Originally Published in June of 2025 in Western Outdoor Publications
Probably the biggest question I get her from our fishing guests who visit us next to “How’s the fishing right now?” is “How much should I tip?”
It’s a good and valid question.
Just to get it outta the way, my wife and I are big tippers. We’re in the service industry and we know how hard service people work. It might make you cringe, but we tip regularly 20-30%.
Especially here in Mexico.
It might look like your waiter or taxi driver or boat captain is doing OK for themselves. Clean car. Or a great boat. Or an immaculate uniform.
But, look around as you drive through town. Check out what it’s like away from the tourist areas.
Yea, that’s where these folks live. Not like in the U.S.
There might be a whole family of 6 living in that 2 BR flat. And only one of them works. No TV, car, microwave, etc. Things we kinda take for granted.
That taxi driver you used…you you might be his only fare for the day despite what it looks like.
That boat captain…it’s not his boat. He pays the owner of the business or owner of the boat, 80% of what you paid to go fishing.
So that extra few dollars might be pretty big to that person.
And here’s something few folks know.
You got your tab for a great meal. Service was good. Ambience and food were excellent. Waiter was super.
You want to use your credit card. No problem.
But, as if often the case, they request the tip money in cash. So it’s always a good reason to bring cash with you for your night out. Especially at the nicer places.
But, why cash?
And your waiter was great. Is 20% enough? You gave him 25% and while he was appreciative his attitude seemed a little less appreciative than you might expect.
We own a restaurant here in La Paz.
Here’s what’s going on.
The reason they request cash is because at the end of the shift, the staff including the wait staff, busboys, hostess, cashier, kitchen staff, cooks…THEY SPLIT THE TIPS!
So, your super waiter just got $50 in tips? He doesn’t get to pocket it all. He has to put it into the common tip jar for the staff.
It goes right in there with the $10 tip for the lousy waiter who is a slouch and isn’t nearly as competent as your guy or, in some cases, couldn’t care less about good service. It’s just a job.
So, here’s what happens at the end of the shift…the “kitty” gets split up before they all go home.
And here’s the rub. Shhhhh…it’s all a secret.
Y’see as owners of a restaurant, we can’t ask about the tips. We can’t ask how much each person gets. We have no idea.
The employees elect some one as their “trusted” head guy. Usually an older guy or someone who has some seniority.
We can’t ask who he is!
They have something agreed upon where each person gets a pre-agreed portion. But, it doesn’t have to be logical or even fair.
Three cooks might get completely different shares. The great waiter you had might get a smaller share than the terrible waiter.
And they are counting on the head guy and trusting him to do the right thing with the money. There’s nothing to stop that person from pocketing a “little extra” as we have sometimes found out later.
Remember, we’re not allowed to ask or interfere with how tips are distributed.
In many ways it’s very socialistic. “From each according to their abilities. To each according to their needs.”
So, on the backside, it doesn’t reward excellence. It does not motivate anyone to be better or do better. So, that might explain why you got beans instead of French fries or your salad got served after your main meal.
You just never know. So, we still tip generously for good service. For sure, that waiter will at least remember us next time. Everyone will remember! It’s just good form.
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter Sportfishing Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com . They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
Originally Published in Western Outdoor Publications the Week of July 12, 2025
No question about it. Baja is booming. There isn’t a week that goes by that someone doesn’t ask me about real estate or a real estate agent.
Or they arrive at our restaurant and during conversation they tell me they are looking for real estate or have already purchased their house, condo or lot.
It’s probably a bit like where you live. You remember bare land and empty hills that are now blanketed with development.
In our case, the magic word is “beachfront” or “ocean-view.”
I don’t know many folks who come here to buy a piece of “dusty desert.” You can do that in plenty of places in the U.S.
Nope. I get it, everyone wants that dream home or vacation spot. It’s an attractive proposition.
I mean, relatively speaking, purchasing down here with a view or great location is expensive (in my small brain). Easily approaching or over that 7 -figure price tag.
But, unless you’ve got really deep pockets, there’s no way you could touch this kind of real estate in the U.S. where 1 bedroom condos fetch those same 7-figures. OUCH.
So, let’s buy in Baja!
From where I’m sitting right now in my office, I look around and see lots of very expensive custom houses surrounding the nearby hills.
The local colonial houses are all being snapped up as well and being “remodeled” and updated by new owners as well. There’s a huge ridge of condos behind us now and new construction can be seen everywhere.
Baja is a good place to set up.
There’s just one catch. And it’s a big one. It’s in the fine print somewhere. I’m sure of it.
Even if it isn’t, there’s that saying “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.”
A few years ago, a bunch of homeowners who owned some pricey villas on a local bay, put up a dirt berm to block the ingress to the beach in front of their homes. A 3-foot high dirt wall blocking the road.
It surely prevented folks from driving over to water’s edge.
That included anyone who didn’t own one of the beach castles there in the enclave.
Well, it also prevented dozens of panga captains from getting to and from their fishing boats. This was a spot they had been using for generations. It’s how they made their living either as commercial fishermen or taking clients sportfishing.
Several local pueblo villages and their resident families depended on the use of this beach. Like several hundred people.
Well, the homeowners manned the barricades and railed against the locals that “WE OWN THE BEACH.” And “destroying their view from their homes” and “no privacy” Blah blah blah.
It got pretty tense. Folks living off the sea pretty much hand-to-mouth rallying against indignant entitled obnoxious rich gringos feeling under siege in their beach castles.
The homeowners weren’t backing down.
So, in comes the cavalry. And it wasn’t to rescue the beleaguered homeowners.
The government sent in a bulldozer to knock down the barriers. Problem solved.
Let’s get back to work. The kids need food!
Stuff like this happens more often than you might think.
Here’s the thing. You are welcome to build that dream house or move into that beach villa. But you do NOT and CANNOT own the beach.
The beach lawfully belongs to the people. You are not entitled to block access or chase people off “your” beach, Karen!
You are not entitled to build barriers, berms, walls or fences that block the right to enter the beach.
Certain activities might get waivers for example a water-front restaurant, but that still does not allow the business owners to stop whoever wants access to the beach and water.
It might mean you’re gonna get folks messing up your gorgeous view or loud music you’d rather now hear. Or people splashing in your ocean and more trash than you want.
Or not.
But it could happen. Pick your spots carefully.
Understandable.
The reality is that the beach belongs to you, but not exclusively to you. You have to share and play nice with everyone.
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter Sportfishing Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com . They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
IS WILLY INVITING ME TO PLAY OR INVITING ME TO “DINNER?”
IS WILLY OK WITH THIS?
Originally Published the Week of June 15, 2025 in Western Outdoor Publications
Down here in La Paz where we’ve run our fishing operation for some 30 years now. There’s a fishing area that’s really popular. And it can have some spectacular fishing.
It’s the area between Punta Arenas and Cerralvo Island. It’s known for big fish…lots of fish…specifically at times of the year it’s famous for roosterfish.
Back-in-the-day, there would be us and maybe another fleet or three or four. At most, maybe 10 pangas fishing the whole area.
It often felt like the whole Sea of Cortez was yours.
Over the years, it has grown tremendously in popularity.
Especially during this time of year, there can be dozens of pangas on the water. Everyone still does well, but sigh…it does make one long for the “good old days.”
There’s room on the ocean for everyone, I guess.
The only ones we’ve really come to hate is when Mexican or Asian commercial fishing vessels have intruded into the area and “harvested.”
One wrap…two wraps of giant nets and the ocean goes empty. Laying long lines across the ocean and so many indiscriminate species are killed.
Well, that subject is for another article and another day.
Lately, when out on the water, we’ve noticed helicopters buzzing the fishing grounds. That kinda sends shivers because the commercial big boys use choppers to spot the schools of fish.
Everyone goes on alert. Hackles are up.
But, as we’ve come to find out, these choppers aren’t looking for schools of fish. At least not in the traditional senses.
We’ve noticed a lot of strange pangas and boats chasing around and following the choppers too. They’re full of tourists not fishermen!
We’ve seen 6, 8…a dozen pangas running helter-skelter all over under the choppers.
What’s going on?
Well…here’s the latest…
The boats are full of folks wanting to swim with orcas. Yup…that’s right Killer Whales. Willy and friends!
The biggest smartest apex predator in the ocean. Great white sharks? C’mon…killer whales eat them for breakfast! Funny dolphins? They look so cute in the ocean!
I was on a fishing boat once. I saw an orca toss a dolphin up out’ve the water. In mid-air it caught the spinning dolphin and crunched it in a huge spray of blood.
Uh…we moved our boat. No fish gonna be around after that!
I’ve seen killer whales toss sealions in the air like nerf balls!
So, all these companies are now selling “Swim with the Orcas” trips!
Yes, you too can jump in the water with these giants! Get in on it. Amaze your friends!
You’ll get lots of “clicks” on your youtube post and a zillion “likes” on your Facebook page. Or course, Willy will be happy to take a selfie with you!
I think some of these folks are the same folks who walk up to buffalo in Yellowstone Park or grizzly bears and take selfies or try to pet them.
Let’s think about this for a moment.
I’m a trained SCUBA divemaster. I grew up in Hawaii. In the water and above the water. I’ve worked as a scuba and snorkel guide. I’ve got thousands of water hours.
I’ve swam with schools of hammerheads and other sharks. I’ve dove with giant squid. Many times, I’ve played with whalesharks and dolphin. I kinda know my way around the water.
But, hey…these are called “KILLER WHALES!” Has everyone forgotten?
Joe and Martha from Kansas have not spent much time in the ocean.
I have been around killer whales.
I’ve had them swim around our boats. I’ve had them “playfully” bump our boats. It kinda looks like they are grinning at you. Then they open their mouths and show you all those teeth.
And yes, I’ve been to Sea World and other water theme parks and watch them do tricks .
I have never ever seen one act with malicious intent towards people.
The events I mentioned above with dolphin and sealions? That’s just orcas doing what orcas do.
These are wild animals. These are wild animals in their own environment.
And unlike sharks and other predators, I have no doubt these are smart intelligent animals. They think.
Even if they are “playing” this is a 25-foot animal that can weigh up to 6 tons. They can swim in 40 mph bursts. Faster than a shark. Faster than a dolphin.
Ever been hit by a truck going 40 mph? Ever had one fall on you?
Many years ago, in Bahia Magdalena, they allowed divers to scuba dive with the “gentle” gray whales in the shallow bay. One of the whales wanted to have some fun.
It “gently” tossed one diver into the air. Caught him on it’s nose then drove him some 30’ into the bottom! No malicious intent.
Just doing what whales do! Almost killed the guy. Just an accident of course.
Scuba with the gray whales has since been prohibited.
I keep thinking what happens when one of these orcas decides to get frisky and playful? Or worse yet…what if Willy gets irritated about being chased all over the ocean by pesky helicopters and boats full of people?
How would YOU react?
There are currently no rules or regulations about swimming with orcas. And many outfitters are seeing the potential to cash-in on the cash cow.
No training needed. No guide needed. No regulations. I heard it’s $3000 to rent a panga to chase the orcas. Snorkel and mask? Sure, jump in!
All it’s gonna take is one accident.
Personally, I’m gonna stay in the boat this round. I’ll go swim with the sharks!
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter-international.com. They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
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