods/Sumo Tackle/ Accurate Reels/ Avet Reels and Tady Lures. Come down to say howdy!

BOOKINGS FOR THIS YEAR

Maybe it’s because so many of you had to put off last year because of the Aero Cal fiasco. However, our bookings are WAY up over last year for boats so if you have any inkling of coming down this year, please let us know as soon as possible. Alaska, Delta and Aero Mexico are now flying into La Paz from the U.S. and our old buddies, Aero Cal, still have cheap flights out’ve Tijuana that many of our anglers found to be surprisingly easy to do. Alaska has had some great rates and now Delta is trying to match.

Let us know if you need some help with ticketing!

These are dates that are currently sold out on one side or the other (Las Arenas or La Paz) . We can always get you rooms, but the boats are critical…at least if you’re planning on fishing, right? When the boats are booked, as much as I’d like to just wave a wand and make more appear, that’s all the boats there are! I can’t make more appear. I’m just not that good…yet!

Sometimes, there are more boats and captains to be hired that are independents, but many of those guys are 2nd and 3rd stringers and there’s a reason they don’t get booked with the first team. I try to always give you folks our stars ONLY!

June 14 – No more La Paz boats only Las Arenas
June 15 – No more La Paz boats only Las Arenas

July 9 – No more La Paz boats only Las Arenas

Sept. 6 – No more La Paz boats only Las Arenas
Sept. 7 – No more La Paz boats only Las Arenas
Sept. 11 – No more Las Arenas boats only La Paz
Sept. 14 – No more Las Arenas boats only La Paz
Sept. 15 – No more Las Arenas boats only La Paz
Sept. 16 – No more La Paz boats only Las Arenas
Sept. 17 – No more La Paz boats only Las Arenas
Sept. 27 – No more La Paz boats only Las Arenas
Sept. 29 – No more La Paz boats only Las Arenas

Oct. 5 – No more Las Arenas boats only La Paz
Oct. 6 – No more La Paz boats only Las Arenas
Oct. 7 – No more La Paz boast only Las Arenas
Oct. 8- No more La Paz boats only Las Arenas
Oct. 12- No more La Paz boats only Las Arenas

PARTING SHOTS:

Jeff Holcomb is one of our amigos from the frozen lands of Wisconsin who sent this in in response to my reports that often bitch about how cold it is in La Paz.

We have a song we sing here in the Winter – to the tune of “La Cucaracha”…

“In Wisconsin, in Wisconsin
The weather isn’t very nice
In Wisconsin, in Wisconsin
We have to fish right through the ice”

Point taken! Thanks, Jeff!

That’s my story! Hope you all have a short 4-day week!

Jonathan

Jonathan Roldan’s Tailhunter International

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

Phone: (626) 333-3355

FAX: (626) 333-0115

E-Mail: Riplipboy@aol.com

U.S. Office: 3319 White Cloud Dr., Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745

Mexico Office: Carr. a Pichilingue KM 5, Numero 205, La Paz, Baja Cal Sur, Mexico

“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”