There are alot of reasons some guys catch fish and others don't. Sometimes it's just an unlucky day. That happens. But sometimes there are other factors. There are two sides to every story!

VIEW FROM THE OTHER SIDE

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of Aug. 4, 2010

Since the mid-90’s, I’ve been getting people out fishing down here in Baja.  I’d have to say we’ve had several thousand people entrust a day or more of their vacations to us to catching some fish.

We do catch fish.  Thankfully, the fish-rich waters of Baja sure makes that easier and people have a good time.  They come year-after-year.

Fairly or unfairly, we often get all the credit when the fish jump in the boat but conversely we also feel the pain of our clients (or get blamed) when the fish don’t cooperate.

Frankly, nothing gets me scratching my head harder or knots up my gut more than the folks who don’t do as well as the others.  I think any outfitter, guide or person who works in a charter operation worth their salt feels the same way. 

All things being equal with conditions, gear, boats, etc. for whatever reason, someone gets a big goose-egg.  The only boat that doesn’t catch fish.  I hate seeing those long faces.  I take it personally. 

We like success.  A good day on the water means happy customers. 

At the end of the day, I love hearing the excited success stories.  Nothing better than a customer who can’t stop gushing or finish a sentence because they are so excited.

“…and then this HUGE  fish came up and…”

“…but I grabbed my rod which started to…”

“…and I thought to myself, but my heart began to…

“…best day I’ve ever…” 

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll take a high-five over a kick in the butt anyday.  I mean,  I KNOW how all the other anglers caught their fish.  But…I’m more intrigued and sometimes worried about the angler who did NOT catch fish, especially when everyone else had a banner day.

I think Michael Jordan might have once said, that he made the game-winning basket many times in his career, but the shots he missed were the ones that he remembered and tormented him the most.

For us it’s the same way.  I love seeing the smiles and knuckle-bumps, but it’s the guy with the dis-spirited face, that bothers me the most.  Everyone caught fish and there’s one or two guys that just missed out.

I always try to talk to the clients.  Find out what happened.  Sometimes, folks are pretty surly when they don’t catch fish, but most times they’ll talk.

There’s a million stories.  Bad bait.  Too much current.  Not enough current.  Too warm.  Too cold.  Full moon.  Green water.  Bad captain.  Whatever…

The good thing about fishing in Baja is that, folks rarely have a bunch of bad days.  More often than not, a bad day can just as easily be followed by world-class explosive days. Then suddenly amazingly, the world is a bright and shiny place again for the aggrieved fisherman.

But, on the bad days, I have always made it a point to talk to my captain about a bad fishing day as well.   I want to hear their side of the stories. 

Sometimes it’s just “one of those days.”  Even the best captains and anglers have a bad day.  But, have you ever wondered what the captains thought?

Here’s some captains comments I’ve heard over the years…

“No patience.”

“Too many toys. Too much gear. Wanted to use them all.”

“Wants to fish their own way or the way they caught fish in Puerto Vallarta”

“Too many ‘captains’ in the boat.”

“Hard to fight a fish with a beer can in one hand.”

“Does not want have any help.”

“Wanted to do too many things in one day.”

“Wanted to fish for a fish that isn’t here this time of year.”

“Trying too hard.  Too serious.”

“Too many people in the boat.”

“Wanted me to watch their kids AND run the boat AND catch fish”

“Won’t get out of the chair.”

“Too anxious.”

“Girlfriend spent day yelling at him.”

“Did not want to spend the money to buy bait. Said it was too expensive.”

“Expected fish to be in the same spot as last year.”

“Spent the whole time in the cabin eating/ sleeping/ blending drinks”

“Hungover.”

“Spent the day throwing up and got angry for not catching fish.”

“Had too many rods.  Could barely walk around the boat.”

“Thinks he knows more than the captain.”

“Didn’t wake up on time and started late.”  / “Wanted to go in too early.”

“Doesn’t follow the fish.”

“Insisted on tying his own bad knots.”

Two sides to every story!  I tend to take both sides with a grain-of-salt when the captain AND the client have contrary stories and figure the truth lay somewhere in the middle.  But, again, the good thing is that in Baja, tomorrow is always a whole ‘nother day!

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Jonathan Roldan has been the Baja Editor and columnist for Western Outdoor News and Publications since 2004.  He and his wife, Jill, own and operate Tailhunter International fishing in La Paz since the mid-90’s as well as the Tailhunter Restaurant and FUBAR Cantina.  Jonathan can be reached via e-mail at riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com