Archive for the ‘testing facilities mexico airport’ Category

NO BUTTS ABOUT IT!

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, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charity, charters, 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, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, seri indians, sierra, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, taco, taco stand, Tailhunter International, 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 August 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »

NO BUTTS ABOUT IT AMIGOS!

Originally Published the Week of Aug 30, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

Long day down here in La Paz. Living the dream for sure. But, we work hard at our Tailhunter fishing fleet and Tailhunter restaurant keeping folks happy.

So, a few nights ago we were at our place.

It’s a beautiful summer evening on the La Paz waterfront.

Everyone was eating or enjoying our icy mango margaritas. Many of them were eating some of their fresh-caught fish.

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Others were just kicking-back. Our house band was kicking out some great music. The waterfront was humming with families on a stroll. Cars cruised up and down the beachfront. Many youngsters were enjoying their last precious week of summer vacation.

Just a great vibe.

My days start early. I could finally exhale a bit and enjoy the moment after being on full turbo since before sunrise.

Everyone and everything were where they should be. One of those rare savory moments when all is right in the world even for a few moments.

One of the group of fishermen had just finished their meal and were now just enjoying the evening laughing and story-telling.

One of the guys pulled out cigars and asked if I’d like one and if it was Ok to light up.

As they were seated and had eaten out on the sidewalk tables, they were away from other diners and well downwind. No one would be bothered. I gave ‘em a thumbs-up.

A cigar sounded pretty grand myself.

I get to fire up a cigar about once every two months…if I’m lucky. This was one of those nights. A good time to take a few well-deserved (in my head) puffs with friends.

Along with a cold beer in hand, it was pretty darned nice.

As I said, moments when all is right in the world are fleeting!

Talk about a buzz kill!

Someone came up and warned us about smoking those cigars. Not for health reasons at all. They weren’t offended by the smoke. But, there’s new law!

I’m not a smoker. I might smoke maybe 4 or 5 cigars all year. That’s it. Our restaurant has always been smoke free. So any new laws about smoking flew well below my personal radar.

I guess this is old news, but it’s “new” news to me! And after chatting with a lot of folks, I guess it’s news to them as well.

So, hold on…

Earlier this year, Mexico passed the most stringent anti-smoking laws in the world! Yes…wrap your brain around that one. IN THE WORLD!

Everyone pretty much knows you can’t smoke inside restaurants, offices, public buildings, etc. blah blah blah. Common knowledge in most countries.

But, the new law in Mexico pretty much completely bans smoking of any kind…cigarettes…cigars…vapes…pipes…from everywhere EXCEPT your own private home.

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And even THAT has some restrictions.

Basically, the new law prohibits smoking on the beach, on the sidewalk, hotel rooms…pretty much any public place.

This includes hotel rooms. Hotels are now on notice to create a special smoking area at their discretion. But they don’t have to. Easy to say for the Hyatt or Hilton. Not so much for any little mom-and-pop operation.

But essentially ALL rooms are now smoke free. This also includes your balcony or terrace.

The penalties can be as high as a $500 fine or even yes…jail time.

In your home, you can still light up, but you are prohibited if someone else, like your neighbor, can get a whiff of your smokey fragrance within 10 yards (30 feet) of you.

So you can be on your patio or terrace of your condo and if your smoke has the potential to drift to your next door neighbor, you can’t do it!

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Only in your own home!

It’s debatable among many just how they will enforce this. Plus it has been argued that this is just an opportunity to extract a bribe by a ne’er-do-well cop, but it’s still well to note.

Crush your butt!

I’m gonna have to figure out what to do with my little stash of cigars now. I sure enjoyed them now and then.

Fleeting moments. When all was right in the world. Now I can’t even have a nice cigar anymore.

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.”

Read Full Post »

BUT IT’S A DRY HEAT!

Posted in Airline flights to Mexico, 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, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charity, charters, 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, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, sierra, 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 August 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »

BUT IT’S A DRY HEAT

Originally Published the Week of Aug. 11, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

“It ain’t the heat. It’s the humility.”

—-Yogi Berra

So, there we are at our Tailhunter Restaurant in La Paz. It’s summertime. It’s vacation time.

The height of the tourist season.

And it’s “the evening rush” for dinner. The Baja sun has just splashed another masterpiece sunset across the horizon. Stars start to peek and sparkle.

The blender in the bar is noisily and happily whirring up those frosty mango margaritas. The savory fragrance of sizzling carne asada and garlic shrimp are wafting out to the sidewalk diners.

Dishes are clanking. There’s a wonderful ambience of conversation and laughter at the waterfront tables. Fishermen are re-telling stories or making up new ones .

Servers are quick-stepping back and forth and weaving around patrons with trays and plates.

Some folks are enjoying tall cold ones and munching tacos watching a baseball game.

The house band for the evening is tuning up with a bit of “Oye Como Va” by Santana.

Just another nice evening on the La Paz waterfront in Baja. Yes, It’s gonna be a good night.

Then…NOTHING.

In an instant. The buzz and hum are gone.

The band goes silent. The TV’s blink off. The blender shuts down…and so do all the lights. Everywhere. On the whole street!

Blackout.

Streetlights. Air conditioners. Everything!

It takes a moment to absorb. Amid a chorus of “Hey!” And “What the…?”

We dash around…”It’s OK, folks! Just a little jag in the city electrical system. I’m sure it’ll be fine in a few moments!”

But, inwardly, it looks eerie to see a busy city waterfront completely dark and we’re running a business. Anxiety levels are clicking higher.

We rush around calming folks and lighting every candle we can find. We try to roll with the punches. They say food tastes better in candlelight!

We start telling folks we’re making it more “romantic” with the candles! We tell the kitchen staff to keep cooking and the bartender to put all cocktails “on the rocks.”

The band got cut off in midsong. To their credit they grab acoustic guitars and try to keep playing some romantic Spanish ballad. Props to them for the effort!

We just all try to keep smiling. And looking up and down the street to see if any lights are coming on. Anywhere.

But, for blocks along the waterfront, the only lights are the headlights of cars. And lots of honking!

We put our best faces on it, but there’s only so much you can do without electricity in a restaurant.

Our cooks can’t keep cooking by flashlight. Water for cooking, dish sinks and bathrooms depends on an electric pump. We can’t keep opening and closing refrigerators and freezers.

It’s 90 degrees out tonite.

We don’t know if the outage will last 5 more minutes or 5 days. It’s Mexico. Opening and closing things like freezers and the frig jeopardizes all the inventory that depends on keeping things cold.

The poor band…with no microphones and just acoustic guitars, they do their best as the crowd starts to filter out.

But, now with no electricity, the computer on the cash register don’t work either. Can’t run credit cards charges!

We throw our hands up and surrender to the darkness.

All our customers have left. We sadly start to fold up. The staff starts to split their tips by flashlight.

Then POP…with a WHIRRRRRR…everyone slams back on! And it’s like we’re back in the 21^st Century from the dark ages. Music, TV’s, ceiling fans and lights crash back to life.

But, it’s too late to save the evening for the restaurant and we close it up. Tables and chairs get stacked. Tablecloths are folded. We turn off the lights and padlock the doors.

Sigh…we’ll give it a go again tomorrow.

But wait!

Over the next 3 days, this happens again. And again. For 1-2 hours or longer. Different parts of the city, but always our part of the city and always at the busiest times.

C’mon, man!

As it turns out, it’s the strain on the local power grid.

With all the heat that we’re getting, the city power grid just can’t hang with the demand. Especially in a city like ours…and many other tourism-based locations.

It’s becoming more common this summer.

With thousands of hotel rooms all over the states where no one ever turns off the A/C…with restaurants running everything full speed… and freezers and refrigerators straining to keep ice frozen; beer cold and diners happy…shopping centers and grocery stores doing the same…

On-and-on…

The system just pops. Boom!

And Mexican officials are warning of more of the same to come as the heat continues and waves of tourists flood to Baja on vacations.

Many choosing Mexico to ironically escape the record heat in the U.S. that has been roasting many states.

Nothing to do, but keep calm and be advised to stay in the pool!

That’s our 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 »

POURING ACROSS THE BORDER

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, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, 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, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, sierra, 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 August 6, 2023| Leave a Comment »

POURING ACROSS THE BORDER

Originally Published the Week of Aug. 1, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

I bet when you read that title, something else crossed your mind.

But no, this has nothing to do with immigration, politics or borders. It does have everything to do with brilliant marketing.

Way back in the day when we’d foray south from California, we drank Mexican beer like it was a badge of honor. Even as youngsters, you never got carded.

Headed down to fish or surf or see how much mischief you could handle in a weekend, you’d return with comments like, “Dude, we inhaled a couple of cases of Dos Equis. Caught a royal buzz then caught some waves! ”

Or, “You shoulda seen all the empty Carta Blanca cans around our campsite!”

Drinking Mexican beer was part of the whole organic experience of travelling to Mexico. It didn’t even necessarily have to be cold. Having and finding ice was sometimes a bonus and just as important has having the beer in the first place.

But, it’s not like there were many choices and no one came down to drink Bud, Coors or PBR anyway, right?

These days, I don’t know if you keep up with the stink that’s going on with Bud Light and it’s associated boycott in the U.S. , but this has nothing to do with which side of he gender/ political line you follow.

But, unless you’ve lived in a cave the last several decades, Mexican beer is simply crushing it in the U.S.

I think you can look at all those brilliant adds by Corona about “finding your beach.” And sticking a lime on a longneck .

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(By the way…using a lime is totally a gringo thing. No one does it down here except tourists who have been gimmicked and conditioned by said TV ads into thinking THAT’S how to drink beer!)

And who will ever forget Dos Equis and the “World’s Most Interesting Man?” He’s as iconic as the Budweiser Clydesdales or those historic Lite Beer commercials from years past.

You may remember such gems:

“I once won a staring contest…with my own reflection.”

“My tears can cure cancer…too bad I don’t cry.”

“I live vicariously…through myself.”

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And now we see Modelo ads touting it’s “Fighting Spirit” and how they are an integral part of American sports. (By the way…Modelo and Corona are the same companies!)

But, if you hadn’t heard, Modelo is now the #1 beer in the U.S. de-throning Bud Light which continues to tumble after the Dylan Mulvaney fiasco.

Somehow and comically, owner Anheuser-Busch insulted not only it’s core conservative consumers, but also the LGBTQ community as well.

Agree or disagree with your position, it’s a fascinating marketing study.

But that’s a discussion for another article.

The point is Mexican beer is literally pouring across the border these days.

Mexico is now the world’s #1 beer exporter with more than $5.5 billion dollars of beer export.

It’s not Germany. It’s not Belgium. It’s not the Netherlands in 2^nd place with only about $2 billion in exports. It’s not even the U.S.

However, the biggest consumer of Mexican cerveza are Americans. The U.S. chugs more than $5 billion in sales. Send us your beer!

Although Modelo Especial is now king in the U.S. their Corona Brand is their #1 worldwide seller with exportation to over 150 countries. Their 7 breweries in Mexico kick out up to 3 MILLION bottles PER DAY!

Overall, Mexican beer will account for over $21 billion in revenue in 2023. That includes stats showing that per capita, Mexicans average 54 liters of beer drinking annually.

Mexicans do their part too!

That’s about 12 gallons of beer annually per person over a population of about 130 million people in Mexico. I’m good for only about 2 bottles a month these days so someone is drinking my share!

As someone once said, “We don’t buy beer. We rent 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 »

YOU NEVER KNOW!

Posted in Airline flights to Mexico, 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, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, 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, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, sierra, 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 July 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »

YOU NEVER KNOW!

Originally Published the Week of July 7, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

Beach and street vendors in Mexico…

If you’ve ever walked down the street in any tourist town and been plagued every five feet with those famous words “Jewelry! Almost free!” Or something similar. T-shirts? Hats? Viagra?

Or you just want some quiet beach time.

But, every 5 minutes someone interrupts your tanning session to asking if you want to buy a hat or sarape or beads…

You know how annoying it can be.

The first one or two. OK.

But, after awhile, you want to put up a sign that just says, “No, Gracias!”

Where we live in La Paz, we don’t have a lot of beach or street vendors. Maybe only a handful. We’re just not that touristy.

After living here a few years, I started to notice the same few guys were the only ones selling things from little suitcases on the waterfront.

Sometimes it was “discounted jewelry.” Of course “One of a kind from the mountains of Puebla!” (wink wink)

Sometimes it was hats, “handmade by Indian women” in small villages in central Mexico. (more wink wink)

Or maybe another day, it was vibrantly-colored beach wraps or sarapes meticulously made in the “historic wooden looms of Toluca!” (even more wink wink).

The price was not “almost free.” But, just for YOU today, Senorita, ‘very cheap!”

I got to recognize and eventually know Marcelo, Luis and and older man, Jose.

I’d see them walking down the beach or working a hotel and we would always greet and smile. Occasionally, I would purchase beach hats to sell at our store or direct clients to them.

They were always fun and always fair. And were great salesmen. Good for a joke and laugh. Folks enjoyed their non-pushy style and big smiles.

I used to watch them stroll the beaches or work on the waterfront. Simple hard-working guys. Every day.

An admirable work ethic to-be-sure.

Baseball hats; sandals; billowy trousers and t-shirts. Goods slung on their backs or carried on racks or in little cases.

I once ran into Luis who was resting in the shade of a beach palapa. I mentioned that I had not seen the older Jose, in a few weeks.

Was he OK?

In Spanish…

“Oh sure. Dad’s fine. He’s taking some time off. He’s on vacation.”

“He’s your dad? All this time, I didn’t know he was your dad.”

“Yes, and Marcelo is my other brother.”

“Wow, after all these years, I never knew that But, it’s good that dad is taking some time off. Is he at home here in La Paz?”

“No, dad is in Puerta Vallarta.”

“Oh, wow. Do you have family in Puerta Vallarta.”

“Yes, and our beach house and warehouse.”

“Wait. You have a beach house and a warehouse?”

He laughed.

“Si, Jonathan. We keep all our inventory in the warehouse of hats, jewelry, clothes, sarapes…everything. That is also where we have our beach house,” he said matter-of-factly.

I was a bit incredulous.

“So, you have a house in the beach in Puerta Vallarta and a warehouse for all our inventory? Do you really sell that much here in La Paz?”

“Oh no no!” he responded with a big grin.

“We are a family business. We have cousins and other family working in Cabo, Loreto, Mazatlan and of course, here in La Paz.”

Like it was no big deal.

I had to stop and think about that for a moment.

I had to wrap my brain around the fact that these simple-looking, hard-working guys had this whole network and business empire going on.

I don’t have a beach house or warehouse! I don’t know many people that do!

He saw me trying to process that with my head cocked and I’m sure my jaw had dropped.

So, he started telling me about shipping logistics; and price breaks; discount percentages ; distribution points and supply chain issues.

The family had been doing this for more than 30 years and employed about 20-30 family members.

I’m sure I had the funniest look on my face. Speechless.

Forget that Harvard business degree or that MBA on your wall.

He added, “I own three houses here in La Paz too!”

He laughed and winked and bid me “buenos tardes” and walked off down the beach to check out some “potential” customers. They had just put down a blanket on the sand and looked in need of some beach hats and jewelry.

He looked back at me once more and grinned “opportunidades!” (Opportunity!) And he put on his game face!

Who knew? A little capitalistic beach dynasty.

You just never know. Just shut my mouth!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

trademark website revision 2 small Tailhunter-Sportfishing-rev-1-black-low-res

______________

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 »

SNEAKY SNEAKY

Posted in Airline flights to Mexico, 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, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, 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, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, 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 June 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »

SNEAKY SNEAKY

Originally Published the Week of June 2, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

Rental cars…

Sometime when travelling, they are just a necessity. An evil necessity at times, but admittedly, it’s nice to have the independence to move around when and where you want.

But, there’s a few downsides to that here in Mexico as well.

We deal with many of our fishing clients who rent cars while on vacation.

Especially for Americans…darnit…we like to have our car! It’s almost as important as cellphones and credit cards. They are just such a part of our collective psyche that there’s no question that you’re always going to rent a car on vacation.

It’s almost an American entitlement, if you will. No one has cars like Americans. Or is such a car culture.

But, renting and using cars down here can be tricky.

I think you really need to ask yourself how much are you really going to be using it?

Like many of our fishing clients here in La Paz, they’re fishing all day . They aren’t out sightseeing. At night, many of them find, it’s hard to navigate Mexican streets. It’s easier and cheaper to take a taxi or use Uber. Especially if they plan to hit the bars and nightspots.

On top of it, even if you use the rental car…where are you going to park it?

Here in La Paz, many of the streets were built when donkey carts and riding on horseback were the travel-method of the day.

They are basically converted cobblestone streets. Some are STILL cobblestone.

And they are just about wide enough for a donkey cart.

There’s no place to park. Even for a local like myself.

For work, I have to park two blocks away from our office/ restaurant on the waterfront.

But aside from that, there’s some wonky things we’ve noticed lately more and more.

Now, I’m not saying EVERYONE does this, but there’s some sneaky things some (not all) companies seem to be doing more and more. Just some things to keep in mind.

For one, there’s the bait-and-switch. You rent a car online.

When you get down here…OOPS! “I’m sorry senor. We don’t have that model today. But, we have this other one that is just a little more expensive. “

They got you. You have no choice. BAM!

Next, when you rent the car and do the “inspection,” Look at things very very carefully and critically. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to take photos with your cellphone.

There’s two things that can happen when you bring the car back.

One thing just begs to happen.

You drive up to return the car. You and the agent do your inspection.

Suddenly, ever little nick and scratch is now something YOU did and you are now responsible for.

Just the other day, one of our fishing clients rented a car and sure enough, when he brought it back they suddenly and incredibly discovered scratches on the body work.

He told them those were normal road splashes. They refused to believe him. He was going to get charged despite his arguments.

He went and got a wet rag and wiped the “scratches” clean showing them there was no damage.

Another client who rented a car said he absentmindedly didn’t read all the paperwork he received when he drove the car from the rental company.

We’ve all done that. We assume everything is hunky-dory.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the rental agency had “mismarked” the amount of fuel in the vehicle. They marked it ¾ full instead of ¾ empty.

When he returned it, they noted the fuel guage and were going to ding him for returning with an almost empty tank.

He told them he hadn’t even driven the car more than 10 miles during the whole week. They didn’t believe him.

“Look at the gas gauge, Senor! You left with ¾ full and came back with it almost empty!”

He finally convinced them of the “error” when he showed them the odometer had only gone less than 9 miles and logically, he could not have burned up almost that whole tank of gas.

There’s another sneaky little thing as well. I think it’s an outright scam.

You rent the car and everything is fine.

When you come back, they find “little things” like finding curb marks on the tires where the tire may have scraped against a curb. Or excessive bugs on the grill.

They tell you “no problem.” You don’t need to “worry about it because you purchased insurance.”

You see them mark it down on a claim sheet.

Hmmmm…that means they’re going to make a claim against the insurance company (that they had you purchase) that there was “tire damage” or “grill damage.”

They get money.

Really bad form. Sneaky sneaky.

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 »

MEXICO STILL A BARGAIN BUT…

Posted in Airline flights to Mexico, airlines, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, camping, car, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charity, charters, 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, Heat stroke, highway, historical, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, 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 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, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, seri indians, sierra, speaking spanish, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storm, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, taco, Tailhunter International, techniques, testing facilities mexico airport, tiburon island, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, water, 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 May 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »

MEXICO IS STILL A BARGAIN BUT…

Originally Published the Week of May 10, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

I remember as a kid and in many of my younger years accompanying family and friends across the border from California. It was no big thing.

It was as common as telling folks you were driving to the mountains for a day.

Yes, there were those Mexico trips for fishing. And surfing. And weekends to just hang out and eat lobster and tacos.

And there were those trips just, “to go shopping.”

My mom, aunts and cousins loved it. So, I’d go with them. It was always fascinating.

This wasn’t to buy Elvis painted on black velvet or a candle-holder skull like they sold at the border. The family loved to shop for things like belts, clothes, hats and normal things.

Things seemed “always cheaper” across the border and the American dollar went a long way. Plus, it was fun too!

I speculate that it has always been part of the American psyche that there were always bargains in Mexico. Whether it was shopping, activities, lodging, activities or whatever, it was an easy and economical trip to just head south.

Listen, hate to be a buzz kill.

Mexico is still a bargain and an easy vacation to make.

In fact among both American and international travelers it’s the #1 destination spot in the world. And growing.

They can’t build hotels fast enough to meet the demand.

It’s not England, France, Japan or even the U.S.

It’s Mexico.

But, here’s the rub. Bring extra pesos.

Prices have really shot up. Just like the rest of the world.

Being in the hospitality and travel business ourselves with our fishing operation here in La Paz, I have to admit that a lot of folks are getting rocked by sticker shock.

Everything from gas to lodging and from fishing to street tacos has gone up.

Just like other parts of the planet, inflation has Mexico by the follicles. Whereas, normal inflation hovers around 3%. The last 3 years it has rocketed into the low-to-mid 8% levels.

That’s the highest it’s been in more than 2 decades.

For many tourists, OK…8% is a lot. But, it’s not a game changer. At least it’s not deterring that many folks from still beating a path to visit Mexico.

Oh yea…and as an aside taxes have gone up as well. No surprise.

I just read an article that said the “average” hotel room in Cabo is now $400-500 per night! Of course there are many that are much less expensive and, obviously many that are many times more exorbitant.

It’s an eye-opener for sure!

It’s all relative.

Look at the prices of hotel rooms in any major U.S. City. How much is Disneyland? How much does it cost to take the family to a nice dinner these days? How much does a McDonald’s happy meal cost? How much does it cost to fill gas in the family car?

Gas here in La Paz is now over $4 dollars a gallon. Of course, if you live in California, that sounds like a deal that has gone the way of the rotary telephone and Sony Walkmans.

But, like I said, it’s all relative.

In Mexico, if you’re only earning $10-per-day and have a family to feed, the rise in prices is crippling.

Not only does gas cost more, but everything related to that petroleum is going to bend you over as well…in the wrong way!

Anything that has to be transported costs more to the provider or supplier so simple economics 101 passes the price increase to the consumer at ground zero.

So, groceries cost more. Utilities like water and electricity cost more. It’s all related and relative.

Mexico is still a bargain.

But, it depends who you’re talking to.

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 »

DO-IT-YOURSELF VACATION SCREW-UPS IN MEXICO

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, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, 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, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, 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, 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 April 23, 2023| Leave a Comment »

THIS ONE’S ON YOU!

DO-IT-YOURSELF VACATION SCREW-UPS!

Originally Published the Week of April 23, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

Everyone looks forward to vacations. It gets us through all the other idiotic days of the year, right?

My wife and I have been in the fishing biz now for almost 30 years. I’ve been in the industry over 40. We’ve hosted thousands of visitors over years to come fishing with us in La Paz.

I was just thinking of some of the knuckle-headed things people do to themselves to jack their vacations.

Admittedly some stuff happens. S#*t happens to all of us no matter how careful we all are. Personally guilty of that one.

But, then there are the things we’ve seen smart people do to clown their own vacations that could have been avoided.

When someone approaches me with an issue in Mexico, of course, we try our best to help. Most people will try to help. It’s natural. We’re im the people business.

But, there are other times when I think to myself:

“Your negligence is NOT my emergency.”

Like not having your documents squared away. It doesn’t happen often, but a few times a year, I get a panic-call from someone at the airport or at home who has:

Forgotten their passport
Lost their passport (and only decided to look the night before their trip)
Arrives at the airport with an expired passport
Never had a passport and figured their driver’s license is fine
Lost or forgotten the passports of their kids or family member

Happens more often than you think.

Medications are another one. I send out a checklist to all our clients. I advise everyone to never send your meds with check-in luggage in case your luggage gets lost.

Many years ago, that happened to one guy. His luggage didn’t arrive for 3 days.

We thought he was looking kinda peaked each day. I mean, he was turning yellow! Turns out his colostomy bags were in his luggage!

C’mon man!

Another guy “forgot” his heart medications. He asked me to help him get a local prescription which we helped him get. It wasn’t easy.

Then, he found out the prescription was $600 dollars!!! And he wanted me to loan him the 600 bucks. I don’t’ have 600 dollars to loan. He had to go home early. Sorry it happened, but not my problem.

That reminds me of something else.

Everyone does their best to budget for their vacation. But did you really bring enough?

What about unforeseen things like:

Tips and resort fees
Taxis and shuttles
Unexpected cancelations of flights or other weather issues
Big bar and food bills
Extra activities
Too many “almost free” souvenirs

Many places in Mexico do NOT take credit cards. Many of us do NOT accept American Express either because of the fees.

No one will accept a personal check. Many places cannot accept cashier cheques either.

And here’s a real big one…many businesses do not and cannot accept big bills. That’s because the Mexican banks won’t accept them.

So, now you’re also stuck trying to break 100 dollar bills. Good luck.

Unless you have an account, the banks can’t help. Hotels aren’t banks either or have limited cash on hand. So, you’re out-of-luck and stressing.

So you buy a t-shirt you’ll never wear just to break that bill and now you have $80 in Mexican pesos.

And here’s the biggest one we see that can be a real vacation-buster. It’s completely avoidable.

That involves simply overdoing it.

Moderation in all things. That includes sunshine.

As much as it feels good to roast in that warm Mexican sun on the beach or pool, take some pre-cautions. On more than one occasion, we’ve seen folks so charbroiled it’s painful to us just to watch. Let alone the victim!

Painful and potentially dangerous.

The same can be said for hydration. That’s not drinking enough water as well as drinking too much alcohol.

These two are probably the most common. People hit the alcohol and forget the water…for their whole trip.

Especially that first day.

My gosh…folks pile off the plane and hit the beach or pool and it’s full-speed ahead! We hear the yahoo-ing and whooping.

At first, we smile. Glad they’re having a good time.

After awhile, we start getting worried.

For us, I gotta get these folks up early to go fishing or some other activity! I’ve had to escort people to their hotel rooms or we’ve sometimes carried folks!

So, often, they’re not able to answer the bell the next day.

Or in some cases, they are so intoxicated they get sick. And they stay sick for a good part of their vacations. They can’t answer the bell for several days!

Bad for them. Bad for us. Bad for everyone they are with.

Know your limits. Take it easy.

You might be ruining your vacation as well as the folks you’re travelling with. And with a little thought, it’s all very avoidable.

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.”

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WERE THEY PULLING OUR LEG ABOUT THE WORM?

Posted in Airline flights to Mexico, 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, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, 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, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, 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, 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, mezcal, mezcal worm, 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, Tailhunter Sea Level, tuna, vacation, wahoo, whale sharks, whale watching, women, world records, yellowtail on March 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

WERE THEY PULLING OUR LEG ABOUT THE WORM?

Originally Published the Week of Mar. 27, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

Back in the day…back in MY day a LONG time ago when things like this mattered, there were two guys that were always fun to have along.

One was the guy who brought the Cuervo Gold Tequila. We thought that was the apex of tequilas back then.

The other was the really fun guy. He brought the bottle of Mezcal. You might remember. Or maybe you tried not to remember!

It had that little worm at the bottom of the bottle.

As “party protocol” had it, the macho dude was the guy who got to the bottom of the bottle and ate that little squiggly thing.

You always tried to get the new guy to do it. Right?

Everyone told him we had all passed that “right of passage” and eaten the worm so it was HIS turn. Of course, we were lying.

But we would say anything to goad the newbie. Solidarity in peer pressure!

We were all told that eating that worm had “psychedelic properties.”

So what’s the deal with the worm?

I decided to look into it given that mezcal is growing more popular these days. Mezcalarias, that specialize strictly in mezcal are popping up everywhere and it’s rare to find a watering hole that doesn’t have bottles on the shelf.

Personally, I’ve found it to be a great mixer.

Always in moderation, mind you which is a good thing. Mezcal indeed has a higher alcohol content than tequila. About 15% more buzz for the buck.

But, it adds a nice smokiness to cocktails and, to me, much added flavor compared to tequila.

But, don’t mix them up.

Although both come from the agave plant, tequila is generally distilled from blue agave. Tequila is produced by steaming the agave.

Comparatively, mezcal uses a larger variety of agave. The plant is fire roasted in pits lined with lava rocks. Hence, you get the smokey earthy flavors.

The story of the worm goes back to the 50’s when a mezcal distiller found a worm larvae in a batch of brew and thought it added extra flavor.

It was also a nice marketing move which was soon copied by other manufacturers.

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In reality, it’s not really a worm per se. It’s an insect larvae that they say tastes a bit like chicken (why is that always the case?). To be more precise, it’s the redworm agave moth.

I did read another study where test subjects said it tasted like almonds. Whatever…

But, even in the party days, I’ve never seen anyone who actually admitted to chewing the darn thing.

However, the worm is often a popular culinary additive. Roasted and crushed, I’m told it adds some nice texture and flavor to regional Mexican dishes.

Gusanos

It’s perfectly safe to eat. Gulp all you want.

However…is it hallucinogenic?

Nah. Someone was fibbing.

There’s no proof that it has any such properties. However, if you make it to the bottom of the bottle to eat the worm, I have no doubt you’ll be seeing things!

On the contrary, there are some who believe that the worm has aphrodisiac affects.

Again, if you make it to the bottom of the bottle, you probably will feel 10-feet-tall; bullet-proof and eternally attractive.

Clinical studies have shown that when consumed by animals, there have been some aphrodisiac affects. But, never in humans.

I did find some clinical benefits of drinking Mezcal besides getting a faster buzz.

It reduces cholesterol which is the main factor in heart disease so you can say it helps prevent heart attacks.

Surprisingly, I also discovered that you are less likely to get a hangover after drinking mezcal.

Mezcal is made of polysaccharides. They transform into the body faster than other alcohol so begins to disintegrate as soon as it comes in contact with your mouth.

I don’t understand that, but its kinda good to know. Bigger brains than mine study this stuff.

Keep it moderate!

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.”

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HAND ON HEART – It Still Gets To Me

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, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, 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, Heat stroke, highway, historical, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, 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 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, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, sierra, 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 March 17, 2023| 1 Comment »

HAND ON HEART – It Still Gets To Me

Originally Published the Week of Mar. 10, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

OK, this is not really about Mexico like my usual columns. Or maybe it is.

My wife, Jilly, and I have been on the road now about 2 months travelling the U.S. doing the usual fishing/ hunting shows and conventions across the country. Lots of road hours.

With our booth, cat and clothes bundled up and stuffed in our Suburban, we’ve now done shows this year in Dallas, Reno, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Nashville. We just wrapped it up in Southern California at the Pacific Coast Sportfishing Show at the Orange Co. Fairgrounds.

A few minutes before the show started with hundreds of vendors ready go in their booths and a couple thousand attendees anxiously waiting at the gates to go in…

A giant American flag was unfurled and a beautiful woman’s voice sang a live version of the Star Spangled Banner over the fairground’s speaker system.

Everyone stopped. Oh Say Can You See?

Trucker hats and cowboy hats came off. Beanies and visors got placed over hearts with hands.

Guys with scruffy beards and overalls standing next to millennials, Generation Xer’s, surfer dudes, deckhand-types, salty old guys, guys and gals in camo or cutoffs, families, boomer folks in fashion… were all standing at silent attention staring at a massive American flag slowly fluttering in the chilly morning breeze.

Middle class…high class…no class. Didn’t matter. All standing together.

Next to me, a hipster with a man-bun and black skinny-legged stovepipe pants had his hand over his heart next to an older gent with a baseball that that said “Vietnam Veteran. He was standing at full salute.

There was a family that looked Middle Eastern (the wife had a burka) with an African American family standing nearby as well. I could see the wife mouthing the words…

“What so proudly we hail…”

Many folks of Asian and Latino descent also standing and saluting in their own ways.

Dangit…My wife and I both got teary-eyed. We always do.

And as that great song is playing, “Oh say does that star-spangled banner…”

I’m thinking, why can’t we all get along? Why are we so devisive? Why does it take some national tragedy or emergency to bring us all together?

Look at us all standing together at this very moment.

However, over 4 days of the show, folks coming to our booth to talk about fishing in La Paz. And they just can’t help themselves.

Over conversation about airflights into Mexico or Mexican restaurants or catching marlin…comments get interjected about our politics, their politicians, our presidents and their presidents, religions and economies.

Not little comments either, but combative, inflammatory and vociferous opinions. Fighting words. Not directed at me, but surely loud enough for the opinions to be heard by anyone within earshot.

As if they were just looking for an opportunity…any opportunity to wiggle in a belligerent opinion. Amazing.

What do street tacos have to do with election fraud? Or how is fishing in a panga related to conspiracy theories about covid or supply chain issues? The size of a dorado and corruption?

C’mon, man.

And of course, everyone of an opposite belief is an “idiot.”

Sigh…

I live and work in another country. That country has given me a nice little career and livelihood. But I’m still proudly American.

Inwardly, I laugh.

Check out what it’s like for most folks living across the border. Politics, the judicial system, the economy, education…if Americans could only see and experience what it’s like
“over there.”

There’s a reason why so many folks are trying to get across to the U.S. (A completely different discussion for sure.)

But, we are so blessed as Americans. Yea, the struggle is real. For all it’s monumental problems, what a darned fine country.

And for one shining moment, standing in the chilly morning breeze listening to the national anthem and facing a giant old glory, it felt especially good.

To look around and think that for all our outward differences…for all our crazy opinions…we could still draw together over an old worn song that still has meaning.

And that if it ever came to it, we’d all have each other’s backs.

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.”

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BLUE PLATE SPECIAL

Posted in Airline flights to Mexico, 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, CBX Express bridge, cerralvo, cerralvo island, 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, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, 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, 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 March 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »

BLUE PLATE SPECIAL

Originally Published the Week of Sept. 28, 2023 in Western Outdoor Publications

Several columns ago, I wrote a piece regarding when Mexican food NOT Mexican food. It mentioned things like nachos, pre-formed taco shells and chili having non-Mexican origins.

I was pleasantly surprised at the number of comments I received from readers.

As one reader laughingly wrote, “You personally destroyed my entire concept of Mexican food and so many of my favorite dishes!”

But, as I’ve heard so often, our American concept of various ethnic and nationalized food is often skewed by what we are exposed to in the U.S.

For example, I could have probably written about Chinese or Italian food being completely different from our American experiences if we actually visited those countries.

Not withstanding, several of the e-mails, I received actually asked, where I would personally find the best Mexican food.

Amazingly, once again, it’s not found in a traditional spot per se.

Yes, it’s restaurant food. However, it’s very atypical to what Americans visualize as a restaurant and they are pretty easy to find.

They dot the landscape especially along the highways and backroads, little towns and pueblos. Often, they are stand-alone solitary non-descript buildings.

Sometimes they are actually marked with a crude sign announcing “Restaurante” or “Lonche” (Lunch).

Other times, you just have to know.

A tell-tale weathered Coca-Cola sign or Modelo Beer logo nailed to a post or painted on the wall is a pretty good indication.

There may or may not be cars parked outside. Don’t count on it.

Very often it’s a concrete slab with half-walls and some kind of patio with plastic chairs. Other times, it’s really nothing more than a big extra room in the cinderblock home of a family.

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There could be one big table. There could be several small tables. Nothing really seems to match unless they are the universal plastic tables and chair given out by the beer companies.

But the room itself often has the hominess of someone’s big living room. Often it is. Yup…there’s a TV on the wall or counter.

There might be a small religious shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe with a votive candle in the corner.

Or it could be the back patio that looks out over an expanse of Baja desert and rock. And lots of scrub brush and cactus.

Oh yea…and maybe a dog or chicken or two.

C’mon in and sit down.

You will never find these little places on Google or Yelp or other social media platform. Forget Facebook or looking for a website.

Don’t even count on a name.

One of my favorite spots is just an address. Loncheria 5.6 km a Playa Piedra (Lunch place 5.6 kilometers to Rocky Beach.)

Don’t expect to see a menu. Or something tacked on the wall.

There is none.

And therein is the beauty.

We Americans are accustomed to restaurant where we have choices or have a selection of things to eat and prepared for us.

In Mexico…especially in the outlying fronteras…a restaurant basically means you have the luxury and means to have someone cook for you. That’s it!

Kinda like getting invited to your auntie’s house or your grandma’s place. And Uncle Gerardo and Cousin Juanito will be helping out

You know you’re gonna get fed and get a meal, but they’re gonna cook what they have! The meal will be whatever is in the frig!

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There’s always beans that have probably been on the stove for hours or days. Seasoned and savory.

There’s always amazing tortillas that did NOT come out’ve a plastic bag, but made the way they’ve been making tortillas for generations.

And you usually do have somewhat of a choice!

How do you want your eggs? Fried? Or really fried?

Maybe some rice?

Did you want some fresh ranch cheese? Or not.

Red salsa or green salsa?

Always hand made. Family recipes. Nothing out’ve a jar or can. And definitely not like that salsa in the commercial “from New York City!”

Oh wait…

They have some fish today. Or maybe it’s some fresh machaca beef. Or some rich brothy pozole pork stew!

It’s whatever they have and whatever is fresh. And cooked the only way they know how to cook it.

Or, like one of my favorite places in a little fishing village near Bahia Magdalena, the little grandmother always apologizes.

She only has two choices every time I go there. Shrimp or lobster? That’s what she has and that’s what she offers.

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Are you kidding? She gives me both!

No apology necessary.

Whatever it is, you can always wrap your tortillas around it or shovel it into your mouth “local style” with the tortilla.

And you can always count on cold beer of some type. Usually Coke. No Pepsi. And always hot coffee.

And, it’s not unusual for them to come over and ask if you want more and then bring the pot over and ladle the rest of the pot or pan onto your plate!

And it’s always great and you never ever leave hungry.

There’s no bill. Mama tell you how much the meal costs. No credit cards accepted.

Pesos only please. Don’t expect change either. You might be the only folks who have stopped by all day.

Don’t worry. The meal costs pesos. My lobster dinner with 2 tails AND the shrimp would cost about 3 bucks.

And believe it or not, no tip is expected. But don’t dare walk out without leaving something! You’ll always get a grand smile.

…and leave with one as well. And a full happy tummy!

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 you never had the courage to try.”

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Jonathan has written for:

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Baja Life Magazine
The Log
Fish Taco Chronicles
Sportsman's Channel Magazine

His articles also appear in:

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Sacramento Bee
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