Posts Tagged ‘luggage’

“FIRST TIMER CHECKLIST”

Posted in 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, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charters, circle hooks, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el sargento, espirito santo, family, fish, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing hooks, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, giant squid, Heat stroke, highway, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, ice chests, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, luggage, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, Mexico, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, planning, pompano, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, saving money, Sea of Cortez, seafood, sierra, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, suitcases, Sun stroke, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, baja, billfish, blogs, bonito, booking, Cabo San Lucas, charters, day tours, dog tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tours, el sargento, family, flights, flyfishing, freediving, girl, holiday, hotels, isla cerralvo, isla espirito santo, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, lodging. packages, los barriles, luggage, marlin, mexican, mexico, outfitters, pargo, pez gallo, photos, pompano, reports, roosterfish, sailfish, san jose del cabo, scuba, sea of cortez, snapper, snorkel, spearfishing, stories, swimming, Tailhunter International, techniques, tips, tournaments, tours, tuna, vacation, wahoo, wife, women, yellowtail on May 12, 2014| Leave a Comment »

FIRST TIMER CHECKLIST FOR BAJA MEXICO

Originally Published the in Western Outdoor News the Week of May 14, 2014

Despite the media blitz about violence…despite past warnings of swine flu…and a downturned economy, Mexico has one of the fastest growing tourism economies in the world right now. In fact, it’s breaking records with something like 24 million visitors last year.

World-wide, folks are simply realizing that Mexico is a great value for a vacation destination whether they are coming from Europe, Asia or even just coming across the border whether flying from Portland or driving from Phoenix or San Diego.

For many of us, who have been visiting or actually live in Mexico, we’ve come to just take it for granted on so many levels. Especially, for fishermen in the southwestern states of the U.S. going to Mexico is about as routine as taking a camping trip to Yosemite or a run to Vegas.

But, from the perspective of someone who lives and runs a sportfishing business here in Mexico that specifically caters to tourists and sportsmen and women, we’re seeing an increased number of first-timers! Great for us, but so many questions show a commonality of interest.

You might even think that many folks who read this publication must surely know about fishing in Mexico, but there’s many who have never been south and are thinking about it.

So, a few things to think about:

First, yes, you MUST have a passport. I get this question all the time. The old days of simply having your drivers license and a copy of your birth certificate won’t work these days, especially after 9-11. For sure, you want to be sure they let you back INTO the United States after your vacation!

They are relatively easy to obtain and you can get the process started online by just hitting your search engine for U.S. passports. Or check this: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/costs.html

The thing is, just don’t wait until the last minute! Especially, as vacations times like summer…Thanksgiving…Christmas… get near. It only takes a few weeks, but slows down during high seasons and you don’t want to be “sweating bullets” waiting for the mailman as your own vacation gets closer.

Next, do some research. It can be confusing. There’s almost TOO MUCH info out there, but better to have too much than too little.

Do some research about the destination itself. Just because all of your neighbors have been there, it might not be your cup of tea. If you’re not into jet-skis and paragliding and crowds then maybe you want to check out a slower-paced place to put your toes-in-the-sand.

Or, if your wife is really into gourmet dining and shopping, then find a place that has those things. If you’re trying to use some of your time-share weeks, not all places have time shares, nor do all airlines fly every day of the week to all destinations.

Next…

Another advisory…don’t believe everything you read online. Like anything else, online websites are heavy into self-promotion. Good or bad…that’s just the way it is.

For example, if a place says it’s “near the beach” that can be two blocks; a 10 minute walk; or one mile. What exactly does “near the beach” mean?

You might also ask or find out what’s nearby to wherever you’re staying. It might look great in the online photos, but of course, they might not tell you that there’s a raucous nightclub next door that goes until 4 a.m. every morning. They might not tell you that there’s a fish processing plant upwind that provides some wonderful fragrances in the afternoon breeze.

Or, if it says, “near the beach” or “on the beach” is that a beach you can swim at? Or is that a beach that they have “no swimming signs/ no fishing signs” posted?

If you’re going to be fishing is there a freezer? If you plan to bikeride, do they have rentals? If you’re going to be windsurfing, is there a place to store your gear or will you have to carry your rig on a burro down to the beach?

If you can’t walk stairs (Mexico is a land of stairs and very few elevators) find out if there’s an elevator or do they have first-floor rooms.

Or it’s going to be too windy. Or too hot. Of it’s too far from town. The more you do ahead of time, the less you’ll have to worry about later when you’re supposed to be on vacation.

Figure out what you want to do. If you plan to fish, then go to a place where they have fishing. And find out specifically, if it’s the type of fishing you want to do at the time you want to go there.

I once got asked, “When is the salmon run in La Paz?” No lie.

I hope you’re not planning to fish for salmon in Mexico, but seriously, it makes no sense to book a place in February expecting to catch marlin. Then, you find out there’s no marlin until July!

Another time, I had a family all set asking to take surfing lessons…in Loreto…which is about 350 miles from the nearest shore break. They were sure disappointed when I had to give them a small lesson in geography.

A little research goes a long way. All places are not created equally and Mexico runs a wonderful gamut of places that are very touristy to places where you’ll be the only tourist in town! Lots of folks are finding exactly what they’re looking for south of the border.

That’s my story!

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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 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!

______________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR #1 Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

U.S. Office: 8030 La Mesa, Suite #178, La Mesa CA 91942

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:

http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

“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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Tackle Packing & Juggling

Posted in bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, camping, car, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charity, charters, circle hooks, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, el sargento, espirito santo, family, fish, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing hooks, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, giant squid, highway, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, Leisure, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, luggage, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, Sea of Cortez, sierra, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, Sun stroke, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, Western Outdoor News, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged airline, bahia, baja, bay, billfish, blog, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo, charter, children, dog tooth, dorado, driving, east cape, economical, el sargento, espirto santo, family, fish, fisherman, Fishing, flight, flyfishing, flying, freediving, girl, holiday, ice chests, isla, island, islands, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, los barriles, luggage, mahi, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos, outfitters, package, packing, panga, pargo, reels, report, rods, roosterfish, sailfish, san jose del cabo, saving, scuba, sea of cortez, sierra, snapper, snorkeling, spearfishing, sportfishing, suenos, suitcase, Tailhunter International, techniques, tips, tour, transportation, travel, tubes, tuna, vacation, wahoo, western outdoors, wife on February 17, 2014| Leave a Comment »

There’s a right way and a wrong way to pack for a fishing trip to Baja. And then, there’s EASIER ways to do it right!

“TACKLE PACKING & JUGGLING”

Originally Published the Week of Feb. 18, 2014 in Western Outdoor News

It’s an irritation, but something we’ve gotta learn to live with these days. Like taking your shoes off at the airport. Like having your expensive shampoo taken away at check-in.

I’m sure greater and bigger minds than ours have figured out why they are important aspects of airline travel these days. We empty and open our bags and pass our stinky shoes through the conveyer belt and do our little spin in the x-ray scanner. Like the hokey-pokey. That’s what it’s all about.

One thing for sure is that the days of free luggage are something we use with words like “back in the day” and “in the olden days.” The more you bring, the more you’ll get charged.

It kinda makes you cry as you stand in your garage and you look at all your custom rods, reels, feathers, jigs and other toys. You want to bring them ALL!

Almost 30 years ago, I remember my first trip flying to Baja. I took 10 rods and reels (two tubes); a tackle box that weighed about 50 pounds and almost 30 marlin lures (that my buddy had borrowed from WON editor Pat McDonell who didn’t know who I was at the time!). Oh, and two 85-quart ice chests as well. And this was for fishing in a panga for only 2 days!

Nowadays, you get one piece of luggage. If you’re lucky.

Economy airlines charge for each piece of luggage.

Rod tubes are oversize. Pay extra. Cha-ching!

Reel bags too heavy. Pay extra. Cha-ching!

Ice chest…even with nothing in it. Pay extra. Cha-ching!

But, a man must do what a man must do and the fish are calling! So, we just have to think from a different angle. Consolidate and downsize.

Before purchasing your airline tickets, find out if the airlines has a special luggage allowance you can purchase. Some airlines (Volaris comes to mind) allows you to pay a little extra up-front when you purchase your tickets online.

This allows you to bring more luggage and more weight for a fraction of the cost. If you just walk up to the counter with all the extra weight, they charge BY THE POUND!

For example, we had some clients who purchased $200 round trip tickets to fish with us in La Paz. We told them to purchase the extra luggage allowance. They declined to do so.

When they flew back to the U.S. they had several very full ice chests. It cost them almost $600 to fly the fish back. OUCH!

For practical purposes, take a look at your own gear, if you’re planning to travel.

“Back in the day” multi-piece travel rods were junk. Nowadays several very good manufacturers and a number of custom rod wrappers are making some super 2 and 3-piece travel rods in varying lengths and strengths.

Many of them come with handy cases and can literally be carried in the overheads or packed into suitcases. They even make break-down trolling rods.

For reels, here’s my suggestion. Pair it down to some essential reels. Match your reels to what you’ll be fishing for. You don’t need a bowling ball-heavy 5/0 wide reel if you’re going to be fishing inshore in 100 feet of water. With the new aluminum reels and their horse-strong drags, you can use smaller/lighter reels to get the job done. Even for trolling.

I would also suggest putting spectra on the reels then put 150 yards of mono top-shot on them. That way if, for example, the 40-pound test mono isn’t working, all you have to do is change the top-shot to whatever line is the hot ticket for the bite. You won’t need a separate reel for that.

For terminal gear, be practical. If you’re only fishing 3 days, you don’t really need 500 hooks of all sizes. You don’t need 20 throwing irons. You don’t need 10 feathers of all colors. If you can, contact your outfitter ahead of time and find out what’s really working. Bring the essentials.

While you’re at it, pow-wow with your fishing partner. Consider packing all your rods together. In one tube. Each of you doesn’t need to bring a whole set of lures, hooks and other essentials either. You can both share and thereby cut down on weight and gear.

As for bringing the fish home, if you’re like me, it always irritated me to pay to bring an empty ice chest down to Mexico. Paying for air? C’mon!

What I’ve been suggesting lately is using the newer soft-sided coolers that are airline rated heavy duty; keeps things frozen for days; and can be folded and packed into your suitcase on the way down.

We’ve had one made by American Outdoors that has worked like a champ for about 5 seasons. Another nice thing is that these weigh less than a traditional cooler. Since most airlines limit you to 50 pounds on luggage, you can get more actual frozen fish in a soft-cooler than a hard-sided cooler that weighs 8-20 pounds with wheels on them.

One last thing. In the old days, my buddies and I brought down one or two sets of shorts and t-shirts with us. That was it. Our motto was, “if you can’t wash it in the sink, don’t bring it.” That was a great way to save room for more tackle.

Of course, that was in the days when my buddies and I were all bachelors.

That’s our story!