Archive for the ‘christmas’ Category

HOLIDAY STREET FAIRES

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, 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 November 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

HOLIDAY STREET FAIRES

Originally Published the Week of Nov. 25, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

The few weeks between American Thanksgiving and Christmas is a pretty nice time to be visiting Mexico.

I say “American” Thanksgiving because, as gringos, we often forget, Thanksgiving is an American holiday.

As part of our psyche, I guess we Americans sometimes assume when we visit other countries, that the whole world must know about and celebrate our holidays like Thanksgiving, 4^th of July, Halloween, etc.

While Halloween has taken a bit of a foothold in Mexico, there’s no real other holidays between the end of October and the Christmas holidays. For sure, folks have been doing holiday decorations and buying toys and other presents for several months now.

For foreign visitors, I think it’s an especially great time to sample Mexico. In many respects, it’s off-season.

The summer crowds are gone and back to school. The Thanksgiving holidays are too short. Christmas is still several weeks away.

Weather is great. The humidity is gone. However, the sun is still out.

Although we locals think it’s cooler or even chilly by our standards, but it’s a lot warmer and temperate than many parts of the rest of North America.

There are great airline prices. There are lots of travel specials as there is somewhat of a lull in visitors. Hotels, restaurants, and other providers have open arms for you.

If you do happen to make it to Mexico, especially during December, give yourself a treat. Leave the hotel zone and tourist areas behind for an afternoon or evening.

Ask someone about the local street fair or “Tiangus” (booths) in town.

Chances are, there’s usually one somewhere near the town square or central area. Take a taxi or take a walk. Chances are, it’s also near the historic district as well.

Many cities close down several square blocks around their central commerce areas. Only pedestrian traffic is allowed. Local businesses, set up booths selling their wares as well as handicrafts.

There’s often especially many booths and carts selling everything from churros to grilled meats and street corn to tostadas.

Personally, my favorite time is during the evenings when the streets really come alive. Compras de pánico por Navidad

More folks stroll around lending to the festive air not to mention the fragrances of all the food being cooked and grilled at the various stands.

Many families are doing their Christmas shopping at the booths all looking for deals. They make their purchases and ask the shop sto hold them on layaway until the actual holidays.

Young people do what young people do…meet other young people and hang out! Older guys sit on the park benches with beers and wave at the pretty girls who are always fashionably dressed.

tianguis-navideno-organizado

You’ll often find live music as various musicians and groups move through the crowds. If indeed the fair is set up near the town square, there will also be live performances of dancers; school groups; singers and theatrical presentations.

Last time I was at one of these, they had a huge game of Mexican BINGO being played. With a little twist.

Instead of the letters B.I.N.G.O., the little squares have pictures like “a chicken.” “A car.” “A boat.” And the caller yells out the selected pictures until someone yells “GANADOR!” Winner!

It’s quite popular. Folks play with beans, corn kernels or even rice.

On certain evenings, there might even be mini parades such as Santa Claus or the Virgin of Guadalupe.

What nice is that you can go several different times and there are always new things to see, eat and purchase. It’s a great place to just people watch and experience Mexican culture that many tourists miss!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com.

They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

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

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g

“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”

Read Full Post »

PASSPORT BLUES

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, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on November 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »

PASSPORTS GETTING FASTER?

PASSPORT BLUES

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED THE WEEK OF NOV. 12, 2023 IN WESTERN OUTDOOR PUBLICATIONS

More Americans are travelling than ever before. Call it post-Covid fatigue or simply cabin fever, folks are on the move.

Travel to Mexico is no exception and despite price increases felt world-wide on everything from food; to gas; to airlines; to lodging, travel is at historic proportions.

Popular tourism destinations such as Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and others are scrambling to handle the influx. They can’t build hotels fast enough or cover the crowded airports.

One of the biggest hinderances, however, has been the pinch on passports. Renewing or getting a first-time passport has put more than one vacation in a pinch or kept someone nervously waiting by their mailbox.

This goes back to covid years when travel ergo the issuance of passports came to a virtual standstill. It was not unusual to wait months for passports or being told, “It will arrive when it arrives.”

There goes your vacation. Go tell the kids. Or tell little Joey he doesnn’t get to travel with the family this year!

Since then, things have moved along a bit more fluently, but the simple fact that there was such a backlog of applications jammed the system. It was still taking as much as 3-4 months to get a passport.

Even longer if it was during peak times when everyone and their brother suddenly remembered passports for pending summer vacation plans or holiday travel at the last minute.

Add to that the sheer number of new travelers and the logjam to get your little blue book could seem interminable.

Even with such delays, the U.S. State Department says it has been processing a record number of applications since Covid.

Nevertheless, the State Department recently announced that it’s doing it best to cut through the bureaucratic gunk that’s holding things up.

The goal at this time, is to return to pre-covid timetables when passports could be issued in 6-8 weeks or even as little as 2-3 weeks for expedited requests .

To that end, the State Department has increased it manpower with increased hiring and expanding their network of offices. They are also allowing for much more overtime declaring that most applications are now taking only 7-10 weeks.

Expedited service can be handled in as little a 3-5 weeks and urgent applications for emergencies can be processed in days.

That being said, the State Department urges travellers not to sit on your hands and procrastinate. Millions of applications are still flooding the system. This is especially true as summer and holidays vacations and travel approache.

The sooner you apply, the sooner your results and the faster your anxiety level drops.

Once your passport is safely in hand, you only have to concentrate on what to pack!

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 »

HURRICANE PTSD?

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 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 November 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Until you’ve been in it, there’s nothing quite like the sound and fury of nature’s hammer!

HURRICANE PTSD?

Originally Published the Week of Nov. 2, 2023, in Western Outdoor Publications.

I have no other word for it.

The other day, I was walking across a parking lot. A huge gust of wind suddenly came up. It blasted a bunch of paper across me along with enough dust to make me squint. I saw trees bend.

And just for a nano-second, I got a shiver. My hackles went up. Something went up my spine and my fingers tingled. It stopped me in my tracks.

Had I been a cat, my fur and tail would’ve puffed out.

It was the weirdest feeling. But something went through me.

And just as quickly, the gust passed. The trees straightened out.

So, did my backbone!

I got to my car and had to sit for a moment. For lack of a better description, I think it was what experts call “fight or flight” response to stress.

Psychologists say it’s all the hormones in the body suddenly reacting. They prompt the body to fight or run away. Basically calling us to take action to save our lives when there is perceived danger.

So, what just happened? A little wind got me flustered? C’mon, man!

The best I can figure is something I’m calling “Hurricane PTSD” (Post-Traumatic-Stress-Syndrome).

It doesn’t have to arise from a combat situation, but any traumatic or frightening event can produce it long after the threat has passed.

It could be from an auto accident. Perhaps something happened to you as a kid when you were swimming. Or getting locked in a dark closet or basement! Any traumatic event can trigger a flashback or anxious moment.

In the month of October, we just came through two hurricanes where we live in La Paz.

Hillary was the first. It was “so-so” as hurricane go.

It was followed up a week later by Hurricane Norma which really hammered us.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Living in Hawaii then another 30 years in Mexico, I’ve been through some 16 hurricanes and even more tropical storms.

Some have been historic, powerful, devastating and deadly examples of Mother Nature doing what she does. I’ve experienced them on land and sea.

I’ve had to work outside with winds, rain and waves battering me. Things were flying through the air.

Being in the hospitality industry, I’ve had clients to take care of and insure their safety. I’ve had to cross flood waters and been flooded myself.

One year, I was on a fishing boat that came pretty close to sinking while over 100 miles at sea.

I spent one storm in Hawaii with family in a bathtub. We covered ourselves with mattresses from the flying debris.

I’m no stranger to hurricanes.

Other than worrying about the welfare of clients or friends, I’ve never been especially afraid of hurricanes.

It is what it is.

It’s life in the tropics. If I lived in Alaska or Canada, it would be like me complaining about cold weather or snow.

So, again, I ask myself why’d I suddenly get the shivers?

Here’s my take.

As far as I can remember, most hurricanes come and go rather quickly. They can be powerful and lethal, but they come and go in a few hours. They move on.

Until Hurricane Otis struck Acapulco a last week, Hurricane Odile in 2014 was the most powerful storm to hit our side of Mexico. My wife and I actually sat outside for awhile.

The storm escalated. We cracked a few beers. It wasn’t our first rodeo. We watched as lights around the bay blinked out as electricity lost.

It probably wasn’t the smartest thing for us.

The winds started to howl. It was pretty cool.

Then, part of a tree blew by. Time to go!

We raced inside and then our ceiling tiles caved-in from the air pressure. Total darkness followed as the rains started pelting and we lost electricity.

But, in a few hours, Odile had moved on. It pretty much wiped out a good part of southern Baja, but it moved on.

Hurricane Norma last week was not as strong, but it sat on La Paz for almost 3 days of poweful 100 mile per hour winds and up to 12” of rain.

It pounded and pounded. The wind against our windows alternately sounded like a giant freight train going by or someone literally slamming their gigantic fist against the glass panes.

Boom! Boom! Boom! With each titanic gust. Battering to get in!

The winds were so strong they forced water through every door and window crack sometime like a spray.

For almost 30 hours, my wife and I battled with mops, towels and buckets to keep the waters at bay that soon covered our floors.

There was no way to stop it. Sometimes we had no light. We barely slept. Our hands got raw from wringing gallons of water from dozens of towels.

Several inches of water on our floors.

Just when we thought we had a handle on it, the wind would change direction and suddenly water was spraying from a different area. It was like an old WWII submarine movie where the depth charges start busting pipes!

When Norma left, we were exhausted. Many parts of the city were extensively damaged.

So, maybe that gust of wind in the parking lot triggered just a bit of PTSD. I can do without another hurricane for awhile.

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 (the hurricane tore off the whole front of our restaurant!)

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 »

I REMEMBER WHEN…

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, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on September 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »

I REMEMBER WHEN…

Originally Published the Week of Sept. 20, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

We were waiting on the docks here in La Paz waterfront to get folks on board their boats to go fishing. Just another gorgeous morning in the Baja.

One of them mused, “What was it like here during Covid?”

Wow. That got me thinking. So, I started to tell them.

And I realized that just about this time in September, ONLY three years ago, we were just starting to open up things down here again.

Man…was it only 3 years ago? Did we really go through all of that?

Everyone’s experiences were different depending on where they were during those crazy days. But, as I started to tell the stories, I felt like the old man telling old war stories or the grandpa who relates how “back in the day” he walked to school through blizzards barefooted.

It was ONLY 3 years ago.

I remember…

That as the rest of the world was starting to hunker down, Mexican was in a pile of denial.

Mexican President Obrador was telling people things like “keep going out. Do not change your activities. Eat at restaurants. Get together with your family!”

He was out kissing babies and saying things like “Mexicans are immune from Covid because we have Aztec blood.” He was wearing a special amulet that warded off the virus…so he said.

He told folks that Covid was a rich people disease because mostly only rich people get sick because they travel. Mexicans aren’t very rich and don’t travel much so don’t worry.

I’m sure he meant well…but…

WHAM…it hit.

Everything shut down. And they said it would only be temporary. Like several weeks maybe.

Oh sure.

Of course there were masks.

Stores, restaurants, hotels, schools, airports, churches…everything. They even shut down the beaches.

They shut down the whole ocean!

No one allowed on the beach. No one allowed on the water for fishing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking…NADA.

Most of the time, the city looked like a scene from the zombie movies. No one out. Nothing moving. No lights. No cars. Nothing on the water.

There was a 8 p.m. curfew.

No more than 2 persons in a car. One had to sit in front and one in back. Both with masks.

Social distancing everywhere if you were even allowed to gather.

Limited access to markets and stores. Restricted hours. Only one person per family could enter.

Only so many people in an aisle. You had to walk through and get sprayed in a fumigation tent to go inside.

Oh…you had to also step in a trough of sanitizer before entering places. Sanitizing your feet and shoes was pretty important. Then stepped on a dirty towel to dry your feet!

Plus you had your temperature taken as well.

Since all “non-essential businesses” were closed, that meant the breweries. No beer.

A man in a beer store stands behind a sign reading “I don’t have beer” following the shortage of beer, after the breweries countrywide closed their production due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Monterrey, state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, on May 5, 2020. (Photo by Julio Cesar AGUILAR / AFP) (Photo by JULIO CESAR AGUILAR/AFP via Getty Images)

In your neck of the woods, there might have been the toilet paper panic. Here there was the rush for beer. People bought up cases and cases.

When that ran out, there was a black market that popped up.

Lines formed when a store got a shipment. You were only allowed to buy a certain amount. When they ran out, folks in line got into fights.

Beer prices skyrocketed to what amounted to half-a-week’s salary for the average blue-collar person! And they still lined up.

Fumigation teams in hazmat suits roamed the streets.

I heard that at one point helicopters or planes flew over the city spraying some kind of sanitizer on the whole city.

Most folks huddled together with family in their small residences already overcrowded many times.

No school. No internet. No laptops. No NETFLIX to pass the time. Couldn’t go outside to play or to the beach.

Since many folks live hand-to-mouth on a cash basis, there was no work. No unemployment checks or government assistance checks coming.

I still wonder how they survived.

But we did. And we all went and accepted all the things we look at as “goofy” nonsense now. But 3 short years ago, we just didn’t know.

Back in the day…We just didn’t know.

Talking about it now feels like I’m telling war stories. It kinda was. Not that long ago.

And years from now, we’ll tell people about having gone through the “great pandemic.” We just didn’t know.

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.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 »

MEMORIES GO BOTH WAYS

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, Uncategorized, 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 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »

MEMORIES GO BOTH WAYS

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED in WESTERN OUTDOOR PUBLICATIONS the WEEK of SEPT. 4, 2023

I’ve been in the fishing industry in one way, shape or form now for most of my life. In Baja alone, I’ve got almost 30 years notched on my belt running our fishing operation.

In that time, I get to hear a lot of chatter about everyone’s fishing experiences. Aside from talking about the actual experience on the water, anglers talk about their skippers.

Fortunately, for our business, the majority is thankfully positive. My skippers have been with me 20-30 years. As far as I’m concerned, they are part of the team and family.

The business doesn’t go anywhere without them!

Many of our clients have been with us for years. Some families have been with us for decades. Everyone has their favorites.

As far as many of them are concerned, their captain is “the best in the Sea of Cortez!” That’s how it should be and they will happily argue the point with our other clients who also have their favorite skipper with our fleet.

It’s almost like listening to the way guys argue their favorite quarterback or homerun hitter.

All in good humor.

But, by the same token, I do get to hear when a captain has an off-day. Or the clients didn’t understand what was going on. Especially new clients.

Understandable. Everyone has an off-day now and then. Fishing inherently has off-days.

There’s often a language barrier as well. Thankfully, it’s a rarity and that’s why folks keep coming back.

But, my point is that folks remember their experiences. Folks remember their captains.

Personally, after a lifetime of fishing, I pretty much remember every fishing trip, captain or guide I ever had. I may not remember names from way back, but I’ve got the image and I remember if it was a good or bad experience.

I’m sure for many of you readers, you can think back as well. You remember your captains and guides and experiences. You remember the good, the bad and the not-so-good.

Well, there’s another side to this.

They also remember YOU!

Personally, I remember so many of our guests or personal clients that I took out on the water, either as a guide, a deckhand or instructor over these many years.

The names might escape me, but not the face or experience.

I’ve found that all my captains are like that as well.

Often when I get a reservation, I will send the name to my captain so he knows who his client will be the following day. If I have a photo, I send that along as well.

So often, my captains will tell me they remember that person well. Even in some cases, when it has been years, they remember the name and things about the clients.

It’s pretty amazing.

They’ll remember that the client battled a big tuna. Or a kid caught his first roosterfish. Or a couple really enjoyed fishing for dorado. Or wore funny hats. Or fell in the water.

If they have fished multiple times, they will remember things about the client’s family, kids, jobs, mutual affection for a certain sports team or where the client lives.

All of this happens even with a language barrier.

The captains will remember if the clients had very little experience. Or lots of experience.

They will remember if the clients brought gifts like t-shirts, or fishing gear or shared food and drinks during the day.

I am always amazed at how much they remember.

They also remember the downside that goes with it.

They tell me about clients who were poor or non-existent tippers. Or clients who had tempers or attitudes.

They talk about fishing “buddies” who didn’t get along. Or got too competitive.

I hear about clients who think they know more than these captains who have fished these waters their entire lives.

I hear about clients who have zero patience if the bite is slow or simmer and seem to blame the captain for the fishing or weather.

I hear about clients who have so much fishing gear. No matter what, they want to try every single piece of gear or tackle they brought along.

I hear about clients who bring family or kids aboard and forget completely about them. They expect the captain to babysit; run the boat; untangle lines; feed and water everyone while the parent becomes so self-absorbed in his or her own fishing.

Fortunately, 99.9% are just super cool.

Most of the time, the stories make us laugh or smile.

But everyone makes impressions. They will remember you!

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 »

POURING ACROSS THE BORDER

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, 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 August 6, 2023| Leave a Comment »

POURING ACROSS THE BORDER

Originally Published the Week of Aug. 1, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

I bet when you read that title, something else crossed your mind.

But no, this has nothing to do with immigration, politics or borders. It does have everything to do with brilliant marketing.

Way back in the day when we’d foray south from California, we drank Mexican beer like it was a badge of honor. Even as youngsters, you never got carded.

Headed down to fish or surf or see how much mischief you could handle in a weekend, you’d return with comments like, “Dude, we inhaled a couple of cases of Dos Equis. Caught a royal buzz then caught some waves! ”

Or, “You shoulda seen all the empty Carta Blanca cans around our campsite!”

Drinking Mexican beer was part of the whole organic experience of travelling to Mexico. It didn’t even necessarily have to be cold. Having and finding ice was sometimes a bonus and just as important has having the beer in the first place.

But, it’s not like there were many choices and no one came down to drink Bud, Coors or PBR anyway, right?

These days, I don’t know if you keep up with the stink that’s going on with Bud Light and it’s associated boycott in the U.S. , but this has nothing to do with which side of he gender/ political line you follow.

But, unless you’ve lived in a cave the last several decades, Mexican beer is simply crushing it in the U.S.

I think you can look at all those brilliant adds by Corona about “finding your beach.” And sticking a lime on a longneck .

download

(By the way…using a lime is totally a gringo thing. No one does it down here except tourists who have been gimmicked and conditioned by said TV ads into thinking THAT’S how to drink beer!)

And who will ever forget Dos Equis and the “World’s Most Interesting Man?” He’s as iconic as the Budweiser Clydesdales or those historic Lite Beer commercials from years past.

You may remember such gems:

“I once won a staring contest…with my own reflection.”

“My tears can cure cancer…too bad I don’t cry.”

“I live vicariously…through myself.”

dos-equis-the-most-interesting-man-in-the-world-1-400x222

And now we see Modelo ads touting it’s “Fighting Spirit” and how they are an integral part of American sports. (By the way…Modelo and Corona are the same companies!)

But, if you hadn’t heard, Modelo is now the #1 beer in the U.S. de-throning Bud Light which continues to tumble after the Dylan Mulvaney fiasco.

Somehow and comically, owner Anheuser-Busch insulted not only it’s core conservative consumers, but also the LGBTQ community as well.

Agree or disagree with your position, it’s a fascinating marketing study.

But that’s a discussion for another article.

The point is Mexican beer is literally pouring across the border these days.

Mexico is now the world’s #1 beer exporter with more than $5.5 billion dollars of beer export.

It’s not Germany. It’s not Belgium. It’s not the Netherlands in 2^nd place with only about $2 billion in exports. It’s not even the U.S.

However, the biggest consumer of Mexican cerveza are Americans. The U.S. chugs more than $5 billion in sales. Send us your beer!

Although Modelo Especial is now king in the U.S. their Corona Brand is their #1 worldwide seller with exportation to over 150 countries. Their 7 breweries in Mexico kick out up to 3 MILLION bottles PER DAY!

Overall, Mexican beer will account for over $21 billion in revenue in 2023. That includes stats showing that per capita, Mexicans average 54 liters of beer drinking annually.

Mexicans do their part too!

That’s about 12 gallons of beer annually per person over a population of about 130 million people in Mexico. I’m good for only about 2 bottles a month these days so someone is drinking my share!

As someone once said, “We don’t buy beer. We rent it.”

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 »

YOU NEVER KNOW!

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, 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, 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 July 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »

YOU NEVER KNOW!

Originally Published the Week of July 7, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

Beach and street vendors in Mexico…

If you’ve ever walked down the street in any tourist town and been plagued every five feet with those famous words “Jewelry! Almost free!” Or something similar. T-shirts? Hats? Viagra?

Or you just want some quiet beach time.

But, every 5 minutes someone interrupts your tanning session to asking if you want to buy a hat or sarape or beads…

You know how annoying it can be.

The first one or two. OK.

But, after awhile, you want to put up a sign that just says, “No, Gracias!”

Where we live in La Paz, we don’t have a lot of beach or street vendors. Maybe only a handful. We’re just not that touristy.

After living here a few years, I started to notice the same few guys were the only ones selling things from little suitcases on the waterfront.

Sometimes it was “discounted jewelry.” Of course “One of a kind from the mountains of Puebla!” (wink wink)

Sometimes it was hats, “handmade by Indian women” in small villages in central Mexico. (more wink wink)

Or maybe another day, it was vibrantly-colored beach wraps or sarapes meticulously made in the “historic wooden looms of Toluca!” (even more wink wink).

The price was not “almost free.” But, just for YOU today, Senorita, ‘very cheap!”

I got to recognize and eventually know Marcelo, Luis and and older man, Jose.

I’d see them walking down the beach or working a hotel and we would always greet and smile. Occasionally, I would purchase beach hats to sell at our store or direct clients to them.

They were always fun and always fair. And were great salesmen. Good for a joke and laugh. Folks enjoyed their non-pushy style and big smiles.

I used to watch them stroll the beaches or work on the waterfront. Simple hard-working guys. Every day.

An admirable work ethic to-be-sure.

Baseball hats; sandals; billowy trousers and t-shirts. Goods slung on their backs or carried on racks or in little cases.

I once ran into Luis who was resting in the shade of a beach palapa. I mentioned that I had not seen the older Jose, in a few weeks.

Was he OK?

In Spanish…

“Oh sure. Dad’s fine. He’s taking some time off. He’s on vacation.”

“He’s your dad? All this time, I didn’t know he was your dad.”

“Yes, and Marcelo is my other brother.”

“Wow, after all these years, I never knew that But, it’s good that dad is taking some time off. Is he at home here in La Paz?”

“No, dad is in Puerta Vallarta.”

“Oh, wow. Do you have family in Puerta Vallarta.”

“Yes, and our beach house and warehouse.”

“Wait. You have a beach house and a warehouse?”

He laughed.

“Si, Jonathan. We keep all our inventory in the warehouse of hats, jewelry, clothes, sarapes…everything. That is also where we have our beach house,” he said matter-of-factly.

I was a bit incredulous.

“So, you have a house in the beach in Puerta Vallarta and a warehouse for all our inventory? Do you really sell that much here in La Paz?”

“Oh no no!” he responded with a big grin.

“We are a family business. We have cousins and other family working in Cabo, Loreto, Mazatlan and of course, here in La Paz.”

Like it was no big deal.

I had to stop and think about that for a moment.

I had to wrap my brain around the fact that these simple-looking, hard-working guys had this whole network and business empire going on.

I don’t have a beach house or warehouse! I don’t know many people that do!

He saw me trying to process that with my head cocked and I’m sure my jaw had dropped.

So, he started telling me about shipping logistics; and price breaks; discount percentages ; distribution points and supply chain issues.

The family had been doing this for more than 30 years and employed about 20-30 family members.

I’m sure I had the funniest look on my face. Speechless.

Forget that Harvard business degree or that MBA on your wall.

He added, “I own three houses here in La Paz too!”

He laughed and winked and bid me “buenos tardes” and walked off down the beach to check out some “potential” customers. They had just put down a blanket on the sand and looked in need of some beach hats and jewelry.

He looked back at me once more and grinned “opportunidades!” (Opportunity!) And he put on his game face!

Who knew? A little capitalistic beach dynasty.

You just never know. Just shut my mouth!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

trademark website revision 2 small Tailhunter-Sportfishing-rev-1-black-low-res

______________

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 »

SNEAKY SNEAKY

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, 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, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on June 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »

SNEAKY SNEAKY

Originally Published the Week of June 2, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

Rental cars…

Sometime when travelling, they are just a necessity. An evil necessity at times, but admittedly, it’s nice to have the independence to move around when and where you want.

But, there’s a few downsides to that here in Mexico as well.

We deal with many of our fishing clients who rent cars while on vacation.

Especially for Americans…darnit…we like to have our car! It’s almost as important as cellphones and credit cards. They are just such a part of our collective psyche that there’s no question that you’re always going to rent a car on vacation.

It’s almost an American entitlement, if you will. No one has cars like Americans. Or is such a car culture.

But, renting and using cars down here can be tricky.

I think you really need to ask yourself how much are you really going to be using it?

Like many of our fishing clients here in La Paz, they’re fishing all day . They aren’t out sightseeing. At night, many of them find, it’s hard to navigate Mexican streets. It’s easier and cheaper to take a taxi or use Uber. Especially if they plan to hit the bars and nightspots.

On top of it, even if you use the rental car…where are you going to park it?

Here in La Paz, many of the streets were built when donkey carts and riding on horseback were the travel-method of the day.

They are basically converted cobblestone streets. Some are STILL cobblestone.

And they are just about wide enough for a donkey cart.

There’s no place to park. Even for a local like myself.

For work, I have to park two blocks away from our office/ restaurant on the waterfront.

But aside from that, there’s some wonky things we’ve noticed lately more and more.

Now, I’m not saying EVERYONE does this, but there’s some sneaky things some (not all) companies seem to be doing more and more. Just some things to keep in mind.

For one, there’s the bait-and-switch. You rent a car online.

When you get down here…OOPS! “I’m sorry senor. We don’t have that model today. But, we have this other one that is just a little more expensive. “

They got you. You have no choice. BAM!

Next, when you rent the car and do the “inspection,” Look at things very very carefully and critically. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to take photos with your cellphone.

There’s two things that can happen when you bring the car back.

One thing just begs to happen.

You drive up to return the car. You and the agent do your inspection.

Suddenly, ever little nick and scratch is now something YOU did and you are now responsible for.

Just the other day, one of our fishing clients rented a car and sure enough, when he brought it back they suddenly and incredibly discovered scratches on the body work.

He told them those were normal road splashes. They refused to believe him. He was going to get charged despite his arguments.

He went and got a wet rag and wiped the “scratches” clean showing them there was no damage.

Another client who rented a car said he absentmindedly didn’t read all the paperwork he received when he drove the car from the rental company.

We’ve all done that. We assume everything is hunky-dory.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the rental agency had “mismarked” the amount of fuel in the vehicle. They marked it ¾ full instead of ¾ empty.

When he returned it, they noted the fuel guage and were going to ding him for returning with an almost empty tank.

He told them he hadn’t even driven the car more than 10 miles during the whole week. They didn’t believe him.

“Look at the gas gauge, Senor! You left with ¾ full and came back with it almost empty!”

He finally convinced them of the “error” when he showed them the odometer had only gone less than 9 miles and logically, he could not have burned up almost that whole tank of gas.

There’s another sneaky little thing as well. I think it’s an outright scam.

You rent the car and everything is fine.

When you come back, they find “little things” like finding curb marks on the tires where the tire may have scraped against a curb. Or excessive bugs on the grill.

They tell you “no problem.” You don’t need to “worry about it because you purchased insurance.”

You see them mark it down on a claim sheet.

Hmmmm…that means they’re going to make a claim against the insurance company (that they had you purchase) that there was “tire damage” or “grill damage.”

They get money.

Really bad form. Sneaky sneaky.

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 »

DO-IT-YOURSELF VACATION SCREW-UPS IN MEXICO

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, 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 April 23, 2023| Leave a Comment »

THIS ONE’S ON YOU!

DO-IT-YOURSELF VACATION SCREW-UPS!

Originally Published the Week of April 23, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

Everyone looks forward to vacations. It gets us through all the other idiotic days of the year, right?

My wife and I have been in the fishing biz now for almost 30 years. I’ve been in the industry over 40. We’ve hosted thousands of visitors over years to come fishing with us in La Paz.

I was just thinking of some of the knuckle-headed things people do to themselves to jack their vacations.

Admittedly some stuff happens. S#*t happens to all of us no matter how careful we all are. Personally guilty of that one.

But, then there are the things we’ve seen smart people do to clown their own vacations that could have been avoided.

When someone approaches me with an issue in Mexico, of course, we try our best to help. Most people will try to help. It’s natural. We’re im the people business.

But, there are other times when I think to myself:

“Your negligence is NOT my emergency.”

Like not having your documents squared away. It doesn’t happen often, but a few times a year, I get a panic-call from someone at the airport or at home who has:

Forgotten their passport
Lost their passport (and only decided to look the night before their trip)
Arrives at the airport with an expired passport
Never had a passport and figured their driver’s license is fine
Lost or forgotten the passports of their kids or family member

Happens more often than you think.

Medications are another one. I send out a checklist to all our clients. I advise everyone to never send your meds with check-in luggage in case your luggage gets lost.

Many years ago, that happened to one guy. His luggage didn’t arrive for 3 days.

We thought he was looking kinda peaked each day. I mean, he was turning yellow! Turns out his colostomy bags were in his luggage!

C’mon man!

Another guy “forgot” his heart medications. He asked me to help him get a local prescription which we helped him get. It wasn’t easy.

Then, he found out the prescription was $600 dollars!!! And he wanted me to loan him the 600 bucks. I don’t’ have 600 dollars to loan. He had to go home early. Sorry it happened, but not my problem.

That reminds me of something else.

Everyone does their best to budget for their vacation. But did you really bring enough?

What about unforeseen things like:

Tips and resort fees
Taxis and shuttles
Unexpected cancelations of flights or other weather issues
Big bar and food bills
Extra activities
Too many “almost free” souvenirs

Many places in Mexico do NOT take credit cards. Many of us do NOT accept American Express either because of the fees.

No one will accept a personal check. Many places cannot accept cashier cheques either.

And here’s a real big one…many businesses do not and cannot accept big bills. That’s because the Mexican banks won’t accept them.

So, now you’re also stuck trying to break 100 dollar bills. Good luck.

Unless you have an account, the banks can’t help. Hotels aren’t banks either or have limited cash on hand. So, you’re out-of-luck and stressing.

So you buy a t-shirt you’ll never wear just to break that bill and now you have $80 in Mexican pesos.

And here’s the biggest one we see that can be a real vacation-buster. It’s completely avoidable.

That involves simply overdoing it.

Moderation in all things. That includes sunshine.

As much as it feels good to roast in that warm Mexican sun on the beach or pool, take some pre-cautions. On more than one occasion, we’ve seen folks so charbroiled it’s painful to us just to watch. Let alone the victim!

Painful and potentially dangerous.

The same can be said for hydration. That’s not drinking enough water as well as drinking too much alcohol.

These two are probably the most common. People hit the alcohol and forget the water…for their whole trip.

Especially that first day.

My gosh…folks pile off the plane and hit the beach or pool and it’s full-speed ahead! We hear the yahoo-ing and whooping.

At first, we smile. Glad they’re having a good time.

After awhile, we start getting worried.

For us, I gotta get these folks up early to go fishing or some other activity! I’ve had to escort people to their hotel rooms or we’ve sometimes carried folks!

So, often, they’re not able to answer the bell the next day.

Or in some cases, they are so intoxicated they get sick. And they stay sick for a good part of their vacations. They can’t answer the bell for several days!

Bad for them. Bad for us. Bad for everyone they are with.

Know your limits. Take it easy.

You might be ruining your vacation as well as the folks you’re travelling with. And with a little thought, it’s all very avoidable.

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 »

WERE THEY PULLING OUR LEG ABOUT THE WORM?

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, 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, 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, mezcal, mezcal worm, 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 March 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

WERE THEY PULLING OUR LEG ABOUT THE WORM?

Originally Published the Week of Mar. 27, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

Back in the day…back in MY day a LONG time ago when things like this mattered, there were two guys that were always fun to have along.

One was the guy who brought the Cuervo Gold Tequila. We thought that was the apex of tequilas back then.

The other was the really fun guy. He brought the bottle of Mezcal. You might remember. Or maybe you tried not to remember!

It had that little worm at the bottom of the bottle.

As “party protocol” had it, the macho dude was the guy who got to the bottom of the bottle and ate that little squiggly thing.

You always tried to get the new guy to do it. Right?

Everyone told him we had all passed that “right of passage” and eaten the worm so it was HIS turn. Of course, we were lying.

But we would say anything to goad the newbie. Solidarity in peer pressure!

We were all told that eating that worm had “psychedelic properties.”

So what’s the deal with the worm?

I decided to look into it given that mezcal is growing more popular these days. Mezcalarias, that specialize strictly in mezcal are popping up everywhere and it’s rare to find a watering hole that doesn’t have bottles on the shelf.

Personally, I’ve found it to be a great mixer.

Always in moderation, mind you which is a good thing. Mezcal indeed has a higher alcohol content than tequila. About 15% more buzz for the buck.

But, it adds a nice smokiness to cocktails and, to me, much added flavor compared to tequila.

But, don’t mix them up.

Although both come from the agave plant, tequila is generally distilled from blue agave. Tequila is produced by steaming the agave.

Comparatively, mezcal uses a larger variety of agave. The plant is fire roasted in pits lined with lava rocks. Hence, you get the smokey earthy flavors.

The story of the worm goes back to the 50’s when a mezcal distiller found a worm larvae in a batch of brew and thought it added extra flavor.

It was also a nice marketing move which was soon copied by other manufacturers.

acbbdbe8d6adf6513e05f2cd6f298322

In reality, it’s not really a worm per se. It’s an insect larvae that they say tastes a bit like chicken (why is that always the case?). To be more precise, it’s the redworm agave moth.

I did read another study where test subjects said it tasted like almonds. Whatever…

But, even in the party days, I’ve never seen anyone who actually admitted to chewing the darn thing.

However, the worm is often a popular culinary additive. Roasted and crushed, I’m told it adds some nice texture and flavor to regional Mexican dishes.

Gusanos

It’s perfectly safe to eat. Gulp all you want.

However…is it hallucinogenic?

Nah. Someone was fibbing.

There’s no proof that it has any such properties. However, if you make it to the bottom of the bottle to eat the worm, I have no doubt you’ll be seeing things!

On the contrary, there are some who believe that the worm has aphrodisiac affects.

Again, if you make it to the bottom of the bottle, you probably will feel 10-feet-tall; bullet-proof and eternally attractive.

Clinical studies have shown that when consumed by animals, there have been some aphrodisiac affects. But, never in humans.

I did find some clinical benefits of drinking Mezcal besides getting a faster buzz.

It reduces cholesterol which is the main factor in heart disease so you can say it helps prevent heart attacks.

Surprisingly, I also discovered that you are less likely to get a hangover after drinking mezcal.

Mezcal is made of polysaccharides. They transform into the body faster than other alcohol so begins to disintegrate as soon as it comes in contact with your mouth.

I don’t understand that, but its kinda good to know. Bigger brains than mine study this stuff.

Keep it moderate!

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

HOLIDAY STREET FAIRES

HOLIDAY STREET FAIRES

PASSPORT BLUES

PASSPORT BLUES

HURRICANE PTSD?

HURRICANE PTSD?

I REMEMBER WHEN…

I REMEMBER WHEN…

MEMORIES GO BOTH WAYS

MEMORIES GO BOTH WAYS

POURING ACROSS THE BORDER

POURING ACROSS THE BORDER

YOU NEVER KNOW!

YOU NEVER KNOW!

SNEAKY SNEAKY

SNEAKY SNEAKY

DO-IT-YOURSELF VACATION SCREW-UPS IN MEXICO

DO-IT-YOURSELF VACATION SCREW-UPS!

WERE THEY PULLING OUR LEG ABOUT THE WORM?

WERE THEY PULLING OUR LEG ABOUT THE WORM?

Jonathan’s Blog Search

Archives

SUBSCRIBE NOW!