Archive for the ‘circle hooks’ Category

“SOMEONE TOOK THE TIME!”

Posted in bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, camping, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charity, charters, circle hooks, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, el sargento, espirito santo, family, fish, 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, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, Mexico, Mexico life, outfitters, packages, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, Sea of Cortez, sierra, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Uncategorized, vacations, wahoo, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, baja, bay, billfish, blogs, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo, charters, deep sea, east cape, el sargento, espirito santo, families, fish, Fishing, freediving, girl, hotel costa baja, hotel perla, hunting, international sportsmans expo, ise, isla, island, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, la concha beach resort, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, los barriles, marina hotel, marlin, mexican, mexico, outdoors, outfitters, packages, panga, pargo, pompano, reports, roosterfish, sailfish, salt water, san jose del cabo, scuba, sea of cortez, snapper, snorkel, spearfishing, sportfishing, tackle, Tailhunter International, techniques, tips, tournament, tours, trips, tuna, vacations, video, wahoo, western outdoor news, western outdoor publications, wife, wives, yellowtail on January 20, 2014| Leave a Comment »

For all of us…our affinity for the outdoors had to start somewhere and with someone!

SOMEONE TOOK THE TIME!

Originally Published the Week of January 23, 2014, in Western Outdoor Publications

As I write this, I’m in a motel room in downtown Denver. We just finished our first day at the Denver Convention Center for the International Sportsmans Expo. It’s annual the big fishing, hunting and outdoor show.

We have our booth here every year promoting our fishing operation in La Paz and there’s several hundred other booths here as well with operations ranging from Canada to South Africa and the Amazon River to South East Asia.

Last week we were in Sacramento at a similar show. From here we zoom off down the highway to another show near Seattle.

And so it goes for 3 months of the year. A different show in a different part of the country every week. This year, eleven cities. Fifteen thousand miles of driving. Talking to thousands of fishermen, hunters and travelers and outdoor folks.

In many respects, these shows are a gathering of tribes. There’s outfitters and fleet owners.. .guides and captains. . .mountain climbers and deep divers. . .hunters and gatherers.

They’re a unique blend of the last of the outdoor frontier people who make their livings at the whims of nature. In some ways, the best of the best. You have to be well-above the norm to make a go of taking others out on the mountains, plains, jungles, rivers and oceans of our vast planet.

I’ve been at it now some 20 years. Others have been at it 30 and even 40 years and it takes a pretty special individual…some would even say nut or knucklehead to have lasted that long.

Many of us have known each other for many years and during these several months of shows, it’s good to re-connect. Find out about each others’s seasons and families. Who survived another season. And who had to fold up their tents.

But, it’s great to see our Baja and Mexican compadres. Yes, even our competitors. There’s the folks from Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Our amigos from the East Cape, and Loreto, Ensenada and San Felipe. Cedros Island and points obscure, but each in their own way ecking out a living south of the border.

But, I noticed something else. We’re getting older.

The first generation of resort and fleet owners like the Chuy Valdez’s and the Bobby Van Wormers of the East Cape…Tony Reyes of the Tony Reyes Fleet…and so many others, have either passed on or have given way to the 2^nd generation of owners.

And many of those operators themselves are getting longer of tooth as well.

And I don’t see too many to follow. The next generation doesn’t seem to be there to fill in the ranks.

As a matter of fact, as I stand in my booth and watch the hundreds and even thousands of visitors pass by or stop to talk, I see a lot of seniors. I see a lot of older guys…guys like me.

I don’t see many below the age of thirty!

I don’t see many kids at these shows. I don’t see many teens. Often, if I see a family, it’s a dad with the family in tow. Mom and the kids trail behind while dad gets to have a day to shop.

Mom and the kids honestly look like they’re rather be at the mall or anywhere rather than trailing dad, but they’re indulging him. Just like so many dads wait patiently for wives and moms buying shoes or kids trying on clothes.

The kids themselves often have noses buried in smartphones and thumbs tapping away as they walk down the aisles. They show little or no interest in the marlin trips; backpacking outfitters; white water rafting adventures or scuba diving boats.

It’s too bad.

I would venture to say that almost all the the vendors working in their booths and most of the visitors walking the aisles.share a commonality. They share the fact that somewhere back in the day, an adult showed them how to tie a hook…how to aim a gun…how to build a campfire…how to pitch a tent or ride a wave.

Simpler times. Grand times. The BEST of times!

That’s where it started. With an adult. A father, grandfather, uncle or brother. Scout or church leader…even moms! And we don’t have that anymore. That commonality is gone among the youngsters.

Parents are too busy these days just trying to keep things together. Or the facilities or open spaces you that were so easy for you and I as kids just aren’t there or as abundant…or as fun. I’m talking about the beaches, boats, rivers, mountains and wilds that you and I just took for granted as kids.

Conversely, kids are different too. You and I often played in the outdoors because that’s just what we did. We didn’t have the distractions now of social media, cable TV, techno toys and so many other things that fill the lives of our kids.

If we weren’t already headed outdoors, Mom was kicking us out the door with a , “Go play outside and don’t come back until dinner time. Stay outta the house!”

So, we grabbed our fishing rods, our skates, our hiking sticks, our bikes, our bb-guns our tennis shoes…and we went out and got dirty! The outdoor world wasn’t the scary place it can be now. We also didn’t have to travel across town to find quality places to play. The outdoors was often right off the back porch.

It was what we knew. It’s what made us.

If you have a chance, find out about one of these outdoor shows in your community. Bring the family or the kids. Do it TOGETHER. Take the time. You only get once chance.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

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

______________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

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

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

U.S. Office: 8030 La Mesa, Suite #178, La Mesa CA 91942

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

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Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:

http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

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

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“CIRCULARLY SPEAKING”

Posted in bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charters, circle hooks, dorado, east cape, espirito santo, fish, 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, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, light tackle, Living in Mexico, marlin, Mexican, Mexico, Mexico life, outfitters, packages, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, Sea of Cortez, sierra, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Uncategorized, vacations, wahoo, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged baja, billfish, blogs, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, catch and release, cerralvo, charters, children, circle hooks, deep sea, dorado, east cape, el sargento, espirito santo, families, family, fish, Fishing, fishing hooks, flyfishing, freediving, guides, holidays, isla, island, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait fishing, los barriles, marlin, mexican, mexico, outfitter, outfitters, packages, panga, pargo, pompano, reports, roosterfish, sailfish, scuba diving, sea of cortez, snapper, spearfishing, sportfishing, Tailhunter International, techniques, tips, trips, tuna, vacations, video, wahoo on January 6, 2014| Leave a Comment »

The conventional “J” style hook and the obvious differences in the “circle” hook.

Circle hooks make it easier to set the hook on fish resulting in more hook-ups but even moreso, make it easier to release your catch!

CIRCULARLY SPEAKING

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of January 9, 2014

Over the years, I get a lot of e-mails with comments and criticism about things I’ve written or suggestions for things I should write about. In all the years I’ve been writing this column, I don’t think I’ve ever actually responded publically to some of the questions.

There’s some really good ones too. And I ALWAYS respond. But, it occurred to me that if one person is asking something, then there’s probably a number of folks who have the same questions. So, maybe it would be good to sometimes put it all in the column.

A recent e-mail is what got me thinking. It came from “Jerry” from Aptos CA.

He said, “ In so many fishing magazines , the writers always write as if all the readers are experienced. I’m not a rookie, but I recently got into salt water fishing and want to learn more. I just made my first trip to Baja and guys were talking about ‘circle hooks.’ What are they and do I need them?”

It’s actually a question I get more often than you think. So, if you know all about circle hooks, this is one time you can just internet surf to something more entertaining to read!

Let’s see…what are circle hooks and what do you do with them?

Circle hooks are distinguished from “J” style hooks that have a long straight shank, by a shank that’s curved. Plus the sharpened point faces towards the shank. Hence the “circle hook” moniker.

They have been in use for ages by commercial fishermen, but only in say the last 10 or 15 years have they really caught on with sportfishermen. In Baja, they’ve taken a little longer to get a toehold, but their use is growing.

Their popularity can be attributed to the growing interest in catch-and-release fishing. Basically, fish hooked with a circle hook have a much higher incidence of survival when taken in this manner.

Here’s the deal. With a regular “J” style hook, fish get hooked in the lip, the gill, the gut and deep in the throat. Deep enough and it’s a chore to get that hook out without damaging the fish.

Or, the hook outright kills the fish.

Damaged fish, just don’t do well once released. Even the time spent handling the fish and removing the hook is detrimental to it’s survival.

It’s tired. It’s suffocating. It’s losing important protective slime and scales. Put it back in the water and it’s gonna be a floater, no matter how well-intentioned you are as an angler.

Now, with the circle hook, the nifty part is that 99% of the time, the hooks slides right into the corner of the mouth when it’s set. It’s not damaging organs. The hook comes out relatively easily and the fish has a much better chance when returned to the water.

Often without even touching the fish, grasping the hook with pliers allows one to shake the fish right back into the water without actually handling the fish. Pretty cool.

The trick is the hook set.

When setting the hook using a circle hook, the trick is “not to set the hook!” One must actually act counter-intuitively. Circle chooks literally set themselves. It’s a great mistake newbies make with the circle hooks. Setting the hook yourself screws it up!

With a traditional hook, the angler “swings” the rod back and “sticks” the fish to set the hook. With a circle hook, the hookset is virtually automatic.

When the fish picks up the bait, the angler merely puts a little pressure on the spool. Then point the tip of the rod at the running fish and flip the brake. The line will come tight. A slight lift of the rod sets the hook! Just like that. You’re on!

There’s no dramatic swing of the rod as in using a conventional hook. And that’s where the experience comes in. The newbie gets nervous or excited and when he or she feels the bait picked up, they set the hook with a big swing of the rod. That’s what their intuition tells them. SET THE HOOK!

FAIL!

What that does is jerk the hook right out of the fish’s mouth. Adios pescado!

Take your time. Calm down. A little patience and you’ll get the fish resulting in more hookups…even if you plan to keep the fish…since the hook up is automatic. Then, if you plan to release the fish, the hook design allows for an easier release. What could be better?

In my experience, many captains I’ve known in Baja were reluctant to use the circle hook or frowned on clients using the hooks. There were two reasons.

One is that the captains and crews themselves didn’t understand the funny looking hook that actually looked like a defective design. I’ve seen them cut them off client’s lines and toss them away with disdain. And tie on a regular hook!

Second, and perhaps more importantly, is that clients would miss fish by incorrectly setting the hook. That resulted in less fish. Unhappy clients. Less tip money. An economical reason! Remember, every captain out there is also a businessman too!

But, over the last few years, the popularity of the circle hook has grown. Captains and crews themselves, especially the younger ones, understand the importance of catch-and-release. It’s a matter of preserving their own livelihoods and the resource.

However, more anglers are also becoming more knowledgeable as well. And with that, the stigma of using them appears to be diminishing.

Give them a try next time!

That’s our story!