Archive for the ‘christmas’ Category

SPRING BREAK DESTINATIONS

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, catch and release, 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, sailfish, 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 on March 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Like the commercial says…”Find your beach!”

SPRING BREAK DESTINATIONS

Originally published the week of Mar. 20, 2025 in Western Outdoor Publications

It’s officially on.

Although Easter and Easter Week/ Holy Week are still about a month away at the latter part of April, there’s no question that spring break is well underway in Mexico.

In Cabo San Lucas, almost 60,000 visitors arrived in a single week. Almost 20,000 showed up during the weekend. These numbers exceed previous expectations.

When all is said and done, it could break records.

Not surprisingly, Cabo was recently shown to be only behind Cancun as the most popular vacation destination in Mexico.

Bottom line is that if you haven’t already made reservations to travel in the next several weeks, you might be hard-pressed to find your spot on the beach.

What many folks don’t realize is that the traditional spring break/ Easter break time are the busiest travel times in Mexico. They are busier than Christmas. They are busier than Thanksgiving.

This is because you not only have foreign visitors from the U.S. and other countries flocking to Mexico. You also have more Mexican nationals travelling as well.

Locals leave the country to visit friends and family or take vacations. Likewise, many Mexicans return to Mexico to visit. Add to that, many Mexicans travel to popular beach destinations for vacation such as Cabo, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, etc.

It’s much like Americans flock to American beaches…or Disneyland.

Many Mexican locals take long periods off from work.

It makes for some crazy travel times.

Normally tranquil empty beaches become packed with visitors. Hotels have been booked for months. Rates are higher.

Airline seats can be equally expensive and hard to find.

The biggest change is that the extent of the spring break period has grown.

Traditionally, it could be expected that the week before Easter (Holy Week) and the week after Easter were the busy times.

That’s no longer the case.

Those periods were generally centered around school vacation times. Folks travel when they can get off work, but also when the kids aren’t in school.

But things have changed.

School districts have quarter systems and tri-mester systems. Vacation for students and families in Texas are different than those in Ohio. California vacations are different from those in Washington, Indiana or other states.

Vacations often have nothing to do with the dates that Easter traditionally hits the calendar.

So, folks take vacations when they take vacations. Destinations like Cabo, Cozumel, Acapulco and other popular spots certainly welcome the business and have to be ready for the heavy influx.

Prospective travelers need to plan well in advance. People are on the move.

What Mexican businesses are seeing is that increased travel trends really started about mid-March and appear to go through almost mid-May. That’s a 6-7 week span of heavy travel.

So, if you’re planning to heading to Mexico, jump on it or be ready to be flexible on your travel plans. Or forget it and start planning for summer!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico http://www.tailhunter.com . They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

Website:

http://www.tailhunter.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.”

Read Full Post »

THE BREAKFAST CLUB – MEXICAN STYLE

THE BREAKFAST CLUB – MEXICO STYLE

Originally Published the Week of Feb. 20, 2025 in Western Outdoor Publications

It’s early morning in La Paz and still dark. The sun isn’t up, but the horizon has a small smear of orange light to the east. The sky is fading from black to purple .

East. That’s where we’re heading. Southeast to be exact.

There’s 9, 10, a dozen white passenger vans linearly scattered along the desert highway over several dozen miles. In the dark Baja emptiness each van is marked only because of a pair of headlights piercing the void.

It’s a convoy. A caravan of sorts. Every morning during the fishing season for decades the dawn caravan winds it’s way for an hour from La Paz city down over hills to the beach.

Each van packed with eager fishermen. Each van’s rooftop rack stacked with ice chests and bundled fishing rods.

The vans belong to the various fishing outfitters like our Tailhunter Sportfishing and other La Paz fleets and this is how each day starts.

We gather fishermen at their various hotels and load them up…in some cases we have to wake/shake them up. Friends jostle buddies who move too slowly or are trying to shake off the tequila effects from the night before.

Everyone wants to get going. Everyone wants to get onto the fishing grounds as quickly as possible. Fishermen can get grumpy over tardiness.

What? Joe hasn’t woken up yet? He came home from the bar at 2 a.m?

Marty is still in the shower? You’re kidding!

C’mon, Man! Go back up to your room and get your hat and sunglasses!

I forgot my fishing license!

Who has the kids?

They don’t suffer slackers and we hustle as quickly as we can. We get them settled in the vans. We can only move as fast as the slowest fisherman.

It’s a ritual. A fishing tradition every morning.

And off we go. Van-after-van.

We have 3 vans in the mix today. I think there are 9 this morning between ours and some other fleets. We are all headed towards a spot called Punta Arenas about an about 60 minutes from La Paz.

In the dark of the Baja desert, it seems a lot longer.

It’s where we launch our boats from the remote beach there. Our respective captains and their pangas are all waiting in the dark at water’s edge.

The last half mile is through old arroyos and gritty sandy roads that ultimately are not much more than scraped washboards.

But, after an hour drive, the sun is now just poking above the horizon and throwing long morning shadows and brilliant rays that cause van drivers to don sunglasses and pull down their visors.

But, once we hit the beach, it’s a bit of controlled madness.

Eager fishermen literally tumble out’ve each van. Some are still munching breakfast burritos or swallowing the last bit of tepid coffee from a styrofoam cup.

Captains mill about. Ice chests laden with ice, beer and food are lowered from the van’s roof racks as well as bundles of rods and tackle bags and boxes.

Fishermen are matched up with their captains and the loaded boats are quickly pushed into the surf. Outboards fire up.

High fives, playful smack talk and hoots and everyone is now racing off to the fishing grounds. Today, they head east directly into the sun towards Cerralvo Island.

Word is there’s a jag of tuna and sizeable dorado off the island and everyone is pumped. It’s a raucous world of hectic madness.

…and suddenly just like that, the beach is empty.

…and quiet.

We can see pangas in the distance zooming away, but now the beach has dozens of empty pickup trucks left in the sand by the captains. There’s a few stray friends here and there on the beach as well as the occasional curios beach dog.

And then there’s about a dozen of us van drivers huddled around our vans.

Everybody OK? Everyone good? Todo bien?

And then the smiles break out!

Andale! Most of us work for competing fleets, but ultimately, we all know each other. We’re all friends. Been driving for years. Many are related by blood or marriage.

Jorge is Esteban’s brother who is Marcello’s cousin married to Anna’s husband whose kids go to school with Antonio’s kids and are neighbors of Alredo. You get the idea.

Everyone’s gone and suddenly, we are grown little boys scurrying around now that the parents are gone! Checking mischieviously if anyone is watching!

Boxes, bags and extra ice chests emerge from the vans. A hurried circle of gets formed in the sand.

Ice chests become makeshift chairs and tables. Grins and laughs. It’s our guilty little secret on the beach!

A meeting of the BREAKFAST CLUB has convened!

While we send the clients out with box and bag lunches of burritos and ham sandwiches, apples and juice boxes, we wait until they have all left the beach.

It’s time!

Lorenzo pulls out pork carnitas grilled with chiles.

Marcello has a whole deep fried snapper and a Tupperware of his wife’s rice. He’s squeezing fresh lime on it

Juanito reached into his ice chest and produces mini beef ribs covered in a green salsa.

Carlos stopped along the way this morning and has a kilo of warm flour tortillas wrapped in foil and has a pot of shredded beef machaca with scrambled eggs. Cousin Chuy passes around a tray of grilled marlin burritos.

Someone else has homemade beans and chorizo sausage.

I ladle a nice helping of yellowtail ceviche onto my paper plate and give it a healthy squirt of siracha sauce.

Everyone is laughing and telling food stories. Everyone has a story about the fishermen in their van. Some fisherman in the back of the van was farting and driving everyone crazy. Another guy was already mixing margaritas in a thermos at 5 a.m.

Julio stands up while eating and is telling jokes while Homero is singing.

This is our breakfast club. On the beach. Our beach!

A crazy fun buffet as the sun comes up and all the fishermen are gone. A guilty sunrise pleasure among friends.

We eat and laugh. Lots of horseplay and smack talk as guys will do.

When the food is all gone, some guys walk it off along the empty beach. Others drift off to their respective vans to find some shade to take long naps with happy tummies.

Life is good. We wait for the fishermen to come back.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter Sportfishing
www.tailhunter.com

Mexico Office:

Tailhunter Sportfishing

755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico

U.S. Mailing Address: Tailhunter Sportfishing
8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178 La Mesa CA 91942

Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Read Full Post »

WHY DO WE HAVE TO FISH SO EARLY?

WHY DO WE HAVE TO FISH SO EARLY?

Originally Published the Week of Feb. 8, 2025 in Western Outdoor Publications

We run a fishing operation in La Paz and over 30 years, we get all kinds of folks who want to go fishing.

This usually doesn’t happen with veteran fishermen.

But, it happens more frequently with first-timers or don’t have much experience. We get families. We get folks who tell me, “We want to give it a try.” Or, “We’re in town and we thought we want to go fishing just one day!”

We love them all! Experience not necessary!

So, we set them up. Everything is ready. We got the boat, the gear, the breakfast, lunches, ice and other essentials are ready to go.

Let’s go find some fish!

My captain is ready. We’re ready. The clients are excited.

Then, I tell them, “We will pick you up at 4:30 a.m. Don’t be late!”

Silence…and an awkward pause.

Then, I hear the usual comments and questions:

“What do you mean 4:30 a.m. You mean IN THE MORNING?”
“It’s still dark. You can’t be serious!”
“Why so early?”
“Do the fish bite that early?”
“Can’t we go later or at least after the sun is up?”
“What if the captain goes to get the bait then comes back later to get us?”
“My kids don’t even get up at home before 7 a.m.!”
“My wife/girlfriend/ kids’ won’t go for that!”
“If it’s 4:30 a.m., that means we have to get up even earlier to get ready.
I need at least an hour to shower and get ready!”

I don’t let them see me roll my eyes. But, I go through my usual explanation about needing to:

Get bait
Get going before the tide or wind comes up
Get to the fishing grounds before it gets crowded
Because the fish have been biting early
Get going because others are also ready to go and they aren’t going to wait or be happy about being held up from fishing

Those are the pragmatic and practical reasons that I use to get folks moving so early.

C’mon! Let’s move! Move! Move!

Get ‘em loaded on our boats headed out and rolling to the fishing grounds.

But, if they’re not real fishermen or don’t have much fishing or outdoor experience, it would be pointless and time-consuming to give them the real intangible reasons for getting up early.

I grew up on the water.

Fishing and being outdoors is something I’ve done all my life. It’s one of the greatest blessings of my life. Almost everything in my life can be traced in some way, shape or form connected to my life on or near the water.

Maybe you’re one of those who understand.

How do I explain what it feels like in the morning heading out on a boat.

It’s still dark. Maybe there’s a sliver of orange light on the horizon turning the distant clouds and sky a deep purple.

The moon is on the other end of the sky and fading.

The wind hits you in the face with the taste of salt. It is cool and bracing.

It contrasts with the humid morning air. The boat deck rocks and bounces gently as it skims over the gentle sea.

You’re headed to the fishing grounds!

As many times as you’ve done this, each time feels new. Each time is a fresh adventure. It’s an experience that many people will never have. You feel blessed.

If you’re young the anxiety and excitement wakens every sense. You feel it. You smell it. You taste it. It’s a grand day full of expectation.

Or maybe you’re older, you might be thinking of all the other times, experiences, memories and friends that have been part of your journeys. In some existential manner, they all travel with you and crowd the hard drive in your mind vying for room in little flashes .

They still travel with you.

Especially the memories of friends and families. Especially those who have passed on. Kodak moments forever.

And you wonder how many more trips you have as well. No matter who many times you’ve done it, each time is a little different. An original unlike any others.

You look around you. At your compadres or friends or kids. How can you not smile?

The sun is now a giant orange globe exploding from the surface of the ocean.

You look around and try to take it all in. The sea…the land…the beach…the boat…the beer in the ice chest…absorbing as much as you can to lock it into priceless memory that you want to hold onto.

In many cases, you’re not even thinking about fishing. Catching fish is not that critical.

Or maybe you ARE thinking about fishing and you can’t wait. The boat is simply too slow this morning!

But, you’ll get there when you get there.

The early mornings are hard to explain to someone who doesn’t already have it in their DNA.

It’s about a morning filled with the promise of something grand. It’s something bigger than you. There are no words. There are only inexplicable moments.

All that I can lamely explain to some folks is that, “We get up early so we can catch fish!”

It’s not really a fib. It’s true. But, it’s hardly the whole story.

Honestly, sometimes it’s a dealbreaker.

“Nah, that’s too early. Let’s cancel. I’d rather stay in bed and not miss breakfast. I”ll hang on the beach all day or go into town.”

I’m disappointed.

They’ll miss something so much larger than breakfast. Something timeless.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

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.”

Read Full Post »

DOUBLE-DOG-DARE OF STUPIDITY

Strong…powerful…fast and unpredictable! And they have a pointy-thing in front!

DOUBLE-DOG-DARE of STUPIDITY

Originally Published the Week of Jan. 20th in Western Outdoor Publications

In more than 30 years of guiding and chartering folks down here in Baja and other places in the country and world, I gotta say that I’ve seen some folks do some pretty stupid things.

No other way around it.

Sometimes smart intelligent folks just leave their brains home when they go on vacation.

Sometimes, it’s the alcohol…”We just stopped in for one shot of tequila.”

Sometimes, folks just forget they’re not 18 anymore…”Hold my beer for a second. I used to do this with my eyes closed.”

Sometimes, it’s just dumb-bass pride…”I don’t want our kids to think their dad’s a weenie!”

Sometimes, we think we’re so clever and sneaky…”Well, I’ll go if all your guys go and no one ever says anything…”

Yea…it happens. It happens a lot.

And I’m as guilty as the next person.

Except I wasn’t on vacation. I was working.

Some 30 years ago, I was working as a guide and deckhand in Loreto. It’s about 5 hours north of where we live now in La Paz.

Just a beautiful place and the town. Back then it was just a smidgen larger than a pueblo.

Very laid back. Not so touristy. Cows and stray dogs could still be found walking downtown…if you could call it that.

We were out working the channel on a small cruiser near Isla Carmen. Maybe a mile off the beach.

We were having a great time.

It was one of those days when the sailfish were going crazy and every lure or bait tossed in the water got hit. The two fishing clients were having the time of their lives.

To their credit, they were releasing all their fish.

About the 4^th sailfish someone got the brilliant idea to realease the fish by jumping off the boat and into the water.

Of course, we had purely magnanimous good-intentions.

It’s always better never to bring a hooked fish into the boat, especially large fish like a billfish.

It’s not just for safety. Hoisting fish out’ve the water; holding them for photos before releasing them seems like the sporting thing to do.

However, it potentially damages their internal organs because they no longer have water pressure holding supporting their bodies. Gravity starts ripping up their insides.

It actually defeats the whole purpose of releasing a fish to live and swim healthy another day.

Our two older anglers were busy fishing. Being older, there was no way they were going to climb into the water. However, to myself and the other deckhand this sounded like great fun!

Here we go…”Hold my beer…”

Slipping into that warm blue water of the Sea of Cortez is always a treat. Waters were calm that day and visibility was excellent. You could see down perhaps 30-40’ below the boat.

Let’s do this!

The guys would hook and fight a fish. We were careful not to get tangled in the lines or get in the way of fighting zooming fish. It was pretty exciting to be in the water.

Eventually, the fish would tire and get brought next to the boat.

We would gently hold the fish with gloves and remove the hook. These sailfish were all sturdy powerful 80-100 pound fish. But after battling, they were actually rather subdued, docile and seemingly exhausted.

Then, we got the even “more brilliant” idea!

In order to revie a tired fish, it’s customary to move them back and forth through the water to help oxygenate their gills which helps to “revive them.”

So that motion evolved into “Let’s hold their tails as long as we can as they swam away!”

So, we would grab a hold of each sailfish by the tail.

…and hold on!

They would leisurely swim down into the depths dragging a knuckleheaded deckhand with them. We would hang on as long as we could hold our breaths, maybe 20-30 feet down then kick hard back to the surface.

By then the fishermen would probably have another sailfish hooked up!

But wow! What a cool experience.

Not many folks could claim to have ridden a sailfish! Oh the stories we would tell!

By the time I had ridden 3, my buddy had ridden two and we were like two giddy kids in the water!

I think we were on our 7^th or 8^th fish and a big one got brought alongside the boat.

Normally, my buddy would hold the tail. I would hold the head and remove the hook as gently as possible. We had done a few fish by this time.

We were getting kinda cocky.

Releasing fish was a no-brainer. We were anxious to take our rides!

So, this big fella in my hands suddenly decided to go ballistic next to the boat! He wasn’t done yet!

And make no mistake, these are powerful apex predator fish built for speed. Sailfish have been know to hit 40-50 mph or more in the water.

This big guy suddenly and unexpectedly thrashed wildly. I let go of it’s head and bill in the massive whitewater of bubbles and foam.

When I opened my eyes…

…the tip of the sailfish bill was about 3 inches from my right eye!

If that fish even twitched a flick of it’s tail, I would not be writing this story now. I would’ve had my skull impaled on the end of a sailfish with a whole different story to tell.

Except I wouldn’t be the one telling it.

I like to think that the sailfish was just exercising a little forebearing restraint to the guys that were releasing it.

For whatever reason, I remain grateful. And terrified.

In our idiotic glee we had forgotten that these were wild animals. Not Disneyland rides.

Nature gave me a quick wake-up call…a masterclass in stupidity.

Eleven sailfish that day.

I jumped back in the boat and stayed there. I think we had caught enough fish for the day. Let’s get back to the marina.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

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 Sportfishing

Website:

www.tailhunter.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.”

Read Full Post »

APPLES and ORANGES – Tailhunter Sportfishing La Paz

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, Tailhunter Sea Level, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on January 7, 2025| Leave a Comment »

APPLES & ORANGES

Originally Published in Western Outdoor Publications Jan. 2025

Insofar as we’re just making it to the other side of the holiday season, I was reminded of an incident about 20 years ago here in La Paz. It was just before Christmas.

One of the charity organizations here in town contacted us about some donations for a Christmas party they were going to throw. It was for schoolkids in one of the underserved outlying communities on the city’s periphery.

This was an area of plywood houses; tin roofs and dirt streets. Water and electricity were sporadic and erratic at best.

The organization asked if we would make a donation to the event. That sounded great. What would you like us to donate?

They asked for candy.

UH….I don’t think so. That won’t work for us. We would rather donate something else if we could!

They were pretty adamant. This was a Christmas party. You know. It’s the season for sugar plums and candy canes.

All the other donors were contributing big piles of candy and sweets. How about us?

We told them we would rather donate something like apples and oranges.

There was a moment of silence.

Fruit? Are you kidding? Why fruit?

We explained that these kids out there are known to have terrible dental hygiene. I mean, they don’t even have water out there. So bathing, washing and brushing teeth are more than just problematic.

We had done work with some of the other outlying areas and the kids out there had notorious bad teeth. So, why are we giving them more sugar?

Not to mention that diabetes and nutrition issues are rampant in Mexico.

The charity organization wasn’t real happy with us. They insisted on candy. We told them it wasn’t going to happen. We were sending cartons of fruit or nothing.

They finally acquiesced.

Done deal. We sent the orders for the fruit.

And we didn’t think about it again. Feliz Navidad, everyone!

. . .Until we got a phone call from the organizer.

She was literally gushing with excitement.

She told us that when the kids were presented with the fruit, they were ecstatic. As the fruits were distributed, kids cradled them in their hands like treasure.

Some ran home to show parents. Some gathered in little groups to examine them.

Apparently, many of the children had never had an orange or an apple in their lives. Some had never even seen an apple or an orange let alone tasted one!

It turns out, the fruit were the most coveted and cherished part of the program. Simple apples and oranges…who knew?

It’s the little things that we take for granted that make big differences.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

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 Sportfishing

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.”

Read Full Post »

MAKING THE BIG LEAP

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, Tailhunter Sea Level, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on December 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

MAKING THE BIG LEAP

Originally published in Western Outdoor Publications Dec. 2024

“Living the Dream!”

You’re getting to that age.

You’re getting the itch.

You’re kinda fed up with cities, freeways, or maybe just life in the U.S. in general.

The blue water of Mexico becon. A retirement life with your toes in the sand sure sounds better and better.

Perfectly understandable.

Mexico is the #1 retirement destination for Amerians. Over 2 million ex-pats have done it.

But can you do it? Should you do it?

Aside from the language, cultural and social differences, the first thing that probably pops is whether you can afford it.

There’s a lot of variables to consider.

Obviously, you know what your income will be after you push yourself away from the 9-5 grind. You have some idea of the expenses you will have into your golden years no matter if you move to Mexico or stay in the U.S.

All that being said, can you afford to live in Mexico?

It’s like anywhere else ultimately.

Where you live in the country…or what Mexican state you live in…or what city you want to live in will play a big part. Even more minutely, where you live in a particular city plays a big part.

Like living in the U.S., living in New York is a lot different than living living in Boise, Idaho. Living on the Pacific Coast with an ocean view is much different than having a place in the plains of West Texas.

Living in Beverly Hills in Los Angeles is more than a few economic brackets higher than living in East Los Angeles.

So Mexico is no different. Location. Location. Location.

It also depends if you plan to buy or rent.

Then, you need to determine your lifestyle.

Sitting in the park playing BINGO and feeding the pigeons in front of the local Mexican church sounds like paradise. But, many retirees are much more active these days.

You really just want to bike ride or walk your dog along the waterfront and buy vegetables from the farmer’s market? Perfect.

But, if you’re accustomed to your usual amenities like dining out; live music; and theater, then you need to make allowances for that.

Likewise, if you’re planning to do things like fishing, diving; sailing; etc. Figure in more if you plan to have your own boat!

Do you plan to travel for pleasure? Or do you need to travel for family reasons (checking on the grandkids back in the U.S.?)

What about the all-important medical insurance? Do you keep your medical insurance back in the U.S. or do you obtain Mexican insurance? Maybe you should keep both.

Honestly, think about it.

God forbid something critical occurs do you want to be treated in Mexico or the U.S.? Having a heart issue is a lot different than treating a badly sprained ankle or an infected cut.

Again, much depends on where you plan to live. Medical services and facilities tend to be much better in cities or high income areas. Obviously, less so in more rural areas.

And if something critical should happen, you need to think about how far your are from emergency care as well as how long it will take for first responders.

Heart attack? Stroke? Minutes are a life-and-death issue.

So, these are all things that need to be put into your thinking cap.

Statistics have shown that the average American lives on about $3500 per month. There’s a lot of variation and that doesn’t necessarily mean “comfortably” retired, but this is an “average.”

The average amount of retirement income by retirees varies from about $2700 per month to $4500 per month. Again, this is an average and varies around the U.S.

Compare this to Mexico where statistics show a couple can relatively and comfortably retire on about $1600-$2500 per month. Of course depending on many of the variables mentioned earlier.

You could pay more. You could live on less.

But, it’s still 30-40% less than in the U.S.

Figure most folks spend about 20 years in retirement these days.

Life everything else…do the math and make an informed decision!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

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.”

Read Full Post »

MEXICO ON YOUR CALENDAR FOR 2025?

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, 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 food, history, mexico, travel, travel-blog on December 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

MEXICO ON YOUR CALENDAR FOR 2025?

Mexico Just Got Cheaper!

Originally Published Dec. 2024 in Western Outdoor Publications

Year 2024 was a tough year to travel to Mexico. Although Mexico remained the #1 destination for American vacationers and still broke travel records, it was a somewhat somber travel year.

After several years of post-covid travel boom that shattered statistics, things leveled off in 2024. A number of reasons can be cited.

For one, there was less “covid fatigue.”

Those first few years as covid fears eased, folks were tired of being cooped up. They were anxious to get out.

Anxious to move about. Anxious to “do something” before some new restrictions fell into place!

Mexico was close. It’s familiar. It’s easy. It didn’t bust the piggy bank.

Mexico had it’s arms open and begged to be visited!

Many Mexican vacation destinations couldn’t keep up with the demand. It was a boom. The rush was on!

However, in 2024, things settled down. The novelty and cabin fever had worn off a bit.

It didn’t help that the post-Covid U.S. economy didn’t exactly jump through hoops. It also took a tumble the last few years as many of us know.

Those first years, folks took off to Mexico with an urgency to travel. As the years continued, folks re-adjusted. They got more economically thoughtful.

Belt tightening on many levels. Life settled into the post-Covid groove, so to speak.

On top of it all, Mexico simply got more expensive on so many levels.

Flights got more expensive. Air travel, in general, still never recovered from Covid snafu’s.

Prices for hotels and services in Mexico hit all-time highs.

Partially higher prices resulted from higher demand. Simple Economics 101. Booms in tourism produced higher rates.

But, much of it was also the result of higher fuel prices. Anything and everything has ties to fuel in one way-shape-or-form.

Gas prices skyrocketed in Mexico and higher transportation costs were reflected in higher prices for everything. Not just for tourists, but locals as well.

The double / triple whammy for tourists was the devaluation of the American dollar against the Mexican peso. The peso got stronger and the dollar dipped.

Actually, it took a nosedive.

Take a look.

Pre-Covid the rate of exchange for Pesos-to-dollars was about18:1. That means 18 pesos for 1 American dollar.

If a hotel room cost $2500 Mexican pesos per night, that would mean, about $138 U.S. out of your pocket.

If dinner for 2 cost $1500 Mexican pesos, you’d be paying about $84 dollars.

Last year, rates dropped to 15:1. That’s 15 pesos for one U.S. dollar.

That 2500 peso hotel room cost now jumped to $166 per night.

Dinner cost $100 U.S. dollars.

Plus, prices went up on top of it all.

That hotel for $2500 pesos was more likely $3000 pesos per night or $200 U.S. dollars.

Dinner jumped to $1800 pesos or $120 bucks from your wallet.

Again, simple economics. Prices rise. Demand diminishes.

Mexico became harder to afford. Across the board…flights, hotels. gasoline, car rentals, food, fishing, etc. All more expensive for everyone.

From a personal perspective, I think many Americans were also holding onto their dollars because it was an election year. Everyone was waiting to see what happened in November.

But, guess what?

The peso has taken a tumble against the dollar.

In the last 2-3 months, the exchange rate of the peso-to-dollar has risen to more than 20 pesos to 1 dollar.

So, the dollar is at an all-time high. Your travel dollar is once has purchasing strength and goes further.

That $3000 pesos room that was $200/night has now dropped to $150 of your dollars.

Dinner for two that was $120 dollars has now become more affordable at $90.

In Mexico, prices may not have relatively dropped on the ledgers and blackboards. But, in terms of real-time money costs for Americans, this is a really good time to take a little vacation!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

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 Sportishing

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

“What makes us happiest in life? We sell smiles for a living. Here, have one free. It looks good on you! “

Read Full Post »

Winter Vacation Dilemmas: Book Ahead or Risk It?

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, 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, 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, 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, beach, 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 November 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

DANGED IF YOU DO DANGED IF YOU DON’T

Originally Published In Western Outdoor Publications

If you had not already made it, a lot of folks are planning their winter vacations about now. I know where we live in La Paz, we’re starting to see the snowbirds descend on our area.

We think things are starting to get “chilly” when the thermometer drops into the 60’s and 70’s. But it’s still a sight warmer than places like Canada, North Dakota and Washington.

Like any vacation of this sort, you probably start with flights then lodging. Then, you may or may not make reservations for your activities.

Will you want to go fishing? Scuba diving? Kayaking? Maybe some famous booze cruise?

So, here’s the conundrum.

Making reservations for activities in the winter are a lot different than activities in the summer. Forget all the glossy internet and magazine photos.

The reality is that its WINTER!

No matter who you are or where you’re coming from…no matter that you got the mega deal on your hotel room and the all-you-can-eat buffet is waiting, you cannot change the fact that it’s winter.

And that means weather. Erratic weather. Especially if you plan to do any activities on the ocean.

So you want to go fishing in Cabo? Or Puerto Vallarta? Some other spot?

It could be flat or calm or you find out too late that those winter waves coming across the Pacific Ocean were meant just to spoil your day. Those blasting gusting winds aren’t any fun either.

Scuba diving or snorkeling? Same thing. Waves and wind on top. Cold murky water below the surface.

The booze cruise turns changes your day from a holding your margarita to holding down your lunch.

But, the reality is weather happens.

The conundrum is whether you should make your reservations ahead of time or wait.

If you make your reservations ahead of time, at least you have something on the agenda. You have more choices in vendors. Maybe there’s a discount. You have more options. There’s a sense of security.

Barring other unforeseen things, you’re locked in.

On the other hand, you could wait.

Check out the weather. Do a little more research. Walk around the area and shop. Talk to people.

But if you wait, you might find out your first choice is sold out. They might all be sold out!

Or, your last choice in activity vendor is the operation that no one wanted anyway.

There’s a reason why that last guy didn’t have any customers!

Or, if the demand is high, forget the discounts. You might end up paying a premium.

The vendor knows he will sell out. If you want that last set of seats, he can charge whatever he wants. If you snub him, he knows he can sell it to someone else.

But what happens if you book either before-hand or on-the-fly.

What happens if weather un-corks itself right on your picnic.

If you’ve already climbed aboard and are out on the water, it kinda depends. Maybe a generous provider or outfitter will give you credit or a discount towards another trip.

A “rain check” if you will.

But, don’t count on it. Definitely, you won’t get your money back. Especially in Mexico.

Gas has been bought for the boat. The crew has been paid. Permits have already been paid.

If food was provided, and you already started in on it, or even if it hasn’t been touched, it can’t be saved for the next day and still be fresh.

So, you’re outta luck.

That’s just how things are. You take that chance anytime you head out on the water. Even during the best times.

But, what if you booked in advance. You’ve paid a deposit. Maybe you’ve already paid for the whole thing.

And then, it’s too rough. Or dangerous. Or a storm hits.

Again, you probably won’t get a refund, but you might want to look at your invoice if you even got one. Most operators I know DO NOT provide refunds.

But, you might get a credit for another day or another trip. But, honestly, how often do you plan to come back to this same destination?

Again, you might just be out-of-luck.

Decisions. Decisions.

Personally, I book ahead of time and I do my research ahead of time. If an operator has been around for awhile, they are not fly-by-night operators.

It takes a lot to stay in any business and keep it going.

And, I would specifically ask what happens if there’s a weather or other unforeseen issues.

Better to know ahead of time than finding out right in the middle of your vacation.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

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.”

Read Full Post »

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!

______________

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.”

Read Full Post »

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!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

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.”

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

¡Bienvenidos Amigos!
Jonathan has written for:

Western Outdoor News
Western Outdoor News Magazine
Pacific Coast Sportfishing
Discover Baja Magazine
Baja Life Magazine
The Log
Fish Taco Chronicles
Sportsman's Channel Magazine

His articles also appear in:

San Diego Union Newspaper
Los Angeles Times Newspaper
Sacramento Bee
San Francisco Chronicle
Check Out The Latest La Paz Fishing Action!
Jonathan’s Blog Search

Search for:
Archives
Archives
Visit Our NEW Website
SUBSCRIBE NOW!

That's My Story

Tailhunter International, La Paz, Baja Sur

Archive for the ‘christmas’ Category