CHANGING SEASONS
Originally Published the Week of Oct. 17, 2021 in Western Outdoor Publications
Having a fishing business down here, I could usually tell when the warm water season was cooling down. The signs are usually everywhere.
The kinds of fish start to change. Instead of warm water species like billfish, tuna, dorado, etc., we there are fewer in the counts. More inshore species acclimated to cooler waters like sierra, pargo, snapper, cabrilla and amberjack become more prevalent.
The winds from the north start to blow a little stronger and more consistently. The waters are choppier and cooler.
The sun is at a different angle and throws longer shadows around.
It sounds silly to the tourists, but we are starting to wear sweatshirts and long pants even though the temps are still in the high 70’s. Tourists are still running around in shorts and t-shirts. To us, it’s unequivocally cooler.
You can even tell by the types of visitors we’re getting.
Not quite so many folks from California or Arizona, Utah, Texas or Nevada.
Now, we’re getting more Canadians, Alaskans and folks from Oregon, Washington and the Dakotas. They don’t ask much about fishing or what they will catch. They just want to know if there will be sunshine.
Even if it’s a cool 70 degrees here, it’s still much warmer than what they’ve got back home so yes, the snowbirds are already showing up.
The crowds are definitely down.
Families are largely gone. Kids are back in school. Fishermen as well. Everyone’s getting ready for holidays back in the U.S. It’s a quieter time down here.
However, the biggest indicator of the changing seasons can be viewed by anyone driving around town. And it usually elicits a collective groan.
Christmas is already in the air here in Mexico.
Usually, in the U.S. we can generally figure it kicks in right after Thanksgiving.
Well, there’s no Thanksgiving holidays here in Mexico. Halloween is growing, but it’s a minor little kid thing mostly.
So, just about the end of September, here we go!
Stores are pushing aside merchandise and stocking rows and rows of toys. Those that don’t have the room, erect huge “TOY TENTS” in their parking lots.
Christmas decorations are already on the shelves as well. In fact, if you don’t purchase them now, there probably will not be any around by the beginning of December and the stores do not re-stock. Once they’re gone…they’re gone!
Christmas tree lots are also popping up in vacant lots and parking areas.
You can see where the fencing is being put in and banners advertising “Fresh Oregon Christmas Trees” are already being hung in anticipation of the arrival of trees in a few weeks.
They’ll be here by the beginning of November and folks will snap them up. Nothing like a fresh “Oregon Christmas Tree” in the living room. How you keep a tree fresh and fragrant for two months is beyond me.
I’m just not quite ready for this.
I know in a few weeks, shop owners will start painting elves and fake snow on storefronts. Somehow, it’s just not the same in Mexico seeing fake snow sprayed on things.
For most folks, the only snow they want to see is inside the rim of a margarita glass or when they pop an ice chest full of Pacifico or Dos Equis long-necks.
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 http://www.tailhunter.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: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
Website:
www.tailhunter-international.com
Mexico Office: Tailhunter International, 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
U.S. Mailing Address: Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA 91942
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863
.
Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report: http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/
Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g
“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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