That&#039;s My Story

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

“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.”

“I Swear It’s Here Somewhere, Sir! “

Posted in 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, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charity, charters, chubasco, circle hooks, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, 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, 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 culture, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, 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, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged accommodations, activities, amberjack, bahia, baja, baja editor, baja sur, bars, bay, beach, billfish, blogs, blue water, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, cerralvo, certified scale, charter, children, chubasco, costa baja, day tour, deep sea, del mar fairgrounds, discount, dog tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tour, el sargento, espirito santo, extreme fishing, family, fish, fishing and boating shows, fishing and hunting shows, fishing licenses, fishing sportfishing, flyfishing, fred hall, free dive, get-away, girls, grey whales, grouper, guide, guide service, holiday, hotel, hotel marina, hotel perla, hotel seven crown, hunting, idaho sportsman’s show, igfa, images, inshore, International Game Fish Association, international sportsmans expo, ise, isla, island, jack crevalle, jillene roldan, jilly roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, lodging, los barriles, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos, northwest sportsmans show, offshore, outfitter, pack for a purpose, package, panga, panga slam, pargo, permits, photos, pompano, portland expo center, Puyallup Fairgrounds, reef fish, reports, restaurants, rockfish, rooster fish, rooster fish foundation, sailfish, saltwater, san jose del cabo, scuba, sea bass, sea of cortez, sealions, shuttle, sierra, snapper, snorkel, spearfish, suenos, swim, tackle, Tailhunter International, tailhunter restaurant bar, techniques, tips, tour, tourism, travel, trolling, tuna, tuna jackpot tournament, updates, vacation, video, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, weather, western outdoor news, whale watching, whales, whaleshark, wife, women, yellowtail on August 1, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Don’t leave the docks without one. Don’t go home without one!

I SWEAR IT’S HERE SOMEWHERE, SIR!

Originally Published the Week of Aug. 4, 2015 in Western Outdoor News

In my slowly deteriorating memory, comedian Steve Martin had routine to that was 100% guaranteed failsafe if you’re ever dragged into court before a judge for not paying your taxes. You simply say,

“I’m sorry. I forgot!”

As a former attorney, I’ve actually seen attorneys and clients attempt to use the lame excuse. It was met with the expected level of enthusiasm and never garnered any sympathy.

However, here in Mexico, when fishing licenses are checked, I’ve seen it work to some degree. It all depends on the sincerity of the offender and the benevolence of the inspecting officer.

Stuff happens. They officers understand. You accidentally leave it in the hotel room; you get in too late to purchase one; it’s in your “other pants.” The charter operator charged you for one, but fraudulently or negligently, never gave you the actual paper (most often fraudulently). The inspectors have heard it all.

It’s going to get a bit tougher to “slide by” in the future.

Mexico recently announced that it’s going to strengthen it’s presence on the waters and cracking down on fishing and boating permits.

And there’s really little cause to gripe.

We’re visitors. The law is the law. You’re supposed to have a fishing license if you’re on a fishing boat. If you’re bringing your boat into Mexican waters, you’re supposed to have your paperwork in order as well.

We expect the same in the U.S. Have your paperwork in order or there are penalties and consequences. Simple. Sure, folks get away with it, but do you really want to be the one who gets caught? And what fun is it looking over your shoulder anyway when you’re supposed to be having fun?

Penalties can vary. They can turn your boat around and send you back to the beach (or back into U.S. waters). There can be fines.

I once saw an independent panga captain who didn’t have his paperwork and neither did his clients get sent back to the beach. The inspectors confiscated the panga. They confiscated all the fishing gear and the fish. The clients were stuck sitting on the beach trying to find a ride back to town. That was pretty extreme. But… Don’t let that be you.

The problem in the past, many times, is that most folks want to comply. However, there was so much confusion on how and where to do it.

There were several Mexican government websites that sold them, but the service was terrible. The site would crash. It would take money, but not print out the permits. It would get the dates wrong. It was disastrous.

Tackle stores sold them in S. California and in Mexico. But, not all of them carried them.

There were several reliable American websites that sold them.

Often, a charter operation would sell them. Or, in a worst case, charge clients for them; pocket the money and the clients would never receive a piece of paper.

According to the latest releases, the authorities will be more vigilant. The purpose is to make sure that sport-caught fish are caught legally. (There’s a lot of poaching out there).

Make sure you have that piece of paper on your person when you go fishing. Either get it online; from an authorized vendor or from your charter operation. Make sure that the name on your license matches your passport or other photo i.d.

By the same token, after you’re done fishing, don’t throw that license away. When you bring fish home, airport inspectors are now sometime checking that the fish you’re bringing home were caught legally as well. Showing them your fishing license will validate it.

If you do get stopped, be respectful. Same as you would with any officer. Yelling or having attitude won’t get you any points. They’re just doing their job and it’s a low-paying thankless job. The inspectors are not picking on you. They’re out checking permits on local boats as well.

Most of the inspectors I’ve run into or had conversations with are in-turn very respectful as well. Most will wish you a good day and send you off with a smile and a wave. Offering a bottle of cold water or soda is welcome too.

These have been the laws for a long time. Just now it’s going to be more strictly enforced. Don’t be surprised or let it ruin a vacation. Comply with the regulations and you’ll be fine.

If you need fishing licenses or want to check regulations, Mexico has recently updated their website and it really works well and very user-friendly (finally). Take a look: http://www.sportfishinginmexico.com/

Don’t be caught looking over your shoulder!

That’s my story!

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

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

“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.”

TWO CENTS WORTH

Posted in airlines, bahia de los muertos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, camping, car, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charity, charters, chubasco, circle hooks, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, 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, 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 culture, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, 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, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, Tailhunter International, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged accommodations, activities, amberjack, bahia, baja, baja editor, baja sur, bars, bay, beach, billfish, blogs, blue water, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, cerralvo, certified scale, charity, charter, children, chubasco, costa baja, day tour, deep sea, del mar fairgrounds, discount, dog tooth, donations, dorado, east cape, eco tour, el sargento, espirito santo, extreme fishing, family, FANLAP, fish, fishing and boating shows, fishing and hunting shows, fishing sportfishing, flyfishing, fred hall, free dive, get-away, girls, grey whales, grouper, guide, guide service, holiday, hotel, hotel marina, hotel perla, hotel seven crown, hunting, idaho sportsman’s show, igfa, images, inshore, International Game Fish Association, international sportsmans expo, ise, isla, island, jack crevalle, jillene roldan, jilly roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, lodging, los barriles, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos, northwest sportsmans show, offshore, outfitter, pack for a purpose, package, panga, panga slam, pargo, photos, pompano, portland expo center, Puyallup Fairgrounds, reef fish, reports, restaurants, rockfish, rooster fish, rooster fish foundation, sailfish, saltwater, san jose del cabo, school, school kids, scuba, sea bass, sea of cortez, sealions, shuttle, sierra, snapper, snorkel, spearfish, suenos, swim, tackle, Tailhunter International, tailhunter restaurant bar, techniques, tips, tour, tourism, travel, trolling, tuna, tuna jackpot tournament, updates, vacation, video, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, weather, western outdoor news, whale watching, whales, whaleshark, wife, women, yellowtail on July 19, 2015| Leave a Comment »

TWO CENTS WORTH

Originally Published the Week of July 22, 2015 in Western Outdoor News

There was a time…

A penny bought you a piece of Bazooka Bubble Gum.

A nickel got you a pack of trading cards.

A dime was worth a comic book.

A buck was a month’s subscription to the daily newspaper…delivered to your doorstep.

Now…

A dollar isn’t even a good tip.

Five bucks won’t get you a gallon of gas

Twenty bucks in your nephew’s birthday card…you might as well have given him underwear.

A hundred dollars barely fills your gas tank

A few weeks ago, we had a small tournament here with our fishing fleet in La Paz. Not a big deal. But a fun deal!

After all, we have a bunch of pangas. But, we had a great time. It was sponsored by Western Outdoor News.

There was a small jackpot at the end. When I say, “small” no one was going to be able to buy a new condo with it or have to worry about getting an IRS audit. Our little soiree was not on the level of any Bisbee’s or Gold Cup event.

But, $600 bucks is $600 bucks, right?

The winner, Bill, got his prize and did two really cool things. He picked up everyone’s tab for the awards dinner.

Then, he simply donated the balance of more than $400 to us at Tailhunter for a scholarship fund my wife helps sponsor here in La Paz. Specifically, the money was donated to the FANLAP scholarship program which helps economically disadvantaged students.

I knew Jill had been working with this organization before. She admirably works with a lot of them. I can’t keep ‘em all straight. God bless her. And I was gratefully amazed at the wonderful gesture.

But, then I found out what $400 really gets you. It changes a life. It could be the difference between working in a taco stand and sweeping floors for life. Or something better…much better.

You see here in Mexico, most never get past 6^th grade. That’s all the schooling that’s guaranteed. Imagine how far your kid would get with a 6^th grade education. Many kids come from homes where the parents may not read or write either.

After 6^th grade, assuming they make it that far, a family has to decide if it can or will send a child further. It’s a big hardship.

Usually, a boy is chosen. He’s the potential future breadwinner. Girls, it is felt, will only get married and pregnant (not necessarily in that order), so the education isn’t warranted.

Four hundred dollars keeps a kid in school for a year. A whole entire year. It provides uniforms, shoes, food, school supplies, transportation from outlying areas and so much more. Four hundred bucks is what some American kids spend on an outfit or their gym clothes.

FANLAP started in 2005 with five scholarships and now does 20-30 a year. Totally non-profit. No high-paid executives or fancy buildings. No gala fundraisers. Everything to help a kid get a bit more of a future with opportunities.

In return, the kids must keep up their grades and perform community service such as cleaning or painting in the neighborhood; covering graffiti or tutoring other students. Win-win for everyone.

I’m not writing this to pimp the program, but rather to point out in a day-and-age, when it seems a kid “needs” $200 Air Jordans; a $100 cell phone; and $100 designer jeans just for the first day of school, there’s still some value in our “disposable income.”

In Mexico, four hundred bucks keeps a kid in school for a whole year!

And I’m also applauding the generous hearts. Bill’s gesture caused several other participants at our event to also slip Jill an envelope. Several of our clients, since then, heard what happened and have also given us donations. Another amigo, himself a retired educator, is in the process of setting up funding to take a youngster all the way through high school, and possibly college.

As one of them told me, “When I think about what I blow in Vegas in an evening or what I spend to take the family out for the evening… can keep a kid in school and change their future…yea…that makes a difference. That’s a good investment.”

It’s about value. And values. The important ones.

That’s my story!

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

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

“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.”

A CHANGE IS GONNA COME…MAYBE!

When you do the same thing in the same place in the same way for a couple of decades almost every single day…and you’re successful…it can be hard to change what’s not broken!

A CHANGE IS GONNA COME…MAYBE

Originally Published the Week of July 7, 2015 in Western Outdoor News

I have been asked often enough that I guess I should post up a column and hopefully get the issue covered.

When fishing is good, no one seems to question the techniques of their captain.

Over a decade ago, I had a group fishing here with us in La Paz at Tailhunters. Fishing had been great. Until they showed up.

Fishing was spotty at best. It was just a funky group of days. It happens. Even in Baja. It’s fishing. Fortunately, it’s a not common.

But, that’s usually when the second-guessing comes in. Boo. Hiss.

“Why did we pick these dates?”

“ We should we have come a week earlier/ later?”

“We should have gone to (pick a different Baja city) instead of here.”

“I think these captains don’t know what they’re doing. They do it differently in (pick another Baja city). “

“The captain never tried something different. He was just lazy.”

Ouch! The last few sting a bit. It presumes incompetence from guys who have done nothing else their whole lives. Who have probably fished in no other area their whole lives. Who not only make their livings in these waters, but depend on these waters to feed their kids. You usually get pretty good or your kids go hungry.

The day that group left, another group came in. Fishing went ballistic. Our guys were heroes again. As the group toasted and posed for photos and whooped and hollered, I said to my head captain, “Isn’t it amazing how much our captains learned in 24 hours?” He laughed.

He said something to me that I’ve never forgotten.

He said, “When I first started fishing with gringos, if I catch fish, the gringos will call me a Mexican god. If I do not catch fish, I’m a G—damn Mexican.” He laughed.

I never forgot that.

I think it was Einstein, a pretty smart guy, who said something like, “Idiocy is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”

Sometimes, it applies when clients say things like, “Why didn’t the captain try something different?” Basically, implying if the fish aren’t biting, why did he keep doing the same thing?

A lot of Baja captains have no idea what Einstein may or may not have said. Or even who Einstein is. Theory of what?

But, from what I’ve seen over my two decades here in Baja, most adhere to the adage, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it!”

I think what many fishermen forget is that, the method that may not be working now, was working yesterday. It worked last month. Last year. Ten years ago. For his daddy and probably his daddy’s daddy.

It may not be working AT THIS MOMENT but hell, it COULD work in the next 10 minutes! Let’s keep playing the odds. The system isn’t busted because no fish are biting…so far. But, it’s worked in the past and it will work in the future. Let’s stay with what usually works.

Kobe Bryant misses a few baskets, he keeps jacking up shots at the hoop. You don’t bench Hank Aaron because he strikes out a few times or tell him to “change your batting stance.” Peyton Manning won’t change his football grip because he threw two interceptions.

And so it goes. Often to the frustration of the client. But, only if it’s a slow day!

Remember, most of these guys running pangas and cruisers, have spent more days on the water in a month than most of us will spend our entire fishing careers. They’ll have caught more fish and seen more than you will ever see.

But, they are limited to what works. Slow to change from what has worked and slow to change to new ideas!

These guys have never fished anywhere else except their backyards. La Paz captains have no idea about fishing in Cabo and Cabo guys would probably have a hard time fishing in Loreto or Mulege.

They don’t read every fishing magazine. They don’t spend weekends at tackle stores or Bass Pro “hanging out” and fingering all the new toys. They don’t access social media and chat boards about the latest tips and techniques.

They don’t go to fishing shows or watch fishing videos. They don’t surf the internet reading fishing reports and they don’t read Facebook to see what their friends are catching down the coast.

So, they very likely don’t know about that new 4-speed reel you just brought down or the space age polymer line you have. Same with the “guaranteed-to-catch-fish lure everyone “must have” to fish Baja you bought at the fishing and hunting show in 6 assorted colors. Nor did they read the latest clinical tests that say tuna bite best 30-feet below the surface on a full moon.

They know what they know. And change moves glacially.

A perfect example. It took almost 10 years for my own captains to have faith in fluorocarbon line. They are still not sure why anyone needs braided line. They are leary of circle hooks!

We have two fleets that fish two different areas…La Paz and Las Arenas (Cerralvo Island). My captains are all related. The waters and species are the same.

One group fishes a little further north than the other but their operational areas do intersect. Surely, the fish don’t know or care! A dorado is a dorado. A marlin is a marlin!

But, my Las Arenas captains think my La Paz captains don’t know how to fish and vice versa. One group hates Rapalas and says only feathers work. The other group says only feathers work.

One set of captains insists on chumming the water with handfuls of bait (to keep the fish in an interested frenzy). The other group chums by tossing out one bait at a time (so the fish don’t get full and lose interest.).

Both sets of my captains are very successful. They have to be. Their incomes depend on it.

But, it will take more than me to convince them to make changes. And it will take more than one slow day or two to make them see differently. Nothing’s broke. Es la pesca! (It’s fishing!). Just keep doing the same thing a little harder until it works. Which it will!

That’s my story!

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

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

“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.”

TRIPPING ON TRAVEL INSURANCE?

Posted in 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, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charity, charters, chubasco, circle hooks, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, 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, 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 culture, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, 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, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged accommodations, activities, amberjack, bahia, baja, baja editor, baja sur, bars, bay, beach, billfish, blogs, blue water, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, cerralvo, certified scale, charter, children, chubasco, costa baja, day tour, deep sea, del mar fairgrounds, discount, dog tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tour, el sargento, espirito santo, extreme fishing, family, fish, fishing and boating shows, fishing and hunting shows, fishing sportfishing, flyfishing, fred hall, free dive, get-away, girls, grey whales, grouper, guide, guide service, holiday, hotel, hotel marina, hotel perla, hotel seven crown, hunting, hurricanes, idaho sportsman’s show, igfa, images, inshore, International Game Fish Association, international sportsmans expo, ise, isla, island, jack crevalle, jillene roldan, jilly roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, lodging, los barriles, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos, northwest sportsmans show, offshore, outfitter, pack for a purpose, package, panga, panga slam, pargo, photos, pompano, portland expo center, Puyallup Fairgrounds, reef fish, reports, restaurants, rockfish, rooster fish, rooster fish foundation, sailfish, saltwater, san jose del cabo, scuba, sea bass, sea of cortez, sealions, shuttle, sierra, snapper, snorkel, spearfish, storms, suenos, swim, tackle, Tailhunter International, tailhunter restaurant bar, techniques, tips, tour, tourism, travel, travel insurance, trolling, tuna, tuna jackpot tournament, updates, vacation, video, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, weather, western outdoor news, whale watching, whales, whaleshark, wife, women, yellowtail on June 21, 2015| Leave a Comment »

TRIPPING ON TRAVEL INSURANCE?

Originally Published the Week of June 23, 2015 in Western Outdoor News

A lot of you are like me. You run through the airport from Point A to Point B. Run…run…run!

You got your boarding pass in hand. Your suitcase, tackle and rod tubes are in the “gentle hands” of baggage handlers. Depending on the time of day, you get to the gate and your most critical concern is getting to either Starbucks for your morning latte or to the nearest airport sportsbar to wrap your hands around something icy. Let vacation begin!

You pass all the usual airport hot spots.

Nope, don’t need See’s candy. Don’t need a magazine or novel. You don’t need a souvenier t-shirt either.

And you run by the booth that says “Travel Insurance.” You give it a glance but not a second thought.

That was me for years. I didn’t even know what it was. I didn’t really care either. What could possibly go wrong? It’s vacation for criminy-sakes!

But, after a zillion miles of travel…after working here in Baja for 2 decades and over 1000 fishing clients-a-year…regretfully, stuff does happen.

Honest, it’s rare! Don’t panic. You probably have a greater chance of getting in an accident on the way to the airport than something critical happening on vacation.

But, for the same reason, we all have car insurance and home insurance, you’re playing those slim odds. It’s better to have it and not need it…than to need it and not have it!

And, the longer I’m in this business, the more I see the value in it. Because stuff happens. Life happens.

I’ve seen medical emergencies like busted legs and fingers; Appendicitis; allergic reactions; heart problems; diabetic problems; heatstroke, hooks-in-fingers; inspect bites; slip-and-fall; etc.

Some are just accidents. No one’s fault. Some could have been prevented by the person or perhaps with just a little less alcohol consumption.

There are others like lost luggage; lost medications (or forgotten medications!) and then there’s canceled flights; missed flights: fender-benders and hotel problems (one hotel decided to go on strike several years ago and simply locked clients out of their rooms!).

And then there are the weather-related situations (“acts of God”) that simply happen. There are hurricanes or smaller weather-related situations that can cause part or entire vacation cancelations.

Last week there were two days when the Port Captain simply did not let any boats out of the marina because it was too rough. You just never know.

Last year, when devastating hurricane Odile that slammed into Baja with historic impact, many of the items in the list above were quite evident.

There are still folks waiting for refunds and credits and having to deal with that nightmare. Some inexpensive travel insurance can help alleviate much of that.

Living here in Baja, where facilities might not always be the best, I’ll tell you…we have medical insurance that covers us. Jill also purchased a policy whereby in the event of a serious catastrophy like storm or civil unrest, etc. and we’re sitting on our rooftop, they will basically send in the Seal Team 6 to evacuate us out.

While that might be a bit extreme for the majority, regular trip insurance is pretty economical. And it saves a lot of headaches.

Because, let me tell you…getting refunds from many operators in Mexico is non-existent or very difficult.

Many simply don’t offer any refunds. Some may take months. (Do you really want to spend all that frustrating time on long-distance calls and e-mails? How good is your conversational Spanish? ).

In extreme situations, it will probably cost you more to bring legal action even if your booking agent is American based, let alone trying to sue an operator in Mexico. Litigation in Mexico is a maze you don’t want to get into. Danger. Danger!

Airlines are big and handle things like this all the time, but you still may have to jump through hoops.

A major hotel chain like the Marriot or other international chains may give you some relief. They can be really great…or not.

Or they’ll tell you that you have to deal directly with the local hotel franchise in which case you better get ready for some anxiety time. You can pretty much forget it if you booked at Jose’s Cantina and Palapa Hotel. Good luck reaching Jose!

If you google “Trip Insurance” you’ll be surprised.

You can actually insure against all of these crisis pretty easily and even “doctor” the policy to cover only the things you need. You can individualize medical, luggage, transporation, activities, etc.

Or, you can simply get a comprehensive policy that covers everything!

Just for example, I found one online plan to cover a hypothetical trip to Mexico for one week from the U.S. I estimated the cost of the trip at $2000 ($400 for airlines and the rest for hotel, fishing, diving, etc.).

For $72, the policy included things like:

$2000 in trip cancelation / $2000 in trip interruption

Terrorism coverage

$500 baggage lost

$200 baggage delay

$150 for more than 6 hours travel delay up to $300

$10,000 medical ($50 deductible)

$500 dental (never know when that flare up happens or you crack a tooth on ice)

$50,000 medical evacuation

And, I could adjust any of those areas for paying a bit more or a bit less!

For $500, I almost hoped they lose my bag with Walmart brand underwear, socks and my toothbrush and toothpaste!

And there are many other plans as well from a myriad of insurance carriers. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of pain. Something to think about next time!

That’s my story!

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Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

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