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“STAY HOME NO MORE!”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tournaments, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Mexican, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico life, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, Tailhunter International, Uncategorized, women fishing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 11, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Look out! These gals can fish!

STAY HOME NO MORE!

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of December 14, 2011

          “Steve used to leave me at home, but if he knows what’s good for him, he better bring me along!” laughed one of the ladies.

 

          “I know what you mean,” said another gal at the beachside table. “My husband can still take a ‘man-cation’ with the buddies, but he knows he has to make time to take me on a separate trip also!”

 

          “I used to think it would be boring but after my first trip, I couldn’t wait to get back,” grinned another of the women.

 

          Back in the day,  fishing trips to “the Baja” or “Old Mexico”  used to be a manly-man affair.  Jim, Joe, Jack, Harry and the rest of the guys piled into a van with the sleeping bags and an old Coleman canvas tent for the dusty drive or  climbed into an airplane full of other guys doing the same thing and landing at some one-desk airport…if there was even an airport. 

 

          Ice chests, rods and fishing gear were all tied together.  A pair of shorts or two; some flip-flops for the feet; a straw fishing  hat; some t-shirts were all the clothes you needed stuffed into an old salt-stained gym bag. 

 

          If you couldn’t swim in it or rinse it out in the sink, you didn’t need it!  As long as the beer was cold and you could put sand between your toes, it was pretty simple.

 

          You camped anywhere.  Or you stuffed as many guys into an economical room near the beach.  Maybe it had running waiter.  Maybe not.  Maybe it had a toilet.  Maybe not. So what? 

 

          There was always a bar  somewhere and the drinks were frosty.  The fishing was always good.  There was always an old hammock somewhere.  The jokes were always funny.  You ate what they cooked or you ate what you caught.   There’s nothing you can’t eat wrapped in a tortilla. 

 

          If  it tasted good, you made it taste better with more salsa.  If it tasted bad, you added extra salsa and drank more beer.  Nothing that couldn’t be cured with more salsa or beer. What happened in Mexico stayed in Mexico. You and the guys!

 

          Oh how times have changed!

         

          These days, with more frequency, the complexion of Mexico fishing trips is changing.  If you ever watch folks de-plane at the airport or even watch the cruisers and pangas go out in the morning, you’ll notice a few things…

 

          A few more pieces of pink luggage on the tarmac…

 

          A few more “anglers” wearing sundresses and halter-tops…

 

          A few more high-pitched laughs in the mornings on the dock and beach…

 

          Jim and Joe and Harry have brought along Sarah, Joanie and Kathleen, and it’s happening more and more.

 

          And don’t be fooled by the dangly -earrings, manicured nails or floral sandals.  These ladies come to fish!  No longer content to just “ride along” or “just coming to watch,” these gals have no qualms about going hand-to-hand with the world-class fish in Mexican waters or shoulder-to-shoulder with their husbands, brothers, dads, and buddies!

 

          “I don’t need any help when I’m on a fish! If I’m hooked, up, everyone else better get outta my way!” is how one lady angler put it.

 

          “I can hang with the guys and I especially like being able to spend time doing something that used to be an all-guys sport,” is what another told me.  “I started fishing with my boyfriend who took the time to show me how to fish and now he’s my husband!” she beamed with a smile.

 

          It’s a great way for families or couples to have quality time together.

 

          The captain of one charter boat in Cabo San Lucas once told me, “I like having the ladies aboard.  They tend to listen better and you can coach them.  They are not afraid to ask questions.   They have more patience sometimes than the guys and beat the fish with technique rather than brute strength which is what some guys often do.  I’m never surprised when one of the women or girls outfishes the guys although it often surprises the guys!” 

 

          Some can handle it.  Some can’t!

 

          “Some guys get their shorts all bunched up if a woman does better than them,” said another captain.  “But, if you put all the macho-stuff aside, everyone has fun although some of the women are as fiercely competitive as the men and get as fired-up as the men when it comes to who-fishes-better-than who!  Some of the women can really talk smack!” he laughingly added.

 

          “I love to outfish my boyfriend,” grinned one young lady who talked about her fishing trip as she watched the crew fillet their catch of dorado.  “It seems whenever we come to Mexico, I catch the biggest fish or the most fish,” she said proudly.

 

          “I let her win!” retorted the boyfriend with a wink and a laugh who got a playful elbow in the ribs as he raised a bottle of beer in a toast.

 

          In some ways, it’s a two-edged sword.  For many guys who used to do the all-boys trip, the days are long gone or numbered.  On the other hand, getting a wife, girlfriend or daughter interested in fishing with you is a pretty nice trade-off.

 

That’s our story…

Jonathan

______________________________________________________________

 

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife, Jill, 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: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745 Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico Phones: from USA : 626-638-3383 from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

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

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

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

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“SOMEDAY IS ALREADY HERE!”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tournaments, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Mexican, Mexico, Mexico life, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, Tailhunter International, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Five hours...214 pounds on 60 pound test line...one leg...alot of heart!

Big check aside, there was a larger story behind the win at the Western Outdoor News Tuna Jackpot Tournament in Cabo San Lucas

SOMEDAY IS ALREADY HERE

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of Nov. 17, 2011

If you’re in the travel / fishing business like we are, you get alot of ” We’ll get out your way someday!”  or “One of these days, we have to try doing something like that!”

 

You smile.  You nod.  That’s great. Sure thing. 

 

This past week, my wife, Jill and I spent a great time working with the wacky crazy fun crew of Western Outdoor News at the 13th Annual Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot.  Imagine throwing a five -day  party for about 600 of your best friends. 

 

It’s alot of work, but far outweighed by the smiles and fun.   With over 100 teams from around world participating, how can you go wrong with a tournament that has the motto, “FISH HARD!  PARTY HARDER!”

 

Ringmaster and WON Editor Pat McDonell pulls out all the stops as tournament director to make sure everyone has a good time.  The best thing is that you see so many of the same faces every year.  Many participants tell us this is sometimes the ONLY fishing they do all year and look forward to ONLY fishing in this event…because it’s such a kick.

 

This year, Jill worked the papers and stats helping to  keep the tournament central booth manned and everyone straight.  I thought I had the “easy” job of working the weigh scale with Pat. 

 

Not so.  There were alot of fish to weigh!  It was pretty crazy.  Drama right to the end.  As it turned out, it was historic!   More fish were weighed than ever.  There were so many fish over 100 pounds, let alone the bigger slugs.  (23 fish over 100 pounds and 3 over 200 pounds).   I was pretty much covered with fish goo by the end of the day. 

 

And there was the winner…214 pounds of tuna muscle.  And it was worth almost 37 grand in prize money.  Yay! 

 

It’s quite a story.

 

Oroville Henseler fought this thug fish for almost FIVE hours.  He was a FIRST TIME angler.  When we saw his rod and reel, it almost looked like a rental rod.  No fancy upgrades.  No two-speed gears.  No aircraft precision.  It was a simple out-of-the-box Penn 6/0 reel.  His rod…I dunno…a no-name-brand from what I can tell.  Better suited for 20-pound dorado than 200- pound gorilla tuna.  Granted, he had 150-pound Seagaur leader, but his mainline… only 60 -pound mono! 

He refused to pass off the rod for all five hours.  He wouldn’t hear of it.  Imagine dangling a 200-pound refrigerator over the side of a building on a string and hanging onto it…for five grueling hours in the Baja sun on a rolling boat.  That’s manning-up on a fish!

 

But that’s not the story…the real story.  The winning story.

 

See, Oroville Henseler came all the way out from Springtown, Pennsylvania.  Yes, THAT  hotbed of ocean-fishing.  Oroville had never fished in a big-time tournament.  Heck, he hadn’t even been ocean fishing before. 

 

Six months ago, he never imagined himself standing on the winner stage with a big fat check in one hand and his wife, Cindy, holding his other hand and holding back tears of her own.

 

You see, about 6 months ago, Oroville Henseler from Springtown was more concerned with staying alive and maybe walking again.  He had lost his leg in an industrial accident when his shoelace got entangled in a machine.  Surgery was unable to save his leg. 

 

Fitted with a prosthetic leg, he had one of those life-changing experiences you hear about.

 

As the story is told, just two weeks before the tournament, he decided to go.  A big -time tournament was on his new “bucket list” and he said no more “what if…” moments in his life.  He plopped down the credit card and stepped up. 

 

As he stood up there in the lights accepting  the roaring congratulations and applause from more than 600 people, politicians and dignitaries at the awards banquet at the Cabo marina, he was choked up.  I could see his eyes tearing up. His metal bionic leg sticking out from a pair of jeans shorts.   A Kodak moment of moments.  

 

Winning.  It’s not about the money. It’s about saying “No more somedays.” There might not be time for “someday.”  Someday is already here.

 

That’s our story!

Jonathan

 

______________________________________________________

 

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife, Jill, 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: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745
Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

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


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

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“FIVE STAR AS IT GETS!”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tournaments, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Mexican, Mexico, Mexico life, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, Tailhunter International, Western Outdoor News, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 16, 2011| Leave a Comment »

CHOICES...CHOICES...on the Baja road trip!

It may not look fancy, but sometimes the rougher the road, the prettier the "gem" at the end of the trail!

You'll probably never see this on Trip Advisor, but it doesn't mean it's not a great stay! It doesn't say "hot water." It says "running water!" Oh...and the also "weld!"

FIVE STAR AS IT GETS!

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of Oct. 20, 2011

Don’t get me wrong.  I like being pampered as much as the next guy when I go on vacation and stay at a hotel.  There’s nothing wrong with room service; a great restaurant; a spa; fluffy robes and a (OK…I admit it)…a mint on my pillow and cookies! 

 

Surely, I’ve stayed in some of the best in Baja…Hotel Cabo San Lucas, The Finesterra, Plaza Las Glorias, Palmas de Cortez, Spa Buenavista among so many great resort properties and enjoyed them all tremendously.

 

But that’s not usually how I roll.  I WISH we could do that all the time, but that’s just not very economical.

 

But, especially in  pre-internet days 15 or 20 years ago. . .  In the days before all those sites like Trip Advisor and Yelp and other websites arose to  dissect every aspect of every resort from the size of the pool to the softness of the toilet paper and the fragrance of the shampoo; there weren’t many resources to finding a place to lay your head.  

 

There was always  the  dog-eared  dusty copy of  dad’s Auto Club guide in the glove box or under the seat and that was about it if you were road-tripping down the Baja.

In  those early days when I would routinely drive up and down the often-lonely-always-bumpy Baja several times a year, some of those were the best stays I ever had.

 

There were three kinds of nights.

 

Sleep in the car or truck on the side of the road curled up under the steering wheel.

 

Pull over in the dark.  Camp on the side of the road or beach. Never quite sure where you pitched your tent until you woke up the next day.

 

Or…

 

Really  “splurge” and find some road sign as the sun goes down.  Take a chance that “Clean rooms. Cheap Rooms  Hot Showers.  Comida Rica” (good food) really meant what it said.

 

Cheap rooms sometimes meant “economical.”  Sometimes, it meant exactly what it said…CHEAP!  Single light bulb hanging from the ceiling with a pull-chain.  Threadbare towels the size of a dishtowel. . Worn mattress on top of a concrete slab and a TV with rabbit ears made of a clothes hangar. 

 

But those were the exception. More often than not, off the road and to the left meant finding a little Baja gem.  They still exist.  The scenario didn’t differ.

 

Sun going low.  Too many hours driving in the shimmering dessert heat with the Jimmy Buffet cassette tape getting pretty old. Junk food wrappers on the floor.  Reading the road signs for miles. Rusty, sun-baked, poorly-lettered or hand-lettered attempts to look attractive nailed onto any fence post, tree, or any vertical piece of wood.

 

Casa Maria Palapa and Campground 5 km.

El Sol Beach Hotel 3 km.

Hotel Bahia Hernan Cortez 1.5 km.

 

 

 

Perhaps not grammatically correct but lots of credit for effort.

 

“Hot Chowers and Gude Fud”

 

I would eventually be forced to make a choice prompted by tired eyes and diminishing light.  Down the road and to the left.  Often down a dirt or gravel washboard.  Sometimes parting a herd of goats or rousting the lazy dog.

 

And the trees would open and there it would be. 

 

Often on the beach. Often only one or two other cars and a well-used hotel pick up truck in the parking lot and lit by yellow bug lights illuminating concrete walls, terra cotta tiles,  and a palapa roof. 

 

Lots of tangled  bouganvillia vines climbing the old columns and up the terraces. Maybe an old fountain in the brick courtyard.  Maybe not.  But the  savory smell of grilling corn tortillas and searing meat coming from somewhere. The faint sound of an old mariachi tune off an 8-track or the sound of a TV playing a soccer team carries over the early evening air.

 

Family owned and happy to see you with big smiles.  As you check in, family pictures on the walls.  A cheap Baja calendar over the check-in desk.  Mama happily checks you in. 

 

Lo siento, Senor!  No credit cards, but rooms are $15 U.S.  Will that be OK?

 

It’s a deal.  Papa comes in “Bienvenidos, Amigo! (Welcome!) and helps with your luggage to a clean little room . Daughter brings fresh towels again with a shy welcoming smile.  This will do. There’s a fuschia-colored flower in a glass on the nightstand.  Nice touch.

 

I follow that wonderful aroma that caught me as I came in.  Down to the little 3-table -cafe on the concrete slab overlooking the beach. Pacifico Beer poster on the wall next to a faded picture of a bullfight.

 

 In the soft  yellow bug lights, there’s a dry-yellowed dorado taxidermied on the wall and some shark jaws dangling from a decorative old fishing net tacked nearby.  The soccer game flickers from an old black and white TV.    

 

The plastic Corona Beer tables match, but the silverware and plates don’t.  Grandma in the back frying something good.  She sees you and smiles.

 

There’s no menus.  Grandson comes out and tells you what they are serving that night.  And treats you like you’re a guest in their home. Which you are!

 

Tomato salad (from their own garden)

Homemade Rice and beans

Grandmas corn tortillas and green tomatillo salsa

Grilled Lobster tail (proudly caught by their cousin that morning on the reef who doubles as the gardner)

Flan

 

…for eight dollars.

 

Is that OK, he asks awkwardly as if he regrets charging a house guest.  “Es bueno?”

 

“Claro” (Of course) I smile back.

 

He brightens and eagerly heads to the kitchen.

 

A Baja feast.  And of course, ice cold beer.  Heaven.    Smiling grandson brings the beer.

 

I lean back in the chair kick off my flip-flops and let my feet rest on the cool concrete. Beer so cold the icy liquid burns the road dust at the back of my throat. Sigh. Slow exhale.  Inhale the salty beach air.  Ahhhhh… And watch the sun go down on the Sea of Cortez.

 

It’s as Five Star as any person ever needs.

 

That’s my story!

Jonathan

_________________________________________

 

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife, Jill, 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: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745
Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

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


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

Read Full Post »

“FALL NEVER FAILS”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tournaments, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Mexican, Mexico, Mexico life, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, Tailhunter International, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 2, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“FALL NEVER FAILS”

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of Oct. 5, 2011

Long before I ever lived down here in Mexico.   Long before I even had an idea that I might someday be living down here in Baja, let alone running a business, I was like alot of you.

 

I worked some semblance of a 9-5 job.  I had a day or two off a week.  I had vacation time and 3 and 4 day weekends like everyone else 

 

And, I planned my fishing trips like everyone less.

 

Early in the year, I would pull out my big fishing “master calendar” and figure all the places that I’d like to fish during the season. Trying to budget my time and wallet. And moon phases…

 

Big red marker…

 

Let’s see…shallow water rock fishing on the central coast…late winter or early spring. Check.

 

Trout opener in the Sierras…April. OK

 

Maybe sneak away for flyfishing in Montana…hmmm…June.  Check.

 

San Diego  kelp paddy yellowtail…late June.  Can’t miss that.

 

July for king salmon and halibut in Alaska. Better check airfare now.

 

August…hmmmm…albacore and bluefin should be running.  Book San Diego again.  Check.

 

September…hehehehe…long range?  10 days?  I’ll try to get a kitchen pass!

October/November…BAJA!

 

The fall in Baja has always been good to me.  Pragmatically, it’s a good time to come down.  It’s not as hot generally.  Shadows are a bit longer.  Air is a tad cooler.  Waters are still warm.  Generally flat with small breezes. The killer humidity is lower.

 

Most of the summer yahoo crowd is gone.  Kids are back in school.  It’s not quite the holidays so alot of places are only populated by fishermen walking around.  During the days when the fleets are out, the towns are empty!

 

Many airlines consider the dip between Labor Day and Thanksgiving a “downtime” as well so they offer low-season rates on flights. And, as long as you’re not trying to book a boat during a big-time tournament, the best boats and captains are always available and ready to roll.

 

From a fishing perspective, the season has never failed me. 

 

I’ve caught the majority of my billfish during the fall. In fact, I got my  largest, a 400-pounder in October.

 

My largest and biggest wahoo have all been caught in the fall.

 

The majority of my tuna and my largest, a 236-pound cow was caught in the fall.

 

Come to think of it, my largest dorado have all been caught in the fall as well.

 

I guess there’s a reason so many of the biggest and most popular fishing tournaments in Baja,  and indeed Mexico,  are held in the fall.  That’s when the big fish are around.  That’s when many of  the  top-water pelagic trophy-fish that made Baja famous can be found…blue marlin…black marlin…sailfish…yellowfin tuna…wahoo…dorado…and others.

 

Had you the luxury, you could literally hop from one tournament to the other.  One stops.  Another begins.  I know some semi-professional tournament teams and that’s what they literally do.  They  zoom from one tournament to the other.  You could probably just stay in Cabo San Lucas and between September and November participate in a virtual assembly line of tournaments and never leave the city except to go fishing.

 

In many circles, Southern California comes to mind, once Labor day has gone, so do the fishermen.  Well, the fish don’t simply stop biting because the calendar says summer is over.  At least as far as Baja is concerned, the end of summer marks the beginning of some of the best fishing around!

That’s my story

Jonathan

 

____________________________________

 

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife, Jill, 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: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745
Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

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


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

 

Read Full Post »

“Don’t Laugh If It Works!”

Posted in Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, fishing tournaments, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Mexico life, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Tailhunter International, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 3, 2011| Leave a Comment »

When it comes to bait or any fishing techniques, if it results in a bent rod, it's hard to dismiss it! Try it. You never know!

IF IT WORKS DON’T LAUGH!

Originally Published the Week of Sept. 6, 2o11 in Western Outdoor News

I am often amazed at what catches fish down here.  Of course, us gringos are always looking for “live bait” like caballitos, mackerel, sardines and the like.  Plus we have all the “latest and greatest” technology has to offer in the way of lures, plugs and feathers. 

 

But, over the years, having worked with so many captains in so many areas of Baja, I’ve come across some pretty incredible things that have been used for bait…and they work!

 

BELLIES & STRIPS – Long ago when I lived in Los Frailes, the owner of the hotel turned me onto taking the oily juicy strips of belly meat from dorado and bonito and  pinning them on the hooks of my feathers and jigs, especially my marlin lures.  Strips of squid also work.  They add scent and flavor to your lures.  I also think gamefish tend to hold onto them more when there’s some “taste” to the lure.

 

Actually, even without the feather or jig, one of the most effective methods of attracting game fish is to simply pin a nice long strip of these species to a hook and leader (make sure you have a swivel) and drag it slowly behind your boat.  Bigger fish can’t seem to resist it.  Even large dorado will jump on dorado strips!

 

If you happen to get into a bite of the giant squid, give some thought to taking the whole head and sending it down deep.  I’ve gotten some monster tuna on 5-pound chunks of head.  Smaller giant squid worked when trolled and long-rangers will tell you that a big squid bounced on the waves from a kite are deadly.

 

It’s also  productive to chop the  squid legs (arms?) into chunks and just tossing handfuls into the ocean as chum then taking another big chunk and hook it, letting it all drift down to the game fish.  Often, even when the fish won’t take live bait, they WILL eat the chummed bait.

 

WHOLE FISH –  As much as we tend to hate needlefish down here as the scourge of fishermen, a smaller needlefish slow-trolled in the rocky areas will sometimes really get nailed by a big pargo, snapper or cabrilla. 

 

Sent down deep, this can be deadly for a big grouper around the islands…or even using a small bonito!  Cut off a fin and score a few knife cuts into the flesh to get it bleeding then send it down with a heavy weight and see what happens!  If it’s live, you better hold into your socks!

 

One of the strangest baits I have ever used was small puffer fish.  I often noticed that when we cleaned dorado we would find whole puffer fish in the stomachs of bull dorado.  (Maybe I can see eating one, but the thought of passing one of the spikey guys out the backside raises some eyebrows).

 

Anyway, I asked one of my captains and he said he often saw dorado eat floating puffer fish and that the smaller ones make good bait.  So we caught some floaters and put them in the bait tank.  When we got into a dorado bite we tossed some into the fray…like surface poppers and sure enough…WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!  Puffers were hit faster than sardines!  It worked!  Small barracuda work also or larger ballyhood.

 

INORGANIC BAITS

 

OK…here’s some of the crazier stuff I have seen work…

 

1.  Strips of tortilla cut like a “pig-and-jig” fork-tail and thrown into feeding dorado and bonito.

 

2.  Strips of white rubber liner like the kind you put on the bottom of your kitchen sink so that your dishes have a cushion.  Slow trolled or cut like the back end of a small bait fish…twitched along the reefs, you’d be surprised what comes out to chase it!  It’s a cheap swim bait!

 

3.  A mop head!  Old Mexican fishermen will tell you that they used to troll old mop heads without a hook.  The abrasive bill of sailfish and marlin are like a rasp.  They would hit the trolled mop head and it would wrap around their bills like velcro!  Hook up!  I’ve seen it used one time and it blew me away!

 

4.  Orange Crush bottle – I once saw commercial fishermen leave some orange soda in a bottle; put crushed tinfoil in it and re-cap it.  They tied it behind a panga and trolled it in the wake like a teaser!  I saw it raise several sailfish like this!

 

If it works, don’t laugh!

 

__________________________

 

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife, Jill, 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: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745
Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

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


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

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So…You Wanna Sit Under a Palm Tree?

Posted in Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, fishing tournaments, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Mexico life, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Tailhunter International, Uncategorized, Western Outdoor News, women fishing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 20, 2011| Leave a Comment »

It's a dirty job, but someone has to sit in the plastic chair and keep it from floating away! Air temperature 90. Water Temperature 80. Beer temperature 32 degrees.

SO…YOU WANNA SIT UNDER A PALM TREE?

Originally Published the Week of Aug. 25, 2011 in Western Outdoor News

A week doesn’t go by where I don’t get asked several times about moving/ retiring/ setting up a business in Mexico.

 

“Man, you got the life.  You fish all day.  Siesta under the palm trees and drink beer!” is often how the conversation starts.  I have to inwardly laugh.  It’s always fun to dream, but being down here in vacation and having to actually live or work here are different issues.

 

First some general stats:

 

  • It is said that more Americans live in Mexico than any other country in the world.  It’s close proximity to the U.S.; relative lower cost of living; climate; and ease of lifestyle make it an attractive destination.  Studies (speculative at best) put the number of Americans living in Mexico between 125,000 and 1 million with “600,00” most often quoted.

  • A 2009 poll of Americans retired in coastal communities in Mexico showed most are “baby boomers” with 53% being under 65 years old.  67% have at least a college degree.  61 percent are married.

  • Most are financially comfortable by Mexican standards with over 70% having an income of over $25,000 a year which is more than 2000.00/month compared to less than $1000/month of most Mexicans.

  • The majority of those polled spent less than $2000/month but felt their lifestyle was actually higher than in the U.S. with 75% feeling that cost of living was a major factor in their desire to retire south-of-the-border.

 

We’ve been down here now for almost 16 years and been full-time residents for about 7.  Folks always ask us what we think.  Here’s a few thoughts below.  For everyone who’s down here, there are probably several dozen we know who didn’t make it or had to leave and dreams turned into disasters.

 

  • Do your homework.  Read. Read. Read.  The bookstores have tons of resources and the internet has the freshest stuff.  I can’t believe how many folks just seem to “show up” expecting to start whole new lives just by “being here!” Here’s a good place to start:  http://www.icfdn.org/publications/retireeresearch/

  • Talk to folks who have already done it and have attempted to live down here.  There’s nothing like local knowledge.  No matter how many books or pamphlets you read, someone who’s down here can give you immeasurable insight.  Talk to LOTS of them!

  • Yes, you can have a really great life down here, but it’s all relative.  What do you want in a lifestyle?  Do you need everything you had in the states?  Shopping? Golf?  Movies?  Restaurants?  Or are you just fine walking along the beach without another soul and living “off the grid?”   There are cultural, economic, and tremendous social differences between the two countries and peoples.    It’s not for everyone.

  • Living here day-to-day is alot different than being here on vacation.  If you have a chance and think you might like to set up roots down here, rent a place for awhile.  See what it’s like to go shopping; pay bills; get a plumber; go to Church; interact with the community and being away from family and friends back in the U.S.  Maybe part-time residency works better.  Also, there really are seasons!  Most folks show up here on vacation in the spring, summer and fall.  Winter here is not like the other seasons.  Can you handle it when it’s not all beach weather?

  • Do you have some personal medical or dietary needs?  What will you do if there’s an emergency?  Mexico has great facilities, but not all of them are accessible in all places.

  • If you plan to set up a business, do even more research.  My main advice is not to invest more than you can lose.  Be able to walk away if you have to.  It’s not easy for foreigners to operate businesses here as in most countries if you’re a foreigner.  Mexico is especially heavy on bureaucracy even if you’re local!  If you have a business plan, triple it.  The “model” you learned earning your MBA doesn’t work in Mexico.

  • Don’t take shortcuts no matter what kind of “deal” someone offers you!  Whether it’s banking, real estate, contracts, labor laws, construction permits,  immigration; etc….adhere to the law.  It’s no fun looking over your shoulder or worrying.  The law is the law and citizens and visitors alike are expected to respect it.  Just like in the U.S.  If you follow the law you can never go wrong. Plus, being a gringo…you’re higher profile.  Not like you can hide!

  • Learn Spanish…even a little!  It’s the best investment you can make in living and working here.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

________________________________

 

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife, Jill, 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: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745
Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

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


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

 

 

 

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CAN’T GO WRONG BAJA PRIMER

Posted in Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, fishing tournaments, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Mexico life, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Tailhunter International, Uncategorized, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Look past stereotypes. A smile is a smile in any language!

CAN’T GO WRONG BAJA PRIMER

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of Aug. 10, 2011

Been down here long enough and had several thousand folks pass through our care either directly or indirectly here in Baja.  Over the years, I’ve compiled a list of things that you can do that will always work no matter what.  What got me started many years ago was listening to two gringos talking on the beach.

 

“I’m really disappointed in Mexico.   The golf course here is not even close to being as good as Pebble Beach!”  (how many are THAT good?)

 

“We were fishing and the boat didn’t even have an electronic fish finder on it.  We caught fish, but it’s like fishing in the stone ages down here.”

 

Y’know, sometimes expectations are just a little too high.  Folks forget.  This is still the Baja.  Until a few years ago, things we take for granted like electricity, running water, phones and ice were non-existent in many places, let alone complaining because you can’t find a McDonald’s for the kids. 

 

Anyway, here’s my two-cents primer on things that are 100 percent guaranteed if you plan to visit us:

 

  • Never forget you’re a guest here.  Act accordingly as if you were visiting a friend or neighbor and you will never go wrong.
  • Stereotypes work both ways.  You are consciously or sub-consciously judging your hosts as Mexicans. It’s inevitable.  You are also being judged as a guest American.  Americans are also stereotyped.  Remember, you’re being watched and judged.  Be an ambassador of goodwill.
  • No one will every laugh at you for trying to speak the language.  It’s appreciated.  By the same token, don’t get impatient if a local doesn’t speak or understand English as fast as you would like.
  • “Please” and “Thank you” in any language is always understood.
  • An unspoken smile or a laugh is a powerful communicator
  • A dollar left on a dresser of your hotel room or pressed into a palm for a small favor goes further than any dollar you ever spent
  • You will never go wrong eating at a place that has a crowd or a line around it.  It’s worth the wait. 
  •  Make a friend forever by complimenting someone’s child or asking about their family.  Ask to see a photo. 
  • Shopping is always better the further you get away from the tourist areas. 
  • Never be afraid to negotiate.  It’s expected.  It’s fun.  It never hurts to ask if there is a lower price for anything…from taxi cabs to day tours and from margarita glassware to blankets.  If they say “no” smile.  If  they say “yes” smile even bigger! 
  • Ask a taxi driver to “show you HIS favorite places.” Or take you to HIS favorite restaurant or where the locals go or eat.  Often you will discover things you would never find in the travel brochures.
  • Even if you get a bargain, tip nicely.  You’ll be remembered.
  • Take a photo of someone and, if there’s any way, give them a copy.  They will treasure it and you always.  We take photos for granted.   We have thousands of photos of ourselves.  Many folks down here have their photo i.d. and sometimes not even that.
  • Tell your captain you just want to catch fish.  He really wants to.  Let him do his job.  Try tipping AHEAD OF time or showing him his tip ahead of time.  See what magic that works!
  • Our throw-aways are someone’s treasure.  A used t-shirt.  Old fishing line. Some hooks.   A worn baseball hat.  A out-of-fashion pair of shoes or slippers. Hand them off with a smile.  Get a smile in return.
  • Don’t be afraid or too lazy to walk through a park,  beach or shopping area where families are gathered. 
  • Visit a local bookstore or listen to some local music.
  • No matter how much of a hurry you think you are in, stop and sit.  Watch and listen.  Absorb. Revel in the slower pace, even for just a moment.  You’ll be amazed.  Don’t forget that you might not be passing this way again, even if you’re rushing to catch the glass-bottom boat tour or the mariachi dinner show.  Those will always be there.  That  magnificent sunset over the Sea of Cortez might not.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

  ________________________________________

.

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife, Jill, 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: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745
Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

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

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EVERYONE’S CATCHING FISH EXCEPT ME!

Posted in Baja Fishing, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, fishing tournaments, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Tailhunter International, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications on July 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »

EVERYONE’S CATCHING FISH EXCEPT ME!

Originally Published the Week of July 14,  2011 in Western Outdoor News

Being here in La Paz, I can’t tell you how often during the
week a boater comes into our offices or restaurant and says…

“We have our own
boat and have been trolling around for days and haven’t caught a thing!”

or

“We see all your
boats come in with fish and can’t get a bite even though we fish in the same
areas as all the pangas!

Or something to that effect.

Listen, the oceans surrounding the Baja Peninsula are a
target-rich environment for sportfshermen.
Among the best in the world.  But
so often I encounter anglers who figure…

1.  I have my own boat

2.  I have rods and
reels

So therefore…

3.  I MUST
AUTOMATICALLY  catch fish!  (BOAT + GEAR = FISH)

That’s a bit like me saying, since I have checks in my
checkbook, I must have money in the account!

Believe it or not, most of the ocean is pretty empty.    Nothing but blue and wet.  And sometimes not even blue.

Assuming the first part of the equation is good (You have a
decent boat and decent gear) …Knowing WHERE and HOW to fish sure helps.  There’s a reason.

The locals know their spots and just because, for example,
you know how to fish in Loreto doesn’t mean the same methods will work in Cabo
San Lucas.  There is NOTHING like local
knowledge.  Don’t just pull away from the
docks.  There’s a big difference between
fishing and driving around the ocean.
Some research is in order.

It will help avoid looking dumb when you find out:

1.  The locals use
live bait/ dead bait/ stink bait/ Velveeta cheese

2.  Green lures work
better than blue lures/ polka-dot lures/ lures shaped like small farm animals

3.  There’s secret
spots in the middle of the ocean where the locals all know there’s a big reef/
ledge/ sunken boat.

You get the idea…

I’m not saying your local “expert” in Wyoming who
just sold you all that gear isn’t a good fishermen, but I’d be more inclined to
ask him about flyfishing for brown trout than chunking for yellowfin tuna.   I’ve lived her in La Paz almost 16 years and
I would never profess to know about fishing in Cabo which is only 100 miles
away!

The private boaters I know that have fished a few times with
the locals always seem to do better.
Therefore,  if you can, go out
with a local on THEIR boat a few times.

Short of that, do a little investigating.   Rather than run around willy-nilly all over
the ocean burning fuel and vacation time, at least check in with some of the
locals.  Walk down to the docks and the
beaches when the boats come in and ask questions.  There’s an old saying that goes something
like…

“Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish goes
home through an alley.”

Fishermen talk.
Fishermen brag.  We can’t help
ourselves.  It’s the hunter-gatherer
mentality  of our single-brow
cave-dwelling ancestors.  They sat around
the campfire and pounded their chests about the big sabre-tooth cat they killed
by bravely poking it with a sharp stick!
(Even when in reality the cat was chasing them and it fell over a cliff
and killed itself).

If you truly must…hang out in a fisherman’s bar.  OH MY!
When the cerveza flows so do the stories.  All the free advice you need and all the
stuff you probably don’t need!

Beyond that, use some common sense out on the water.  Living things have two main needs…food and
pro-creation out on the water.
Everything eats.  Everything
breeds.

Look for diving or hovering birds.  If you’re fishing inshore, look for rocks
covered with seagull or pelican crap.
Those are areas the birds hang out because there’s bait. Where there’s
bait, that means other fish will be there feeding as well. Look for floating
structure like weeds or trash where baitfish might be hiding or laying
eggs.

Again, larger fish look for smaller fish to eat.  Look for current lines or temperature
breaks.  Often, even without
sophisticated electronics, you can actually see temperature breaks and
currents.  They look like little rivers.
Often, the fish will be on one side, but not the other. If you do have
electronics…USE THEM!

It all adds up to a better day on the water whether you’re
fishing Baja or your own waters!

_______________________________________________________

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western
Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his
wife, Jill, 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: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:

http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

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

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

Read Full Post »

One Man’s Cat Food…Is Not a Bad Dinner!

Posted in Baja Fishing, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, fishing tournaments, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Sun stroke, Tailhunter International, Uncategorized, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications on April 30, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Often it ends up in the garden under the rose bushes or turned into cat food, but the bonito can actually be good eating if you know what to look for! (note the belly has no markings to distinguish it from the lesser tasting skipjack).

“One Man’s Cat Food…Is Not A Bad Dinner”

 
Originally published in Western Outdoor News the Week of May 4, 2011
 

You say Po-TAY-toe.  I say poe-TAH-toe.  Semantics can screw with you.

One man’s bonito is another man’s skipjack and is another man’s catfood and another man’s gourmet dinner!

It was a number of years ago that I was sitting with a group of fishermen in a little  palm-frond palapa bar/restaurant just north…or south of Loreto.  Details are fuzzy.   I remember the beer was chilly.  The sandy floor between my toes felt good and we were all a little wind and sunburned from a good day on the water.  A little fishing.  A little diving.  Some stupid pull-my-finger horseplay between fellow goofballs.

We sat in those scuffed -white -plastic chairs with the beer logo that every Mexican beer company gives to every restaurant with the equally scuffed-up white plastic table.  No matter.  We were hungry and ordered up some fish tacos and a plate of “filete al mojo de ajo” (grilled fish with garlic.)

It arrived on mis-matched plastic plates and served with bent forks but the tortillas were warm; the salsa spicy and the beer so cold that “smoke” came out the mouth  when popped open.  And the fish could not have tasted better!  RIQUISIMO!

We wolfed down taco after taco and plate after plate.  Shoveled it in like chipmunks stuffing our cheeks!  Lime juice squirted all over.

Then someone asked the waiter… “Que clase de pescado es? Tan sabrosa!” (What kind of fish is this?  It’s delicious!”

The waiter said with a smile…”BONITO!”

AAACK!!!!

Six guys nearly hurled and choked in unison!  Everyone stopped eating to look up and at each other. Salsa dripping from fingers and corners of mouths. More than one eye-brow arched.

Bonito?  You gotta be kidding me!  We’re eating junk fish?  Isn’t that the stuff we throw away?  Give to the cats?  Put in the garden for fertilizer?  Man…if it is…that’s danged good!

Just another chapter in my enlightenment of Mexican fish! Another fish “epiphany” as it were.

 Just as I had come to enjoy eating such fish like triggerfish and sierra mackerel over the years after thinking they were also “junk fish,” I got schooled about bonito.

Highly-prized as a sport fish, but much maligned as table fare, it’s easy to get confused.  Many of us who grew up or did any fishing on the Pacific Coast came to stereotype bonito as a throw-away species. Catch a ton, but throw them back or give them away!

But, in Mexico the lines get blurred.  Everyone runs into species confusion.  Everyone calls the tuna-look-alike-fish that has trips on it a “bonito.” But, in reality, they’re usually talking about two kinds of fish…black skipjack and real bonito!

They look very identical.  Both are hard-charging members of the tuna family and if you didn’t know better, you’d think they were tuna.  They grow to about 8-12 pounds but fight like 20 pounders. 

Easily caught on live bait, lures, trolled feathers…they’re not real fussy.  Fun at first but after-awhile, if you’re really trying to catch something else like dorado or real tuna, they’re pests!

But that’s the rub.

Most captains will say “bonito” and immediately the stigma is attached.  They make no distinction between bonito and skipjack.  So, the gringo  anglers just toss the fish back and get increasingly frustrated. 

However, a good captain knows the distinction. 

Skipjack have dots or stripes on their silver/white bellies.  Meat is dark red and frankly terrible eating. 

On the other hand, bonito have no marks on their bellies. They have white/silver bellies.   Meat is not only light color, but if bled quickly and all dark meat and blood lines are removed, will fool many into thinking they are eating tuna!

So next time, take a closer look before tossing your “bonito” back !  Or convince your buddy that you really do want those bonito he planned to throw away!  Remember, yesterdays “junk fish” is often today’s dinner. 

 Just remember the prices at your local seafood restaurant for such “junk fish” as …catfish…whitefish…shark…mackerel (yes mackerel!)…tilapia (in Hawaii, they used to bring in tilapia to eat the sewage and mosquitos in the irrigation canals for the sugar cane fields!) Now they call them “African Perch” at 2o bucks a plate.  Believe it or not…even albacore was considered a “throwaway” fish at the turn of the century!

As for us eating that day on the beach…we were just hungry!  Dos mas platos por favor!  (two more plates please!) And more tortillas!

_______________________________________

            Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife, Jill, 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

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

 

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

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

 

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

 
Website: www.tailhunter-international.com
U.S. Office: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745
Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:
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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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BADASS AS WE EVER WERE – The Spirit of the Wild

Posted in Baja Fishing, Baja Mexico Fishing, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, fishing tournaments, holidays in mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Tailhunter International, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications on February 20, 2011| Leave a Comment »

When you make your living at the whims of nature you're paid to produce every day. You can't have bad days. You can't phone it in because you have sniffles or a papercut or because your biorhythms are off. You have to run faster, fish harder, carry more, shoot faster, stand taller and still have enough energy to fix a boat motor with a bobby pin or cook a gourmet meal in a blizzard. And keep on smiling!

 

BADASS AS WE EVER WERE – The Spirit of the Wild

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of Feb. 24, 2011

            Y’know, we hear alot about how tough it was in the old days and dangit, there’s no doubt our forefathers were a tough bunch of grizzly so-and-sos.  Jill and I are on our Tailhunter Road Tour 2011 visiting all the west coast fishing/hunting shows.  In 6 weeks, we’ve been in Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, Denver, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California…some states more than once.

            We broke down in the frigid snows of Utah and the tow-truck driver told us of his grandfather who was sent by Brigham Young himself from Salt Lake to set up a Mormon settlement in Beaver, Utah.  They walked!

            They built the town assembly hall as the first order.  But, just before the snows, it burned down.  Great grand-dad and the assembly went back up in to the treelines in the mountains to chop more trees before the snows arrived.  Granddad cut..no HACKS  his leg with his axe!

            Badass bastard.  He sewed up his leg himself and cauterized it!    He then  continued to cut wood and then they hauled it by rope down the mountain and got their building done just as the snowflakes and sub-zero weather set in.  No Kaiser Hospital.  No Home Depot.  Just grit and guts.

            And here we are in the 21st Century.  We have special shoes for trekking and pilates.   We have special vitamin water so we don’t get de-hydrated…to grow brain cells…to jump higher…I can’t keep up with all the varieties. 

            There’s special jockstraps to jog and heaven forbid we don’t have our mp3  players strapped somewhere on our torso and personal trainers to count our jumping jacks for us. A paper cut?  Call in a sick day at work!

            But if you ever get to any of these hunting and fishing shows, take a close look at the men and women behind the booth selling these hunting and fishing trips.  Sure, they sell “luxury” trips to exotic locations like Namibia, the Arctic Circle, the Amazon and yes… Mexico.  You get treated like kings and queens. Crab and steak dinners. Martini happy hours. Even on mountain tops with pack mules or deserted beaches on Baja islands. 

            But take a look at the guys themselves. 

            If they have a lodge on a deserted lodge near the Artic Circle, how do you think they got all that timber up there?  How do they keep those generators running to keep hot showers and light bulbs on? If the stove breaks, they don’t just call the Sears repairman.

            If they can show city-boyz how to shoot a 10-foot-tall grizzly bear, they might be pretty good at shooting grizzly bears themselves. And that big skinning knife they carry strapped to their leg isn’t a Hollywood prop. Jeremiah Johnson and Jim Bowie still live.

            The outfitter who packs you up to the Andes Mountains or into New Zealand or into the Sierras.  He’s carrying his gear plus YOUR gear and he can walk further, run faster, shoot better, track better and still make a fire by rubbing two sticks together; and  build camp… while you’re still  struggling to uncork a bottle of merlot.  His wife who goes with you is probably even tougher than him and you put together..and she is probably handling all the accounting in the office too!

            The Baja guy…think about guys like the late Bobby Van Wormer or Luis Bulnes or  Chuy Valdez who literally honed empires out of the desert.  No roads.  No electrical.  100 degree heat.

            Shovels and hoes with wheelbarrows to move rocks.  Wood for construction? C’mon!   How many trees have you seen in Baja?   Ever tried to fill a swimming pool when there’s no water?  Neat trick.

             Men of iron. I heard a story of Bobby Van Wormer jumping off a wall and landing on a piece of metal re-bar that went clean through his leg.  He pulled it out himself and started ranting at whatever worker left it lying around. And kept right on working. And he was in his 70’s at the time!

            These genius guys were devising water systems, sewage, electrical systems, not to mention world-class fishing fleets out of nothing.  Most of us can’t paint a bedroom wall without 3 weeks of research and an instructional DVD.

            We had our booth across from one outfitter who specialized in hunting with muzzle loaders.  For those of you who don’t know…that’s Daniel Boone style.    It’s  Davy Crockett’s Old Betsy long rifle with some black powder, a little lead ball and sporting even bigger ones.  One shot… to drop moose, buffalo, lions, and charging rhinos.

            “What do you do if you miss or you don’t drop the animal with one shot?” I asked.

            “You run like hell and learn to re-load even faster!” he laughed.

Yea, laughed.  Climbing mountains.  Hunting your own food.  Exploring oceans.  Crossing snow fields.  Building in the wilderness.  They live for it. They revel in it.  It’s not for everyone. 

            But, check out the folks who come to these shows too.  Alot of ’em wear cowboy boots not as a fashion statement.  It’s work wear.  They’re scuffed with manure on them.

              They actually know how to ride and shoot and fish.  The fishermen and outdoorsmen have the craggly face of the sun and some dandy scars to go along with the stories.  Rough hands and strong handshakes…and that’s just the women!  God bless ’em they’re tough too!

            One of our clients came up to show us a picture of her with a mountain lion she had just shot that weekend.  “Wow…when did you go on a mountain lion hunt?” I queried.

            “I didn’t.  It was killing our sheep.  So, I grabbed my rifle and went into the trees and shot it.” she said matter-of-factly. 

            Not a big deal. Like killing a gopher.   Then she skinned it before her husband came home from work.  No country club weekend luncheon with the girls for her.  She killed a mountain lion.

            The Spirit of the Wild still exists among us.  God bless, we’re  badass as we ever were.

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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife, Jill, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico  http://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!            

           

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