Archive for the ‘Dehydration’ Category

MEXICO STILL A BARGAIN BUT…

Posted in Airline flights to Mexico, airlines, 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, 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, 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, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, taco, Tailhunter International, techniques, testing facilities mexico airport, tiburon island, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, water, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, 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 May 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »

MEXICO IS STILL A BARGAIN BUT…

Originally Published the Week of May 10, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

I remember as a kid and in many of my younger years accompanying family and friends across the border from California. It was no big thing.

It was as common as telling folks you were driving to the mountains for a day.

Yes, there were those Mexico trips for fishing. And surfing. And weekends to just hang out and eat lobster and tacos.

And there were those trips just, “to go shopping.”

My mom, aunts and cousins loved it. So, I’d go with them. It was always fascinating.

This wasn’t to buy Elvis painted on black velvet or a candle-holder skull like they sold at the border. The family loved to shop for things like belts, clothes, hats and normal things.

Things seemed “always cheaper” across the border and the American dollar went a long way. Plus, it was fun too!

I speculate that it has always been part of the American psyche that there were always bargains in Mexico. Whether it was shopping, activities, lodging, activities or whatever, it was an easy and economical trip to just head south.

Listen, hate to be a buzz kill.

Mexico is still a bargain and an easy vacation to make.

In fact among both American and international travelers it’s the #1 destination spot in the world. And growing.

They can’t build hotels fast enough to meet the demand.

It’s not England, France, Japan or even the U.S.

It’s Mexico.

But, here’s the rub. Bring extra pesos.

Prices have really shot up. Just like the rest of the world.

Being in the hospitality and travel business ourselves with our fishing operation here in La Paz, I have to admit that a lot of folks are getting rocked by sticker shock.

Everything from gas to lodging and from fishing to street tacos has gone up.

Just like other parts of the planet, inflation has Mexico by the follicles. Whereas, normal inflation hovers around 3%. The last 3 years it has rocketed into the low-to-mid 8% levels.

That’s the highest it’s been in more than 2 decades.

For many tourists, OK…8% is a lot. But, it’s not a game changer. At least it’s not deterring that many folks from still beating a path to visit Mexico.

Oh yea…and as an aside taxes have gone up as well. No surprise.

I just read an article that said the “average” hotel room in Cabo is now $400-500 per night! Of course there are many that are much less expensive and, obviously many that are many times more exorbitant.

It’s an eye-opener for sure!

It’s all relative.

Look at the prices of hotel rooms in any major U.S. City. How much is Disneyland? How much does it cost to take the family to a nice dinner these days? How much does a McDonald’s happy meal cost? How much does it cost to fill gas in the family car?

Gas here in La Paz is now over $4 dollars a gallon. Of course, if you live in California, that sounds like a deal that has gone the way of the rotary telephone and Sony Walkmans.

But, like I said, it’s all relative.

In Mexico, if you’re only earning $10-per-day and have a family to feed, the rise in prices is crippling.

Not only does gas cost more, but everything related to that petroleum is going to bend you over as well…in the wrong way!

Anything that has to be transported costs more to the provider or supplier so simple economics 101 passes the price increase to the consumer at ground zero.

So, groceries cost more. Utilities like water and electricity cost more. It’s all related and relative.

Mexico is still a bargain.

But, it depends who you’re talking to.

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 »

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 »

HAND ON HEART – It Still Gets To Me

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, 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 March 17, 2023| 1 Comment »

HAND ON HEART – It Still Gets To Me

Originally Published the Week of Mar. 10, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

OK, this is not really about Mexico like my usual columns. Or maybe it is.

My wife, Jilly, and I have been on the road now about 2 months travelling the U.S. doing the usual fishing/ hunting shows and conventions across the country. Lots of road hours.

With our booth, cat and clothes bundled up and stuffed in our Suburban, we’ve now done shows this year in Dallas, Reno, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Nashville. We just wrapped it up in Southern California at the Pacific Coast Sportfishing Show at the Orange Co. Fairgrounds.

A few minutes before the show started with hundreds of vendors ready go in their booths and a couple thousand attendees anxiously waiting at the gates to go in…

A giant American flag was unfurled and a beautiful woman’s voice sang a live version of the Star Spangled Banner over the fairground’s speaker system.

Everyone stopped. Oh Say Can You See?

Trucker hats and cowboy hats came off. Beanies and visors got placed over hearts with hands.

Guys with scruffy beards and overalls standing next to millennials, Generation Xer’s, surfer dudes, deckhand-types, salty old guys, guys and gals in camo or cutoffs, families, boomer folks in fashion… were all standing at silent attention staring at a massive American flag slowly fluttering in the chilly morning breeze.

Middle class…high class…no class. Didn’t matter. All standing together.

Next to me, a hipster with a man-bun and black skinny-legged stovepipe pants had his hand over his heart next to an older gent with a baseball that that said “Vietnam Veteran. He was standing at full salute.

There was a family that looked Middle Eastern (the wife had a burka) with an African American family standing nearby as well. I could see the wife mouthing the words…

“What so proudly we hail…”

Many folks of Asian and Latino descent also standing and saluting in their own ways.

Dangit…My wife and I both got teary-eyed. We always do.

And as that great song is playing, “Oh say does that star-spangled banner…”

I’m thinking, why can’t we all get along? Why are we so devisive? Why does it take some national tragedy or emergency to bring us all together?

Look at us all standing together at this very moment.

However, over 4 days of the show, folks coming to our booth to talk about fishing in La Paz. And they just can’t help themselves.

Over conversation about airflights into Mexico or Mexican restaurants or catching marlin…comments get interjected about our politics, their politicians, our presidents and their presidents, religions and economies.

Not little comments either, but combative, inflammatory and vociferous opinions. Fighting words. Not directed at me, but surely loud enough for the opinions to be heard by anyone within earshot.

As if they were just looking for an opportunity…any opportunity to wiggle in a belligerent opinion. Amazing.

What do street tacos have to do with election fraud? Or how is fishing in a panga related to conspiracy theories about covid or supply chain issues? The size of a dorado and corruption?

C’mon, man.

And of course, everyone of an opposite belief is an “idiot.”

Sigh…

I live and work in another country. That country has given me a nice little career and livelihood. But I’m still proudly American.

Inwardly, I laugh.

Check out what it’s like for most folks living across the border. Politics, the judicial system, the economy, education…if Americans could only see and experience what it’s like
“over there.”

There’s a reason why so many folks are trying to get across to the U.S. (A completely different discussion for sure.)

But, we are so blessed as Americans. Yea, the struggle is real. For all it’s monumental problems, what a darned fine country.

And for one shining moment, standing in the chilly morning breeze listening to the national anthem and facing a giant old glory, it felt especially good.

To look around and think that for all our outward differences…for all our crazy opinions…we could still draw together over an old worn song that still has meaning.

And that if it ever came to it, we’d all have each other’s backs.

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 »

BLUE PLATE SPECIAL

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, 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 March 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »

BLUE PLATE SPECIAL

Originally Published the Week of Sept. 28, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

Several columns ago, I wrote a piece regarding when Mexican food NOT Mexican food. It mentioned things like nachos, pre-formed taco shells and chili having non-Mexican origins.

I was pleasantly surprised at the number of comments I received from readers.

As one reader laughingly wrote, “You personally destroyed my entire concept of Mexican food and so many of my favorite dishes!”

But, as I’ve heard so often, our American concept of various ethnic and nationalized food is often skewed by what we are exposed to in the U.S.

For example, I could have probably written about Chinese or Italian food being completely different from our American experiences if we actually visited those countries.

Not withstanding, several of the e-mails, I received actually asked, where I would personally find the best Mexican food.

Amazingly, once again, it’s not found in a traditional spot per se.

Yes, it’s restaurant food. However, it’s very atypical to what Americans visualize as a restaurant and they are pretty easy to find.

They dot the landscape especially along the highways and backroads, little towns and pueblos. Often, they are stand-alone solitary non-descript buildings.

Sometimes they are actually marked with a crude sign announcing “Restaurante” or “Lonche” (Lunch).

Other times, you just have to know.

A tell-tale weathered Coca-Cola sign or Modelo Beer logo nailed to a post or painted on the wall is a pretty good indication.

There may or may not be cars parked outside. Don’t count on it.

Very often it’s a concrete slab with half-walls and some kind of patio with plastic chairs. Other times, it’s really nothing more than a big extra room in the cinderblock home of a family.

139044934b08bcaf7771a398fdcdb54f_-mexico-baja-california-colonia-santa-anita-60484-loncheria-rositahtm

There could be one big table. There could be several small tables. Nothing really seems to match unless they are the universal plastic tables and chair given out by the beer companies.

But the room itself often has the hominess of someone’s big living room. Often it is. Yup…there’s a TV on the wall or counter.

There might be a small religious shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe with a votive candle in the corner.

Or it could be the back patio that looks out over an expanse of Baja desert and rock. And lots of scrub brush and cactus.

Oh yea…and maybe a dog or chicken or two.

C’mon in and sit down.

You will never find these little places on Google or Yelp or other social media platform. Forget Facebook or looking for a website.

Don’t even count on a name.

One of my favorite spots is just an address. Loncheria 5.6 km a Playa Piedra (Lunch place 5.6 kilometers to Rocky Beach.)

Don’t expect to see a menu. Or something tacked on the wall.

There is none.

And therein is the beauty.

We Americans are accustomed to restaurant where we have choices or have a selection of things to eat and prepared for us.

In Mexico…especially in the outlying fronteras…a restaurant basically means you have the luxury and means to have someone cook for you. That’s it!

Kinda like getting invited to your auntie’s house or your grandma’s place. And Uncle Gerardo and Cousin Juanito will be helping out

You know you’re gonna get fed and get a meal, but they’re gonna cook what they have! The meal will be whatever is in the frig!

r05

There’s always beans that have probably been on the stove for hours or days. Seasoned and savory.

There’s always amazing tortillas that did NOT come out’ve a plastic bag, but made the way they’ve been making tortillas for generations.

And you usually do have somewhat of a choice!

How do you want your eggs? Fried? Or really fried?

Maybe some rice?

Did you want some fresh ranch cheese? Or not.

Red salsa or green salsa?

Always hand made. Family recipes. Nothing out’ve a jar or can. And definitely not like that salsa in the commercial “from New York City!”

Oh wait…

They have some fish today. Or maybe it’s some fresh machaca beef. Or some rich brothy pozole pork stew!

It’s whatever they have and whatever is fresh. And cooked the only way they know how to cook it.

Or, like one of my favorite places in a little fishing village near Bahia Magdalena, the little grandmother always apologizes.

She only has two choices every time I go there. Shrimp or lobster? That’s what she has and that’s what she offers.

275154164_721753075656638_7383167505799451134_n

Are you kidding? She gives me both!

No apology necessary.

Whatever it is, you can always wrap your tortillas around it or shovel it into your mouth “local style” with the tortilla.

And you can always count on cold beer of some type. Usually Coke. No Pepsi. And always hot coffee.

And, it’s not unusual for them to come over and ask if you want more and then bring the pot over and ladle the rest of the pot or pan onto your plate!

And it’s always great and you never ever leave hungry.

There’s no bill. Mama tell you how much the meal costs. No credit cards accepted.

Pesos only please. Don’t expect change either. You might be the only folks who have stopped by all day.

Don’t worry. The meal costs pesos. My lobster dinner with 2 tails AND the shrimp would cost about 3 bucks.

And believe it or not, no tip is expected. But don’t dare walk out without leaving something! You’ll always get a grand smile.

…and leave with one as well. And a full happy tummy!

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 you never had the courage to try.”

Read Full Post »

NO BATTERIES NEEDED

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, 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, 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 February 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »

NO BATTERIES NEEDED

Originally Published the Week of Feb. 13, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

Many years ago, when hand-held GPS’s first came out, I proudly and anxiously took my new device out on the water. I was already living and working in Baja so I dailed-up my favorite captain, Victor, who was also my panga fleet manager at the time.

Just to put this in context, this was before Google maps and smart phones and every electronic doo-dad we have nowadays that can pinpoint a needle in a haystack.

This was almost 20 years ago.

Boy, I was excited. Technology at my fingertips. Imagine, a Global Positioning System just like the government and military had. It would put me on all my favorite fishing spots!

What a concept!

I showed it to Victor and told him, “Someday all the captains need to get one of these.”

He laughed and shrugged. Yea, right.

Well…I’ll show him. Seeing is believing!

So, out we went. Oh yea! I had programmed in all kinds of waypoints that I had found on various fishing maps.

And then my little electronic wonder, with all it’s orbiting satellites, beeped “stop here!”

So we did. The hotspot!

Victor cut the outboard. I looked about the flat morning sea.

We were maybe 200 yards from the beach just outside a little bay. Cerralvo Island in the distance. Famous sands of Punta Arenas just to the north.

I baited a hook with a live sardine with the anticipation of a kid at Christmas. I couldn’t get it into the water fast enough.

I tossed it into the drift and I got ready to be pulled out’ve my socks.

I told Victor in Spanish, “C’mon, amigo. Get a bait into the water!”

He laughed and sat down on the gunwale. Folded his arms. “No, gracias. Quiero mirarte. I want to watch you instead. No thanks.”

Well, I was ready. I’m gonna get hit so hard. Here it comes!

…and nothing.

…and more nothing.

Let me check the GPS again. Maybe I’m holding it wrong.

Yup, the satellites say this is the spot alright. Maybe I need to change my bait.

Reel up. Pin a new live sardine on the hook and let ‘er fly.

Now, we’re cooking with gas! Now, the rod is going to get torn right outta my hands. Here we go…

…and nothing.

…and still more nothing.

I look back at Victor. Smirking and smiling. Arms still crossed across his chest sitting there being very entertained.

I hated seeing that stupid-a#% grin!

“Que pasa, amigo? Hay algo mal con su machinito?” he laughs. “What’s happening? Is something wrong with your little machine?”

“Possible se quebro!” He adds with a hiked eyebrow. “Maybe it’s broken!”

More laughs. Actually more like a guffaw.

“Si, pienso que no esta funcionando.” Yes, I think it is not working. I responded in frustrating Spanish.

Yes, that must be it.

He stands up off the gunwale. Big exhale.

He gazes shoreward to the north. Then a slow turn south. He stretches his calloused tanned fingers about 6 inches between thumb and forefinger.

Holds his fingers at arms length.

He lines up an old shack on the beach.

He smiles. And he winks at me.

Starts the outboard. And moves the panga about 30 yards closer to the beach.

Cuts the motor.

“Aqui, amigo. Ponga su linea aqui,” he cackles. Put your line in here. “Vamos a ver que pasa”. Let’s see what happens.

New bait on the hook. Line in the water.

Within seconds, line is ripping from my reel. I set the brake.

FISH ON! BENDO!

I look back at Victor. Still smirking. Arms across his chest again. He shrugs his shoulders and laughs his self-satisfied laugh.

Pretty proud of himself. He got me.

He beat my techno-toy with some simple triangulation borne of 30 years on the water.

As I fight the tuna on the end of my line, Victor busies himself at the stern of the panga. I hear him say to himself, but loud enough for me to hear.

“Soy mejor de jugetes electronicos. Ellos se quebran. Victor nunca! No faltan baterias.

(I’m better than electronic toys. They break. Victor never breaks. And I don’t need batteries.)

…and that laugh again! So entertained by himself.

“No baterias pero a veces una cerveza” (…no batteries but maybe at times a beer)

Victor said this more loudly looking at me …and then at the ice chest …and back again to me.

I put away my GPS. Go ahead amigo. You earned it. I smiled back and gave him a thumbs-up.

…and grab the gaff too. I got color.

Denny Chin two victor tuna yellowtail 8-19

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 »

WHEN MEXICAN FOOD ISN’T MEXICAN FOOD

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, 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, 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 February 15, 2023| Leave a Comment »

THINK AGAIN!

WHEN MEXICAN FOOD ISN’T MEXICAN FOOD

Originally Published the Week of Feb. 13, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

One of the most common questions we get living in Mexico from visitors is “Where can we find REAL Mexican food?”

That kinda makes me grin.

For one, we own our own restaurant in La Paz. Yes, we serve tacos, but I wouldn’t call the rest of our menu “typical Mexican” cuisine.

Anyway, when I ask folks what they consider REAL Mexican food, I get the usual responses you might expect. However, most of the responses are based on gringo-ized versions and concepts.

The main thing is that you’re probably NOT going to find anything resembling that chain-eatery in your city back home. And you DEFINITELY will not find any crazy creation you’ll find at Taco Bell like a “chalupa” or “nacho cheese dorito loco taco.”

I personally love ‘em, but they surely aren’t authentic Mexican by any stretch of the imagination.

So, here’s my list of things that come to mind you’ll probably not find in your average restaurant in Mexico. Sorry to be a buzz kill because I’m sure some of your favorites are on my list:

CHILI – The first thing that comes to mind. Years ago, I threw a party for friends and made chili dogs. A sure party hit.

Everyone looked disgustedly at this saucy morass of meat and beans and WIPED IT OFF THE HOT DOGS! Turns out no one knew what chili was and I found out later it’s a cowboy Tex-Mex thing not something you’d find normally in Mexico.

CHIPS – This one hurts! We’re so used to getting a bottomless basket of chips before the meal ever arrives. Not so in Mexico unless the restaurant is really a gringo-ized tourist restaurant. Or, maybe you’ll get a little bowl that has a dozen chips. That’s it. Ask for salsa. It’s extra.

HARD SHELL TACOS – In Mexico, it’s a heated soft-tortilla wrapped around whatever goodness is being served. The idea of a pre-formed crunchy hard-shell is purely American.

There is something called a “taco dorado.” This is not a fish taco. Rather, the filling is put together. Then the whole thing is deep fried in hot oil. I’ve sometimes heard this called a “Los Angeles Street Taco.” They’re good and you’ll find them here and there. Think Jack-in-the-Box super taco except even better.

FILLED TACOS – We’re used to having a taco stuffed with ground beef usually. You won’t find ground beef tacos in Mexico.

We are also used to having our tacos pre-loaded with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. In Mexico, the soft tortilla has the protein. Then it’s up to you to go to the salsa bar and load it with whatever you want. This is where the magic begins! However, do not expect to find shredded cheese as part of the choices.

NACHOS – It’s popping up more frequently. Not only at tourist restaurants, but it’s becoming a local favorite as well, especially among kids. Who doesn’t like all the gooey cheese dripping off chips and topped with other yumminess? But, most local-local restaurants will not have it on the menu although they will probably be happy to throw it together.

Legend has it that nachos had their genesis along the border when some picky army wives went to a restaurant after it was already closed and the inventive owner threw something together for them that just exploded in popularity.

TACO BOWL SALADS – WHAAAAT??? We tried to introduce them at our own La Paz restaurant and our staff couldn’t even fathom what we were talking about. We dropped it off our menu. No one knows what it is or why anyone would do such a thing. A taco shaped like a bowl? Really?

FAJITAS – Another Tex-Mex concoction. Get some meat and throw it in a pan with whatever else you have hanging around in the frig. It’s the equivalent of Chinese Chop Suey…which is about as Chinese as Fajitas are Mexican.

BURRITOS – Yes, another culinary lie! Those big-as-your-forearm wraps of everything yummy are American. You’ll find “burros” (big donkeys) here-and-there that are somewhat similar but not as elaborate, but most Mexican places will have small hand-sized tortillas with fillings. In which case it’s really a taco now!

TAMALES– Found occasionally from street vendors, but rarely found in a restaurant. Too time-intensive. Someone sells them, but you’ll have to go looking.

ROLLED TACOS (Taquitos) – Go to San Diego to find them. Go to El Paso. We have found them in Utah. But, not Mexico.

My wife’s favorite. Can’t find ‘em anywhere. Whenever we’ve travelled in Mexico and have asked for them, we get a look from the waiter like “WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO ROLL A TACO INTO A TUBE AND DEEP FRY IT? “ We gave up . We make our own at home instead.

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 »

COKE…The Real Thing?

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, 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, storms, Sun stroke, sustainable, taco, taco stand, Tailhunter International, techniques, 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 December 11, 2022| Leave a Comment »

COKE…The Real Thing?

Originally Published the Week of Dec. 4, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications

If you’re old enough to remember commercial about Coke being the “real thing,” you’re like me. You have some history!

Ask most folks what the most popular drink in Mexico is and some will say it’s tequila . Others will claim it’s beer.

It may surprise you to learn that Coke is the #1 beverage in Mexico. The statistics are astounding.

According to the stats, Mexicans drink more than 700 cups of Coca-Cola a year! Let that sink in for a moment. That is 43 gallons of Coke per year.

Chiapas is Mexico’s poorest and southernmost state. The average person in Chiapas knocks back over a ½ gallon of the Coke each day! It’s an area where Coke is cheaper and easier to get than water.

I’m not sure how much Coke YOU drink, but that’s a lot of Coke by anyone’s standards.

In fact, Mexico is the largest consumer of soft-drinks in the world. Coke being about 70% of that consumption.

That 700 cups in Mexico is still way ahead of the #2 country. It’s the United States with a still-crazy 400 cups of Coke every year per person.

Needless to say, Coke is a big part of the fabric of Mexican life, tradition and culture. Some would argue it’s an addiction.

It’s not only a refreshment but is even used in religious ceremonies and for medicinal purposes as well. With some validity, it’s used to soothe or cure everything from headaches, indigestion and nerve disorders.

I mean, how many times have we all just “grabbed a Coke” and we seem to feel better?

But, it wasn’t always that way in Mexico, although it had been around for decades.

It really gained it’s popularity during the 60’s and 70’s. Former Mexican Presidente Vincente Fox worked his way up the corporate ranks of Coke, but started as a delivery driver and salesman. He ended up as President of the company.

During his career, he shrewdly offered incentives to companies who sold Coke exclusively over Pepsi.

Then, during the 70’s, it really accelerated. Those were the years that Mexico sponsored the Olympics in Mexico City as well as the World Cup.

Not surprisingly this co-incided with national ad campaigns that exposed the drink to so many Mexicans and brought it to prominence.

Mexican President Luis Echeverria, during those years, even tried to get the Coke recipe in order to nationalize the drink as the official drink of Mexico. He was unsuccessful. However, it underscored how integrated the drink had become to the nation.

When Vincente Fox left the presidency of Coca Cola and became President of Mexico in the early 2000’s, he sure wasn’t going to let the brand fall.

It was his baby. Lots of photos of him with an ice cold Coke in hand!

So, what’s the deal with Mexican Coke?

Many folks swear by it over American Coke although many folks can’t tell the difference in flavor.

However, it’s growing popularity has many U.S. outlets and restaurants now offering Mexican Coke to their customers and patrons.

While quite cheap to purchase in Mexico, it’s understandably more expensive in the U.S. It has to be imported. But that has not slowed the demand.

But, many Americans clamor for it.

There is a difference.

While American Coke is made with high-fructose corn syrup, Mexican Coke is made from cane sugar. To many purists, they insist it has a cleaner and fresher flavor and zest.

Some testify it that Mexican Coke doesn’t have the chemical taste of fructose Coke. Supposedly it also has more snap and effervescence.

Others also insist that it makes a difference that Mexican coke comes in the traditional bottles. And to many, glass containers make a critical difference.

However, other than taste, one wonders if Coke made with sugar is better for you than high-fructose Coke. The medical field says it’s all the same.

Coke is Coke.

Arguably, the same taste. Same calories, sodium and other things probably not so good for us.

Alot of it could all be in your head and what advertising tells us.

Does an organic apple taste different than a regular apple? To me, Chicago Pizza tastes as good as a New York pizza. Expensive water bottled in the “mountains of Fiji” better than “smart water.”

C’mon, Man!

It’s like the Emperor’s New Clothes.

We all think Mexican Coke is better because everyone says it’s better. So when we lift that ice cold bottle to our lips…ahhhhh…dang, that’s good stuff!

But, there’s some hard sad facts about drinking Coke. Even one can.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my Coke. I don’t drink a ton of it, but it’s my non-alcohol drink of choice on many occasions. Living in Mexico, an icy can from the cooler on the beach rocks. Or while fishing.

And, I’m personally not picky about Mexican or American Coke. The red can is the red can.

Seems pretty harmless.

However, a single can of Coke has about 10 teaspoons or sugar in it (or it’s equivalent in fructose corn syrup) which does the same thing to your body. It still gets processed the same way.

The World Health Organization recommends no more than 6 teaspoons per day. So, even one can or bottle puts you way above dosage.

Not to mention the sodium and caffeine that’s also being consumed.

By the way, original Coke actually did have cocaine in it! But that’s for another story.

Sodium, sugar, caffeine…All of these are attributable to higher blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. Or at least the lifestyle that goes along with it…

Those factors contributed a lot to fatalities during the pandemic.

Mexican Coke or American Coke. It’s no wonder the two leading consumers of Coke in the world also have the highest obesity and diabetes issues.

Buzz kill. But, it is the “real thing.”

I don’t have any beer in my frig. But, I do have a 6-pack of Coke sitting in there.

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 »

COVID REBOUND

Posted in Airline flights to Mexico, 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, holidays in mexico, 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 December 2, 2022| Leave a Comment »

COVID REBOUND

Originally Published the Week of Nov. 22, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications

Mexico tourism, like many places took a big hit in 2020 with the Covid Pandemic. Baja, in particular took it right on the chin with a virtual lockdown that turned many areas like Cabo and other cities into ghostowns.

Some of it was external. I mean, if you have no airline flights there’s not much you can do about it. Likewise, if the U.S. government has closed the passport office, it’s outta your hands.

But, Mexico at ground level was trying to figure out how to handle it. In many respects, they were late-to-the-game in dealing with it.

Mexico is highly dependent on tourism. It needed to keep the general economy moving and people working. Therefore, it sat on it’s hands when the rest of the world was going into lockdown.

It didn’t help matters that Mexico’s own President was still running around visiting restaurants and kissing babies; or telling folks that “Mexico will not be affected by Covid because we have Mayan blood and only rich people are affected by the virus.”

Uh, yea, right.

He also wore a special “amulet” that he claimed would ward off the virus.

It wasn’t too long ago to forget some of the wacky attempts to curb the spread.

That included sanitizing your feet and shoes before you could go into a building or shuttle van. Or who could forget, spraying sanitizer from helicopters?

The stopping of all beer sales was a big winner. So was having to walk through a fumigation tent to go into a market. And only one family member in the store at a time.

At hotels, you could not have two occupied rooms next to each other. One occupied. The next one empty. Then an occupied room. Social distancing to the max!

Since we run a fishing operation, this one was near and dear. At one point, they declared that you could not be on a boat with open-toed footwear. No flip flops. No sandals. To fish “safely” you had to wear closed-toed shoes.

…and the captain could only stay in the center of the boat. And the boat had be regularly fumigated. Even if it was a panga.

Those were just lovely days!

But, the point being, none of this was very conducive to welcoming tourism on any level even after things started to open up.

However, here we are. Almost 3 years post-covid and about a year since masks more-or-less came down.

Tourism is booming.

In fact, tourism in Mexico is breaking records. American tourists are up 35% over last year.

But… not just with Americans. It’s an international vacation destination as well. Mexico is the number one tourism spot in the world right now.

cabo-san-lucas-hip-hop-boat-party-with-unlimited-drinks-1155902

In fact, for the upcoming holiday season, if you’re headed to Cabo, be prepared. It might be hard to find beach space!

We run our own shuttle service for our clients who fish with us in La Paz. The majority fly into Cabo and we transport them north to our city.

I was there in Cabo Airport a week ago and the line of shuttle vans picking up and dropping folks off was incredible. Vans and cars were triple parked with arriving and boarding tourists.

Statistics showed that this year visitors are thronging in greater numbers than ever before.

So much so, that they’re adding another 1500-2000 more hotel room construction in the next year. Airlines have added more flights to the tune of almost 2 million more available plane seats.

By this past spring 2020, almost 3 million visitors had already shown up in Cabo. They expect by the end of the year, Cabo alone will have hosted some 7 million tourists.

medano-beach

During the Thanksgiving holidays, the expectation is for at least 30,000 visitors and more than 80% hotel occupancy.

It’s a phenomenal number. We think of all the big-name hotels brands like Hyatt, St. Regis and Four Seasons to name a few.

However, there are also all the little mom-and-pop operations as well. The big ones have been booked for weeks or months even though statistics show that the average hotel room night is now $400!

Of course there’s plenty of smaller more economic places (like where I stay!). But, the flood of tourists has now slowed down.

Not surprisingly, Cabo has edged Cancun as the #1 Mexican vacation destination.

Just be prepared for crowds if you’re coming down in the next few weeks. Give yourself extra time so you can enjoy your time!

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’RE NOT HERE TO FISH?

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, 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, gourmet food, 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, mexico dining, 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 November 21, 2022| Leave a Comment »

YOU’RE NOT HERE TO FISH?

Originally Published the Week of Nov. 15, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications

Over the years, I’ve watched the complexion of the tourism industry and tourism in general evolve. It has been an interesting observation.

Being in the tourist industry ourselves, we have a courtside seat to all the comings and goings.

Years ago, it was the fishermen. No two ways about it.

Fishing built the tourism industry. It’s what initially opened up Baja and much of the Pacific Coast of Mexico.

It was the exotic frontier teeming with fish and popularized by those early adventurers and writers who elaborated about deserted hidden beaches; sunshine; waters teaming with boiling fish and a wonderful people.

At first, it wasn’t easy to get to. But that only increased the allure.

But, as time went on, the tourism gates edged ajar enabling more visitors to make their way down the coast. The gates have never closed.

It has never stopped being a wonderland to so many.

At first, mostly the guys came down. The journey could be long. The visit often did not accommodate many conveniences like air-conditioning, ice, electricity, gasoline and soft beds or even running water.

But, again with time, all of these came to pass along with swimming pools, spas, shopping centers, and all the modern accoutrements.

Not co-incidentally, tourism surged again. Not surprisingly, the mix of families, wives, kids and others increased. International tourism also burgeoned.

Today, Mexico is one of the hottest vacation destinations in the world. Not just for Americans but for world-tourism as well.

But, no matter who was arriving off that cruise ship, plane or bus, there was always the underlying attraction of the ocean.

Whether for fishing; diving; watersports like boating; beaches; real estate; photography…for the most part, the water was a common denominator for a vast majority.

Everyone was attracted by that big blue ocean out there in some way, shape or form.

Whether to catch the fish of a lifetime; lie on a beach; to go on a booze cruise; to build a house; to watch whales; to get married or honeymoon; to retire; to surf; build a house…the ocean was always the seductive siren.

I mean, no advertises empty desert. Right? It’s always “ocean view.”

But lately, I’ve noticed a big difference.

People are arriving who have really no interest in the ocean or the proximity of the water.

They’re here for the food.

A “Foodie” invasion.

Not just folks who like to eat. These are people who are hardcore into what’s on their plates. They study. They research. They take notes and photos.

They post up photos of their meals on all the social media platforms. “This is what I’m eating tonite!”

They’re not just here to eat a taco from a food cart or have nachos at happy hour.

I’ve often written about the food scene down here in Mexico. It’s often about stepping outside your comfort zone and trying new things.

But these are whole different class of visitors.

I’ve found myself taking vacation reservations for folks who don’t ask what’s the best time to catch a marlin.

They don’t really care if that hotel has a spa. They don’t ask about the water temperature for scuba diving.

But, they do want my opinion about which restaurant has the best chicken mole dish.

Or they want to know if I had tried the bearnaise sauce they’re making at some new chi-chi restaurant on the waterfront. Is the restaurant really using an organic goat cream reduction?

Yup! As if I knew!

gourmet-vs-gourmand-usage-6072-09ae1d24289a50ea6ce3c9e8005a7796@1x

I’ve been asked my opinion about sautee’d bluefin eyeballs or the French pastries some hot-shot chef is getting raves about at a new bakery.

These folks have researched online menus and have check-lists of eateries they intend to visit or certain dishes they specifically plan to try.

You’ve heard of a “pub crawl.”

I’ve had folks do things like “only taste test ceviche” at a number of restaurants. And take notes! Or only tacos made from triggerfish or baby octopus.

Or they are on a “food tour” to taste the difference in fish preparations between various regions such as eastern Mexico vs. Southern Mexico vs. Baja.

There’s a big difference in preparations. Spices and herbs. Presentations.

In the same way barbecued ribs might be different in Alabama compared to Minnesota in the U.S. Or chowder on Boston’s waterfront versus San Francisco’s Fisherman’s wharf.

large_562228646

Stuff like that.

Food popularity is big business. Just check out the Food Channels on TV sometime. There are dozens of cooking shows 24-7 and the hosts are international food rock stars.

Yes, many of our visitors are changing and seeking culinary pursuits these days.

Some are actually chefs themselves. A few have been cookbook authors. Some are just gourmet adventurers.

Some just like to eat and get that same cosmic rush over a bowl of pasta as the folks who come to battle a big fish; or ride a wave; or touch a migrating whale.

To each their own.

With the growth of so many higher-level restaurants in Mexico and Baja, being a “foodie” is a sport. It’s a hobby. It’s an obsession.

Buen provecho!

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 »

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 ‘Dehydration’ Category

MEXICO STILL A BARGAIN BUT…

MEXICO IS STILL A BARGAIN BUT…

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?

HAND ON HEART – It Still Gets To Me

BLUE PLATE SPECIAL

BLUE PLATE SPECIAL

NO BATTERIES NEEDED

NO BATTERIES NEEDED

WHEN MEXICAN FOOD ISN’T MEXICAN FOOD

COKE…The Real Thing?

COKE…The Real Thing?

COVID REBOUND

COVID REBOUND

YOU’RE NOT HERE TO FISH?

YOU’RE NOT HERE TO FISH?

Jonathan’s Blog Search

Archives

SUBSCRIBE NOW!