Archive for the ‘Cabo San Lucas’ Category

“OOPS! Now What?”

Posted in 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, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charters, dorado, east cape, espirito santo, fish, Fishing, fishing blogs, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, flyfishing, freediving, giant squid, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, 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, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, Mexico, Mexico life, outfitters, packages, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, Sea of Cortez, sierra, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Uncategorized, vacations, wahoo, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, baja, baja sur, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo, charters, donations, dorado, east cape, el sargento, espirito santo, fish, Fishing, fishing reports, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, marlin, mexican, mexico, outfitters, packages, panga, pargo, roosterfish, sailfish, sea of cortez, snapper, spearfishing, Tailhunter International, techniques, tips, tours, tuna, vacations, wahoo, yellowtail on August 19, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Oops…you really didn’t mean to kill that fish! That’s a buzz kill. What ya gonna do now?

OOPS! Now What?

Originally Published the Week of Aug 22, 2013 in Western Outdoor News

It’s a dilemma I see all the time with our fleet here in La Paz as well as elsewhere I have been fishing. Anglers wrestle with it all the time. It’s the “Oops Event.”

It usually pops up in two different situations.

In the first one, you’re fighting a fish. It’s a big one. Usually, it’s a billfish like a marlin or sailfish or you hook onto a sportfish like a roosterfish or a jack crevalle.

You un-intentionally killed a fish. You were going to let it go either because they just don’t taste good; or you don’t like to eat fish; or you didn’t intend to bring any home. More likely, you’re just a good-guy-sportsman and planned to release the fish anyway. It died. Even after you tried to revive it. Oops!

Or, hey…I’ve been there. In the heat of battle, you’ve got the adrenaline running and the sweat pouring off your head and you didn’t speak up fast enough. And dangit…you WANT this beast in the boat for a photo! Well… An overzealous gaff swings and now there’s a dead fish on the boat. Oh man…Oops!

Alternatively, in the other situation I see, anglers fish a few days. They fish within limits. The have a great time. They get what they want. Release what they don’t. All-in-all, just another great fishing trip to Baja.

Until, they pack up their fish to leave. They start dropping frozen fish into the coolers and realize… “Hey, oh-oh. We’ve got way too much fish. It won’t fit in the ice chest and the airlines is gonna charge an arm-and-a-leg for being overweight.” Oops.

Now what? Dead fish on the deck. Too many fish in the box. Ice chest too heavy. Oops!

I hear and see it pretty much every week. When the fishing is running, it’s a common dilemma. It happens. No fish slaughter was intended. No one broke any rules. There was no malicious intent. It’s just that suddenly there’s either an un-intended dead fish or there’s more fish than you wanted or needed.

I guess to me it’s really simple and there’s (to me) obvious solutions, but I’m asked about it often enough that it’s worth a column.

There’s several options.

First, feed yourself! You’d be surprised when I tell people they can take fish to any local restaurant and have the eatery cook up fresh fish. You should see the quizzical looks when I make the suggestion. Really? You can? They will?

I mostly get this reaction from first-timers, who sometimes have a hard time wrapping their minds around the idea that you can just bring a bag of fish into a restaurant and have them cook it up. When it hits them, they bust out the big smiles. And the smiles get even bigger AFTER dinner when I ask them how it tasted. It’s like an epicurean epiphany of sorts!

It’s just so uncommon to do that in the states, but here in Mexico, it’s pretty much given that some of the BEST meals you can have is taking your own fish to a restaurant to have it cooked up. Baja veterans look forward to it as one of the highlights of their trip. It doesn’t even have to be a fancy restaurant.

We do it daily in our own Tailhunter restaurant here in La Paz with our own clients. As I often tell our diners “nothing will ever taste better than fish that was swimming around that morning. That fish’s bad day will be YOUR great dinner!”

Secondly, remember. Nothing gets wasted.

If you visit the touristy cities, or never leave the tourist areas, it’s hard to conceive that many many people in Mexico virtually live on beans, tortillas and rice. If that.

Sadly, that well-dressed waiter serving you that lobster dinner on the white table cloth has never actually eaten lobster or a piece of fresh tuna or dorado. How would he ever afford it? Believe it or not, most folks have never been fishing. That’s what gringos do.

Or the smiling senora who diligently cleans your hotel room every day, probably goes home to a houseful of kids each night. She makes-do with some dried machaca meat and beans or cup-o-noodles made with boiled water for dinner and some cans of Coke.

That great taxi driver who shuttles you all around town, earns 20 bucks a day after a 12 hour day. On a good day. He goes home to a 2 BR apartment with a wife, 3 grown kids and 2 grandkids all living there and somehow that 20 bucks has to stretch.

Even in the pueblos, scarcity is even a bigger part of life. Commercial and sportfishing captains and crews eat OK, but well…

Donations of fish are welcome, but most don’t have big refrigerators or freezers. I know some that literally have the size-refrigerators kids put in their dorm rooms. So, there’s not a lot of space for fish. But, they have the means to catch food to eat.

However, friends and neighbors often do not have that ability. So donations of fish to any of these folks will usually be greeted with a huge grateful smile. Gifts to captains and crews get spread to the neighbors.

Even heads and carcasses that fishermen usually just toss into the garbage have huge amounts of meat on them and make great soup. Nothing gets wasted.

As a third alternative, most established fishing operations have charitable connections. Be it a church, senior home or orphanage or the like. If you leave fish with them, they’ll be sure to get it to folks who need it.

Bottom line is that never ever dump your fish. There’s always someone who will be grateful for it! Your accidental “oops” can be turned into grins.

That’s our story!

Jonathan

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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!

______________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website:

http://www.tailhunter-international.com

Mexico Office: Tailhunter International, 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico

U.S. Mailing Address: Tailhunter International, P.O. Box 1149, Alpine CA 91903-1149

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report: http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

“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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“COVERING THE SPREAD”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo, charters, dorado, espirito santo, fish, Fishing, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, giant squid, holidays in mexico, 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, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, Mexico, Mexico life, outfitters, packages, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, Sea of Cortez, sierra, spearfishing, sportfishing, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Uncategorized, vacations, wahoo, Western Outdoor News, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, baja, baja sur, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, charters, dorado, east cape, el sargento, espirito santo island, fishing blog, fishing blogs, fishing reports, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing video, flyfishing, freediving, holidays, inshore fishing, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, marlin, mexican, mexico, outfitters, packages, panga, pargo, roosterfish, sailfish, sea of cortez, sierra, snapper, spearfishing, Tailhunter International, trips, tuna, vacations, wahoo, yellowfin, yellowtail on August 5, 2013| Leave a Comment »

“COVERING THE SPREAD”

Originally Published the Week of Aug. 8, 2013 in Western Outdoor News

Lately, at least here in Southern Baja, there seems to be a dearth of live, or even dead bait. It happens. You still have to do your best to raise fish. I mean, you’re already here. It’s no one’s fault that the bait gods just didn’t happen to smile on your particular vacation dates. So be it.

Be prepared. Get ready to troll. Cover some water. I get asked all the time what would I recommend.

I usually don’t get hung up on having every color in the rainbow. The days when I neede two kinds of every conceivable lure is long gone and disappeared with the days of cheap airline tickets. Besides, I’m too lazy and too old to carry that much gear anymore.

Now, I bring one dark and one light colored trolling feather in small, medium and large. That’s it. If my fishing partner or partners is bringing gear, I cut it back even further. Let them carry the extra and pay for it!

But, honestly, agree among yourselves who is bringing what. Gear can be shared as can the weight and the cost.

No sense in duplicating efforts and, given the penchance for airlines to charge for every extra bit of weight, it’s ridiculous to bring tons of stuff that will never get used. Besides, you can only troll a limited number of lures at a time. There’s no logic in bringing 20 or 30 lures! Fight the urge. You can do it!

Once you’re on the water, there’s a number of schools of thought on how to drag your lures and presenting a spread to the fish. Veterans have their own multitude of theories and mine is just one guy’s opinion.

I used to subscribe to the technique of running light-colored lures during the brighter hours and the darker lures in the darker hours. Lots of fishermen do well with that. But, for many years, now, I’ve been most productive with staggering my lure colors.

I run my brighter lures further back in the pattern. I run my darker lures closer to the white prop wash. If I have the ability to run more than 2 lures, I stagger them where one dark lure is right in the wash. Another dark one on the edge of the wash and then two brighter ones staggered further back beyond says the 3^rd and 5^th wave behind the boat.

I believe the darker lures have a better presentation in the white water or near the white water where they create a more visible silhouette to the fish.

Regarding trolling speed, my general rule of thumb is somewhere in the neighborhood of 6-8 knots. But I vary that. The important thing is how the lures are swimming behind the boat.

I want the most action I can get from them so they create some kind of commotion. I am also often reminding folks that pretty much any fish that has the ability to bite one of these feathers has the ability to swim way faster than the boat. So goosing the throttle a few nudges to get the lures swimming correctly is a no-brainer.

That brings up another important variable. Not all lures are created equal. There are pusher heads (flat faced/ concave faced) . Bullet heads (shaped like bullets natch). Bubble/Jet heads (drilled with holes to make “smoke” bubble trails). Slant heads (cut on an angle to dart back and forth or jump). And others.

All of them have different characteristics. Some work better at different times than others.

My general rule is the rougher the water, the more action I want from my lure to cut through all the surface disturbance on top of the water. I want them to stand out as something “different” up there to potential predators.

To that end, again, trying to save space and weight is to pack bubble/jet heads or pusher head designs. I like dragging them behind the boat so that they come jumping out of the face of trailing waves then dive back into the water with lots of splash and action.

Several stray suggestions:

If you only have small feathers or lures, consider making larger lures simply by sticking one inside of another. Also, if you want to get down deeper, especially when nothing is close to the surface, either stick a torpedo sinker or egg sinker behind the head of the lure or simply tie a torpedo sinker to a leader ahead of the lure to make it swim deeper.

Give it a try!

That’s our story!

Jonathan

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______________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR #1 Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

U.S. Office: Box 1149, Alpine CA 91903-1149

Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:

http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

“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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“Ouch That’s Gotta Hurt!”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo, charters, dorado, espirito santo, fish, Fishing, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, Living in Mexico, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, Mexico, Mexico life, outfitters, packages, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, sierra, spearfishing, sportfishing, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, Travel, tuna, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, wahoo, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, baja, Cabo San Lucas, Cerralvo Island, diving, dorado, el sargento, espirito santo island, fish, Fishing, fishing liceneses, fishing reports, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing videos, flyfishing freediving, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, marlin, mexican, mexico, outfitters, panga, roosterfish, sailfish, sea of cortez, sierra, snorkeling, spearfishing, sportfishing packages, Tailhunter International, tours, tuna, vacations, wahoo on July 21, 2013| Leave a Comment »

If only it was as easy as finding a KINKO’s to print them out!

OUCH THAT’S GOTTA HURT! (..again)

Originally Published the Week of July 23, 2013 in Western Outdoor News

So, often we hear the phrase “shot itself in the foot.” So-and-so screwed up again and “shot itself in the foot.” Sadly, when it comes to Mexico, you have to scratch your head. Give it a shake and wonder, if it has as many feet as a centipede. How many times can it cap a round into it’s own tootsies and keep walking?

Maybe you’ve already heard the latest.

You can’t get a Mexican fishing license in Mexico. Chew on that for a minute. Mexico has no fishing licenses.

You must still have a Mexican fishing license. They inspectors are still out there. But, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone that will be able to sell you one down here.

Here in La Paz, at our Tailhunter operations, we normally have licenses to sell. We sell a heap of licenses every year to our clients; our competitors clients as well as walk-in anglers. We don’t make anything on them. It’s a nice convenience for everyone and we’re happy to do it.

Previously, getting a fishing license was a 2-3 day ordeal and test of stamina and resilience, even here in big La Paz. You filled out several forms. You had to go to the CONAPESCA office. Then off to the bank to pay the fee. Then bring your bank receipt back to CONAPESCA. Big difference from buying things over-the-counter at Walmart!

So, being one of the few places allowed to sell the fishing permits in 10 minutes is a wonderful convenience for everyone involved.

Several weeks ago, we were informed by CONAPESCA (Mexican Fish and Game) that they didn’t have any more licenses this year. Not just us. Everyone!

Loreto. East Cape. Cabo. And not just us in S. Baja. It was the WHOLE of Mexico.

We spoke with Tracy Ehrenberg from the Pisces Fleet in Cabo San Lucas and she phoned the main offices of CONAPESCA in Mazatalan. Here’s their “We-shot-ourselves-in-the-foot” story.

Try to follow this. According to Tracy, the new head of CONAPESCA simply “didn’t budget” for the printing of enough of the paper licenses to sell for the WHOLE COUNTRY. Think about that one. What no KINKO’s?

So, while some smaller outfits or out-of-the-way places might still have a stash of permits, they government is counting on YOU to purchase your fishing licenses online before you come down to Mexico!

There’s a few problems with that. First, not everyone has computers. Second, not everyone has printers. Third, not everyone is computer savvy enough to navigate the Mexican website that sells the permits. And…

Fourth, the website is about as primeval like it was built by a first-year intern as a school project. It’s difficult to figure. It makes mistakes. It crashes all the time. It sometimes takes your credit card, but gives you nothing to print out. It’s very frustrating.

Several weeks ago when I notified our own clients about the situation, and posted the problem on our fishing reports, I must have gotten 20 phone calls and e-mails a day from livid, confused and frustrated anglers.

In fairness, eventually, with enough persistence, everyone got their licenses. It eventually works and it seems that someone there at CONAPESCA has put the website on a larger server. It doesn’t crash as often.

But, Mexico tourism didn’t need another SNAFU like this. It’s supposed to be making it easier and more stress-free to visit, not throw another hurdle in the way of a vacation! How many times can it fire a round into it’s foot again?

Can you imagine the outcry if all the Fish and Wildlife operations in the U.S. “forgot” to print up enough fishing licenses or hunting tags…and yet still enforced them with inspectors out there in the field and on the water?

If you’re coming down, just make a note about the licenses and bear through it. Here’s how to do it:

Here is the website: https://www2.ebajacalifornia.gob.mx/Pesca/

• Click the American flag and it will be in English

• You want to purchase the fishing license for the “FEDERAL ZONE.”

• Do not be alarmed at the price…it’s in pesos!!! So just divide by 11 or 12 and that’s the rate in dollars and it will show up on your credit card statement in dollars.

• If it’s slow or doesn’t work at first, try again later. With this announcement, everyone in southern Baja has to purchase their licenses this way!

There is also some other alternatives:

You can also get them from CONAPESCA San Diego, but must send a cashier’s check. They also process the paperwork the same day and will mail you your permits. Here’s the link: http://www.conapescasandiego.org/. Their phone number is: 619-233-4324

There’s a third option as well.

In Southern California, a number of well-known fishing tackle stores sell them and, if you can’t go to visit, they will take your information over the phone or via e-mail. They will process the form for you and mail you out your fishing fishing licenses. It’s fast, it’s easy. But they have limited amounts as well, and after they sell their stash, they’ll be having trouble getting licenses as well.

Also many of the sportfishing landings in Southern California, especially in San Diego all have fishing licenses to sell. That’s another alternative.

Most of the time, the website works fine these days. Just persevere if it doesn’t work the first time. There’s also the other aforementioned ways to get your license.

Don’t cancel your trip. Just take a breath and know that it’s as frustrating for us down here as well and we don’t want you being surprised when you get down here and there’s no fishing licenses.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

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Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website:

http://www.tailhunter-international.com

Mexico Office: Tailhunter International, 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico

U.S. Mailing Address: Tailhunter International, P.O. Box 1149, Alpine CA 91903-1149

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report: http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

“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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“Leaving Something On The Playing Field”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo, charters, dorado, espirito santo, fish, Fishing, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, giant squid, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, Living in Mexico, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, outfitters, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, sierra, sportfishing, squid fishing, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, wahoo, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged baja, casa de ancienos, charity, charters, fish, fishermen, Fishing, fishing reports, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, mexican, mexican culture, mexican life, Mexican lifestyle, mexico, outfitters, salt water, sea of cortez, seniora, sportfishing, Tailhunter International, tours, vacations, western outdoor news, western outdoors on July 7, 2013| 1 Comment »

LEAVING SOMETHING ON THE PLAYING FIELD

Originally Published the Week of July 9, 2013 in Western Outdoor News

In all the years down here in Baja, one of the funnest things I ever did had nothing to do with being on the water. It had a lot to do with being on this planet.

But there we were…us and a handful of fishermen running up and down the aisles of the local La Paz grocery store tossing handfuls of everything in the basket. Money and cost be damned!

It was like turning kids loose in a candy store!

Remember those old TV shows where the winner got 10 minutes to put as much of anything the could find into the shopping cart before the buzzer rang? That’s what it was like. Gleeful fun. Giddy fun.

Store attendants looked on in horror!

Jimmy was putting bags of rice and beans in his cart and piling that-up with cartons of eggs.

Mike was literally doing a balancing act by pulling cans of soup or vegetables into his cart and making a mess dumping boxes of cereal and soap and juice into his overflowing cart.

Terry had parked in the produce section. He was busy bagging tomatoes and apples, onions and oranges and trying to squeeze watermelon underneath near the wheels.

On the other end of the store, Larry already had some huge frozen hams in his cart. He had just laid wasted to the bacon, poultry and hot dogs and was now assaulting the dairy section for milk, yogurt and butter. See, Larry run!

Laughing like a little kid, I found Mario in the liquor aisle putting jugs of wine on top of boxes of cookies…donuts… and potato chips!

I looked at him puzzled…”Not exactly healthy stuff there, Mario!”

“Hey…they’re OLD…they’re not DEAD! They should have some fun!” he yelled back.

I had to laugh. All of this “largesse” was headed to one of the old-folks home here in La Paz. Yes…”old but not dead and certainly entitled to fun!”

As soon as all of this was loaded into the van, we were headed there to the senior home to play summer-time Santa Clause…a total surprise!

Every year this group pulls this crazy stunt. Their last day in town is a “run through the market” followed by a visit to the senior home to big smiles, hugs, and grateful handshakes from a group so often forgotten.

The seniors are so often forgotten. They’re not cute. Many can’t speak. They sit for hours just staring. One of the gents gets a special smile as he pulls the bottle of tequila from the boxes of groceries and flashes a toothless grin! I would have bet the barn that he squirrels it under his shirt and sneaks back to his room!

But they aren’t the only ones. We have another group of anglers that takes all the fish from their last day of fishing. They donate it to whatever cause seems to be the most needy. Sometimes, it’s the seniors. Sometimes it’s the kids.

It doesn’t matter. It seems that they fish especially hard that last day because they know that even “junk fish” like bonito will be more than welcomed. Jack crevalle and triggerfish all go into the ice chests ready to fillet!

Again, the smiles are priceless.

I have another group of good-Joes. They fish with us and eat at our restaurant. They automatically put up $50 bucks a head. They order and eat off the $50.

They order a 10-dollar burger or plate of tacos and nachos. The remainder is a donation to charity. If they have 10 or 20 guys…that can be a nice sum that buys a lot of dry goods, toiletries, rice, beans and yes…pampers and toothpaste.

Others aren’t so grand, but bring whatever they can.

A dentist brings cases of the extra sample toothbrushes sent to his office. He has us give it to an elementary school near Las Arenas. A doctor gets boxes bandages.

A guy who sells paper products brings note pads and colored-pencils. Kids who treasure each piece of paper act like gold, bust out huge smiles.

Another group collects old sporting goods cast-off by their own kids who have outgrown them. They come down with baseball gloves, a catchers mask, some old rubber bases and deflated soccer balls and basketballs that can be inflated again. Old sweaty baseball hats with MLB logos are treated like winning lottery tickets.

Eyes glow. Handshakes exchanged. No words necessary. It’s universal. Win-win. Priceless friendship and gratitude.

Things that we so often take for granted like toothpaste and soap and shampoo are a luxury. We go through sports gear as fast as we visit our sporting goods store and see a new model that promises to make us stronger, faster, or better.

We don’t give 2^nd thoughts about how important something like pampers or socks or clean t-shirts might be. Or just what a treat a cheap sip of wine might be even if served in a Dixie cup.

You always hear athletes talking about “going all out” and “leaving it all out there on the court or field.” Give it your all. Regret nothing.

Here in Mexico, leaving even a little something behind on the playing field is makes everyone a winner.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

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______________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR #1 Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

U.S. Office: Box 1149, Alpine CA 91903-1149

Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:

http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

“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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THE BAJA HANDFUL OF KNOTS

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo, charters, dorado, espirito santo, fish, Fishing, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, Living in Mexico, marlin, Mexican, Mexico, Mexico life, outfitters, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, sierra, sportfishing, squid fishing, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Uncategorized, vacations, wahoo, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, baja, billfish, cabrilla, cerralvo, charters, dog tooth, dorado, espirito santo, fish, Fishing, fishing holidays, fishing knots, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing trips, fishing updates, fishing vacations, fishing video, flyfishing, inshore fishing, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, marlin, mexican, mexico, outfitters, panga, pargo, roosterfish, sailfish, san diego knot, sea of cortez, sierra, Tailhunter International, tuna, western outdoor news, western outdoors, yellowtail on June 23, 2013| Leave a Comment »

They come in all shapes and sizes!

MY BAJA HANDFUL OF KNOTS

Originally Published the Week of June 26, 2013 in Western Outdoor News Publications

If you ever want to start up a conversation among a group of fishermen or suddenly get a room of yakking party-ing guys to stop talking and gather around, there’s one sure-fire way that I’ve found. It never fails. Instant focus.

Just start talking about fishing knots.

Instant Pavlov’s dog and the dinner bells with 100-percent success. It works even better if you happen to have a spool of line and some hooks. If the crowd is relatively inexperienced, there’s almost a hush.

If the gathering has more veteran fishermen, it’s instant debate. It’s like throwing bloody chum in the water or handfuls of live bait into boiling tuna. No one can resist plugging into the conversation!

I’m not even going to touch opening the subject with flyfishermen who’s knowledge and propensity toward complicated knot tying requires a PhD. In physics.

But for your average fresh and saltwater weekend warrior and occasional Baja and long-range guy, everyone has an opinion on knot tying or is certainly “all-ears” to see what’s new and exciting or missing in their knot-tying arsenal.

I think almost all of us who have spent even a little time on the water know or, at some time back-in-the-day, learned the clinch knot or the improved clinch knot. It’s the one they use to print on the back of packs of hooks and other accessories. If my fuzzy memory serves, it was printed on a lot of Berkely produces and some still call it the Trilene knot.

I’m pretty sure it’s the one my dad first showed me. Boy, did I practice and practice that one. In fact, I remember mom catching me in my bedroom floor long after bed-time. I was tying knots by the light of a flashlight and using my 2^nd grade scissors to trim off the tag ends! Mom just said, “Oh Jonathan…” and left me alone! I know when she told dad, he cracked up.

I guess in the passing of time, I’ve learned quite a few knots. All serve their purposes. What great names! They sound like cocktails…The Bimini Twist…the Cat’s Paw…the Arbor…the Australian Braid…the Bristol…the Nail…the Blood knot…the Albright Special…the Orvis. There are hundreds!

I once had a friend who would spend hours trying to develop some new knot just so he could claim it and have his name on it…forever…his legacy sealed in angling lore. Terrible fisherman, but he sure knew how to tie knots!

Anyway, between you and me…frankly…the only reason to know that many knots is to impress people. Like a name-dropper at a cocktail party. People’s ears perk up when they hear names like the Palomar and the Spider Hitch. And, I admit, when I want to direct attention to myself…like I said, start talking about knots and throw in some fancy names and it’s like a magnet! Try it sometime.

Go get yourself a knot tying book or look up on the internet or youtube and there’s some great stuff to learn. Then pull out some fancy names next time you’re among friends. Like some guy who learned some card tricks, every fisherman within ear-short will be listening to you!

But, in full disclosure, for the several dozen knots I know, there’s maybe only a handful that I ever really use and maybe only 3 or 4 that I use 95 percent of the time. These are knots that you SHOULD know and with them under your belt, there’s not too much you can’t do.

It’s like rock ‘n’ roll. If you know 3 simple chords and a decent 12-bar progression, you can probably play…well…just about anything!

The most important knot that I use is the San Diego knot. I call it the most important because it’s the knot that joins my line to the hook. It’s the last line of attack and the part that attaches me to the fish. So it better be a good knot!

It’s a variation of the Uni knot (you can look all of these up) and I’ve also seen it called the Duncan knot and the San Diego Jam knot. It takes a few minutes to grasp the concept and a few more to learn it well. But it’s worth it.

It has never failed. The line might break but, in my experience, the knot has never broken, even on the largest fish I’ve tangled with. I’ve seen tests run and it’s pretty hard to beat it’s breaking strength. It’s variation called the Double San Diego knot (merely doubling the lines) is even better and a standard knot here in Baja and on the long range San Diego fleet.

If you learn it well, it is also a handy knot to join to lines together like a mainline to a leader.

Which leads to my 2^nd most important knot which is the Overhand knot. It’s my personal favorite not only for joining lines, but especially to join lines of dissimilar diameter. When you’re in a hurry to join mono leader to braided line (not the best, but serviceable) it’s also handy. If you know how to tie your shoe, this knot is that easy. Learn it and remember it!

My last knot would be the Surgeon’s Loop. It’s pretty much as easy as over…under…and through. And you’re done! Like the ads on TV…”even a caveman could do it.” It’s great for …well…making loops to hold sinkers…to hold hooks. I use it a lot. I use it a lot more than the dropper loop if I’m tying the loop to a sinker.

Fishing in rocks, if the sinker gets stuck on the bottom, the dropper will break easier than the dropper loop and at least let you get your main line back.

If I need a loop to tie the hook to…then the Dropper loop is my choice.

And that’s it! Not much you can’t do with this handful! Learn them and it will cover almost everything but the most specialized situations.

That’s my story

Jonathan

_______________

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Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website:

http://www.tailhunter-international.com

Mexico Office: Tailhunter International, 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico

U.S. Mailing Address: Tailhunter International, P.O. Box 1149, Alpine CA 91903-1149

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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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.”

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“How You Wiggle Your Worm”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo, charters, dorado, espirito santo, fish, Fishing, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, Living in Mexico, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, Mexico, Mexico life, outfitters, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, sierra, sportfishing, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Uncategorized, vacations, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bait, baja, cabrilla, Cerralvo Island, charters, el sargento, espiritio santo island, fish, Fishing, fishing charters, fishing reports, fishing tips, fishing videos, inshore fishing, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, marlin, mexican, mexico, offshore fishing, outfitters, panga, pargo, roosterfish, sardines, sea of cortez, Tailhunter International, techniques, trips, tuna, vacations, wahoo, western outdoor news, yellowtail on June 10, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Just having bait isn’t enough if you don’t know how to use it correctly!

“HOW YOU WIGGLE YOUR WORM”

Originally Published the Week of June 10, 2013 in Western Outdoor News

In the annals of bathroom graffiti, it’s probably not hall-of-fame material as far as that genre of graffiti goes. But in our Tailhunter Restaurant here in La Paz, someone scribbled this in the men’s restroom:

“It’s not the size of the rod, it’s how your wiggle your worm.”

Any business owner knows that you have to wear many hats. Being the big-time chief executive officer and chairmain of the board and also head of bathroom graffiti eradication, I happened to be scrubbing it off the wall chuckling. Beyond the most obvious bathroom connotations, there’s a point of pescatory wisdom in there as well.

How one wiggles, jiggles or shakes one’s “worm” does make a difference and those nuances can make a big difference in your fishing experiences on a given day.

A perfect example is the type of fishing being experienced in many Baja locations this time of year. We’re in a “transition” period as waters warm and we move out’ve spring and into summer conditions. Cooler waters can still be found but there’s quite a mix of water situations both on the surface as well as vertically through the water columns with different thermoclines changing as the waters deepen.

The result is that the spring and early summer can often be a mecca of so many different varieties of fish and opportunities for anglers looking for changing angling experiences.

Here in La Paz is a perfect example.

Cool water inshore species such as yellowtail, amberjack, cabrilla, pargo, sierra and pompano can be caught while in the warmer water areas, billfish such as marlin and sailfish are starting to rev things up. Likewise, bluewater species such as dorado, wahoo and tuna can be caught as well. Add in roosterfish, jack crevalle, bonito and others and you probably won’t find this kind of variety during any other time of the Baja fishing season.

However, bait presentation a.k.a. “wiggling your worm” can make a big difference over what you catch.

For instance over all the decades here in Baja working and guiding plus working on other boats out’ve S. California, I’ve noticed a few things.

Take dorado. They don’t like dead bait as much as spirited live bait. In fact, the livelier the better. It’s like a cat. If you put a ball in front of kitty, he’ll just stare at it. But, if you roll that ball past Kitty, he pounces. Same with dorado.

Big baits or small baits don’t matter to dorado. I’ve seen 18-inch juveniles attack 10-inch mackerel or big caballitos. I’ve seen 40-pound bull dorado fight each other for 4 inch sardines…as long as the sardines are moving!

On the other hand, tuna can be fussier in their own way. The smaller ones will take anything live or dead. But, I’ve seen a tendency for a bit of laziness.

Tuna…and especially the larger ones…in a given school prefer the smaller baits. And, they don’t mind slurping up dead ones or parts of dead ones! That’s why chumming and chunking are so effective.

Chunks of dead bait are just fine. They’re lazy fish. They don’t necessarily like to have to chase their food. So, if you don’t have small dead baits, then chunks of bigger baits like squid, mackerel, jacks are just fine by them!

Rock fish like cabrilla, yellowtail and amberjack won’t generally eat dead baits but yellowtail and amberjack don’t want to chase too hard for their live baits. Somewhat like larger tuna.

However, these “structure fish” tend to stick close to protection and will dart out to strike their prey. Therefore, the closer you fish that live bait to their hiding spots like rocks, reefs, weeds and cliffs, the better your chances.

Yellowtail are a bit pickier…the FASTER and LIVLIER that bait, the more it gets their juices rolling. That’s why yo-yo jig fishermen prefer high-speed reels when they fish their lures. That’s to get those lures moving FAST through the water.

Beach and shore fish like jack crevalle, pompano and roosterfish have a weird tweak. They don’t even need to be hungry to chase a bait. They’re just aggressive fish.

But, they will take the liveliest bait and run with it and not eat it! They will tear into sardine schools, ballyhoo, caballitos, mullet and lady fish and simply terrorize the school. Just because! No other reason!

I’ve seen them rip into the baitfish and leave dead and thrashing baits lying around on the surface or grab a big baitfish like a ladyfish (sabalo) and merely gnaw it up like a bit dog gnaws on socks. Then, tosses it into the air and lets it go.

While other species might come back for injured baits, some of these “beach bullies “simply swim off and let the gulls and pelicans deal with the maimed!

So, fishing for these fish, just be prepared for the bite with the liveliest bait but then give it time so make sure the fish also has the hook! If it drops the bait, even if the bait seems dead and floating, some quick jerks on the line can cause the jacks to turn and erupt for a second pickup…and your hookup!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR #1 Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

U.S. Office: Box 1149, Alpine CA 91903-1149

Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:

http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

“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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“KING JACK”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo, charters, dorado, espirito santo, fish, Fishing, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, giant squid, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, Living in Mexico, marlin, Mexican, Mexico, Mexico life, outfitters, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, sierra, sportfishing, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Uncategorized, vacations, wahoo, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, baja, caballitos. jacks, cabrilla, Cerralvo Island, espirito santo island, fish, Fishing, fishing reports, fishing tips, flyfishing, holidays, hotels, inshore fishing, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, light tackle, live bait fishing, mexican, mexico, outfitters, packages, panga, pargo, pompano, reef fishing, reports, rock fishing, sea of cortez, sierra, sportfishing, Tailhunter International, techniques, tours, tuna, vacations, wahoo, western outdoor news, western outdoor publications, yellowtail on May 13, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Big and tough…amberjack in the Baja…cousins to yellowtail, the Spanish name for them is “Pez Fuerte” which means “strong fish!” No kidding. They get over 100 pounds!

KING JACK!

Originally Published the Week of May 15, 2013 in Western Outdoor News

It had been a pretty decent morning off the northern end of the island. Dropping blue and white irons and jigging, some heavy “winding and grinding” and elbow grease had produced a nice brace of five solid 20-pound-class yellowtail in the box.

Danny just finished pulling his jig out of the water and took a break to wipe his brow and crack a chilly Pacifico can from the ice chest. The sun was at it’s mid-morning blaze already promising to get hotter.

“Whew!” he sighed with a laugh. “This is hard work fishing the yo-yo iron for these yellows. These things are tough fish!” he added with a bit of exasperation.

“And the faster your crank the better the chance to hook-up!” responded Tony as he dropped his jig over the side and watched it flutter into the indigo blue water. “It’s still better than working!”

Tony’s jig stopped slipping down. Tony quickly put the reel into gear and took a few cranks up off the bottom so as not to hang the jig on the craggy reef below.
“Here we go again, “ he grinned as he started the strenuous arm-aching crank back to the boat.

One crank…two cranks…three cranks…

SLAM! The rod doubles over in an abrupt halt. It’s almost yanked from Tony’s hands. He adjusts and is nearly jackpoled over the side ramming his knees into the side of the panga to anchor himself in! The rod is bucked straining on the gunwale of the boat and Tony is almost crouching down to get leverage unable to turn the handle of the reel.

Danny drops his beer which clatters to the deck…

“Oh man! This has gotta be a monster yellowtail! WHOA!!!” grimaces Tony as he struggles to get upright and get the butt of his rod into his rod belt still unable to get a turn on the reel handle. It’s all he can do to hold onto the rod and keep his feet in the panga.

“Pez fuerte!” says their panga captain excitedly . “Amberjack grande. Jale! Jale! Pull hard!”

“Pez fuerte means ‘strong fish’ said Danny as he watched his buddy.

“Uh yea…no kidding…yea..this is a horse!” replies a tight-lipped Tony as he struggles to turn the big fish one slow lift and turn of the handle of his reel at a time. Repeatedly, the rod would dip again and the exhausted sweating angler would have to lean into the stick to keep the fish turned.

After 15 grueling minutes, the big fish came up and a quick gaff was put to the fish.

“Dang, that looks like a yellowtail on steroids! Holy cow, it’s golden copper what a pig of a fish!”

“Maybe 30 kilos…60 pounds,” says the captain grinning.

There’s a lot of confusion over amberjack. People either “sorta heard of them” or scratch their heads because they’ve “never heard of them.” Or it’s quickly followed by the question, “Is that kinda like a yellowfin tuna?”

Well, Elmer…no it’s not. But, it’s a fair question nonetheless.

They’re actually part of the jack family. It’s that same feisty set of brawling sportfish that give us the jack crevalle (“toro”), roosterfish (“pez gallo”), pompano (“pompano”…of course) and a whole host of other fish with “jack” in their names. Including the much-prized yellowtail (“jurel”).

The amberjack (“pez fuerte…which does indeed mean “strong fish” in Spanish) is the king of them all. He’s the big boy cousin. Broader and deeper in body, shoulders and head with a copper-orange-yellow-silver patina, they’re impressive. And yes, powerful.

Where we are here in La Paz, they range as small as 10-20 pounds, but 40-50 pounders are not unusual and the bigger models will go 80 or more pounds. We’ve taken several fish over 100 pounds in recent years and have lost many large fish over the years that broke tackle as well as the hearts of some very strong anglers.

We seem to get them during that “shoulder time” when the waters aren’t really spring and aren’t quite summer…like May or June…just as our yellowtail bite starts to taper off because of warmer waters.

It’a almost like the yellowtail move on and the amberjack move into those same spots. These include high spots like reefs and shallow seamounts as well as boulder and rocky areas plus the edges of drop offs.

Basically, you won’t usually find them in open water, but rather in areas of structure. The largest one I ever saw was while scuba diving a wreck and I saw several ambers in the dark hold that were well over 100 pounds.

Like their smaller cousins, the yellowtail, amberjacks will often school so, where there’s one you’ll often find others. Additionally, you fish them in much the same way. That’s why anglers dunking for yellowtail are often surprised when they get slammed by something much bigger and more powerful…an amberjack.

The fish readily take a yo-yo jig in the traditional colors of blue/white, green/yellow, brown/white and others dropped down and taken in on an ultra fast retrieve…like the two guys fishing at the beginning of this column.

As well, they love baits like sardines, mackerel, squid and especially zebra fish for some reason which are the little blue baitfish with black stripes we catch on reefs with mackerel rigs. When I have some zebras and the amberjack are in the area, it’s almost instant hook up!

Best of all, they eat just like yellowtail…only better!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

_______________

______________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR #1 Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

U.S. Office: Box 1149, Alpine CA 91903-1149

Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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“FINALLY READING BETWEEN THE LINES”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, dorado, Fishing, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tournaments, flyfishing, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, Leisure, Living in Mexico, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, Mexico, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Panga Fishing, pargo, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, Tailhunter International, tourism, Travel, Uncategorized, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, tagged baja, charters, commentary, fish, Fishing, fishing reports, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, mexican, mexico, mexico life, outfitters, sea of cortez, sportfishing, Tailhunter International, tourism, tourism growth, tours, travel, violence in mexico, western outdoor news, western outdoor publications on March 18, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Despite what many think, Mexico actually has one of the fastest growing tourism economies in the world as more folks are discovering Mexico as a great destination with Americans still comprising the majority of tourists with more than 24 million visitors expected this year.

“FINALLY READING BETWEEN THE LINES”

Originally Published the Week of March 20, 2013 in Western Outdoor News

It’s been an uphill battle.

Turn back the time machine about 2-3 seasons ago and it seemed that every other persons was asking me about the “violence in Mexico” or telling me they’d “Never go there again” or “I’d be in fear of my life!”

It seemed everyone had seen the news clips. Everyone had read the headlines. Everyone had a friend-of-neighbor-of-an-uncle-of-a-classmate who knew someone else who had been beaten, robbed, killed or eaten a bad taco.

Speaking at seminars and appearing at countless trade, travel, hunting and fishing shows over the years, it seemed the negativity was endless. Protest as I might…how could any of us who enjoy living and working in Mexico ever overcome the omnipotent power of the broadcast and print media?

We’re just little old us…mom and pop operations in Mexico…

How does one prove a negative? How do you prove something is NOT happening? How do we go up against CNN and FOX and the others and say, “Hey, thousands of tourists are NOT getting murdered!” “Hey, 200,000 Americans crossed the border today and NOTHING happened to them!”

Sigh…wring hands…shrug shoulders. Exhale. And hope.

But maybe things are changing. Lately, people specifically ask me if Baja is safe. Or is La Paz (where we live) or Cabo San Lucas safe. Things like that.

I tell them yes. Maybe show them some statistics and they’re fine with that. “I thought so,” they’ll usually say. Then, they move onto the good stuff like, “So, when’s the best time to come fishing?”

A few years ago, people would argue with me. Not so now.

Or, in the alternative, they affirm what we’ve been telling everyone.

They come out and pointedly tell me, that they’ve visited Cancun and Cozumel and Puerta Vallarta and Loreto and other tourist destinations and found them to be safer or at least as safe as being home. And enjoy travelling to Mexico. It’s a great value. The people are great. Love the food. Blah…blah…blah! Stuff we’ve always known, right?

Now, no one is saying Mexico doesn’t have a problem. Far from it. Mexico has some serious crime problems. But folks have been quick to point out that, “Hey, it’s not directed at tourists.”

“It’s in places we shouldn’t go anyway…like back alleys of Ciudad de Juarez!”

“Don’t do things you shouldn’t be doing and going to places you shouldn’t be going and you’ll be fine…like American cities. Every place has it’s bad areas. Don’t be an idiot. Stay out of bad areas!”

“I go to Mexico all the time. I feel safer there on the beach in San Carlos or Los Barriles than I do where I live in Phoenix and my car gets busted into all the time and several of my neighbors have been burglarized.”

“I’m tired of all the negativity. It’s in the news every time an American or tourist gets his wallet stolen in Mexico. How often does that happen in downtown New York and it never makes the news.”

It’s kind of refreshing in a strange way to have people trying to convince ME that it’s OK to be in Mexico. People are figuring it out on their own.

Unlike many tourist destinations, Mexico took 3 big strikes to it’s travel sector. First, was the economic downturn that seems to have hit the whole planet.

Second, of course, is the nervousness over violent crime.

Third, was the swine-flu scare. (Don’t get me started on that fiasco! Again… everyone knew a friend-of-a-friend-of-friend who had been stricken…sheesh).

But, Mexico’s on the rebound.

I’m not completely convinced yet that it’s due to an overall economic recovery for everyone. There’s still alot of bad stuff going on and we’re far from over. But, maybe folks are just adjusting to it all. Maybe they still know Mexico’s a good value and it’s close and yea…they’ve adjusted to the fact that it’s a pretty safe place to hang out with the bro’s and the family.

Indeed, statistics show that Mexico has one of the fastest growing tourist economies in the world. In excess of 24 million visitors take to Mexico yearly now. Americans make up the majority of Mexico’s tourism base as something like 4-8 million Americans visit annually. And suffer nothing more serious than a self-induced margarita hangover or a bad sunburn.

As a matter of fact, the fastest growing segment of Mexico’s tourism is coming from places like China, Russia, Columbia, Brazil and the Ukraine. And for years, having lived in Baja, the Italians, French and Japanese have been constant visitors as well.

This is all good news for Mexico and should be an assurance to those contemplating a trip south of the border where the most violent thing you encounter might be in the salsa you spoon into your tacos! Andale!

That’s our story!

Jonathan

_______________

______________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR #1 Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

U.S. Office: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745

Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:

http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

“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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“THE BIG UGLY”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, dorado, Fishing, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, flyfishing, giant squid, humboldt squid, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, Leisure, Living in Mexico, marlin, Mexican, Mexico, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, sierra, squid fishing, Tailhunter International, Travel, Uncategorized, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged bahia de los suenos, baja, bay of dreams, calamari, Cerralvo Island, fish, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing charters, fishing outfitters, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing vacations, humboldt squid, inshore fishing, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, Light Tackle Fishing, mexican, mexico, muertos bay, Panga Fishing, salt water fishing, squid fishing, Tailhunter International, travel, western outdoor, western outdoor news on February 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Giant Humboldt squid surprise alot of anglers when they first encounter them and find them to be voracious feeders and tough fighters when hooked!

Squid can go upwards to…20, 30, 40 pounds or more…they don’t call them “giant” for nothing!

The beaks of the giant squid aren’t something to fool around with when still attached to their owners! They’re like big parrot beaks!

THE BIG UGLY

Originally Published the Week of Feb. 28, 2013 in Western Outdoor News

The Captain Victor tied on the heavy leaded lure and handed it back to the angler who looked at it curiously. He hefted it in his hand and like a weapon. And indeed, it looked like one.

“Pretty much looks like a medieval club or a torturing device,” he smiled. “a knight could do some damage with this sucker!”

He turned it around in his hand. The heavy leaded pipe was about a foot long and filled with cement. It was painted white. The line was tied to one end. At the other, it looked like a multi-pronged grappling hook with about a dozen 2-inch long up-turned sharpened spikes.

“Whatever bites this is gonna be interesting,” he said as he put his heavy 4/0 reel with 60 pound test into free-spool and dropped the lure over the side. Weighing about 2 pounds, it dropped quickly into the depths about 500 yards off the rugged Baja coastline.

“Mas linea..more line…more line,” said the captain with a mixture of hand gestures and broken Spang-lish. “Muy profundo aqui…very deep here, “ as he pointed down into the cobalt morning waters.

“Ok-dokie, amigo” said the angler with a shrug.

The heavy rod and reel continued to play out line.

The captain touched the rod as a sign to stop. The angler put the rod into gear and figured he was about 400 feet straight-up-and-down.

The Captain Victor motioned for the angler to reel slowly, but at the same time raising and lowering the rod in a sweeping motion stopping the retrieve and letting the heavy jig drop back and winding a few cranks more.

The angler took about half a dozen sweep-and-cranks and suddenly the heavy beefy rod went over double nearly pulling the angler to his feet!

“WHOA! WHAT THE…???”

Grunting he struggled to turn the handle of the straining reel. He looked up at the grinning captain now smiling smugly.

“Big squid! Calamar grande!” said Captain Victor with a big satisfied grin and arms folded across his chest.

Sometimes you really have to watch what you ask for. Often folks want to know if the squid are biting and this just happens to be about that time. They’re not always “on time” and the bite is cyclical, but at least for us in La Paz, we get a run of squid in the spring and summer.

Like other sea creatures, it’s not like they send out a memo or anything.

But, when they show up, they generate alot of excitement. Not only are they fun to catch and extremely feisty when hooked, but they are just plain fascinating. They’re the stuff of story, legend and sea-monster!

When folks come down, they normally, aren’t quite ready for what awaits. The “Humboldt” squid we normally get can be as small as 5 pounders, but 40-100 pound beasts are not uncommon.

When the squid “float” (come near the surface from the cold depths) to where they can be caught, often many boats and pangas will pack the area. If the big squid are there, it’s not long before heavy rods and double-bent anglers are pulling mightly as if small refrigerators are hanging on the ends…which isn’t too far from the truth!

The vessles are often quite close and once the bite starts, it can get pretty crazy as the wiggling-squirting cephalapods get close to the boats. A good tip is to let the struggling animals finish their squirting BEFORE bringing them aboard! Between the vessels, big firehose-sized geysers of water and ink are often seen raining down and spraying anyone within range. Yells and laughs as well as choice bits of profanity often permeate the scene.

In fact, it’s often a good idea to dispatch the big uglies before bringing them aboard at all. Squid are voracious and aggressive. Just because they’re hooked doesn’t mean their beat.

A third of their body length is a mass of tentacles. An, unlike an octopus, the “suckers” on a squid’s tentacles aren’t little suction cups. They are concentric circles of teeth surrounding a little beak that can easily break skin when wrapped around the nearest leg, arm or finger.

Certainly, you don’t want to get an appendage near to it’s parrot-like beak which is capable of really doing damage and can take off a finger. Or they can quickly gouge out a chunk of an angler.

Make no mistake, while small squid in a bait tank can be fun to play with, the Humboldts are dangerous critters. They are opportunistic feeders and the large ones have been known to attack sharks, tuna and even the occasional diver…not to mention each other.

In fact, the heavy jig used to catch them is painted white to resemble a smaller squid enticing a larger squid to attack it. Indeed, the squid are cannibalistic and many times, as you’re bringing a squid to the boat, it will often feel like it’s no longer struggling and has turned to dead weight.

If the water is clear enough, you can often see other squid attacking and hacking the one squid impaled on the jig. There’s no fraternity below the surface. Eat and get eaten!

It took some grunting and no shortage of sweat and elbow grease to get the big 50-pound squid to the panga. As per the captains instructions, the angler let the big animal empty it’s jets of water and black ink before bringing it into the panga.

Wiping his brow, with the back of his fist, the angler laid down the rod in exhaustion.

“Muy bueno por carnada…good for bait,” smiled Captain Victor as he hacked off one tentacle and wrapped it around a larger bait hook ready to go look for some real fish.

“Like heck!” laughed the angler, cutting off a huge chunk himself and bagging it for the ice chest. “It’s going into some beer batter for fried squid dinner tonite!”

“But first, let’s catch a few more!” he added tossing the heavy jig back overboard.

That’s our story!

Jonathan

_______________

______________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR #1 Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

U.S. Office: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745

Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:

http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

“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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“BAJA FAQ 2013”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, dorado, Fishing, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tournaments, flyfishing, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, Leisure, Living in Mexico, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, Mexico, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, sierra, Tailhunter International, Travel, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged advice, charter, culture, FAQ, fish, fishing instruction, fishing reports, fishing video, general questions, Joanthan Roldan, Leisure, light tackle, mexican, mexico, outfitter, panga, safety, sportfish, sportfishing, Tailhunter International, travel, vacation on February 11, 2013| Leave a Comment »

From January to March of each year for almost 20 years, we criss-cross the western U.S. promoting our fishing operation in La Paz and often become an impromptu clearing-house of many general questions about travel to Baja and Mexico in general.

“BAJA FAQ 2013”

Originally Published the Week of Feb. 13, 2013 in Western Outdoor News

As I’m writing this, we’re just wrapping up our 3rd day here at the Pacific Northwest Sportsmens Show here in Portland, Oregon. We’ve been on the road now for more than a month as we do our annual show-hopping promo tour across the country.

So far, we’ve done fishing/ hunting shows in Sacramento, Denver, Seattle before this one. Only 2 more months to go and about 12,000 more miles of driving.

As we stand here in our booth, promoting our La Paz fishing operation for 8, 10…12 hours a day, we talk to hundreds of people a show. We often hear many of the same questions. Year-after-year. Although the questions might be the same, very often the answers might change based on changing conditions in Baja.

I thought I’d share some of the most common questions. Some might seem pretty simple…or silly…or obvious…but as mentioned, sometimes answers might surprise you. Also, we get asked these questions ALOT so obviously, alot of folks don’t know these answers!

Q: Where is Baja, Mexico?

A: It’s the 1000 mile-long-peninsula extending from the border at San Diego/ Tijuana and going south to lands-end at Cabo San Lucas. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the West and is separated from the Mexican mainland to the east by the Sea of Cortez.

Q: Is it safe?

A: The VERY short answer. Yes. Mexico is a huge country. Generally as safe as most cities in the U.S. and in some respects even safer. Yes, there are serious problems, but much of that is only in certain areas and in border areas and tourists are not generally targeted anymore than tourists are targeted by crime in the U.S. In any given city, just like most U.S. cities, there are good and bad parts of town. Stay out’ve the bad parts.

Q: Is it OK to drive?

A: On any given day, there are thousands of tourists on Baja roads having un-eventful drives. Thousands cross the border daily and routinely. Observe the laws. Make sure you have insurance. Drive with care and common sense as you would anywhere.

Q: Can we buy property?

Yes, you can. Who do you think is buying all these parcels, condos, houses and lots along the beachfronts! Sometimes it seems that Americans are buying up all of Baja.

Q: Is it always good fishing?

A: Historically, Baja is one of the most famous fishing areas in the world. But…Baja is 1000 miles long. It has over 2000 miles of coastline. It has incredible fishing and over 700 identified species of fish in the Sea of Cortez. That being said, fishing is as different as the species, location and variables such as season, weather, current, bait, etc. Every places is not great 100% of the time. There’s such a thing as a bad day of fishing.

Q: Can we bring our fish home?

A: As long as you’re within limits and observe regulations, it would be a shame if you didn’t.

Q: Is the water safe to drink?

Most places very much so! But, like many places in the U.S., municipal water tastes bad. Everyone drinks bottled water which is readily available.

Q: Can we use American money?

A: In Baja, American dollars are very welcome, but with new banking laws, making it harder for Mexican vendors to change dollars into pesos, it makes it harder for the vendors to accept pesos…especially large denominations. Rarely, will a vendor turn down a payment in dollars…a sale is a sale! But increasingly, more can’t accept large denominations. So, it’s a good idea to use smaller bills or get pesos exchanged before you come over or at an exchange house. Many Mexican banks will not change dollars to pesos unless you have an account and, even then, only small amounts.

If you can avoid it, don’t use credit cards. But, many places won’t accept them because of high surcharges to the vendor.

Q: What happens if we need medical help or what happens if I have special medical needs?

If it’s your medication, bring what you need and extra dosage. Bring a copy of your prescription. If it’s emergency medical care, most large Baja cities actually have pretty good first response and emergency care. Enough to get you home after most emergencies so that your own doctor can treat you. Credit cards are usually welcome in lieu of insurance. Generally, emergency care is much cheaper also.

Q: What happens if we don’t speak Spanish

English is growing. Span-glish is universal, especially in the tourist areas. Keep it simple and eliminate slang and most folks will understand and everyone gets along just fine. But, everyone appreciates any attempt to speak Spanish!

Q: Do we need a passport?

Yes! Don’t wait until the last minute to get one.

Q: Can we still get prescription drugs there with no prescription?

Generally no. Not like in the old days. Generally speaking, if you need a prescription for it in the U.S., you’ll need it for most things in Mexico.

Q: How is it to retire there?

It’s one of the fastest and most sought-after places for gringos to retire and an excellent place to make dollars stretch with a high standard of living. You get more bang for the buck.

______________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR #1 Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

U.S. Office: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745

Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:

http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

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Jonathan has written for:

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