You REALLY wanna know what we’re catching?
How’s the Fishing?
Originally Published the Week of March 31, 2016 in Western Outdoor News
It was one of those rare days when I was able to get out on the water with one of our favorite skippers and one of our long-time clients. Captain Julio has been with us for 2 decades. Billy has been fishing with Julio and our operation for almost that long. Every year. Twice a year.
Billy’s wife opted out for a day at the spa. And I just couldn’t take another day in the office back in La Paz. Let me out!
So, it was really like 3 old amigos fishing together. Lots of years among us. Families, chins and wastelines had grown. Hair and stubble had gone south. Lots of stories to tell. Good laughs. You know. Guy stuff…
“Remember when…”
“What about the time…”
“There was this girl I met who…
“There was that one fish…”
“We stopped for a quick tequila…”
No one hardly noticed that we hadn’t caught a fish in awhile. Actually none at all. Yawn.
Captain Julio had his rod in a holder and the other lazily draped over the outboard tiller and gripping a cold beer. He was grinning and making an obscure point about Mexican politics and bad soccer teams.
Somewhere under the shade of his ragged straw lifeguard hat, Billy was sipping on another frosty one in between laughs. His bare feet were up on the ice chest and rod loosely under his arm balanced on the gunwale. If a fish bit…Adios! Billy’s rod was going for a swim.
I didn’t even have a rod in the water. I figured if the fish bit, I’d get in the game. I told the boys I was “conserving energy.”
Let Billy and Julio get the bite started. It’s not as if they were exerting a lot of effort. I don’t think Billy even knew if he still had bait on his hook. Julio had let us drift off the “hot” spot half-an-hour ago.
We were so into talking about achy joints and the Los Angeles “Doyyers” that we hadn’t noticed another panga drift up close by and hail us.
“Hey guys, how’s the fishing?” asked one of the occupants hopefully.
“Muy bueno!” responded Captain Julio with a laugh.
“What are you catching?” yelled back one of the fishermen.
“A buzz!” waved back Billy with a Pacifico upraised. He nearly fell over busting a gut with his wittiness…which set me and Julio off as well. I nearly spit out my own beer! Like guffawing knee-slapping idiots.
“What you got in the boat?”
“Bait!” I roared back! Such a smartass…Now I’m doubled. I think Julio almost snorted beer out his nose!
You know how it is. Once you get started everything is funny. No stopping.
I’m sure the other panga mumbled something about us being “knuckleheads and idiots.” And pulled away. We were obviously no help.
Great fishing.
Catching? Less so. At least as far as fish are concerned.
But who cares?
Someone once told me that I was an “alpha dog fisherman.” It was a compliment.
I caught bigger and more. It was important to me. I studied fishing books and magazines. I actually kept records and charts. I poured over “fish porn” on the internet…photos…reports…weather (admit it…you’ve done it too! LOL).
What a nerd. Tunnel vision angler! In many ways, defined by my fishing success.
To me it was FILA…First in…Last out.. as far as my fishing day was concerned. If there was a mud puddle, I’d be looking at it as a fishing hole. All bodies of water were seen in the context of whether it was fishable!
And now here I was, sitting in a drifting panga in the Sea of Cortez. I didn’t even have a rod in the water. Ho-hum.
It just wasn’t that important. I’ve realized that as I’ve gotten older, it’s become less important. I want everyone else to catch fish. I get a bigger kick out’ve that. But, my own rod doesn’t need to be bent.
I was having more fun “catching a buzz” off the day. I was away from the office and e-mails and cell phones. I was drifting in the warm sun on the water and moreso spending time with my THREE good friends…Mr. Billy…Mr. Julio…and the ever-icy Mr. Pacifico (mas fina) !
Nothing to prove.
How many fish would we catch today? Fish limits would not be an issue today. Time was our only limit.
Time.
Not enough time to sit out here forever. Not enough time to laugh about “Los Doyyers”, politicians, bad old girlfriends, legendary fish and funny bar stories.
Three good fishing friends subtley understanding that there were probably more days behind us than ahead of us. And reveling in every moment! Just three knuckleheads drifting in a boat having a great day fishing.
Not catching. Not fish at least.
We were catching a few things probably much more important than fish.
That’s my story!
Jonathan
Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter-international.com. They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com or drop by the restaurant to say hi!
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“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.”
That's My Story 
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