Archive for September, 2024

THEY’RE GETTING MORE PICKY AT THE GATE

Posted in Airline flights to Mexico, airlines, aquaculture, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, camping, car, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charity, charters, christmas, chubasco, circle hooks, Coronavirus Baja Mexico, crankbait, deep sea, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, first aid, fish, fish farming, fish pens, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing hooks, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, giant squid, green, Heat stroke, highway, historical, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, hurricanes, ice chests, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, luggage, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican church cathedral, Mexican culture, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, mexican road crosses, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, midriff islands, missions, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, seri indians, sierra, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, taco, taco stand, Tailhunter International, techniques, testing facilities mexico airport, tiburon island, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, water, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia, Baja Mexico, beaches, billfish, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, Cerralvo Island, charter, coronavirus in Mexico, deep sea, diving, dog-tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tours, espirito santo island, family, fish, Fishing, fishing report, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing video, fly fishing, fly fishing. Spearfishing, Fubar Cocina Cantina, gray whales, grey whales, guide, holiday, igfa, inshore, jack crevalle, jill roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, los barriles, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos bay, offshore, outfitter, package, panga, pargo, pompano, rooster fish, sailfish, scuba, sea lions, sea of cortez, seabass, sierra, snorkeling, sportfishing, suenos bay, swimming, tailhunter restaurant, travel, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on September 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

THEY’RE GETTING MORE PICKY AT THE GATE

Originally Published the Week of Sept. 20, 2024 in Western Outdoor Publications

Oh for those “good old days.”

When I first used to come to Baja more than 40 years ago, part of the thrill was figuring out all the fishing gear I could bring. Looking back, I can only shake my head.

“What was I thinking?”

It’s funny how our perceptions change over the years.

I kid you not. I would bring a dozen sticks and reels. Plus extra reels in case I needed to change things out. Lure of every size and color. Extra spools of line. All the accessories like dikes, pliers, rod belts and other “essential gadgets.”

I could have used a whole village of sherpas. It’s no wonder I have back, neck and knee problems in my older age. I don’t even know how I got it through airports. I don’t remember ever using a cart and I still only had 2 arms and 2 legs.

Hmmmm…

And that didn’t even include clothes and personal items. But, heck…back then…maybe two pairs of shorts…a couple of fishing t-shirts…some flip flops…hat and sunglasses.

If you couldn’t rinse it in the hotel sink or take a shower with it on, you didn’t bring it! Fishing gear weighed 100 pounds. Clothes bag weighed almost nothing!

Gear was certainly the priorty.

One of our favorite little tricks was get all the guys to stuff all the rods into a single travel tube. Less hassle and cheaper. One guy carries and checks-in the big tube.

Well…this is your friendly public service announcement.

Mexico seems like it’s really going out of it’s way at the airports to streamline your arrivals and departures. Especially for folks arriving on vacation.

I saw a study where the average tourist was taking an hour or more to get off their plane and finally making it outside the airport. Actually, in many cases 90 minutes to get out. That was longer than some of the flights!

I have to say as a frequent flyer and also dealing with hundreds of fishing clients a month with our transportation service, they have succeeded.

For 90% of our visitors just pulling a suitcase or an ice chest, it’s generally better and faster than it has ever been.

There’s just one little hiccup. And for us fishermen, it can really be a pain-in-the-neck and a terrible way to start your much-anticipated vacation.

The airport inspectors…especially the customs guys are starting to enforce the customs regulations.

Nothing has changed. They’re just starting to hunker down more.

For so many years we pretty much brought down whatever we wanted, right?

Not so much anymore.

I have dozens of fishing clients and their families and friends who arrive at the Cabo Airport every week.

With increasing frequency, folks are getting stopped. For example:

I’ve had a number of guys get fined for bringing in too many rods and reels. (So much now for packing everyone’s rods in one guy’s rod tube)

I’ve had them fine one client for bringing in too many cartons of their favorite cigarettes.

One of my clients got fined for bringing a case of his favorite beer that isn’t offered in Mexico. The case of PBR cost him $10 at home. The fine was $30! So, the case ultimately cost $40.

Stuff like that…

The biggest stopper is the rods and reels. Especially right now with all of the tournaments happening in Baja. So, beware.

Here’s the full list of things that were always on the customs forms we all ignored:

https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/reinounido/index.php/es/servicios-a-extranjeros/79#4

And here’s some highlights of particular interest to fishermen and their friends and family:

– 2 photographic or video recording cameras; photographic material; 3 mobile telephones or other wireless networks; a global positioning equipment (GPS); an electronic notepad; a laptop, notebook, omni book or similar; a portable copier or printer; a DVD burner and a portable projector, with its accessories.

– 2 personal sports equipment, 4 fishing rods, 3 sailboards with or without a sail and their accessories, trophies, or recognitions, if they can be transported commonly and normally by the passenger.

– A portable sound recording or reproducing or mixed device or 2 for digital image and sound recording or reproducing apparatus and a portable DVD player; a set of portable speakers, and their accessories.

– 5 laser discs, 10 DVD discs, 30 compact discs, 3 software packages and 5 storage devices for any electronic equipment.

– Books, magazines, and printed documents.

– 5 toys, including collectibles, a video game console and 5 video games.

– Suitcases, trunks or any other item necessary for the transfer of luggage.

– A binocular and a telescope.

– 2 musical instruments and their accessories.

– A tent and other camping gear.

– A set of hand tools with its case, which may include a drill, pliers, wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, power cords, among others.

Passengers over 18 years of age, a maximum of 10 cigarette packs, 25 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco; up to 3 liters of alcoholic beverages and 6 liters of wine.

Consider yourself warned! See you down here!

That’s my story!

______________

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.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.”

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GOING FULL NATIVE

Posted in Airline flights to Mexico, airlines, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, camping, car, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charity, charters, christmas, chubasco, circle hooks, Coronavirus Baja Mexico, crankbait, deep sea, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, first aid, fish, fish farming, fish pens, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing hooks, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, giant squid, Heat stroke, highway, historical, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, hurricanes, ice chests, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, luggage, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican church cathedral, Mexican culture, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, mexican road crosses, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, midriff islands, missions, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, seri indians, sierra, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, taco, taco stand, Tailhunter International, techniques, testing facilities mexico airport, tiburon island, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, water, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia, Baja Mexico, beaches, billfish, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, Cerralvo Island, charter, coronavirus in Mexico, deep sea, diving, dog-tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tours, espirito santo island, family, fish, Fishing, fishing report, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing video, fly fishing, fly fishing. Spearfishing, Fubar Cocina Cantina, gray whales, grey whales, guide, holiday, igfa, inshore, jack crevalle, jill roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, los barriles, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos bay, offshore, outfitter, package, panga, pargo, pompano, rooster fish, sailfish, scuba, sea lions, sea of cortez, seabass, sierra, snorkeling, sportfishing, suenos bay, swimming, tailhunter restaurant, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on September 6, 2024| Leave a Comment »

GOING FULL NATIVE

Originally Published the Week of Sept. 7, 2024 in Western Outdoor Publications

Several decades ago, we started doing “Street Taco Tours” with our fishing guests who came to visit us for fishing down here in La Paz.

It got pretty popular!

Sometimes, we’d be doing it 3 or 4 times a week with sometimes several dozen guests a night. It got to the point where folks would have to reserve space well in advance.

They were fun. Informative. And most of all delicious.

It was a chance to visit places most tourists would never find or venture to try. These were all mom-and-pop places that you would never find on Google, Yelp or Trip Advisor.

Often, they would be down neighborhood streets or alleys or some corner far away from the tourist areas.

But as I often tell our guests, eating in Mexico is a lot like eating in the states. If you see 3 burger stands in a row and 2 of them are empty and one of them has a line around it, it’s not hard to figure where to go eat.

And, that’s the way these taquerias are.

You’re headed down a dark neighborhood street lit only by a few street lights and see maybe the occasional dog sleeping off the sidewalk. You turn a corner and you’re greeted by the lights and whole neighborhood chowing down!

Plastic chairs and tables with beer logos on them…maybe a string of white lights…and all kinds of sizzling aromatic meats coming of a flaming grill or flatiron . Maybe a portable radio or CD player with some great banda music. A table full of temping salsas and pretty much everyone smiling and enjoying the eatery, but also kind of a community central!

You’ve arrived. Join in!

Now, most of these places all have the usual tacos that gringos know…mostly carne asada. Essentially grilled beef.

Packed into a warm tortilla and slathered with salsas and other condiments…A great choice. Can’t miss. Like ordering a cheeseburger at your favorite fast food or a ribeye at your favorite steak house.

But, if you want to step outside the safety zone and go full native Mexicano, here’s some other tasty options. Some are familiar to some tourists while others require “full immersion!”

Al Pastor – Marinated pork in mild spices and pineapple flame-cooked on a vertical rotisserie like shwarma and thin sliced portions right into the tortilla and handed to you.

Carnitas – A big favorite. It’s slow roasted pulled-pork cut into tender chunks into your tortilla. Often combined with some of the other items on this list.

Chicarrones – Deep fried crunchy pork skin. Chopped into the tortilla if it’s soft. Or if really crunchy, packed into a tortilla with other meats like carnitas much the way you’d put a lot of bacon bits on things back home. Minced onions and cilantro are a plus!

Costilla – Not terribly adventurous because it’s beef rib meat! Not many places have it, but when you find it, jump on it. Hard to go astray with the meat from beef ribs!

Often served with a cup of consommé which is basically the beef drippings and broth. Dip your rib taco into it like a beef dip sandwich and take a bite!

Chorizo – Spicy Mexican pork sausage. Chopped, shredded and grilled. There are many different versions. Some sweet. Some more spicy. Restaurants will mix it with eggs. And perfect for burritos. But at a street stand, straight into your tortilla to be covered with salsa.

Tripa – OK. Now were veering outside the box! This is Tripe! Chewy tender chopped grilled or slow-cooked lining of the cow’s stomach. The texture is a bit chewy and has a delicious mild beef flavor. Often found in menudo.

Lengua – A big favorite. This is cow tongue. It’s braised with onions and garlic. I’ve heard it described as a heartier and beefier flavor than flank steak or even surpassing filet mignon. Chopped small into a tortilla with salsa and hit it with a quick squeeze of lime to make the flavor explode!

Seso – Cow brain. There. I said it. Yes, cow brain. It’s firm. It’s moist. It has a strong beef flavor and very tender.

Ojos – Yup…cow eyeballs. I kinda thought they were very mild…but FYI…they were kinda crunchy. Didn’t taste bad at all. They were so mild, the salsa really made them tasty. Just had trouble with the “crunch” once my friend told me what they were!

Cachete – Basically cow cheeks. They can be tough and stringy so that’s why it’s slow cooked and it comes out quite tender and tasting very much like beef rib meat. It’s rich and very marbled which really enhances the flavor.

In total honesty, yes, I’ve eaten all of these. But again, full discloser and transparency, a few of them I ate without knowing what I was eating.

I was told AFTER-THE-FACT!

I think it was to watch my expression. All of them were good in their own way and many of my local friends crave these different meats. But if you really want to live large…give them a try and come to your own culinary conclusions!