Archive for the ‘squid fishing’ Category

AM I MISSING SOMETHING?

Posted in airlines, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, camping, car, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charters, circle hooks, Coronavirus Baja Mexico, crankbait, deep sea, dorado, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, first aid, fish, fish farming, fish pens, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing hooks, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, giant squid, Heat stroke, highway, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, luggage, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, midriff islands, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, seri indians, sierra, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storms, taco, taco stand, Tailhunter International, techniques, testing facilities mexico airport, tiburon island, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, 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 July 25, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Originally Published the Week of July 18, 2021 in Western Outdoor Publications

AM I MISSING SOMETHING?

I was sitting in our restaurant the other day here in La Paz. It’s kind of a big multi-story eatery over-looking the waterfront. Sometimes, it’s nice to bring my laptop upstairs to work.

I get some fresh breezes and sunshine. I get to people-watch all the goings-on downstairs on the beach. And I get to visit with folks a bit too.

It’s also difficult avoiding a bit of eaves-dropping and observing.

So, there’s one table over there with a family of five. Mom and dad. Three kids. Two girls and one boy. Maybe ranging from 12 (the girl) to 9 (the youngest boy).

No one is talking. At least not what I would call talking.

All of them, mom and dad included, are all on their cellphones. Tapping.

I think some of them are actually communicating with each other via text on their phones rather than just looking up and saying something to the other family member.

The only conversation I hear is a comment about what they are reading, but loud enough for the rest of the table to hear…and comment. If anyone else is interested.

Random comments just thrown out there like playing cards on the table…

“I simply CANNOT believe it, Shelly broke up with Lance over the phone.”

“Did you see where Danny and Elaine are finally engaged?”

“Wait, hold on, I’m streaming the NBA finals and the Bucks are down by two”

Even when the food arrived or when one of my servers asked them something, there was merely a perfunctory one or two-word response before getting back to whatever was no that tiny screen.

Tap…tap…tap…thumbs flying. Somehow mastered the ability to eat and type at the same time.

But who am I to judge, right? There musta been some really important critical communication going on at that table. (“Joes’ family gets to go to Hawaii next month!” “Our neighbors got a new dog!” )

There was another family next to them.

Family of four. One girl. One boy.

Ages 10-12…maybe. Honest. Hard to tell.

She kinda dressed like a boy…torn jeans…cropped hair…baseball hat. He was dressed in lanky stovepipe pants that were pastel-colored with and hot pink t-shirt.

Mom and dad were very nice and conversant when I visited the table to make sure everything was OK.

Kids…hmmmm…

Never took their sunglasses off. Oozing attitude. Bored. Disaffected.

“Why are we here when we could be somewhere else?” unsaid behind the smirks.

One of the boys said, “Can you turn down the music? It bothers me.”

Said what he said and I was “dismissed” to go turn down the Jimmy Buffet music I had in the background.

No “please” or “thank you.”

Yessireee…right on it, young master.

Parents not affected by the attitude.

They had a hard time finding something on the menu for the boys.

“Are your chicken wings as good as Buffalo Wild Wings? That’s our favorite and that’s the only place we eat them. “

“Do you have more things on the menu to choose from? Mostly, you have Mexican food and I don’t like tortillas. Or cheese. Or beans.”

They eventually ordered plain hot dogs on buns and had two orange soda floats each and pretty much ate in silence. Like they couldn’t wait to get out and why’d mom and and dad drag us out here?

Sunglasses never came off. One kid never took his ear plugs outta his ears.

Down the other end. Dad and two boys. Young teens. I wasn’t quite sure if both were his sons, but it might have been a son with a chum along on the trip.

I got the impression this was an absentee dad. Maybe a divorce? Out to take his son out on a trip. Some bonding time.

I heard him talking to them about maybe some beach time. How about a snorkel trip to swim with the sealions? Or maybe do some fishing or kayaking!

Hot dang! We’ll have a great time, boys! What d’ya say?

He was really excited and trying hard to sell the activities.

The boys…pasty-white complexions that never go outside…and stylishly-gelled hair…

Wanted to know where they could get massages and a manicure and pedicure. And if the hotel had NETFLIX.

Dad was a bit crestfallen. Understandably.

Am I missing something? I had to ask myself. What’s going on?

This kinda stuff is not uncommon from what I see…almost daily.

I don’t think I’m missing anything.

I think THEY are missing something. The kids AND the parents. On so many levels.

I wanted them to get excited about the view of the ocean or the sunset or even an “OOOooo”and “Ahhhh…” over a dumb plate of nachos. Or the anticipation of jumping in the water or going fishing.

But no.

Yea…there’s a lot missing these days.

Maybe it’s just me. I’m old and old school. Not hip enough.

My wife Jill says I’m “outdated” because I still use e-mail and all our grown kids use Instagram and Tik Tok and Twitter and Whatsapp and…and…and..

Can’t keep up with all those social platforms. I miss plain conversation with my own family. Obviously, these families don’t miss it at all.

Yup! Life has just passed me by. But, I haven’t missed much. Just eavesdropping and watching the tables.

And taking it all in. And thinking with a smirk of my own.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com.

They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

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

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

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

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

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

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

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

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TRAVEL TO MEXICO SOARS…Planes not so much!

Posted in airlines, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, camping, cerralvo island, charity, charters, chubasco, Coronavirus Baja Mexico, crankbait, deep sea, dorado, 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, Heat stroke, holidays in mexico, hurricane, ice chests, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, luggage, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, midriff islands, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, roosterfish, San Jose del Cabo, Sea of Cortez, seafood, seri indians, sierra, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storms, suitcases, taco, taco stand, Tailhunter International, techniques, testing facilities mexico airport, tiburon island, tourism, tours, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, 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 July 10, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Mexico has become the go-to place for Americans as things open up. It’s an easy get-away. It’s economical. It’s easy to get home.

More Americans are choosing Mexico over the rest of the Covid-recovering world.

Travel to Mexico is booming in all the usual places. Cancun, Puerta Vallarta. Cozumel. Cabo San Lucas.

It might not be back to where it was pre-2020, but it’s surely trending that way. There are reports that flight travel, in general, is just about where it used to be.

Just one problem.

The airlines weren’t quite ready for it to boom back this much or this fast.

Therefore, just as summer travel is hitting it’s stride, travelers are finding there’s some disconcerting hurdles to straddle

Frankly, flights are getting delayed, changed and canceled with regularity. Most recently American Airlines, Southwest and others have been cancelling over 100 flights per day. This does not begin to count the flights that are changed, delayed or re-routed.

Insofar as my wife and I have dozens of clients per week flying here to La Paz to fish with our fleet, I would venture to say that at least 30% have had their flights changed…often several times from the original…and sometimes at the last minute.

Maybe 40% have delayed flights where they either had unexpected waits at the airport or while sitting on the plane.

Perhaps 10% have had their flights outright cancel. Arriving a day or two later than planned, this has created issues with losing hotel nights as well as activities such as fishing.

If a replacement flight can even be found. With many flights full, it’s not always a possibility. Also, not all airlines fly every day.

Going home to the U.S. has sometimes been an issue as well, although usually not as much.

A big problem has been with connecting flights. If one connecting flight is cancelled or extensively delayed, then there is no way for a passenger to make their next flight in a timely fashion.

To some degree, the airlines point to the spat of bad weather that has hit the U.S. since the beginning of the year.

However, not withstanding Mother Nature’s capricious whims, the bigger problem is a result of Covid.

Many airlines layed-off thousands of employees last year. Many employees were encouraged to accept retirement packages.

Now with travel zooming back, like many industries, there’s a shortage of employees.

Running an airlines is a little more complicated than teaching someone to flip burgers.

One doesn’t suddenly find or train flight attendants in the classified section. You can’t train a jet pilot overnight. Aircraft mechanics and maintenance personnel don’t attend a 1 week night-class to get certified. Ground crews can’t be found on Craig’s List.

So, it’s just one more thing to keep an eye out for.

There are several things you can do.

For one, don’t assume the airline is going to tell you about changes. Seems kinda logical and good business, but that’s not always the case.

I’ve had several clients who were never informed of changes until THE DAY of TRAVEL.

I’ve had several others who never found out until they were AT THE AIRPORT.

One was told, “Well…we’re sorry. We tried to call you yesterday and also sent an e-mail, but no one answered.” That’s right up there with “The check is in the mail.”

Do yourself a favor and check…constantly! Especially as the trip gets closer, don’t be the person who turns off their e-mails and instant messages the last day they leave the office. Be pro-active and avoid surprises.

Be prepared for the possibility of delay.

Bring a book. Bring your medications. Bring a jacket. If there’s a bunch of delays and your flight isn’t until the next day, just assume that any nearby hotel will be full or just not worth the hassle.

So, figure out what you’re gonna do for a few hours sitting in an airport chair or in the restaurant or bar.

One of those goofy neck pillows isn’t a bad idea. Even if you’re not having to spend time in the airport, if you’re stuck sitting on the tarmac in your plane for an extra hour or two, you’ll be grateful you had a neck pillow.

The biggest thing to do is something I have advocated for years.

It’s trip insurance. Google it up . There’s a zillion different companies and plans that will very economically insure pretty much anything on your vacation to missed flights; to missed kayak trips; to lost hotel nights or other plans .

A week has not gone by lately where I was not assisting one of our clients help file a claim for compensation because of an airline SNAFU.

Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

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

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

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

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

Read Full Post »

OLD STOGIES I HAVE FOUND…SHORT BUT NOT TOO BIG AROUND!

Posted in airlines, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo island, charters, chubasco, Coronavirus Baja Mexico, crankbait, deep sea, dorado, driving, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, fish, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing hooks, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, giant squid, holidays in mexico, hurricanes, ice chests, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, luggage, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexico, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, midriff islands, outfitters, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, pompano, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, sierra, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storms, suitcases, 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, wahoo, 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 July 1, 2021| 1 Comment »

trailer

OLD STOGIES I HAVE FOUND…SHORT BUT NOT TOO BIG AROUND

Originally Published the Week of June 24, 2021 in Western Outdoor Publications

I don’t know why Roger Miller’s classic lines in “King of the Road” always pop into my head at times like these.

I am currently “hiding” on the closed 2^nd floor of our Tailhunter Restaurant in La Paz trying to come up with something to write about.

To be honest, I’m looking out over the waterfront and late afternoon sunset over La Paz Bay. My laptop is out and I just can’t think of anything. Brain-dead syndrome.

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But, I do have a cigar that I’m gently puffing on and a short 2 fingers of Pendleton whiskey to sip. Perfect to dip the end of my cigar.

I feel a bit guilty. The blues and oranges of the sunset are looking like a Maxfield Parish sky. I can smell grilled carne asada in the breeze from our restaurant kitchen downstairs seeking me out.

Except for not having a clue about what to write about, I’m enjoying this bit of solitude up here on the deck; watching the world go by and frankly feeling like I’m living large.

…and then there’s Roger Miller in my head too!

I’m not a big cigar smoker. Never cared for the things until just a few years ago.

Good friends, Bart Hall (Fred Hall Fishing Shows) , John Pettey (Famous goldsmith) and the late great Jack Nilsen (Accurate Fishing Reels) invited me to an inner-sanctum tent at the Long Beach Fred Hall Fishing Show.

After knowing these guys the better part of 30 years, I had never received an invite to “the tent.” It’s kind of exclusive I heard.

I told them I don’t like cigars and don’t know how to smoke them.

But, I was also told that I would only get “one invitation.”

When 3 giants of the fishing industry invite you, it’s a good idea to go!

Over several hours, I was “indoctrinated.” Good stories and shots of whiskey, bourbon and wines helped seal the deal.

That started it.

If I’m lucky, I will enjoy maybe 2 cigars a month. If I’m really lucky, I’ll get to puff a cigar more than half-way before the phone rings or folks show up or I have to attend to someone or something related to our restaurant or fishing business.

I know smoking is bad for you. I”ve never smoked anything other than fish in my smoker.

My wife, Jilly gets major props for stopping cold turkey on cigarettes when we first got married.

But, I asked her if she minded me puffing a cigar now and then. She said absolutely not. It was one of the rare moments when she said that I stopped and slowed down for a few minutes.

It truly is.

And frankly, she’ll stop by and take a draw on my cigar now and then herself. I think she looks pretty good with a cigar in her hands. It’s kind of a dangerous look. Little rebel that she is.

Lately, I’ve seen more and more guys coming down either with cigars or asking me where to get cigars.

I’ll be honest, I’m not a cigar snob. I’m also a cheap bastard. Or, let’s just say I’m “economical.”

Many decades ago, I was flying down here to Baja and a friend asked if I would buy a box of Cuban cigars for him. I told him no problem.

Until I went to actually purchase some Cubans. Holy cow…I thought an entire box of Cubans would cost about $20 bucks! They were $20 PER CIGAR!

I came back with two cigars for him.

I’m in the budget class. Just like wine and tequila. I know what I like and it doesn’t have to be the most expensive. I”ll take a great cheeseburger over a terrible $40 steak any day of the week.

There’s a lot of excellent things that don’t necessarily come from the top shelf.

I cringe at the thought of paying a lot of money for a cigar I might only get to smoke for 5 minutes before I have to stamp it out because I get called away to do something.

But a lot of guys ask me where they can buy Cubans. Or good cigars.

I tell them if they’re just looking for a good cigar, many convenience stores in Mexico sell them from little cases.

They’re not Cubans. Most likely Nicaragua or Dominican Republic tobacco, but if you’re just looking for something to puff on the beach at sunset with a cold beer or a sipping tequila or after dinner, they’re not bad. And not expensive.

On the other hand, if someone says they have “genuine” Cubans and they’re “almost free.” You might want to pass.

Surprise! There’s a lot of phoney Cuban cigars being sold. Just like that $25 Rolex watch or the “genuine” Gucci handbag deal.

C’mon man.

Not being a gourmet cigar guy, I did a little research.

Like anything else, you do get what you pay for. No one will be selling you a genuine Cuban for 5 bucks.

If you know your prices ahead of time, you’ll know when a deal is too good to be true.

The guys peddling cigars in little boxes on the marina are not Cubans. Cubans are not packed in boxes with glass lids.

It helps to know your packaging too.

A box of good cigars look alike because of quality control in the factory.

33425_Cohiba_Exquisitos_25S_sta_pac

Check for labels and cigar bands. The folks who make the real deal are as picky about their labels and seals as Mercedes and Polo. They’re stuck to the product, not floating inside the box.

I can guarantee you that the any seller who tells you he has a guy-who-knows-a-guy who works in the Cohiba or Montecristo factory back in Cuba…doesn’t know anyone.

He DOES know a sucker when he sees one. Don’t be that guy.

Take a look at the cigar itself. One tell-tale sign is a cigar with different colored outter tobacco wrappers. Called a “barber pole”. It’s a pretty good sign of a counterfeit .

If you do happen to light up a Cuban, it should burn with a gray ash. Somewhat of a salt-and-pepper appearance. If the ash burns bright white, it’s a good sign you got a counterfeit stogie.

None of these are sure-fire tell-tale signs. Counterfeiters are very good.

But, counterfeit cigars aren’t necessarily bad either. It doesn’t have to be Cuban to be good. Just know what you’re buying.

And enjoy what you’re smoking.

I think I just wrote my column.

20210411_153429

“Trailer for sale or rent…”

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

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

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

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

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

Read Full Post »

ADVENTURES IN DRIVING

Posted in airlines, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo island, charters, Coronavirus Baja Mexico, crankbait, deep sea, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, fish, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing hooks, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, giant squid, holidays in mexico, hurricanes, ice chests, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, luggage, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, midriff islands, missions, outfitters, packages, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rentals, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, sierra, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storms, Sun stroke, Tailhunter International, testing facilities mexico airport, tourism, tours, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, 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 May 13, 2021| 1 Comment »

man-in-car-accident

ADVENTURES IN DRIVING

Originally Published the Week of May 13, 2021 in Western Outdoor Publications

We’re gonna do a little “word association” test. Read the following words then close your eyes.

“MEXICAN DRIVERS”

I bet I can guess what went through your head after reading those words. All those “stereotypes” come flooding into your thoughts?

Just to be fair, stereotypes are stereotypes.

They’re a broad-brush painting that may-or-may-not have a lot of truth or fairness to it. But, after living in Mexico for almost 3 decades, the thoughts that flew through your brain probably weren’t too far off.

Listen, there’s bad drivers all over the world.

How many people did you call out under-your-breath on your last freeway commute home from work? Everyone slower than you was a “jerk.” Everyone faster than you was a “butthead.” Right?

I don’t want to say that Mexicans are bad drivers. But, I will say they drive “differently” and it behooves you to be a “better” driver because of it. In other words, CYA. . .”cover your backside” and drive defensively.

Why is that?

Well, a couple of things that happened recently might have coalesced my thoughts on the matter.

For one, I just realized that of our employees that “know” how to drive, most have no driver’s licenses. Some have NEVER had a license or have expired licenses. They just laugh.

When you need to get from Point A-to Point B for work, you do what you gotta do. Don’t need no license and don’t have time or money to get one!

As a foreigner, I never had to take a test to get a Mexican driver’s license. I never had to even prove that I could drive. I just had to fill out the paperwork.

I had to pay my money. And, like DMV’s everywhere, I had to stand in several long lines.

However, unlike say the DMV in the states, I found out that I could pay a proxy to stand in line for me. Yup. Pay for someone to stand in line for me!

I could go sit down; check my e-mails on my phone; buy a hot dog or a churro from one of the vendors inside the TRANSITO (DMV) office. My proxy calls me when it’s my turn to run up to the line.

He follows me to the next line. He tells me where I need to sign documents. He basically leads me by hand from one teller window or clerical office to the next. Nothing is done in one line.

It’s a good thing because the TRANSITO office is a small version of the floor of the NY stock exchange. It’s chaos incarnate.

Noisy. Little offices everywhere. Lines everywhere. Lines to nowhere. Confusing signs on the walls.

People milling and yelling and papers being shuffled. There’s no appointments. There’s no obvious order.

Paying a proxy a few bucks and a hot dog was well worth it. Turns out my guy was a police officer making a little money on the side. Tipping is appreciated.

Circling back, however, the point of my story is that to get a license you do NOT have to prove you can operate a moving vehicle.

Unlike, the U.S., however, you DO have to prove that you are “alive.”

I say that tongue-in-cheek because to get a license, you must submit to a blood test. Yes, a blood test. I don’t know why.

But, you go across the street to an approved “lab” and they take a blood test. Cost is about 20 bucks. You take your test results when you get your license.

That’s it. No driving test. No written test.

Painted outside the TRANSITO office there’s ariel-view street grid l painted on the asphalt/ concrete. . Kinda like Lego-land.

The streets area about 12-inches side. It has little streets and buildings painted there with parking spaces and stop signs and left-turn lanes and one-way streets.

I’m told that an examiner will take you through a “test” and let you WALK through the faux-streets. You get to show that you know when to stop and how to back up and how to make left turns.

You are not in a car.

You are in an “air-car” like playing “air-guitar.”

You are not in a vehicle. You turn our “air wheel” to make a turn. You shift gears in the air like when you were a kid. You step on the imaginary brakes.

Maybe you even have to make “vroom vroom” sounds as you drive around.

Like I said, I never had to take any kind of driving or written test to get my Mexican license.

However, I’ve had local friends who were given written exams. They were getting their driving licenses for the first time.

The tests are not open book. There is no book. There’s no manual.

If you know how to drive, it’s not because you took lessons. It’s because someone else, maybe with questionable skills shows YOU how to drive. The circle continues.

With the written tests, no one is monitoring the test takers. Apparently, you’re welcome to discuss questions with your neighbor test-taker.

Answer by committee. Everyone gets to agree on the right answer about when it’s OK to blow through a stop sign or not having to signal a left turn.

When, my wife, Jill went to get her motorcycle license so she could ride her scooter it was a good example. She panicked when she was given the written test in Spanish. Multiple choice.

To her great joy, about 5 other test-takers all gladly helped her. They not only interpreted the questions, but also gave her the correct answers!

She only missed 1 answer and later told me she didn’t understand half the questions. But, she did got her scooter license.

Two weeks later, she stopped riding the scooter because of all the “crazy drivers.” I’m glad she did!

Just saying…

That’s my story!

signature transparent JR 4-21

Jonathan

______________

They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

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

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

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

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

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TROUBLESHOOTING – DON’T LEAVE FISH TO FIND FISH

Posted in airlines, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo island, charters, circle hooks, Coronavirus Baja Mexico, crankbait, deep sea, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, fish, 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, 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, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, luggage, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, midriff islands, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, pompano, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, Sea of Cortez, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, Tailhunter International, tiburon island, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, Uncategorized, vacations, wahoo, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia, Baja Mexico, beaches, billfish, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, Cerralvo Island, charter, coronavirus in Mexico, deep sea, diving, dog-tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tours, espirito santo island, family, fish, Fishing, fishing report, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing video, fly fishing, fly fishing. Spearfishing, Fubar Cocina Cantina, gray whales, grey whales, guide, holiday, igfa, inshore, jack crevalle, jill roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, los barriles, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos bay, offshore, outfitter, package, panga, pargo, pompano, rooster fish, sailfish, scuba, sea lions, sea of cortez, seabass, sierra, snorkeling, sportfishing, suenos bay, swimming, tailhunter restaurant, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on April 28, 2021| Leave a Comment »

panga

TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR FISHING – DON’T LEAVE FISH TO FIND FISH

Originally Published the Week of April 28, 2021 in Western Outdoor Publications

How does that saying go?

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

I would like to throw out a challenger:

“Nothing worse than a grumpy fisherman when everyone else is catching fish except him.”

I know from experience. I have been in the path of such a demon and it can be like watching one of those disaster movies where the huge apocalyptic tidal wave is coming. There’s no escape. Climbing the tallest tree or building isn’t gonna save you.

Running a couple of fishing fleets here in Baja, I get the reports from my captains before they get back to the beach. Everyone has caught lots of fish. Everyone had a great time.

Except one boat. And the one guy.

And it’s the guy who calls himself the “expert.” He’s fished everywhere and caught everything and he’s done it all.

And my captain gives me the code word on the radio “caliente” meaning, they’re coming in hot. The client is NOT happy.

Oh no. Not like I can run away. I know I’m gonna either get an earful of what went wrong ( it’s never the angler’s fault). Or, I’ll get the silent Clint Eastwood squint of the pissed-off fisherman.

Nothing like someone who’s upset and when you ask them what’s wrong, you get a brusque, “I’m fine!”

Well…alrighty then…we’ll just walk to the other side of the room and give you some space!

Before trying to figure out what went wrong I always chat with my captain. I don’t like asking questions that I don’t already know the answer to.

Was the bait bad? Was the guy simply unlucky? Did he actually hook fish, but they broke off ? That’s not bad fishing. That’s simply bad catching.

Did he have a tackle box full of bananas?

Often, one I hear is that the client just kept moving around too much and kept telling my captain he wanted to move. Even when the fish were biting.

The client wanted bigger fish.

Or he wanted a different species…then another type…then another type to cross of his bucket list.

Or he simply had read too much and wanted to try all the “famous” spots he read about.

For whatever reason, the client was like a waterbug scooting from spot-to-spot-to-spot. Even when the fish were biting. Even when other boats were catching fish.

That spot just wasn’t up to his expectations and in a version of “grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side” wanted to keep moving…and moving again.

When I am finally able to confront the angler, it’s really hard to tell them to just stop racing all over the ocean. Especially, if it’s an angler that attests to knowing more than my captain or me about fishing.

However, I learned long ago when working as a deckhand and also as a fishing guide “Don’t leave fish to find fish.”

There’s only a finite number of hours in a fishing day.

If the fish are biting where you are, you probably shouldn’t pull up and go looking for a different spot. At least give your current spot time to produce whatever it’s going to produce.

Sure, you might find a better spot. But, there’s a good chance you might not. And you’ll be wasting time and bait and gas chasing around.

While everyone else is hooking fish and having a good time!

That’s my story!

signature transparent JR 4-21

Jonathan

______________

They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

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

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

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

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

Read Full Post »

DUST and WAVES

Posted in airlines, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo island, charity, charters, Coronavirus Baja Mexico, crankbait, deep sea, dorado, east cape, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, fish, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing hooks, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, giant squid, Heat stroke, holidays in mexico, ice chests, 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 food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, midriff islands, outfitters, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, pompano, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, Sea of Cortez, sierra, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, Tailhunter International, testing facilities mexico airport, tiburon island, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia, Baja Mexico, beaches, billfish, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, Cerralvo Island, charter, coronavirus in Mexico, deep sea, diving, dog-tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tours, espirito santo island, family, fish, Fishing, fishing report, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing video, fly fishing, fly fishing. Spearfishing, Fubar Cocina Cantina, gray whales, grey whales, guide, holiday, igfa, inshore, jack crevalle, jill roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, los barriles, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos bay, offshore, outfitter, package, panga, pargo, pompano, rooster fish, sailfish, scuba, sea lions, sea of cortez, seabass, sierra, snorkeling, sportfishing, suenos bay, swimming, tailhunter restaurant, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on March 20, 2021| Leave a Comment »

DUST & WAVES

Originally Published the Week of March 11, 2021 in Western Outdoor Publications!

I guess there’s two stories to pass onto you this week in a round-about-kinda-way.

One actually is possibly some useful info about fishing in Baja, which is what this column is normally supposed to be about.

But, let me start with the first story!

As a kid I really only cared about three publications in my life.

Sears

One was the Sears Christmas catalog. If you were a kid, my reasons need no explanation. It was the most dazzling thing to have in your hands. I should have saved a copy or two to show to the grandkids.

Another was MAD. Don’t laugh. If any of you are old enough to remember, MAD Magazine, I think it’s how I learned how to read. It’s where I got my weird bent sense of humor.

It’s where I learned goofy songs and rhymes and things I didn’t even understand in those pre-teen years. And, of course, there was that backpage fold-out that was brilliant.

My mother, a dedicated 2^nd grade teacher for 30+ years would always try to steer me towards good literature…classics…authors…etc. She was usually successful.

Except there was MAD Magazine. I don’t know how she and dad let me get away with that or knowing my allowance money was not being used very wisely.

But, there was one other magazine that I treasured and that DID receive a better nod of approval.

It was Field & Stream.

field-and-stream

Now THAT was a magazine that I would definitely save my allowance to buy. It was everything I ever wanted to know about hunting and fishing and all the places and adventures I would someday have.

It was the Sears Catalog for the outdoors to me.

It was geography and adventures, Daniel Boone and Tom Sawyer all rolled onto the printed pages.

Cover-to-cover and back-and-forth. I would cut out articles and save them in scrap books. If I got caught under the bedsheets at night with a flashlight reading MAD Magazine or the Sears Catalog, they were confiscated.

With Field & Stream, they let me slide. Or dad would take it and read it himself.

Well…of all things…two weeks ago a writer for Field & Stream contacted me for an interview about fishing in Baja! Me? Are you kidding?

That icon of outdoor magazines wanted to know what someone like me thought? Wow! Needless to say, I was thrilled. I’m not sure how the interview went or how it will eventually look in print, but hey, I was happy to do it!

Which leads to the 2^nd story of this column.

The reason they had asked me for the interview…

Apparently, I was part of a series of outfitters being asked how the Covid pandemic had affected us. As well, more importantly, they wanted to know what we thought of the coming year.

The first part was easy.

I think anyone who was in the travel industry or is still in the travel industry and didn’t get pulled down by the pandemic/ quarantine wolves will agree. Last year was devastating. It continues to be so in 2021.

It doesn’t matter if you were/are an outfitter, lodge, charter operation, guide, hotel, travel agent, airlines, cruise lines, taxi driver…If you dealt with any aspect of the travelling public, 2021 was unlike anything we had ever seen or could imagine.

Travel to Mexico? Travel abroad? Travel to another state? Travel to visit your family, kids, parents on the other side of town?

Are you kidding? We couldn’t even leave our houses, either because we couldn’t (lockdown); or were simply afraid to (contagion); or didn’t have the ways or means (no money) to travel.

No one could travel for essential things like work and school. So forget leisure travel like taking vacations or other discretionary trips.

Yea, we got hammered. Punched in the nose. Kicked in the nether regions then dog-piled while we were already on the ground. Many of our friends in the industry lost their jobs or had to find other or supplemental work.

For those of us in the travel industry still treading water, it’s not over yet.

For us in Baja, things really started to take an upswing there at the end of 2020. Americans were really scooting to Baja.

Mexico is close. It was economical. It was easy to there and get home.

Canada was a no-go because of the border closures and quarantines in place.

Going to Europe or Asia take some planning. Pack an overnight bag with shorts and t-shirts and you can fly off to Mexico.

Locally, more hotels and restaurants and other services were opening up. Airlines were having to add more flights to keep up with the demand. For us and other operators in Baja, things were looking up.

Bookings were picking up. People just wanted to get out no matter if there was vaccine or no vaccine. Covid or no covid.

Then, the new CDC rules were implemented in January of 2021. It required that everyone travelling into the U.S., including returning vacationers, have a negative Covid test within 72 hours of flying back to the U.S.

WHAM! BAM! Travel took another knee below-the-belt.

Bookings took a dive. Cancelations jumped up. Airflights got canceled. Folks not wanting to get stuck in Mexico made a mass exodus for home and left on-going vacations.

But, now things are looking up again. Whew!

Vaccines are being implemented. Moreso, Mexico got it’s game together and erected testing facilities at airport, hotels, timeshares and labs to make it cheap and convenient to get the tests. Can’t lose the all-important tourism sector again.

So, people are booking again.

But, will it be a good season?

I think so. The fish were largely left alone last year. Six to 8 months there was literally zero sportfishing traffic on the water.

Even when things opened, it was only a fraction of the usual crowds.

The fish had time to grow. The fish had time to spawn and mate without getting bonked by lures run scattered by boat motors. More importantly, their food source…the critical baitfish weren’t depleted.

I thnk this year of 2020 will be an improvement over last year. But, it still won’t see the normal numbers and the experts are saying we’re really only going to see 30-50% of the normal visitors.

So, bigger fish. Hungrier fish. More fish. More bait.

And maybe just you out there on the water!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

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

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

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

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

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

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

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

Read Full Post »

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Posted in airlines, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charity, charters, crankbait, deep sea, dorado, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, fish, 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, history, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, los barriles, marlin, Mexican, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, midriff islands, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, pompano, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, San Jose del Cabo, Sea of Cortez, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, Tailhunter International, testing facilities mexico airport, tourism, tours, Travel, tuna, Tuna jackpot, Uncategorized, vacations, wahoo, Western Outdoor News, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia, Baja Mexico, beaches, billfish, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, Cerralvo Island, charter, coronavirus in Mexico, deep sea, diving, dog-tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tours, espirito santo island, family, fish, Fishing, fishing report, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing video, fly fishing, fly fishing. Spearfishing, Fubar Cocina Cantina, gray whales, grey whales, guide, holiday, igfa, inshore, jack crevalle, jill roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, los barriles, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos bay, offshore, outfitter, package, panga, pargo, pompano, rooster fish, sailfish, scuba, sea lions, sea of cortez, seabass, sierra, snorkeling, sportfishing, suenos bay, swimming, tailhunter restaurant, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on March 10, 2021| Leave a Comment »

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Originally Published the Week of March 1, 2021 in Western Outdoor Publications

About a month ago, I received a reservation request from one of our regulars who had fished with us many times over the years. He wanted to set up a whole week of fishing with our fleet in La Paz.

He had not fished with us in a few years. As he put it laughingly, “Life got in the way of my fishing. Then this darned pandemic thing knocked last year’s fishing helter-skelter.”

This year, he was coming with his wife and 2 grandkids. Three days fishing…hotel…some snorkeling…one of our taco tours of the city. The whole package.

He’s always a pleasure. Low maintenance. Fun to be around him as well as whoever he brings along.

But, something he said to me has stuck in my head like a song that keeps re-playing. I wanted to share, but didn’t quite know how to write about it in my column.

We were talking about all the cancelled vacations and fishing trips everyone endured last year.

He said, “I’m 86 years-old. I can still do a lot of things, but at some point very soon, I know that I won’t. It’s just the way things are. “

“I can still enjoy a beer. (laughs) I like dancing with my dear wife who puts up with me. I can still give the grandkid a piggy-back ride. I can work in the garden. “

“And darnit, I can still fish!” He added emphatically at the end of that.

He went on…

“Life is not forever. I know people are scared to travel right now. However, I could get sick tomorrow going shopping at Target as easily as I could get sick going on a fishing trip.”

“It seems, in fact, more likely to get sick in a crowded store than in an open fishing boat!”

“When you’re young, you think you’ve got all these fishing days to look forward to. Good times on the water with the buddies or with family. But now…well…I don’t have that many more days ahead of me…if you know what I mean.”

“We always talk about the ‘good-old-days.” Well, even with this Covid-thing…what if these ARE the ‘good old days’ we’ll talk about in 5 or 10 years?

“To me, the ‘good-old day’s will be the days I could still do the things I want to do. “

“I’d rather spend my good-old-days on the beach or on a boat or hanging with my family than sitting in the Lazy-Boy with the remote. At some point soon, I won’t be able to get up from that Lazy-Boy.”

“So, Jonathan…book me a trip!”

I was pretty much ready to give him the trip for free at that point. Priceless thoughts.

When I was younger, it seemed I was always the one who talked. I had stuff to share and needed to be heard. Blah blah blah. I must’ve been insufferable.

As I get older…well…I need to listen more.

Life should have been reversed.

I should’ve listened more when I was younger so that now when I’m older, I could talk and say something that actually meant something.

I’m 20-years-younger than my fishing friend.

But, I’ve got a birthday this week. His words that I’ve hung onto for a few weeks have a little more poignancy.

In the past 2 months, I’ve had 7 close fishing buddies pass away…Dave and Jack…Roger…Kevin…Lloyd and John…Stan.

Cancer…Hearts…Covid

How the heck did that happen? In fact, except for one (Hi Leroy!), all of my fishing buds are gone now. I just realized that. It’s a long list growing longer.

These were guys who took me under their wings. Showed me stuff. Taught me. Kicked my butt when I needed it. I used to like to think they were proud that I had taken a hobby and a passion and made it into a career.

They took a kid with a rusty spinning reel and old line on overnight trips and long-range trips. On the boats, I was the kid tangling everyone or playing in the bait tank. On the lake or stream, I was the annoying bored kid who threw rocks in the lake when everyone was trying to fish and “shushed” by my elders.

I always looked up to them. It’s like at Thanksgiving when you sit at the kid’s table and the grown-ups sit at the big person table. It’s your mom’s and dads. Aunt’s and Uncles.

And then they are gone. And you realize that now you’re the one at the big person table and there’s more and more empty seats.

I’m the only one still fishing. Sort of.

I feel great. A few extra pounds from too much good food from Jilly during Covid. But otherwise, still good.

But yea…I’ve got more days behind me than ahead of me.

And, I don’t want some pandemic to define my “good old days.” Not while I can still do things. Before I get too creaky.

I can’t wait to put my toes in the sand this year. I’m gonna fish more too. Still drink my vitamin shake, but an extra beer or two won’t hurt. Say “yes” more often to doing things. Gonna hug my wife and kids and grandkids more too.

These are the good-old-days. Here and now.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

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

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

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

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

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

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

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

Read Full Post »

LA NINA – The little girl is back for 2021?

Posted in airlines, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo island, Coronavirus Baja Mexico, crankbait, deep sea, dorado, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, fish, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing hooks, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, giant squid, holidays in mexico, ice chests, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, midriff islands, outfitters, packages, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, pompano, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, sierra, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, Tailhunter International, tiburon island, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, 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 January 24, 2021| Leave a Comment »

LA NINA – The Little Girl Is Back for 2021?

Originally published the Week of Jan. 16, 2021 in Western Outdoor Publications

As many anglers who missed the 2020 season gear up to or are considering a return to fish Baja waters in 2021, there might be some insight in what to expect.

Will the tuna bite? Will it be a big year of big dorado? Where should I go for wahoo? Is this a good year to chase marlin or big snapper?

As one angler told me recently, “I don’t care what’s biting. I just need to get out. I need to be on the water!”

That probably reflects the sentiments of many anglers suffering months of “covid fatigue” who desperately need a change of scenery from four-walls and relative levels of isolation.

It’s certainly indicative of the number of Americans booking to Mexico these days where tourism is surging and airlines are trying to keep up with the demand.

Even though you might not really care what you catch, it’s still not a bad idea to have some inkling of what might be in store.

Personally, it DOES make a difference! I like knowing if I have to prepare yoke up for a battle with a gorilla tuna or will it be a light-tackle grinner with school-sized dorado.

There’s never any guarantees when it comes to fishing, but like they say, “knowledge is power.” And I like having as much of an edge as possible.

I think we might be in for a really nice year of fishing. I say that with a whisper so as not to jinx the whole thing. Lord knows we can all use some positivity these days.

However, if the scientists are to be believed, it looks like we’re in a “La Nina” cycle that will probably be with us through the spring. They seem to think that’s a harbinger of good things.

We had an El Nino season several years ago that was a disappointment for all intents and purposes. It stunk as it was marked either with the lack of fish or by smaller fish caused by excessive warm ocean currents.

During an El Nino, waters stay relatively warm. That initially sounds good. However, in effect, the colder deep waters don’t rise. That’s not so good.

In a nutshell, cold deep waters bring nutrients to the surface.

Nutrients feed the baitfish. Baitfish feed the big fish.

No cool deep waters ultimately means a slack season.

Arguably during last El Nino several years ago, there was a marked absence of the precious baitfish. Consequently, there was a direct effect on the quality and quantity of sportfish. Indeed, many of the sportfish that were caught were severely undersized from lack of a food source.

I remember here in La Paz. We had all the dorado we wanted all season. That is, if you liked catching 12-inch dorado all year! It was like fishing for trout.

With La Nina, the reverse is hypothetically true.

Cooler waters will prevail early this year. In the meantime, warmer currents will blow towards the western Pacific bringing a heavy rainy season to Asian side of the Pacific Ocean.

Regretfully, that will conversely mean that eastern Pacific will experience a dry season. Bad news for western U.S. states already beset by drought conditions and too many years of devastating fires.

But, for fishing, it could be an exciting year.

Baitstocks already seem to be up. Mexican sardinia, anchovetas, caballitos, mackerel and others are evident.

This early in the year, it’s difficult to tell if the current Baja catches are left-over from last season or a vanguard of what we can expect for the coming year. But there’s reason to be optimistic.

It’s winter and yet, marlin, dorado, tuna, and wahoo are showing up in the catches along with dorado.

Either the food source is keeping them here or the food source is bringing the sportfish in early. Personally, I think it’s the former. However for us anglers, the end result gives us something to hopefully look forward to.

That’s my story!

signature June '18 two 1

Jonathan

______________

They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

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

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

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

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

Read Full Post »

REFRESHING AMBIVALENCE

Posted in airlines, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charters, Coronavirus Baja Mexico, deep sea, dorado, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, 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, highway, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, midriff islands, outfitters, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, rentals, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, Sea of Cortez, seafood, sierra, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, Tailhunter International, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, wahoo, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia, Baja Mexico, beaches, billfish, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, Cerralvo Island, charter, coronavirus in Mexico, deep sea, diving, dog-tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tours, espirito santo island, family, fish, Fishing, fishing report, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing video, fly fishing, fly fishing. Spearfishing, Fubar Cocina Cantina, gray whales, grey whales, guide, holiday, igfa, inshore, jack crevalle, jill roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, los barriles, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos bay, offshore, outfitter, package, panga, pargo, pompano, rooster fish, sailfish, scuba, sea lions, sea of cortez, seabass, sierra, snorkeling, sportfishing, suenos bay, swimming, tailhunter restaurant, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on December 15, 2020| Leave a Comment »

REFRESHING AMBIVALENCE

Originally Published the Week of Dec. 4, 2020 in Western Outdoor Publications

After all the political, social, health and economic rancor and upheaval this past year in the U.S., I think I’ve reached that point of fatigue.

Along with religion, those are generally just some topics I avoid talking about. It seems especially true down here in Baja where most folks I come in contact with are here for vacations, not debate or argument.

I would think most are trying to get AWAY from all of that back home. The whole point of “vacation”, right?

That being said, a good number of folks still seem anxious to engage in conversation.

Usually, the red lights in my brain start flashing “DANGER! DANGER!”

As quickly as I can, I try to turn the flow of words to something more palatable.

But, some folks are so used to it coming from the U.S. that they still feel the need to bring it up. It’s what everyone talks about “back home.”

Kinda like the A-type personality who runs a million-miles-an-hour at work. Comes down here and it takes awhile for them to decompress and take it down a few notches.

I get it. Unavoidable topics of conversation. Hot topics of conversation. It’s what everyone is talking about.

The problem is, it’s not conversation. It’s not even debate. It’s like that even among my only family members.

If you agree with them, there’s not much else to say. Or the other person will just talk and talk. No real exchange of info.

On the other hand, if you have a DIFFERENT opinion, you’re suddenly the “enemy” or an “idiot.” Conversation turns to argument with no one giving ground.

No info is exchanged. No one learns anything.

No give-and-take. Instead it becomes a mission to verbally batter and bludgeon the other person to back down and accept YOUR point-of-view.

I usually do. Back down, that is.

I used to be a litigation attorney. If I wanted to pull my verbal guns, yea…I guess I could. But, what’s the point? Restraint.

No one really wants to listen to me anyway. If we have the same point of view, then why keep talking?

If we differ, then why piss each other off? I’ll keep my opinions to myself. And keep my friends and family.

This is Baja. Folks are supposed to be on vacation. If you want debate jump on Facebook and say something controversial and, like I said, half will agree with you and the other half will tell you you’re dumber-than-dirt.

In no uncertain terms.

That’s why it was so refreshing to have one of my Mexican friends ask me a few weeks ago, “Who do you think will be your next American President? Biden or Trump?”

Oh no. Here we go again.

I didn’t want to start down that path or open a can of worms with my friend so I asked, “Does it matter to you as a Mexican citizen?”

Instead of the usual hackle going up, he smiled and said, “Nope. I was just making conversation. It seems all Americans have strong opinions about it. Don’t you?”

I shrugged. Again, trying to nip things in the bud.

I asked him disarmingly again, “Do YOU have an opinion?”

And then he said something that put the biggest grin on my face.

He laughingly replied, “I don’t care.”

A pause.

I had to think about that.

Are we allowed to say that anymore? Are we allowed to think that anymore?

Three simple words.

“I don’t care.”

Maybe it’s simply not caring at all. Ambivalence. Fatigue. Resignation. Indifference.

Whatever the reason, you NEVER hear anyone say “I don’t care.”

It’s uh…sacrilegious! It’s uh…blasphemous. It’s Un-American. It’s un-civilized, by gosh!!!

I’m sure everyone cares. I actualy do care.

But there are times when I just don’t care. Or, at that particular moment, I don’t have the energy to care. But, I’m afraid…hesitant… to say that to anyone.

I can’t be the only person who feels like that.

A fishing clients says to me, “What do you think about all that unrest in the police force? Or “How about them closing California again cuz of Covid?”

What would I sound like if I said, “I don’t care.”

Probably like a jerk.

My Mexican friend explained to me.

“Look, it might be different in the big cities than here in Baja. It might be different if I were a big business owner. “

“But, I’m a regular guy like you. Nothing special. I drive a delivery truck.”

“To me, the only reason I asked about your elections is that’s all Americans seem to talk about and that’s what we see on the news on our TV’s about the U.S. But, I don’t think it affects me that much. We got enough problems with our own politicians here in Mexico without worrying about YOUR politicians,” he laughed.

“Mire, hombre…Look, amigo,” he elaborated. “ Us Mexicans, we’ve been ruled by the Spanish, the French, the Germans. We had wars with America. We have endured revolutions and corrupt politicians at every level.”

“We now have this pandemic thing. It’s a big problem. Or, that’s what they tell us it is. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t”

“We Mexicans will endure. We keep going. We hear promises, but nothing really ultimately changes. We move ahead. Everything will pass and we will still be here.”

“Honestly, I am more concerned with my next delivery in my truck and feeding my kids than who will be the next senator for our state or if the government is telling the truth about covid. I care enough to wear my mask. No big deal.”

No big deal.

I think there’s an honest dignity in that. Keep on-keeping on. Stay the course.

Just kinda nice to hear that once-in-awhile.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

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

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

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

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

Read Full Post »

FIND YOUR BEACH

Posted in airlines, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, camping, car, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charters, Coronavirus Baja Mexico, deep sea, donations, dorado, 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, holidays in mexico, hurricane, ice chests, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, los barriles, luggage, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico coronavirus Baja, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, midriff islands, missions, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, pompano, rental car, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, Sea of Cortez, seafood, sierra, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, suitcases, Sun stroke, Tailhunter International, tiburon island, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, waterspouts, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia, Baja Mexico, beaches, billfish, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, Cerralvo Island, charter, coronavirus in Mexico, deep sea, diving, dog-tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tours, espirito santo island, family, fish, Fishing, fishing report, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing video, fly fishing, fly fishing. Spearfishing, Fubar Cocina Cantina, gray whales, grey whales, guide, holiday, igfa, inshore, jack crevalle, jill roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, los barriles, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos bay, offshore, outfitter, package, panga, pargo, pompano, rooster fish, sailfish, scuba, sea lions, sea of cortez, seabass, sierra, snorkeling, sportfishing, suenos bay, swimming, tailhunter restaurant, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on December 2, 2020| 6 Comments »

FIND YOUR BEACH

Originally Published The Week of Nov. 25, 2020 in Western Outdoor Publications.

I pretty much wrote this week’s column lying flat on my back looking up at the sky. Pretty unusual position for “word-smithing.”

Most of the time, I write at my desk. Sitting up.

It’s in the middle of the night at the end of a long workday that usually starts about 4 a.m. Or, if I’m “lazy” and couldn’t think of anything the night before, I scramble to compose something before the sun comes up and the day goes full-turbo!

But, lying flat on my back, I’m looking at clouds drifting by as languidly as I was feeling.

Lying on the sand.

On the beach.

In the Baja sun.

Some Kenny Chesney “No Shoes No Shirt No Problem” playing on Spotify competing with the rise-and-fall crescendo of surf as a soundtrack.

And this week’s column just sort of wrote it self. It auto-composed in my head in about 5 minutes.

I was just lying there on that warm sand felling really tired. Not just tired.

“Old man tired.” Big difference.

I had just come off the water. Nope. For once, not fishing. Not diving either.

Surfing. Yup. That kind of surfing. Like on a board.

My wife, Jill, and I had spent the better part of the afternoon surfing and using muscles that we had not used in…well…years! I think the last time I “surfed” Baja, I had been driving my dad’s Pinto station wagon.

Me, and a bunch of underage high-school buds on a flyer across the border below Rosarito Beach with $20 between the three of us; a bag of Doritos; and 3 days to waste on the waves.

Yea, it had been a long time.

Surfing muscles are not the same as fishing muscles. Not the same as SCUBA muscles. And no matter how much Jill and I had lied to ourselves, we were not “in shape” to be paddling out…fighting waves…fighting the board.

I grew up in Hawaii, but my “old man” muscles were B–tching me out so very badly.

“What were you thinking?”

“Who were you trying to kid?”

Harsh reality found on a beach in Baja.

But, I gotta tell you, it was a good soreness. And Jill and I had the biggest smiles on our faces as we lay splayed-out on the beach.

No one talking. No one needed to.

The sun rays warmed me from above and the hot sand warmed me from below.

It was like being a kid again and coming out’ve the pool and lying face-down on that warm cement without a care-in-the-world. You know that feeling.

Summer vacation. No school. No homework. You had no place else to be except right then and there. Contentment.

And that was me. Except I was lying looking up.

And I realized I had nowhere to be except right then and there. On that beach at that moment studying some dumb clouds. No shoes. No shirt. No problems.

It finally just got to us. Yea, we live and work in Baja.

“Living the dream.” Right?

But, like everyone, no matter where you are, it’s been a tough year. And this year, it seemed like we worked even harder-than-ever just trying to tread water like everyone else.

Being in the travel industry with our fishing fleets and restaurant, it was especially brutal.

Surely, fewer clients and less business, but like I said, we seemed to work twice-as-hard just trying to keep what we had. Working double to keep from sliding backwards even more.

Almost like surfing. Paddle paddle paddle to get out. Wave knocks you back.

Paddle paddle paddle to go a little further. Another wave knocks you back again.

Just trying to get out past the white water to where that tasty curl tantalizes you with a rewarding ride back to the beach. Paddle paddle paddle. Can’t stop. Gotta get past that white water.

Catch one or two, but mostly paddling paddling and more tiring paddling.

Like life right now.

No days off and …UP-TO-HERE…with it all.

Covid…quarantine…restrictions…economy…politics…elections…unrest. The “whitewater” of life, right? The cacaphony that never stops assaulting you.

So, we just sort of folded shop.

We never ever take time off. But,it was time.

We didn’t tell any of our staff where we were going. Basically told them, don’t burn down the building. Don’t let anyone steal anything. We’ll be in touch.

In fact, I didn’t even tell my wife where we were going.

I pretty much told her to grab some clothes for a few days. Threw her and our rescue cat, my guitar, and some gear in our Honda. It’s the one with the busted air-conditioner and that overheats if I drive faster than 50mph and left.

We drove. And drove.

And made a left off the highway down a dusty washboard dirt road.

And found a beach.

And it had some worn bungalow cabanas for rent.

Our “rustic” cabana had holes in the palapa roof.

Some lights didn’t work. Others had those god-awful curly “economy” bulbs that save you 5 bucks over 100 years.

A threadbare hammock tied between two palm trees. It might have been a fishing net at one time.

No TV.

No disco.

No nightclub.

No real restaurants to speak of.

Perfection.

I don’t even want to tell you the name of the beach because the area is begging for a paved road and some high-rise hotels that will come soon enough, I imagine.

But for now, just miles of Baja beach.

And there were some waves that just begged to be ridden.

And an ice chest full of cold ones that needed some attention too.

And 3 days extended into 5 days of sun, sand, surf, card-playing and just the very best kind of “social distancing” that we probably could all use right now.

Might still be there if we didn’t run outta cat food.

And lying on my back like a very tired beached sealion soaking up the rays and watching clouds moving left-to-right.

Smiling.

And while we were gone, the world did not blow up. Our business did not burn down. The problems of the world were still there when we got back.

We did not miss a thing.

But finding that little stretch of Baja beach made all the difference.

For now.

We brought that beach home with us in a manner of speaking. I brought this essay that wrote itself.

Like that beer commercial says, I hope you find your beach.

Somewhere.

If not on a stretch of sand. Then a backyard. A park. Or some space where you can close the door.

Away from the madness. Close your eyes. Shut off the sound. Take a breath. Find that beach and watch the clouds.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

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

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

Website:

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

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

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

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

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

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

Read Full Post »

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Jonathan has written for:

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Fish Taco Chronicles
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