That's My Story

THE GREYING OF THE BAJA

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the week of April 29, 2008

So, there I was at the La Paz Airport waiting for some clients to come off the plane from Los Angeles. Pick them up and take them to the hotel for their fishing vacation.

I normally send our drivers down to get our clients, but these clients were good family friends from long ago so I decided to go myself. I hadn’t been to the airport in about a year.

I’m used to seeing the security gates open from the inspection area and guys loaded with rod tubes and coolers, come waddling out with all the gear. They would roll out…one after the other in an unending procession of guys bursting to do some fishing You could feel the barely contained exuberance of their finally arriving here in the sunshine. Respective tour companies were greeting them with hand lettered signs and ice-cold beers and sodas. Let the vacation begin!

But “Aye Dios Mio!”

There were no fishermen coming off the plane. Instead, each time the security gates opened, there were grey-haired folks. Lots of them. It was like Senior World must have had some special tour or something or it was a special package trip like the ones that load busses to Vegas!

They weren’t carrying ice chest or rods. Nor did they have that, “point-me-to-the-nearest-margarita-bar-look” in their eyes.

Nah, these looked like our moms and dads and Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary and along with their little rollaway suitcases, they had boxes of linens, bundles from the “Crate and Barrel” and “Williams Sonoma.”

And I looked around at the people waiting for them. Not many tour or sportfishing operators. Instead, there were other grey-haired folks and after the hugs and greetings, there were snippets of chatter like:

“So, did the carpenters finish the cabinets yet? “We need to stop by the realtors office after we pick up the bank statements for the condo.”
“I found the BEST housekeeper named Maria Teresa!”
“I hear the tile man finished the bathroom counters but they still hadn’t put in the plumbing yet.”

It’s building and it’s real estate and it’s development. As real as the dash across the Oklahoma plains by the prairie sooners eager to stake out their plot of land, the boom is on. And all the aging retiring baby boomers have arrived.

And I said, “Man, there’s a lot of old folks coming off that plane!” Then, I realized that I’m one of them too and I’d have the salt-and-pepper hair as well if I had any hair left! Those aren’t senior citizens! That’s my own generation retiring to Baja. No longer the casual vistors. They’ve come to stay!

In other matters…

My amiga, Pam Bolles, owner of the Baja Big Fish Co. in Loreto and also the IGFA representative in the area, reports illegal yellowtail netting at the north end of Carmen Island. This is within the restricted Marine Park Zone.

According to Pam, nothing is being done to enforce the park rules which prohibit commercial pangas from netting in this area.

“We buy tickets to support the marine park for each and every client that fishes with us each and every day as per the law. The fee for these tickets must include enforcement of the very rules and laws that outline the park management plan,” says Bolles.

The Marine Park offices promise to “look into this.” However, Pam says that hauls of NINE TONS of yellowtail per day are being taken and sold to the fish buyers at 8 pesos a kilo (translation: 40 cents per pound).

She’s asking anyone seeing this activity or sportfishing in the area to take photos and submit them to her at http://us.f523.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=paminlto@gmail.com So that she can take the images to the park office.

Lastly, a parting good-bye to a fellow fish brother.

Francisco “Pancho” Aguilar was the owner and operator of the Baja Pirates Fishng Fleet here in La Paz. He was 42 years-old when he died unexpectedly of a heart attack while out on the boats. A funnier and more popular guy you would never find.

I’m sure many of you either fished with him over the years or met him at the outdoor shows. He and I started our respective fishing fleets about 13 years ago. Although our paths diverged as we each grew our respective businesses and it became harder to hang out together, he was always good for a grin and a joke. He will be missed.

He leaves two young daughters, Andrea and Kamila. Kamila is only a few months old. Andrea is almost a teenager.

A trust fund scholarship is being set up through Bank of America and Bancomer by Pancho’s partner, Leonard Phillips. Check can be made to: Andrea Aguilar or Kamilla Aguilar at 10016 Pioneer Blvd suite 110 Santa Fe Springs, Ca 90670 or call toll free to 866 454-5386 to make a credit card contribution.

Make everyday count. Tomorrow is never promised.

That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.