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THE UNIVERSAL EQUALIZER

Posted in Airline flights to Mexico, airlines, aquaculture, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, camping, car, catch and release, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, ceviche, charity, charters, christmas, chubasco, circle hooks, Coronavirus Baja Mexico, crankbait, deep sea, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, first aid, fish, fish farming, fish pens, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing hooks, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, giant squid, green, Heat stroke, highway, historical, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, hurricanes, ice chests, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, luggage, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican church cathedral, Mexican culture, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, mexican road crosses, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, midriff islands, missions, orca, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, posada, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, sailfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, seri indians, sierra, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, taco, taco stand, Tailhunter International, techniques, testing facilities mexico airport, tiburon island, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, water, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia, Baja Mexico, beaches, billfish, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, Cerralvo Island, charter, coronavirus in Mexico, deep sea, diving, dog-tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tours, espirito santo island, family, fish, Fishing, fishing report, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing video, fly fishing, fly fishing. Spearfishing, Fubar Cocina Cantina, gray whales, grey whales, guide, holiday, igfa, inshore, jack crevalle, jill roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, los barriles, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos bay, offshore, outfitter, package, panga, pargo, pompano, rooster fish, sailfish, scuba, sea lions, sea of cortez, seabass, sierra, snorkeling, sportfishing, suenos bay, swimming, tailhunter restaurant, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on February 5, 2026| Leave a Comment »

THE UNIVERSAL EQUALIZER

Originally Published the Week of Jan. 20, 2026 in Western Outdoor Publications

You may have heard the saying that “music is the universal language.” There’s a lot of logic to that.

But, I have a different take and twist on that.

In all my decades in the fishing industry and thousands of guest and fishing clients, I think there’s a corollary.

“Fishing is the universal equalizer.”

There might be others, but off the top of my head, I can’t think of another sport where an animal can level the playing field across the board.

An animal with a brain the size of a pea has the ability to cause such a wide-ranging effect on anyone who has ever wetted a line.

Like the nursery rhyme, it can cast it’s blowback over “rich men…poor men…begger man and thief…doctors…lawyers…Indian chiefs” as a matter of course.

There is no immunity.

I have seen anglers who flew in their private jets or live on private islands…CEO’s…and royalty reduced to tears by fish.

Just as easily I have seen strong men of lesser means that have figuratively had their hearts and spirits broken as easily as a fishing line or rods.

Big fish…small fish…

Likewise, I have seen the elation and joy that crosses all boundaries.

First-timers, old-timers and hardcore anglers laughing and high-fiving deliriously or collapsing in exhaustion with big smiles on their faces and shaking arms.

Kids wide-eyed and proud and parents with puffed-out chests just as proud taking or posing for photo after photo.

Wives, girlfriends and significant others strutting over catching bigger fish than anyone else. Or more fish!

Even moreso, these wily elusive fish-creatures equalize us all in a different way.

In this day-and-age, there are so many divisive things in our lives. There’s politics, religion, economics and a plethora of other things.

Fishing kinda brings us all together.

There is the heartbreak of loss and frustration that we have all shared at one time or another. But there is also the shared euphoria and intoxication of the sport and the catch.

There are stories to tell. Adventures to share. Experiences that pervade, delight, sympathize and laugh about.

There are bragging rights and good-natured competition and one-up- manship. Not just in the immediate moment, but long into the future with each re-telling of the story, experience or joke.

It’s in our genetic make-up. Like the hunter-gatherer who returned to his primordial cave or hut to give an accounting to eager ears. There are no class or economic lines when you’re telling stories about the one that got away.

Or telling and re-telling the story about the great beast that did NOT get away. Age is relative. Everyone likes a good story whether it’s an 18” trout or a 100-pound tuna.

It’s how you tell the story!

And then there’s the fun part.

Smack talking and humor. If you can’t talk smack when you fish, maybe you should try playing chess.

Give and take. Give a friendly jab and take one! Horseplay. Being kids again.

All of us.

Folks who might never associate with each other away from the sport are laughing and talking shop.

The potato farmer with the New York stock broker. The social director at the country club with the soccer mom. The electrician and the rabbi. The guy from Japan and the guy from Poland. Trading stories. Telling tales. Having a beer together.

All because of this animal with the little brain.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter 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!

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter Sportfishing

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

U.S. Mailing Address: Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA 91942

Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863
.

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

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g

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

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BEST DAY EVER!

BEST DAY EVER!

Originally Published the Week of Jan. 9, 2026 in Western Outdoor Publications

For almost 40 years now I’ve been putting folks on boats to go fishing. Dare, I say there have been thousands? Gosh, where did the time go?

I’ve been in Mexico THAT long?

We look up and another fishing season has gone by. I look back and think of all the faces and names, smiles and laughs that have blessed me along the wonderful journey.

There’s that old saying, “If you like what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Sure, there are down days and up days and some are better than others. But, if the saying above is true, then I’ve been on an extended vacation for more than a few decades.

I would not have changed a thing.

But, looking back, I think I’ve changed how I looked at things.

Back in the days, it was about numbers!

Folks would come back from a day on the water or I’d be waiting on the beach or docks.

My first words would be something like “So how many did you catch?”

Numbers…numbers…numbers.

A good day on the water was defined by how many fish in the box.

Did we get more than yesterday?

Did Joe catch more than Bob?

How many did Tim lose or did Mary catch more than husband Dave?

Or did the kids catch more than their dad?

Did one of my captains catch more than another of my captains?

Did my fleet catch more than the other fleet?

That was the major criterion. Fish counts.

Quantity.

Of course within limits, but if the numbers were good then the smiles were big and broad. The stories and tall tales were better at happy hour around the pool. The ice chests were heavier flying home.

Somehow along the way, quantity took a bit more of a back seat.

Of course, I want folks to catch fish. That’s business. That’s why they come down to see us in Mexico over-and-over.

But these past few years, I caught myself doing something different.

I don’t ask how many fish got caught or who caught the most.

More likely, I tend to ask…

“Did you have fun?”

“Did you have a great day?”

Did you enjoy yourselves?”

Sure, they’ll tell me about their fish and numbers do pop up into the conversation.

But insofar as I used to crave hearing, “We caught limits,” now I listen for something else. Maybe something even more important.

Hearing, “We had the BEST DAY EVER!” lights me up.

Hearing, “I could not have imagined it would be THAT fun!” Or

“What a great time with my kids (or family)!”

“We had an unforgettable day that we will always remember!”

“Watching my kid catch his/ her first fish was the best. They can’t wait to fish again!”

Yup…those kinda comments.

The fishing gets them here. The memories keep them coming back.

Just the other day, one guest said, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip that I have always dreamed about. I saved a long time to come down and I doubt I’ll make it back. But, I had an incredible adventure and I will never forget it.”

Those are the kinds of comments that I’m treasuring the most these days.

I used to keep track of which of my captains caught the most or biggest fish. I stopped that.

Now, I tend to keep score on which of my captains have the biggest “fun factor.”

“My captain sang funny songs all day while we fished!”

“Our captain was so great and patient with my kids!”

“My captain told us all about his family and his wife made some ceviche to share with us while we were fishing.”

“He brought us to a beach at the island so my wife and I could jump in the water.”

Life’s too short not to have fun. Every day should be the BEST DAY EVER!”

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter Sportfishing

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g

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

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AN IMMERSIVE CHRISTMAS

Posted in Airline flights to Mexico, airlines, aquaculture, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, camping, car, catch and release, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, ceviche, charity, charters, christmas, chubasco, circle hooks, Coronavirus Baja Mexico, crankbait, deep sea, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, first aid, fish, fish farming, fish pens, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing hooks, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, giant squid, green, Heat stroke, highway, historical, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, hurricanes, ice chests, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, luggage, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican church cathedral, Mexican culture, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, mexican road crosses, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, midriff islands, missions, orca, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, posada, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, sailfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, seri indians, sierra, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, taco, taco stand, Tailhunter International, techniques, testing facilities mexico airport, tiburon island, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, water, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia, Baja Mexico, beaches, billfish, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, Cerralvo Island, charter, coronavirus in Mexico, deep sea, diving, dog-tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tours, espirito santo island, family, fish, Fishing, fishing report, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing video, fly fishing, fly fishing. Spearfishing, Fubar Cocina Cantina, gray whales, grey whales, guide, holiday, igfa, inshore, jack crevalle, jill roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, los barriles, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos bay, offshore, outfitter, package, panga, pargo, pompano, posada, rooster fish, sailfish, scuba, sea lions, sea of cortez, seabass, sierra, snorkeling, sportfishing, suenos bay, swimming, tailhunter restaurant, Tailhunter Sea Level, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on December 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

AN IMMERSIVE CHRISTMAS

Originally Published the Week of Dec. 11, 2025 in Western Outdoor Publications

It’s pretty hard to escape Christmas if you live down here in Mexico. It sorta lands right on you when you definitely aren’t ready for it. This is especially true if you are used to other holiday traditions.

In the U.S. there’s no escaping “Black Friday” shopping. It used to be the big day AFTER Thanksgiving. Now, it starts well before that! Almost every day if Black Friday!

But, in Mexico…BAM! Right on your head.

Reminders of Christmas smack you about August! Just when it’s still over 100 degrees and humid outside. Right when you’re still running around in shorts and your flip-flops.

In Mexico, there is no Thanksgiving per se. And although the concept if Halloween is growing, it’s just a little bump on the calendar for a few hours one night.

In Mexico, the stores already have decorations in their displays. There are ribbons taped on merchandise and all kinds of “sales and discounts.”

In the parking lots of the big stores, giant circus tents have been erected. That’s where all the toys are stockpiled and folks are already shopping and putting things on layaway.

There’s a brisk sale on artificial Christmas trees, ornaments and lights. By mid-November, there are even some lots in the cities selling “Fresh Oregon Christmas trees!”

Honestly, if you wait until December, there’s a good chance you’ll be outta luck. Toys will have been picked over. Lights and ornaments long sold out. And they’re not gonna re-order.

You’ll find empty shelves.

Fortunately, there’s Amazon, but back in the day, you’d be stuck. Even with Amazon, you pay a premium price on things.

Additionally, delivery can still take longer than promised. Delays are not unusual depending on where you live.

That being said, if you’re coming down to visit during the holidays, you’ll probably run into many of the same things you would have seen back home.

…except snow! The only “snow” will be in your ice chest or margarita glass.

But that’s where you need to embrace the differences. Mexico adds a completely different magic and charm to the Christmastime ambience.

In the larger cities, wander downtown. Usually around the town square or plaza or the older historical parts of town there’s always something going on.

In December, local vendors will set up their booths about the beginning of December and every night during the holidays, they’ll be out there selling clothes, toys, hats, leather goods, shoes, belts pinatas, knick-knacks and more. Basically, a Christmas craft and street fair.

Plus there’s usually music from live bands or wandering musicians and ALWAYS lots of food vendors! The aroma of carne asada tacos, street corn and churros pulls you in like a tractor beam.

It’s really the place to be for families. Old friends visit and chat. Couples stroll and the young boys and girls try to impress each other…like anywhere else!

Don’t be surprised if Santa also makes an appearance!

Most of the larger cities also have colorful festive Christmas parades along the waterfront with some impressive floats and marching groups. Expect most of the city to show up to party.

If there’s a marina, you can bet there will also be a boat parade with vessels draped in creative lights and the whole waterfront will be lined with partygoers. If there are multi-storied restaurants along the waterfront, go early and get a good sea to watch!

Also, many of the churches host “posadas” which means “inn.” They commemorate Joseph and Mary looking for shelter during that first Christmas.

The events are elegant candlelight affairs and will usually feature a slow walking procession of celebrants, usually led by the priests, padres or monks followed by whomever wants to join in or carry a candle.

These usually take place in the older historic parts of the cities.

They often take on the air or solemnity but are actually often a joyous affair along the crowd-lined streets. Usually there is wonderful singing and musicians like guitar players who accompany the procession.

The posada usually starts or ends at the church, but it usually culminates with food! Food seems to be an underlying theme to all Christmas celebrations.

Another great excuse for Chrismas tamales, tacos, churros and warm champurrado which is the Mexican version of hot chocolate (real chocolate and cinnamon and thickened with flour). If not in a local restaurant, then at someone’s house or several houses.

Sometimes, it’s a rotating affair from restaurant to restaurant or house-to-hous.

Join the procession and you’ll be welcomed to the party!

Feliz Navidad!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter Sportfishing

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g

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

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¡Bienvenidos Amigos!
Jonathan has written for:

Western Outdoor News
Western Outdoor News Magazine
Pacific Coast Sportfishing
Discover Baja Magazine
Baja Life Magazine
The Log
Fish Taco Chronicles
Sportsman's Channel Magazine

His articles also appear in:

San Diego Union Newspaper
Los Angeles Times Newspaper
Sacramento Bee
San Francisco Chronicle
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