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“PERSPECTIVES – Another Slice of Life in the Baja”

Posted in Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico life, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Tailhunter International, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, tagged , , , , , on July 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »

An eye-opening trip home...

“PERSPECTIVES – Another slice of Life in the Baja”

Originally published in Western Outdoor News the Week of July 27, 2011

At any given time we have several dozen employees on the roster here in Baja.  Like business owners anywhere in the world, we stress over the usual stuff  like scheduling, attendance, benefits, employee taxes…the usual stuff.

 

But, one of the biggest problems we face is folks always coming in late. Dangit, how come a dishwasher or cook can’t come in on time?  Day-after-day.

 

 No matter how many times you talk with them; put things in their files; dock their pay…nothing works. Arrive late. Often leave early. Doesn’t anyone have an alarm clock? How hard is it to be ON TIME? Three days late, legally lose a day of pay.

 

Then, I had a bit of an epiphany of sorts.

 

We had just closed the restaurant about midnight and headed home, I saw one of our cooks walking down the block in the dark.  I pulled over and offered to give him a ride home which he happily accepted.  To me, no big deal. Hop on in, Jose!

 

It took almost 15 minutes to go just several miles.   Up one dark deserted street. Down another side street.   Around a dark turn or two.  Dogs in the trash…some guys on a porch drinking beer under a harsh lightbulb..two more dark roads…or three…up several hills and more dark alleys then into the foothills. 

 

            No houses around but plenty of trash.  Abandoned hulks of cars.  Everytime I thought we must almost be there, he’d say, “poco mas adelante.”  (little further).  No problem, Jose.

 

            Man…some of these “streets” were best for a mountain bike or vehicle with high clearance.  Little more than gravel.  In my rearview, I could see blooms of dust behind us.

 

We finally arrived at a cluster of dilapidated concrete cinder-block structures.  In my headlights, it was hard to tell if they were painted.  Single light bulb ceiling lights in some windows that didnt’ look like they had glass.  Mis-matched bed sheets seemed to serve as curtains in some. 

 

I knew Jose had a little girl and a wife, but judging by the amount of laundry hanging to dry in the dusty breeze, it was clear that more than 3 people lived there.  More like a dozen.  Two dogs sleeping in the dirt under a yellow glazed streetlight.

 

I asked Jose, how he gets to work every day.  He said he walks about 2 miles down the dirt road.  Hopes he hitches a ride with someone, if possible.  He then pays 20 pesos to catch the bus (10 percent of his daily wage) assuming it’s on time and assuming it hasn’t broken down.  It’s an hour to come into work…if he’s lucky.

 

What about at night?  Sometimes he doesn’t get out until after midnight.  There’s no bus after midnight.  He walks.  He hitches.  He hopes for the best.  Sometimes it takes 90 minutes to hike home. 

 

He shrugs his shoulders and smiles. Gives me a high-5 and a “gracias”.  Out the door then runs into his house around an old tire and   through a broken screen door.   A single glaring light bulb goes out. 

 

I drove down the hillside deep in thought.  Jose’s a great worker.  But, I’ve been busting this guy’s chops for more than a year because he’s routinely 5-15 minutes late. . .or more.   I’ve docked his pay.  I’ve threatened to suspend him. He’s never argued with me.  He always promises to be better.  How’s a guy to run a business when the employee can’t be on time? Sheesh!

 

Then, he’s late again and I jump on his case.  In fact, I have him on night shift which means he won’t leave the restaurant until well after midnight,  So…that means, Jose walks home up through the dark alleys…the back paths…the dusty roads…and up into the hills to get home.  Every night.

 

I never thought…

 

You just assume that people have transportation.  As an American, we are used to always having ways to get from point A to point B.  Certainly, we can get to work.  We all have cars or access to cars.  Gotta get somewhere?  Heck…jump in your car and just go, Man!

 

We just so often forget.  Most people don’t have cars in Mexico.  Or the bus doesn’t run.  Or they have to walk a zillion miles to catch a bus that may or may not be there on time if at all.

 

Or, if they do have a car, gas costs the equivalent of a day’s wages.  So you buy ONE gallon at a time.  To an American, that would be like paying 50-100 dollars per gallon! 

 

It gets complicated when a kid or family member is sick.  When the car breaks down.  When the bus doesn’t run.  When you don’t have enough dinero to even buy one gallon of gas.

 

Someone is gonna be late.

 

I try not to bust Jose’s chops so much anymore.  It’s not gonna do any good to “teach him a lesson” in punctuality.  I’m the one who gets “schooled” in being a bit more tolerant and also grateful for my own blessings.

That’s my story

Jonathan

___________________________

 

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife, Jill, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico  www.tailhunter-international.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 riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com  or drop by the restaurant to say hi!    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Website: www.tailhunter-international.com
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“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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YOU DON’T SAY! (originally published in Western Outdoor News the week of June 22, 2010

Posted in Baja Fishing, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Tailhunter International, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on June 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »

If you hang around tourist areas, it's amazing some of the things that pass for "fact" if you do a little eavesdropping. It can be pretty amusing. The docks and beaches of Cabo San Lucas are ideal for a little fun!

YOU DON’T SAY!

(Things overheard from tourists!)

Originally Published the Week of June 22, 2010 in Western Outdoor News

You know…if you hang out on the docks or beaches where tourists gather long enough, you hear some really interesting and funny things from  folks.  You can’t help but eavesdrop, laugh and shake your head! 

Here’s a list of some things I’ve heard over the years.  And the most entertaining thing is that they are usually spoken with so much ” expert conviction” by the person saying it as he explains it to the others. Best part is the folks listening to these comments nodding like they totally understood and there had been a great revelation! 

“Really? ”

“You don’t say!”

 “I NEVER knew that!”

Imagine a guy in polyester shorts and black socks with black shoes or sandals talking. Tourist map in hand.  Camera around neck.  Faux-leather man-purse (murse)/fanny pack around the waist with “Members Only” on it.  Sometimes, just off the cruise ship or part of a tour group. He’s read all the tourist brochures so he’s the “authority” of the group. You get the idea. But you may not get the logic of some of these wacky statements:

1.  FROM THE FISHING EXPERT – Now THAT’s a fish-slaying machine!  Look at the “booms” on the back.  Those are for catching marlin and really big fish.  (He was pointing to the lifeboat davits on a small cruise ship)

2.  PANGAS vs. BONGOS – I hear that they catch fish in “BONGOS”. That’s what they call those small Mexican fishing boats.  The guys who captain Bongos are called  “Bongo-deros.”

3.  REAL AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD – We ate at  REAL Mexican restaurant where they had the BEST hamburger I have ever had!

4.  THEY USE DIFFERENT COWS – I would never eat a steak in Mexico.  Have you seen the skinny cows on the side of the road?  Eat the beef tacos instead.  The smaller chunks for tacos come from smaller cows.

5.  TRANSFORMATION – It’s OK to use ice cubes in your drinks, just don’t drink the water once the ice melts in your glass.   Once ice turns to water, it’s not safe. 

6.  IT’S LOGICAL – The reason you get tanned more quickly here in the Mexico is because it’s closer to the equator, not because it’s hotter.

7.  SO BEER IS MADE FROM…? – Mexican beer tastes better because they don’t use water to make Mexican beer since it never rains in Mexico.

8.  FROM EXPERIENCE – Tequila is made from dehydrated worms that live in blue agave trees.  That’s why some companies put a worm in the bottom of the bottle to remind you of the ingredients.  Drinking tequila with lime kills the bacteria that might be in it because lime has acid in it.

9.  TELL IT TO THE OFFICER –  In Mexico, it’s OK to drive faster than the speed limit because everyone is always late.  

10.  MANANA MANANA –  In Mexico, everyone drives slower because it’s OK to be late for everything.  No one is in a hurry.

11.  THEY ALL HAVE POINTY NOSES – Cabo San Lucas catches more swordfish than any place else in the world (don’t know the difference between sailfish, swordfish, marlin).

12.  GETS CROWDED WITH THE SALMON – Dorado are fish that swim up rivers in Canada then migrate to Mexico which is why they are such colorful fish.  In Canada they are only grey and silver.

13. WORLD HISTORY REVISED –  Baja California once use to be part of California, but the missionaries from Spain gave it back to the Aztecs who were then conquered by Columbus when he discovered the new world. 

14. SURIVIVAL OF THE FITTEST –  Marlin have long “noses” so that they can battle other marlin underwater for food and swim faster which fall off every year and grow back like deer antlers.

15. VACATION VALUE –  Vacation days are longer in Mexico because everyone moves at a slower pace

17.  SEE IF YOU FOLLOW THIS – Everyone speaks Spanish in Mexico because Mexico was once ruled by France until Pancho Villa liberated it for the Mexicans but gave California back to the United States.

18.  DAVY CROCKETT IS WINCING – Cinco de Mayo is when Mexico won the battle of the Alamo in Veracruz.

This is why I like to keep a little pad and paper always handy!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

Jonathan Roldan is the the regular columnist and co-Baja editor for Western Outdoor News.  He and his wife Jill have run the Tailhunter Fishing Fleet since the mid-90’s and own the Tailhunter Restaurant and FUBAR Cantina in La Paz.  www.tailhunter-international.com  He can be reached directly at riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com

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Posted in Baja Fishing, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Tailhunter International, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on May 8, 2010| Leave a Comment »

It comes in all makes and models and can be confusing but the growth of it's popularity can't be understated! But do you really need it?

TO FLURO OR NOT TO FLURO!

 

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of May 12, 2010

              It used to be “back-in-the-day” when I was a kid that honestly, my day of fishing back in Hawaii involved a thin bamboo cane pole (no reel!); a rusty hook I sharpened on the driveway; a 10-cent bit of shrimp and a thin piece of string or even white thread if I could steal some from my grandma’s sewing box! (Oh the luxury!)

            And I would be happy as a dog in a forest of fire-hydrants all-day-long!  And I caught fish too. 

            All of us kids fished like that.  I’d climb out my window early in the morning so as not to wake the family and my buddy next door would climb out his window and actually shimmy down the drainpipe onto his garage roof.  With bait and cane pole over our shoulders, we’d trudge barefoot down the gravel road to the beach and fish all day long.

            The one defining difference in our fishing was the line!  If one of us happened to have squirreled-away or outright stole a bit of that white thread, it made all the difference in the world to what we would catch or, if we would catch much of anything at all.  (I don’t think I knew mono existed until I was about 10 years-old).

            Anyway, fast forward to the here-and-now. 

            It’s gotten a bit more complicated and sophisticated…not to mention alot more expensive than the days of my bamboo pole and rusty hooks. 

            And lines.  Where do we start?  Clear, blue, green, grey, pink, red, chartreuse (do real men use “chartreuse” fishing lines?) and on-and-on.  And that’s just the monofilament.

            Then, there’s braided lines and co-polymer lines.  But the one that seems funniest to me is flurocarbon.  It’s been around awhile, but it seems to have taken awhile to get a toe-hold here in Baja, especially among captains and crews.

            When many captains up and down the Baja coast fish like their papa’s did and his papa before him, there’s often resistance to new technology, e.g. circle hooks; spreader bars; teasers, etc.

            After all, if it aint’ broke don’t fix it and if their dad’s caught tuna a certain way, why mess up a good thing?

            Flurocarbon line looks like regular mono but it has the properties of being supposedly invisible underwater.  In a nutshell.  I don’t know.  Shrug.  I’m no scientist.    I can see it, but apparently fish can’t.  I’ve been a believer for years.

            Especially in outlying  Baja areas where technology comes slowly, it’s making believers out of many Baja captains and crews as well. 

            The thing is, it’s so darned expensive down here and often hard to get, even for tackle stores that it’s almost like a drug transaction sometimes.  As I’ve walked along some docks and beaches, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked, “Pssst, amigo, do you have any fluro? Falta poquito favor.” (I just need a little please!)

            To many captains, a bit of fluro leader is sometimes the difference between catching fish and catching ALOT of fish!

            So, should you bring some down on your next trip?  Yes and no.

            As I said, even back in the states, it’s not cheap.  You definitely don’t want to fill a whole reel with the stuff.  Not only will it cost alot, but first, you don’t really need that much. 

            Second, although it’s supposedly invisible under the water, it tends to be stiffer and much more brittle than regular mono.  That means it breaks easier.  To me, it means that my baits might not swim as naturally, if it has to drag a 100 yards of stiff line behind it. 

            You also have to be careful.  Knot-tying can sometimes be a bit more difficult, especially on the heavier fluro.  Because it can be stiffer, make sure the knot is properly cinched. 

            Personally, I prefer it just as leader material.  A few yards will do ya.  After all, if it’s supposedly invisible underwater, then I really only need to cover the part that’s actually UNDER the water near the fish, right?  I don’t need a zillion yards of fluro on my reel.  A few yards as leader does me fine.

            Secondly, since the lack of visibility is utmost, I don’t much have need for it on my trolling lines or when using jigs or iron.  In my head, when a fish strikes a moving lure, it’s a reaction strike.  It’s actually moving in to whack the offering.  That thing is MOVING! 

             Unlike fishing a drifted bait, where a fish might check it out for a bit and line visibility might make a huge difference, I don’t think it makes much difference with a trolled jig  or lure that’s cast and retrieved.  The beauty of fluro is that it’s invisible ergo use it when visibility is actually a factor. 

            Lastly, it makes a great parting gift to your skipper or deckhand.  Watch him light up when you hand him your leftover spool. Por favor!          

 That’s my story

Jonathan

*Jonathan Roldan is the Baja Editor and Columnist with Western Outdoor News since 2004.  He lives in La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico with his wife, Jilly, where they run their fishing fleet www.tailhunter-international.com and the Tailhunter Bar Restaurant http://www.tailhunter-international.com/tailhunter-bar-and-fubar-cantina.htm.  You can reach him directly at riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com

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