NOW WHAT?
Originally Published the Week of Mar. 20, 2026 in Western Outdoor Publications
For the last 3 months, Jilly and I have been on the road doing our annual trade show/ fishing expo tour back and forth across the United States for our Tailhunter Sportfishing operation in La Paz.
We’ve been doing these from January to March every year for over 30 years. Bozeman to Boise. Seatle to San Diego. Phoenix to Portland and so many great cities in between for these 3-5 days expos.
Normally, we’ve done up to 14 shows in a year. This year, only 6. We’re getting a bit older.
Besides.travel these days to drive or fly isn’t what it used to be!
I’m really tired of taking off my shoes in airports or putting gas in the car with a snow storm outside! And all hotel rooms look the same and the free breakfasts never changes.
So, this year, let me see…Sacramento…Reno…Salt Lake City…Nashville…Orange Co and then San Diego.
I must talk to hundreds of folks at these shows . Old friend and new friends. They are ultimately huge fun social events!
Having been running our fishing operation now for over 30 years, we’ve hosted thousands of anglers. Gratefully, a large portion of them are repeat visitors.
The last couple of shows we did this year, I happened to hear similar comments from a few of our “old timers.”
They told me that they sure had fun fishing with us over the years and fishing in Baja, but…
“Oh, y’know, I’ve caught so many tuna.” Or…
“I’m tired of catching dorado or (fill in the name of a common Baja fish.”)
So, they don’t wanna come down to fish anymore.
“I’m kinda done with Baja.”
I sure understand the sentiment . We would all like to catch “bigger and better.”
And the world is such a grand space with so many places to explore.
I get it. I still have so many places waiting for me too.
But then, there’s the others side of the coin.
The guy who walks up to me in our booth and says, “I’ve had such great times with you over the years. It’s time to bring the kids or grandkids. Or the wife. Or the best buddy who have never experienced it.
It’s just refreshing to hear.
This is the guy with nothing to prove.
He’s caught his marlin or wahoo or dorado or tuna. He’s fished the mountains and rivers and the coast. He’s done long range from San Diego and the trout opener in the Sierras. He’s fished Alaska and rock fish at the Channel Islands.
Or not.
But, he remembers the good times. He’s holding onto some good memories.
He’s got nothing to prove to anyone or to himself.
He doesn’t need to catch the biggest fish. He doesn’t need to show everyone that he catches more fish or brag about all the places he’s fished.
But, he wants to share it.
So, he come down and he’s got newbies, rookies, family…
I don’t see him bragging or intensely trying to outdo everyone to prove he’s top dog. He’s content to watch and listen and teach.
If he catches fish (which he always does), that’s fine.
But he gets a bigger kick out’ve watching everyone else catch fish or helping one of the kids or a wife or buddy fine tune their game!
And no one is prouder than seeing the big smiles. No one gives bigger high-5’s or takes more photos.
He is perfectly fine watching someone else catch more and bigger and getting lit up by a big fish and letting someone else be “top dog.”
And he’s the guy back on the beach or docks showing photos and saying, “That’s my boy!” Or “Check out what my wife or daughter caught today!”
The excitement and enthusiasm are genuine.
Yea, he probably could’ve out-fished them with his eyes closed and one arm tied behind his back.
But, that’s not the point.
Nothing to prove. Everything to share!
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter Sportfishing Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com . They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
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Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter Sportfishing
Website:
www.tailhunter-international.com
Mexico Office: Tailhunter International, 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
U.S. Mailing Address: Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA 91942
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863
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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.”














