That's My Story

FISH ATTRACTING DEVICES – Published April 05 – WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWS

I don’t think there’s any question that fishermen have to be the most inventive doodlers around. Considering that our quarries, more or less, have brains the size of a nut, it’s amazing the amount of human brain power we apply toward fooling them with every gadget imagineable. Just check out any good fishing magazine or better yet, turn to the section on “bass lures” in your latest Bass Pro catalog. Oh my…just how many wiggly types of worms can we come up with and each season? Just go to any tackle store or outdoor trade show and someone has the newest and latest “can’t miss” thing-a-ma-bob. The funny thing is that some of these things actually work.

Well, if you ever really want to see fishermen’s grey matter at it’s apex, just put some fishermen around a campfire or firepit after a good meal. Add beverages and a sunset and a few good pull-my-finger-jokes and we can’t help but think of new ways to catch fish. It can get even worse in Baja where we all know huge critters are just lurking right off the beach. We can’t help ourselves. We are genetically programmed to build better mouse (fish) traps.

It was at one of these “strategy session” when I was working on the East Cape that I mentioned FADs (Fish Attracting Devices) that are used back home in Hawaii and in many places around the world. These are artificial floating things that fish tend to congregate around, much like kelp paddies can be magnets for you southern California anglers. With so many fish in the Sea of Cortez, why hadn’t someone erected FADs “out there?”

The owner of the hotel I was working at, happened to in on the conversation and himself an avid fishermen, we hit upon brilliance. We found some scrap sheets of busted up plywood. We drilled numerous holes in it. Using a staple gun we attached numerous strands of old rope, hoses, cloth, sticks and even some strands of his wife’s silk ivy plant he always hated. Ta-da…when floating upside down, we had instant artificial kelp paddies. Boy, were we gonna get ‘em.

The next day, I set these out in various places around the bay, three in all. Over the next two days, sure enough, we found dorado, skippies and roosters hiding in them and we figured we had really hit on something. Unfortunately, someone else “hit” it too when a neighbor, coming in late, cranked into one of our FADs and bent his prop in the dark. He wasn’t too happy and I was sent by my boss to “get those stupid things outta the water!” Of course, it was my fault for having ever conceived of such a ridiculous thing.

I never thought much about it again until recently fishing with one of my skippers in an area where we had been getting dorado, but the fish had been scattered. They had been pounded for weeks by heavy fishing traffic and weren’t schooling up. We a started the day by catching a few bonito which I knew would be stripped and used to slow troll for the mahi. However, this time, I saw my skipper cut off whole side slabs of the bloody fish. He then produced several bleach bottles from below the deck. Each bleach bottle had a length of rope attached to it. To each rope, he tied a chunk of bonito and tossed it over the side. Ah-hah!

Over the course of the day, we slow trolled bonito strips and live sardines in and out of the area, but at least once an hour we’d cruise by the floating bleach bottles which could easily be seen! Almost invariably, there would be a dorado or two swimming around the bottles attracted by the oily fish and actually taking occasional bites out of the chunk. Once we even had a striped marlin come up and wack at the bait and the bottle, but he wouldn’t go. Nevertheless, tossing a few sardines or dragging a thin strip of hooked bonito through the area was all it took to get the dorado going. Instant biters! .

At the end of the day, we collected our bleach bottles and took the happy clients back to the beach. No doubt for a good dinner; a fire; and more ideas on how to make a better mouse trap!

That’s my story…

Jonathan

FISH ATTRACTING DEVICES – Published April 05 – WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWS

I don’t think there’s any question that fishermen have to be the most inventive doodlers around. Considering that our quarries, more or less, have brains the size of a nut, it’s amazing the amount of human brain power we apply toward fooling them with every gadget imagineable. Just check out any good fishing magazine or better yet, turn to the section on “bass lures” in your latest Bass Pro catalog. Oh my…just how many wiggly types of worms can we come up with and each season? Just go to any tackle store or outdoor trade show and someone has the newest and latest “can’t miss” thing-a-ma-bob. The funny thing is that some of these things actually work.

Well, if you ever really want to see fishermen’s grey matter at it’s apex, just put some fishermen around a campfire or firepit after a good meal. Add beverages and a sunset and a few good pull-my-finger-jokes and we can’t help but think of new ways to catch fish. It can get even worse in Baja where we all know huge critters are just lurking right off the beach. We can’t help ourselves. We are genetically programmed to build better mouse (fish) traps.

It was at one of these “strategy session” when I was working on the East Cape that I mentioned FADs (Fish Attracting Devices) that are used back home in Hawaii and in many places around the world. These are artificial floating things that fish tend to congregate around, much like kelp paddies can be magnets for you southern California anglers. With so many fish in the Sea of Cortez, why hadn’t someone erected FADs “out there?”

The owner of the hotel I was working at, happened to in on the conversation and himself an avid fishermen, we hit upon brilliance. We found some scrap sheets of busted up plywood. We drilled numerous holes in it. Using a staple gun we attached numerous strands of old rope, hoses, cloth, sticks and even some strands of his wife’s silk ivy plant he always hated. Ta-da…when floating upside down, we had instant artificial kelp paddies. Boy, were we gonna get ‘em.

The next day, I set these out in various places around the bay, three in all. Over the next two days, sure enough, we found dorado, skippies and roosters hiding in them and we figured we had really hit on something. Unfortunately, someone else “hit” it too when a neighbor, coming in late, cranked into one of our FADs and bent his prop in the dark. He wasn’t too happy and I was sent by my boss to “get those stupid things outta the water!” Of course, it was my fault for having ever conceived of such a ridiculous thing.

I never thought much about it again until recently fishing with one of my skippers in an area where we had been getting dorado, but the fish had been scattered. They had been pounded for weeks by heavy fishing traffic and weren’t schooling up. We a started the day by catching a few bonito which I knew would be stripped and used to slow troll for the mahi. However, this time, I saw my skipper cut off whole side slabs of the bloody fish. He then produced several bleach bottles from below the deck. Each bleach bottle had a length of rope attached to it. To each rope, he tied a chunk of bonito and tossed it over the side. Ah-hah!

Over the course of the day, we slow trolled bonito strips and live sardines in and out of the area, but at least once an hour we’d cruise by the floating bleach bottles which could easily be seen! Almost invariably, there would be a dorado or two swimming around the bottles attracted by the oily fish and actually taking occasional bites out of the chunk. Once we even had a striped marlin come up and wack at the bait and the bottle, but he wouldn’t go. Nevertheless, tossing a few sardines or dragging a thin strip of hooked bonito through the area was all it took to get the dorado going. Instant biters! .

At the end of the day, we collected our bleach bottles and took the happy clients back to the beach. No doubt for a good dinner; a fire; and more ideas on how to make a better mouse trap!

That’s my story…

Jonathan

CATCH PHOTO RELEASE – Published March ’05 – Western Outdoor News

It was one of those good days when you pull onto the beach after being on the boats all day and everyone is on the beach. Boats are lined up bow pointed up and motors still getting lapped by the small waves. Before we even run the panga up the berm, I could already tell it was a good day. I could see guys taking photos and I could hear the laughing and horseplay. I could hear ‘em all talking smack to each other and if I listened carefully, I could just about detect the sound of icy Pacificos being clinked together in celebration.

I could see fish being cleaned and the best tell-tale sign of all…birds diving for scraps and scores of pelicans looking for any handouts and ready to do battle with any gaviota willing to get in the way of some bit of carcass. Just like that kid’s movie “Nemo” I could hear the gulls milling thickly overhead yelling “Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!” in unison. I say “hear” because there’s no way I was gonna look up and perchance catch a “present” in my eye. Guys could see our panga pulling in and were happily waving us to charge up onto the beach. I could tell there were anglers who wanted their photos taken “by the guy from Western Outdoors” (Grinning)

When you’re in the business of putting people on fish, you can’t help but exhale a bit when you know at the end of the day that everyone is happy. You do your best to control the things you can control, but in the end, guys in our business really have no control over the very thing our customers are buying…fish! Nor can I control the weather or the wind or any of those things and it sometimes makes for a nervous day on my part in a sometimes perilous career. I’ve often said that when it’s a funky day on the water, I can literally feel the “bulls-eye” growing on my back.

Today was not one of those days and today my conscience and backside would remain un-marked. Hijole! There were a lot of fish today. Everyone had lots of dorado…and tuna…and some roosters over there…and skipjack…and this guy got into some amberjack and several of the boats were high-fiving themselves for finding the wahoo “honey-hole.”

“Your operation is the best, Jonathan!” or something like that was heard more than once, but hey…I really don’t have anything to do with that. The fish bit. I didn’t make ‘em jump in the boat nor did I have anything to do with the bait or currents. Baja was just good to us today. But I guess I’ll take the back-slaps now to make up for those days when it’s also my fault when the fishing is bad and I have the “worst operation in the Baja.”

As I watched all the beach activities and especially at all the ice chests that were getting filled, I was approached by one of my senior skippers who handed me a beer and nodded that guy-bonding thing we all know when a good day’s work has been done. We clinked long-necks and took a frosty pull. I asked him something I’ve always wanted to ask.

“You have been fishing these same waters for 30 years, Victor. Is the fishing still as good? Can we keep fishing like this?” I asked as we leaned against the gunwale of a panga and watched all the fish being loaded.

He paused before he answered in Spanish. His eyes narrowed and he spoke slowly.

“Jonathan, I think the tuna and dorado are OK. Some years they are better than others, but mostly they are fine. I am happy that I see more gringos and even captains, especially the younger ones, putting fish back in the water. However, I think many of the other fish are gone. Commercial fishing for garopa (grouper), cabrilla (seabass), huachinango (snapper and pargo) and other fish like sharks are all gone. We took too many. They are still taking them.”

I guess it wasn’t the right question to ask on a day when we should have been celebrating. Victor took a swig from his beer and somberly walked back to tend to the cleaning of his panga with a heavier gait in his stride. Something to think about amid the laughs. “We took too many,” he had said. Hmmmmmm…

I guess I notice how more anglers, captains and fleets are encouraging catch and release. I hear more of my own clients ask if it’s OK to release fish or is it OK if they just take some fish for dinner. I see more billfish released each year and guys actually get testy when someone drags a bill back to the beach. But, I’d by yanking your chain if I told you that I don’t get worried sometimes. I’m as guilty as others. I started fishing in an age when we thought there would always be fish. The ocean had an unlimited supply. But times have changed and there’s something about not throwing rocks in glass houses. I make a conscious effort to keep an eye on my own catch. I really try to not bust so many fish and release more and encourage it in my clients. But, in Baja, it’s not easy. Not when fishing can be incredibly WFO.

I was watching one of Mike Fowlkes excellent “Inside Sportfishing” videos once. It was one of his Baja features. Don’t ask me which ones, but Mike has always been an excellent writer. He said something to the effect that (with apologies to Mike), “We have to practice C.P.R….Catch Photo Release more often. The time to think about releasing a fish is NOT when you’re in the heat of battle and the bloodlust is strong. It’s BEFORE you ever get bit.” I gotta remember that.

That’s my story. . .
Jonathan

NOTHING TO DO? – Published March 05 – Western Outdoor News

I’m not often at a loss for words, but I got a phone call just this week from a gent that wanted to bring his family of 10 down to Baja. It went something like this:

Him: I wanna bring my family down to Baja. We don’t want to go to Cabo, but we’re looking for something around the East Cape, La Paz, or Loreto.

Me: That’s great!

Him: A couple of us wanna do some fishing so can you help us out and hook us up?

Me: I’m sure we can or I can at least point you in the right direction!

Him: We’re looking at being there a week or 10 days and don’t want to fish every single day and some don’t want to fish at all so what’s there to do?

Me: Well, that’s no problem. There’s SCUBA and snorkeling and hiking and kayaking and…

Him: (cutting me off) But what if we don’t want to do anything around the water? What if the ladies want to go shopping and stuff?

Me: Well, the East Cape and La Paz and Loreto aren’t exactly great spots for shopping. Maybe you should go to Cabo instead or San Jose del…

Him: (cutting me off again) We’ve been there and want to try something new. There’s too many people at those places and it’s too touristy.

Me: (Now getting a little perplexed) Well, sir, other than say…hanging out at the pool or beach or participating in something around water, or heading out into the desert, there’s not much else.

Him: (getting a little testy) What do you mean there’s nothing else? Aren’t there some museums or aquariums or places like that?

Me: Not anything you can’t walk through in just a few minutes. It’s just not like that in…

Him: (really getting a bit demanding) So, what are my family going to do then?
And this is when I was finally at a loss for words. I had to pause because I didn’t see how this was going anywhere. No fishing. No SCUBA. No kayaking. No shopping.

Me: I guess there’s NOTHING for them to do.

Him: What do you mean, “Nothing?”

Me: Just that, Sir. Nothing except maybe hang on the beach with a good book. Watch the waves. Have some conversation with family. There is absolutely NOTHING for your family to do!

Him: I’ll get back to you. (hang up…dial tone….)

It was such an unusual phone conversation, I put the phone back on the receiver and pushed my chair back from my desk. I had never told a potential client there was “nothing” do to.

You know Jimmy Buffet has a song title that I’ve always loved, “If The Phone Doesn’t Ring It’s Me.” What’s so wrong about nothing? To me, that’s an incredible word. No phones except a shell you hold up to your ear? No freeway except the congestion at the bait receiver in the morning? No TV except the panaroma of the ocean passing in front of you as you stick your toes into warm sand? No boss except the little guy in your head that tells you it’s time for another frosty one? No agenda or schedule except knowing that the sun is either up or down? I thought folks came to Baja to get AWAY from “SOMETHING” to hopefully find a little “NOTHING.” It’s one little changing corner of the planet where there are still places where you can find absolutely nothing and revel in it. What’s so incredibly bad about a good book on the beach or some good and real conversation and laughs with family or friends? Nothing to do but watch waves crest and fall and swirl up to your ankles? Can I have a second scoop of nothing?

Baja is changing rapidly from a place of nothing to a place where everyone can find something to do. Baja is trying to be “something” on the map of tourism, economics and development. I can only sigh and remember when so much of it was a place where there was nothing to do. Not a condo in sight. Not a jet ski to be found. The dirt road led into a wash. There was always sand in your shorts and and a ride on the local bus might mean you shared the seat with a chicken and a guy who smelled like one and you both laughed all the way into town and he invited you for dinner in a house with a dirt floor…but it was the cleanest dirt floor you ever saw. And the days…yes, the days. They lasted 36 hours long and there was nothing to do. You know what? It was impossible to be bored. There are still so many places on the Baja that are still to be discovered. Places where there is nothing. Hopefully, at sometime before it’s too late, you’ll find one of those places and therein maybe find a little “something” inside yourself that you might have lost long ago. One E-ticket to nothing, por favor!

That’s my story…
Jonathan

YOUR NEW TOYS – Published March 05 – Western Outdoor News

I’m writing this a week after that carnage that was the Fred Hall Long Beach Show. Wow. Mil gracias to all of you who made a point of coming by the booth to introduce yourselves and tell me you’re reading the column whether you agree or not. At least, you told me you’re having fun with it and that’s the point. It’s fishing, not rocket science or curing cancer, right?

So, you got home with all your bag of goodies…armfuls of goodies. You have brochures from every known destination and of course, all the Baja guys too. And, you can’t stop taking those new rods and reels out’ve the boxes. Admit it. More than once you attached the rod and reel together with the harness and got into your “fighting stance” after bribing your kid pull on the end to simulate a bad boy Baja tuna or grumpy yellowtail. Busted! Hey, I’m guilty too.

But isn’t that what makes it fun. Phone’s on hold. Take a message. I’m in the den, Honey. I promise I’ll walk the dog later. Fishing let’s us be kids again and the shows are like opening that Sears Christmas toy catalog for the first time and dream.

You’re probably not going to be going fishing just yet but here’s a few things I always do with my new gear to get it ready or keep it in good shape until you’re ready to go bust the chops of some toad.

For one, resist the temptation to have your kid or your best buddy to pull on the end of your new stick. Most folks I watch, don’t know how to grab the end. Grab only from the very tip, not from somewhere down the shaft. Even a few inches from the tip can bust the stick. Store it in a cool dry place. In a rack is perfect but try not to just lean that new jig stick in the corner where it might take a “set” and get a weird bow in it when you finally use it. If you’re anywhere damp or live near the ocean, a light spray of WD-40 wiped on it helps retard early corrosion.

For reels, I know it’s hard, but try to keep them in the box. OK, never mind. Take them out of the box but try to keep them covered. That new anodized finish sure looks purty and, like your new car, will inevitably get scratched, but try to postpone it. I like to take my new reels and sit in front of the TV. I hold it in my hand and whip it around to make the handle spin as fast as I can. To me, this helps wear in the gears a little bit and helps wear out any burrs left in the machining so it’s butter smooth when I’m ready to rock’n’ roll. Several hours of idle “spinning” helps break it in like a car. It runs better after a few thousand miles.

On your line, I know you bought some of that great bulk stuff that was at the shows. Store it in a cool dark place. Cover it if you can. I like to wrap the spool in tinfoil. Line begins to deteriorate when exposed to the elements like sun and heat so keep it at it’s peak until you’re ready to spool it on the reel. By all means, do NOT run out, grab your kid and make him hold a pencil or a chopstick while you wind line or put the spool in a trash can. Line needs to be wound tightly onto your reels. Wait until the last minute to do this. I know you can’t wait to see what your new reel looks like with shiny line on it, but winding it now could result in the line taking a set and coming off in coils instead of the nice limp stuff you need to keep that sardine or anchovie from swimming under the boat when it should be “out there” where the big boys are swimming.

Now that’s all done, dial in a fishing show on a sports’ channel and spread those brochures all over the bed while you sit in your boxers and droopy socks and figure out where you’re gonna go with all your new toys!

By the way…to the person who wrote in the editorial about not tipping. Your point is well-taken. Sounds like you had some bad experiences and I’m sorry. Don’t be a tightwad, but by no means should you tip laziness either. However, I’ve often lost clients who said I’m too expensive because I don’t hide costs. I show the WHOLE price and I try to inform folks about the extras, like tipping or bait they might still encounter. Most of my amigos in the biz are the same. Straight up. However, that’s why you need to make sure you ASK about ALL the charges associated with your charter. But that’s a subject for another column! Thanks again, Pescadores. It was great to shake so many hands.

That’s my story…
Jonathan

TIPPING CORROLARY – Published March ’05 – Western Outdoor News

In all the years that I’ve been writing, I don’t think that I’ve ever gotten so many e-mails, phone calls or high-5’s over those two columns I wrote on tipping. As I mentioned, tipping is the most asked question I seem to receive on a daily basis besides, “When are they opening Hotel Las Arenas?” (But that’s another story for a MUCH longer column!) I had some Baja chartermasters tell me they were going to re-print the columns and make sure their buddies all had it the next time they went to Baja. I had others tell me that the subject put to rest a nag that always bugged ‘em everytime they headed south. Anyway, thanks for all the props, amigos. Good to know it touched a common thread among so many of you.

But…let me tell ya about one other aspect of tipping. It’s how to make your tip work for YOU. Let’s call it “Jonathan’s Corollary on Tips.

I got this from another Baja rat in a Loreto or San Quintin cantina many years ago during one of those marguertia summit talks where you solve all the world’s problems over slammers and limes. He offered a suggestion I’ve used many times over the years with pretty good success. In fact, I tried it the next day and it went like this…

As with many of you anglers who come down to the Baja, inevitably there’s a “jackpot” between all the yahoos. It was like that with the dozen or so of my friends as well. By the time bets were in, there was a good chunk of say..oh…$360 in the pot.

Following my amigo’s suggestion, I told my pangero that next morning to hold out his hand. I put $20 in it and told him that no matter how we did, “Es tu propina.” (This is your tip.) I went on to tell him, that for every fish over 10 pounds that day, I would add another $2. For every fish over 15 pounds, I would add another $3. For every fish over 20 pounds, it would be worth $5 more. I grinned. He grinned. He fired up the motor. All the other pangas went right. We went left. I won the $360. He got a $42 dollar tip.

“Jonathan’s Corollary” has worked 4 out of 5 times I’ve tried it. Aside from the obvious, the point is, tipping AFTER-the-fact is one thing, but tipping-ahead-of-time can sometimes reap benefits and gets your tips working FOR you. Again, put yourself in the place of your skipper, bellman, taxi driver or bartender and human nature kicks in. When I crewed on sportfishers, you can bet, that I kept a special eye out for the guy who slipped a ten spot into my hand as he came aboard. Ever tipped a maitre’d or mechanic BEFORE he did he even did anything? Same thing. We all love being paid-up-front.

With respect to Baja captains, I’ve noticed that tipping ahead of time takes off a lot of the pressure. Everyone knows where they stand. (Of course this could work both ways if you drop a crummy tip right off the bat). It takes off the “edge,” not to mention that you just scored major “cred points” with the captain. Want to release fish? The captain won’t be so concerned about killing fish now that he knows that dead fish won’t equate to more tips. A good captain will be even better. A great captain could just turn in a truly banner day. You’ll get more attention and service, believe me. See if it doesn’t make a difference in how your fish are cleaned or how the personality and demeanor of the captain and crew improve. One other thing. If you’re happy with your service and plan on fishing another day or even next year, put an extra ten dollars into the captain’s hands and tell him it’s “ un poco mas” (a little more) as you shake his hand and thank him. It will pay mega-dividends on your next trip and believe me, they will be talking about the cliente muy amable around the dinner table that night and you won’t be forgotten.

That’s my story.

TIPPING YOUR SKIPPER Pt. 2 – Published Jan. 05 – Western Outdoor News

Previously, in this column I had written about the touchy and sometimes awkward subject of tipping in Mexico. I had covered bellmen, waiters, drivers and other service folk so let’s hit the big one…your fishing tip.

Having a fishing operation, this is probably the most asked question from anglers. You’ve had a great, good, so-so, or bad day on the water. You’re ready to get off the boat, beach or dock and you know it’s tip time. You’re expected to put something down and your skipper is kinda expecting something too. You may or may not have had good communications with him all day and you just have no idea what’s enough or what’s too much. You sure don’t want to look like a jerk, right? You have to fish with this captain again tomorrow…or not. By the same token, you sure don’t want to be excessive either. Hmmmmm…

As mentioned previously in this column, to me, tipping is completely discretionary. It’s all up to you. You can leave absolutely nothing if service was that bad. Still, I tell my own clients not to judge by how much fish you caught, but by how hard the guy tried. There’s never any guarantees. It’s fishing. He can’t control the weather or the fish or the water. So, if he put in a good day’s effort, then a tip is appropriate. Generally, if you do the “10-20 percent rule”, you’re in good shape and everyone smiles. So, if your panga is $250/day, a 25 dollar tip split between you and your fishing buddy is great. Drop more if you feel it’s warranted. Etiquette-wise, if there’s a deckhand, you can tip him a little something, but it’s best to give the money to the skipper and let the captain do the splitting.

Can you tip too much? Sure. I see it all the time. Overly generous and grateful client are very much appreciated, but here are two problems. The skippers can sometimes start expecting high tips and get sniffy when someone gives them a “normal” tip. If you get used to steak, burgers stop sounding good. Secondly, remember, who’s getting the money. Remember what it was like when YOU were young and you suddenly came into a nice windfall of cash. Right. You went out and had fun. I have seen young skippers (and sometimes experienced veterans) simply disappear for a few days on a bender enjoying an unexpected “fat wallet.” Money never gets to their families not to mention the problems it creates for the fleet operator who suddenly has an AWOL captain. These days if someone tells me they really want to drop a big tip on a skipper, I ask them to give it to me. I’ll either dole it out to the skipper in increments or give it directly to the family (aka “wife”) and make sure the skipper watches the transfer of money into my hands so he knows I’m not holding out on him. Most skippers are appreciative of that and know it’s for the better.

Conversely, what’s a bad tip or “bad tip etiquette?” This happens just as often. It’s rare when someone gets no tip. Sometimes, it’s justified, and the client, feeling awkward and often angry, will tell me exactly why he didn’t tip. What can I say? The customer is always right. However, I know there are two sides to every story so I will make sure I get the captain’s version as well. On those days when the tip is light or non-existent, I’ll explain to the captain what happened. Assuming there really was no problem (sometimes, hey…we all get jerky clients no matter what business you are in), most captains realize that it all evens out. The next day, someone could over-tip them.

The more awkward times are when there is no problem and the client undertips for various reasons. I have often heard, “I gave the captain 5 bucks and 10 bonito” or “I’ll tip him at the end of my trip.”

Let me share what that means from the captain’s perspective. Many captains depend on that tip to put gas in the boat the next day and tortillas and milk on the table for the kids. It’s a simple matter of cash-flow. When gas is 2-3 dollars per gallon and you just burned up 30 gallons of gas for the day, that 5 bucks won’t go far. The 10 bonito were junk to you and are probably junk to him. If he can, he will sell it to the market for a few dollars at best. He might just toss them into the vegetable garden. He probably cannot keep the fish anyway. When you fish for a living, chances are your refrigerator is already stocked with fish and anyway, knowing many of the captains, they have tiny freezers anyway that are probably smaller than your lunch ice chest. So, the 5 bucks and 10 bonito weren’t any big whup to him. Thanks for the smile, Senor.

Comparatively, let’s say you plan to give a big tip at the end of your 3 days of fishing. Again, cash flow is the issue, but it’s also an attitude issue. Unless the skipper is your regular captain and you’re best amigos, he probably won’t understand and he’ll come talk to me about it. First, there’s no money to re-fuel the boat for you tomorrow. Secondly, he may not understand what you’re doing and think you stiffed. He’ll come talk to me thinking something was wrong despite the fact that you had an excellent day on the water. Besides, what if your next few days are bad fishing? Also, put yourself in his place. If you get rewarded daily for a job well done, your attitude tends to be a little better the next day, right? We all like to know our efforts are being appreciated.

What about the money the captain earned from the booking you made? Well, that differs from fleet to fleet and skipper to skipper. Often, the skipper does not own the boat you just fished on. Maybe a dad or grandfather or father-in-law owns it. Sometimes, it’s a partnership of guys that own it. In that case, the skipper is either being paid by the owner of the boat and earning as little as $10/day and really depends on your tip. Sometimes, the skipper earns more, but it is his responsibility to also re-fill the boat with gas as well. If the captain owns the boat he stands to make more, but sometimes the fleet owners only pay at the end of the week or end of the month. Not that fleet owners are holding out, but sometimes it just takes awhile to process those credit cards or the clients only paid at the last minute or are walk-on clients. So, the tip is critical, and like even the waitress at your hometown Denny’s it’s counted on as part of the daily wage.

Bottom line, those are the realities of the business. Just put yourself in your captain’s shoes (or lack thereof) and treat him as you’d expect to be treated. Most fleet operators I know and work with take good care of their skippers and consequently, the skippers do well ergo resulting in happy clients who reward a nice day on the water. If you reward effort it’s a win-win all the way around.

That’s my story.

TIPPING Pt. 1 – Published January 2005 – Western Outdoor News

In the course of my job working here in Mexico, I do get my share of questions dropped on me daily. That’s natural. However, the number one question that flies by me via phone, e-mail or in person is not about the weather, bait, skippers, road conditions or bait. Most of that can be found on the internet or talking to someone else, I suppose. The one subject that I get asked about most is tipping. That’s right…the T-I-P (“To Insure Personal Service”)

Frankly, it’s a subject that gets a lot of discussion, but I feel awkward answering it and many people seem to feel awkward asking me about it. In fact, in the same way that you ask someone if you have a piece of pepper in your teeth, guys lean over and talk out of the corner of their mouth, “Hey, Jonathan, what do you think about the tip?”

Let me put it this way. As far as I’m concerned, tipping is a personal thing. It’s discretionary. You can drop a buck or some pesos on someone or not. I admit there have been times when I’ve been so disgusted with service that I left a penny or nothing at all simply to express my disgust. However, its like showing up to class in high school. If the person at least shows up and is half cheerful and does their job, they get a “tip.” Not leaving one is socially unacceptable, I know. But how much is too much or too little especially if you’re in another country…don’t understand the language…and sometimes it’s your first time in another culture?

No pun intended, but here’s my “two cents” having now lived and worked in Mexico for almost 10 years. Here’s the most important part of this column. You can either leave a tip or not. For folks like bellmen, taxi drivers, maids, I’ve found that most travelers, Americans included do NOT tip. For waiters, fishing captains, tour guides, it would really be a major faux pas to smile and walk away. In fact, I usually hear about it when one of my own waiters, guides, captains or dive masters does not get a tip. (Yes…they do talk about you!) and assume they must have done something wrong not to get a tip.

That being said, even a small tip is tremendously appreciated. It at least recognizes and is a token of “professional service.” I know you may have encountered exceptions, but someone like a captain, guide, divemaster or even waiter normally takes their job professionally. Believe me, your guy might look like he’s been cleaning fish all week or his taxi might look like a rattle trap, but that person worked very hard to have that boat or that car and most people do NOT have that kind of property or else worked and trained very hard to become a “guide” or divemaster. Therefore, recognition of the service is often more important than the actual amount of the tip. It would be akin to someone calling you “Sir” at your favorite hoity restaurant. There’s a certain pride that goes with it. It’s even more important in Mexico.

When I worked as a divemaster regularly, folks would spend thousands on their trip then press a 5 dollar tip into my hand at the end of the week like they had just given me a fifty. Believe me, I was thrilled. Bottom line, a little goes a long way.

However, here’s a little more insight. This is where “tipping” really does “insure personal service” in most cases. Because maids, bellmen, etc. are not used to getting tips, not only does a little go a long way, but even leaving a buck on your nightstand really pays dividends. Look at this this way, the person who cleans your room; works at the hotel reception; or carries your bags might make a whopping ten bucks a day and forty to sixty bucks a week. You’ve now dropped a a smiling George Washington into their hands.

Put it this way, how would you feel if someone put 10 percent of your daily bread into YOUR hands after you read this column? It kinda changes your attitude a bit, doesn’t it? Perks you up a bit doesn’t it? You bet those extra towels will be there. You bet they’ll remember next time they see you dragging across the lobby with all your fishing equipment and your ice chest in tow. Need a little extra salsa at dinner or topping off that frosty marguerita? I’d remember the someone very well if they put 10 percent of my wages in my hand right now. Yessiree, Bob!

Back home, that dollar would get you a” stink-eye” stare from your waiter-waiting-to-be-an-actor or 18-year-old Bill Gates moonlighting as a parking attendant with the 500 dollar iPod blasting in his ear. In Mexico, that simple dollar just marked you as a VIP, not just because you have money, but culturally, because you actually recognized good service by a person who takes pride in their work. I always carry a few one-dollar bills in my pocket just for that reason and why I often recommend to my clients to bring a wad of one-dollar bills. They may not actually use them, but they do come in handy for just such things. Mexico is still a place where an actual one-dollar bill goes a long way not only to “insure personal service”, but to “insure an even better vacation.”

Next week, I’ll tell you about your fishing tips and why too much is as bad as not enough!

That’s my story.

TIPPING Pt. 1 – Published January 2005 – Western Outdoor News

In the course of my job working here in Mexico, I do get my share of questions dropped on me daily. That’s natural. However, the number one question that flies by me via phone, e-mail or in person is not about the weather, bait, skippers, road conditions or bait. Most of that can be found on the internet or talking to someone else, I suppose. The one subject that I get asked about most is tipping. That’s right…the T-I-P (“To Insure Personal Service”)

Frankly, it’s a subject that gets a lot of discussion, but I feel awkward answering it and many people seem to feel awkward asking me about it. In fact, in the same way that you ask someone if you have a piece of pepper in your teeth, guys lean over and talk out of the corner of their mouth, “Hey, Jonathan, what do you think about the tip?”

Let me put it this way. As far as I’m concerned, tipping is a personal thing. It’s discretionary. You can drop a buck or some pesos on someone or not. I admit there have been times when I’ve been so disgusted with service that I left a penny or nothing at all simply to express my disgust. However, its like showing up to class in high school. If the person at least shows up and is half cheerful and does their job, they get a “tip.” Not leaving one is socially unacceptable, I know. But how much is too much or too little especially if you’re in another country…don’t understand the language…and sometimes it’s your first time in another culture?

No pun intended, but here’s my “two cents” having now lived and worked in Mexico for almost 10 years. Here’s the most important part of this column. You can either leave a tip or not. For folks like bellmen, taxi drivers, maids, I’ve found that most travelers, Americans included do NOT tip. For waiters, fishing captains, tour guides, it would really be a major faux pas to smile and walk away. In fact, I usually hear about it when one of my own waiters, guides, captains or dive masters does not get a tip. (Yes…they do talk about you!) and assume they must have done something wrong not to get a tip.

That being said, even a small tip is tremendously appreciated. It at least recognizes and is a token of “professional service.” I know you may have encountered exceptions, but someone like a captain, guide, divemaster or even waiter normally takes their job professionally. Believe me, your guy might look like he’s been cleaning fish all week or his taxi might look like a rattle trap, but that person worked very hard to have that boat or that car and most people do NOT have that kind of property or else worked and trained very hard to become a “guide” or divemaster. Therefore, recognition of the service is often more important than the actual amount of the tip. It would be akin to someone calling you “Sir” at your favorite hoity restaurant. There’s a certain pride that goes with it. It’s even more important in Mexico.

When I worked as a divemaster regularly, folks would spend thousands on their trip then press a 5 dollar tip into my hand at the end of the week like they had just given me a fifty. Believe me, I was thrilled. Bottom line, a little goes a long way.

However, here’s a little more insight. This is where “tipping” really does “insure personal service” in most cases. Because maids, bellmen, etc. are not used to getting tips, not only does a little go a long way, but even leaving a buck on your nightstand really pays dividends. Look at this this way, the person who cleans your room; works at the hotel reception; or carries your bags might make a whopping ten bucks a day and forty to sixty bucks a week. You’ve now dropped a a smiling George Washington into their hands.

Put it this way, how would you feel if someone put 10 percent of your daily bread into YOUR hands after you read this column? It kinda changes your attitude a bit, doesn’t it? Perks you up a bit doesn’t it? You bet those extra towels will be there. You bet they’ll remember next time they see you dragging across the lobby with all your fishing equipment and your ice chest in tow. Need a little extra salsa at dinner or topping off that frosty marguerita? I’d remember the someone very well if they put 10 percent of my wages in my hand right now. Yessiree, Bob!

Back home, that dollar would get you a” stink-eye” stare from your waiter-waiting-to-be-an-actor or 18-year-old Bill Gates moonlighting as a parking attendant with the 500 dollar iPod blasting in his ear. In Mexico, that simple dollar just marked you as a VIP, not just because you have money, but culturally, because you actually recognized good service by a person who takes pride in their work. I always carry a few one-dollar bills in my pocket just for that reason and why I often recommend to my clients to bring a wad of one-dollar bills. They may not actually use them, but they do come in handy for just such things. Mexico is still a place where an actual one-dollar bill goes a long way not only to “insure personal service”, but to “insure an even better vacation.”

Next week, I’ll tell you about your fishing tips and why too much is as bad as not enough!

That’s my story.

LA PAZ LIVING – Published Jan. ’05 – MSNBC

For the 3rd time in the last ten minutes, Bill Johnson buried and re-buried his feet in the warm white sand of Tecolote Beach and sighed again as he squinted out over the flat turquoise waters. Leaning back in the white plastic beach chair, he looked at his wife in her own beach chair and, even then, accepting another frosty umbrella-tipped marguerita from their mesero (waiter).

“I feel like I’m part of a Corona Beer commercial sitting here,” said Bill. “I have half-a-mind to send a digital photo back home to the guys at work where I hear it’s cold and raining,” he added with a grin.

“This was a great and easy get-away idea,” smiled Sherri Johnson from behind her sunglasses inhaling the fresh tartness of the icy lime-flavored concoction then laying down to let the sun warm her back. “Here the all the snow is in your glass instead of on your driveway,” she joked.

If you mention the “Mexican Riviera” to most people, images of Puerta Vallarta, Acapulco and maybe even Cabo San Lucas come to mind. Yet most would be hard-pressed to find La Paz on the map, let alone know were to find the Baja Peninsula in Mexico.

However, just a quick two-hour flight south of Los Angeles, this sleepy colonial city of 150,000 friendly folks sits serenely on the Sea of Cortez nestled next to the warm waters of the Bay of La Paz. At the southern tip of the 1000-mile long finger peninsula knows formally as Baja California, Mexico (Lower California) the city is slowly being discovered laughingly as “The anti-Riviera.”

“This is so different from other Pacific Coast Mexican destinations,” explained one first-time visitor. “It’s not so ‘touristy’ and more like Mexico 50 years ago without all the high-rises and tourist traps.”

Indeed a walk down the waterfront “malecon” reveals white sand beaches bordered by colorful side-walk cafes and restaurants. Palm trees and thatched umbrellas line the beach where there is a distinct lack of hustle and bustle characteristic of so many other popular Mexican populations. A guitarist strolls by. A local family picnics on the beach. A young Mexican couple peddles by on bicycles giggling and waving at a white-uniformed police officer also astride a bike who waves back and blows his whistle.

Marjorie Duncan of Oregon was out for an afternoon stroll. This was here 4th visit to La Paz and she makes a point of always getting some fresh made local Mexican ice-cream. “It’s the BEST mango ice cream on Earth!” she explained between big spoonfuls. “They make it by hand here and people come from all over to just get ice creams and sit and watch the world and all the sailboats go by. Everyone is friendly. There are hardly any tourists and unlike other places I have visited, no one keeps trying to sell me time-shares!” she added with a laugh.

It’s not that there aren’t things for tourists, it’s just that La Paz is a “real” city. The product of Spanish conquistadores, zealous missionaries and roving pirates, La Paz is the capital of the state of Southern Baja (Baja Sur). It is the home of the University and soon-to-be national aquarium plus the center for business, agriculture, shipping and light manufacturing as well as art and culture in the area. Major hospitals, shopping and other amenities are available. Life just moves a little slower along it’s centuries-old cobblestoned streets and narrow alleys that wind back from the waterfront back towards the old Spanish mission cathedral. Locals play the Mexican version of bingo on Sunday afternoons. Eating fresh seafood from local open-air vendors is almost an artform. Half the city still takes a siesta a mid-day to awaken at night, European style, to dine al fresco by candlelight under the warm starry nights or catch improvisational waterside concerts by local musicians.

Most visitors fly directly into La Paz’ modern airport only 10 minutes from downtown and several excellent hotels where a nice room averages about $100/night for two. Taxis are everywhere, but one often wonders how the drivers make a living since everything is within walking distance. Foot-power is the way to go and most tourist oriented activities are within blocks of the beachfront. For daytime activities, La Paz is a hidden gem for sportfishing, scuba diving and other water sports where water temperatures can reach into the 80’s and 90’s with gin-clear visibility. Daytime temperatures range from the 70’s in the winter to upper 90’s in the summer on the average.

“I know it sounds manufactured,” says Tracy Sullivan, an office manager from San Francisco, “but at night, I really can hear guitars playing from my hotel room overlooking the bay. Combine that with the gentle lapping of the waves and this is the ideal place to just de-compress with a good book and conversation on the balcony. I come here twice-a-year and the hotel treats me like one of the family. Often, there are so few tourists here I just love it!”