Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘pargo’

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Just having bait isn’t enough if you don’t know how to use it correctly!

“HOW YOU WIGGLE YOUR WORM”

Originally Published the Week of June 10, 2013 in Western Outdoor News

In the annals of bathroom graffiti, it’s probably not hall-of-fame material as far as that genre of graffiti goes.  But in our Tailhunter Restaurant here in La Paz, someone scribbled this in the men’s restroom:

“It’s not the size of the rod, it’s how your wiggle your worm.”

Any business owner knows that you have to wear many hats. Being the big-time chief executive officer and chairmain of the board and also head of bathroom graffiti eradication, I happened to be scrubbing it off the wall chuckling.   Beyond the most obvious bathroom connotations,  there’s a point of pescatory wisdom in there as well.

How one wiggles, jiggles or shakes one’s “worm” does make a difference and those nuances can make a big difference in your fishing experiences on a given day.

A perfect example is the type of fishing being experienced in many Baja locations this time of year.  We’re in a “transition” period as waters warm and we move out’ve spring and into summer conditions.  Cooler waters can still be found but there’s quite a mix of water situations both on the surface as well as vertically through the water columns with different thermoclines changing as the waters deepen.

The result is that the spring and early summer can often be a mecca of so many different varieties of fish and opportunities for anglers looking for changing angling experiences.

Here in La Paz is a perfect example.

Cool water inshore species such as yellowtail, amberjack, cabrilla, pargo, sierra and pompano can be caught while in the warmer water areas, billfish such as marlin and sailfish are starting to rev things up.  Likewise, bluewater species such as dorado, wahoo and tuna can be caught as well.  Add in roosterfish, jack crevalle, bonito and others and you probably won’t find this kind of variety during any other time of the Baja fishing season.

However, bait presentation a.k.a. “wiggling your worm” can make a big difference over what you catch.

For instance over all the decades here in Baja working and guiding plus working  on other boats out’ve S. California, I’ve noticed a few things.

Take dorado.  They don’t like dead bait as much as spirited live bait.  In fact, the livelier the better.  It’s like a cat.  If you put a ball in front of kitty, he’ll just stare at it.  But, if you roll that ball past Kitty, he pounces.  Same with dorado.

Big baits or small baits don’t matter to dorado.  I’ve seen 18-inch juveniles attack 10-inch mackerel or big caballitos.  I’ve seen 40-pound bull dorado fight each other for 4 inch sardines…as long as the sardines are moving!

On the other hand, tuna can be fussier in their own way.  The smaller ones will take anything live or dead.  But, I’ve seen a tendency for a bit of laziness.

Tuna…and especially the larger ones…in a given school prefer the smaller baits.  And, they don’t mind slurping up dead ones or parts of dead ones!  That’s why chumming and chunking are so effective.

Chunks of dead bait are just fine.  They’re lazy fish.  They don’t necessarily like to have to chase their food.   So, if you don’t have small dead baits, then chunks of bigger baits like squid, mackerel, jacks are just fine by them!

Rock fish like cabrilla, yellowtail and amberjack won’t generally eat dead baits but yellowtail and amberjack don’t want to chase too hard for their live baits.  Somewhat like larger tuna.

However, these “structure fish” tend to stick close to protection and will dart out to strike their prey.  Therefore, the closer you fish that live bait to their hiding spots like rocks, reefs, weeds and cliffs, the better your chances.

Yellowtail are a bit pickier…the FASTER and LIVLIER that bait, the more it gets their juices rolling.  That’s why yo-yo jig fishermen prefer high-speed reels when they fish their lures.  That’s to get those lures moving FAST through the water.

Beach and shore fish like jack crevalle, pompano and roosterfish have a weird tweak.  They don’t even need to be hungry to chase a bait.  They’re just aggressive fish.

But, they will take the liveliest bait and run with it and not eat it!  They will tear into sardine schools, ballyhoo, caballitos, mullet and lady fish and simply terrorize the school.  Just because!  No other reason!

I’ve seen them rip into the baitfish and leave dead and thrashing baits lying around on the surface or grab a big baitfish like a ladyfish (sabalo) and merely gnaw it up like a bit dog gnaws on socks.  Then, tosses it into the air and lets it go.

While other species might come back for injured baits, some of these “beach bullies “simply swim off and let the gulls and pelicans deal with the maimed!

So, fishing for these fish, just be prepared for the bite with the liveliest bait  but then give it time so make sure the fish also has the hook!   If it drops the bait, even if the bait seems dead and floating, some quick jerks on the line can cause the jacks to turn and erupt for a second pickup…and your hookup!

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-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: Box 1149, Alpine CA  91903-1149

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.”

Read Full Post »

“KING JACK”

Amberjack Junior Azores tags

Big and tough…amberjack in the Baja…cousins to yellowtail, the Spanish name for them is “Pez Fuerte” which means “strong fish!” No kidding. They get over 100 pounds!

KING JACK!

Originally Published the Week of May 15, 2013 in Western Outdoor News

It had been a pretty decent morning off the northern end of the island.   Dropping blue and white irons and jigging,  some heavy “winding and grinding” and elbow grease had produced a  nice brace of  five solid  20-pound-class yellowtail in the box.

Danny just finished pulling his jig out of the water and took a break to wipe his brow and crack a chilly Pacifico can from the ice chest.   The sun was at it’s mid-morning blaze already promising to get hotter.

“Whew!” he sighed with a laugh.  “This is hard work fishing the yo-yo iron for these yellows.  These things are tough fish!”  he added with a bit of exasperation.

“And the faster your crank the better the chance to hook-up!” responded Tony as he dropped his jig over the side and watched it flutter into the indigo blue water.  “It’s still better than working!”

Tony’s jig stopped slipping down.  Tony quickly put the reel into gear  and took a few cranks up off the bottom so as not to hang the jig on the craggy reef below.
“Here we go again, “ he grinned as he started the strenuous arm-aching crank back to the boat.

One crank…two cranks…three cranks…

SLAM!  The rod doubles over in an abrupt halt.  It’s  almost yanked from Tony’s hands. He adjusts and is nearly jackpoled over the side ramming his knees into the side of the panga to anchor himself in!  The rod is bucked straining on the gunwale of the boat and Tony is almost crouching down to get leverage unable to turn the handle of the reel.

Danny drops his beer which clatters to the deck…

“Oh man! This has gotta be a monster yellowtail! WHOA!!!” grimaces Tony as he struggles to get upright and get the butt of his rod into his rod belt still unable to get a turn on the reel handle.  It’s all he can do to hold onto the rod and keep his feet in the panga.

Pez fuerte!” says their panga captain excitedly .  “Amberjack grande.  Jale! Jale! Pull hard!”

Pez fuerte means ‘strong fish’ said Danny as he watched his buddy.

“Uh yea…no kidding…yea..this is a horse!” replies a tight-lipped Tony as he struggles to turn the big fish one slow lift and turn of the handle of his reel at a time.  Repeatedly, the rod would dip again and the exhausted sweating angler would have to lean into the stick to keep the fish turned.

After 15 grueling minutes, the big fish came up and a quick gaff was put to the fish.

“Dang, that looks like a yellowtail on steroids! Holy cow, it’s golden copper what a pig of a fish!”

“Maybe 30 kilos…60 pounds,”  says the captain grinning.

There’s a lot of confusion over amberjack.  People either “sorta heard of them” or  scratch their heads because they’ve “never heard of them.”  Or it’s quickly followed by the question, “Is that kinda like a yellowfin tuna?”

Well, Elmer…no it’s not.  But, it’s a fair question nonetheless.

They’re actually part of the jack family.  It’s that same feisty set of brawling sportfish that give us the jack crevalle (“toro”),  roosterfish (“pez gallo”), pompano (“pompano”…of course) and a whole host of other fish with  “jack” in their names.  Including the much-prized yellowtail (“jurel”).

The amberjack (“pez fuerte…which does indeed mean “strong fish” in Spanish) is the king of them all.  He’s the big boy cousin.  Broader and deeper in body, shoulders and head with a copper-orange-yellow-silver patina, they’re impressive.  And yes, powerful.

Where we are here in La Paz, they range as small as 10-20 pounds, but 40-50 pounders are not unusual and the bigger models will go 80 or more pounds.  We’ve taken several fish over 100 pounds in recent years and have lost many large fish over the years that broke tackle as well as the hearts of some very strong anglers.

We seem to get them during that “shoulder time” when the waters aren’t really spring and aren’t quite summer…like May or June…just as our yellowtail bite starts to taper off because of warmer waters.

It’a almost like the yellowtail move on and the amberjack move into those same spots.  These include high spots like reefs and shallow seamounts as well as boulder and rocky areas plus the edges of drop offs.

Basically, you won’t usually find them in open water, but rather in areas of structure.  The largest one I ever saw was while scuba diving a wreck and I saw several ambers in the dark hold that were well over 100 pounds.

Like their smaller cousins, the yellowtail, amberjacks will often school so, where there’s one you’ll often find others.  Additionally, you fish them in much the same way.  That’s why anglers dunking for yellowtail are often surprised when they get slammed by something much bigger and more powerful…an amberjack.

The fish readily take a yo-yo jig in the traditional colors of blue/white,  green/yellow, brown/white and others dropped down and taken in on an ultra fast retrieve…like the two guys fishing at the beginning of this column.

As well, they love baits like sardines, mackerel, squid and especially zebra fish for some reason which are the little blue baitfish with black stripes we catch on reefs with mackerel rigs.  When I have some zebras and the amberjack are in the area, it’s almost instant hook up!

Best of all, they eat just like yellowtail…only better!

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-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: Box 1149, Alpine CA  91903-1149

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

Read Full Post »

DSC_1600

Hard to believe it’s been almost 17 years now in Baja. It’s been grand, but where did the time go? Comes a time when you realize you’ve got more fishing days behind you than ahead of you and you count all the blessings!

NEED NOT GREED

Originally Published the Week of  April 4, 2013 in Western Outdoor News

I’m reminded of a father and son who attended a fishing school I had been giving many years ago at the old Hotel Las Arenas near La Paz.   We were fishing along the shallows on the east side of Cerralvo Island and my fishing school was all about fishing for rockfish like pargo (snapper) and cabrilla (seabass).

Papa Fred and young adult son, Todd, were with me on the panga that day.  It was their first time fishing in Mexico and it had been a number of years since they had fished together.

It was early morning and we were slow trolling the shallow reefs that ring the eastern side of the island.  Dad had taken several nice three or four-pound cabrilla and had flipped a few smaller ones back into the water.

Todd, the son, hadn’t caught any of the the larger ones, but had kept several of the smaller ones.   He had just hooked another and deftly popped it off the hook and tossed it into the fish box.

“Why don’t you let some of those smaller ones go, son?” asked Fred.

“The smaller ones are good to eat, Dad,” replied Todd.  “And besides, if we let them go, commercial guys or someone else is going to catch them anyway so we might as well keep them,” he said with a smile and a shrug.

The older gent squinted into the rising morning Baja sun and said,  “There’s this story I once heard about a big nighttime storm on the gulf coast.   In the morning, the beach was littered with starfish.  As far as the eye could see.  The storm had washed all these starfish up on the beach above the water line.  With the sun climbing into the sky surely, they’d start to bake and die off. “

A morning jogger came upon a young teenager walking from starfish to starfish picking them up and tossing them as far into the ocean as he could.  One at a time.

“What are you doing?” asked the jogger casually, as he pulled up to catch his breath.

“The storm washed all these guys up here onto the sand,” replied the youngster.  “I’m saving starfish,” as he picked up another and pitched it seaward.

“You’re crazy,” laughed the jogger standing tall and surveying with squinted-eyes all the starfish dotting the sand.  “There must be thousands.  You can’t hope to make a difference!”

“It makes a difference to this one…” said the teenager as he smiled at the jogger and picked up another starfish and tossed it back into the waves.

Little bits make a difference.

I will readily admit that in my fishing career, I’ve taken more fish than most.  That “career” has now spanned more than 50 years (ouch!) and started with my first bamboo rod and some shrimp for bait.  I’ve had the “bloodlust” where excitement over-rides better judgement and nothing is as important as hooking fish.

In those early days, it was about chest-thumping and high-fives. It was about catching more fish than the other fella and big heavy stringers.   Who hasn’t gone down that road a time or two…or more?   For me, that “road” was often a four-lane express-way and I was at the helm of a mack truck.

But somewhere in the last few years, that changed.   I don’t know when or where fishing became more important than catching.  Maybe it was realizing that I’ve probably got more fishing time behind me than ahead of me these days.

At some point, a day with my wife, family or friends on the water and  a bit of sunshine has become more crucial to my well-being and self-esteem than tight lines.  Reveling in a simple day when four walls…cell phones…and the internet weren’t sucking my soul dry were the best 5-star vacation ever invented.

Need vs. Greed.   My need to just take a breath  and put my toes in the sand trumps my former greediness to be putting fish in the boat…everytime…all the time.

And, although I still love catching fish and can do it with the best, maybe keeping just one or two for dinner, is enough.  Especially if it means breaking bread…er…tortillas to share with family and friends!

And more than it ever did…releasing fish to swim away is even more of a kick and makes a big difference in a small way…to that one fish.  And yes…to at least this one fisherman as well.

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-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

Website: http://www.tailhunter-international.com

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

U.S. Mailing Address:  Tailhunter International, P.O. Box 1149, Alpine  CA  91903-1149

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report: 

http://www.tailhunter-international.com/fishreport.htm

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.”

 

Read Full Post »

Shearer Family goofy tags 5-11

Winter is a great time in Baja and a great time to bring the family! As the our amigos, the Schearer family, from Montana found out with us, Baja is alot warmer than Montana and you don’t have to go out very far to get fish like this!

BECAUSE WE CAN!

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of Dec. 20, 2012

 

I’m often asked why we would fish in the winter time?

I guess the quick and wise-guy answer and knee-jerk response is “Because we can!”

But there’s more to it than that. 

During the winter time, the complexion of our Baja vistors changes.  During the regular season,  the majority of our folks are generally fishers.  Or at least have a general focus of getting on or under the water during our warmer months.

During the colder times of the year, I think we see more “escapees.”  These are folks just trying to get away from the chill, ice and wet of home.  “Just lookin’ for some sunshine…any sunshine!” is what I often hear.

While us locals are bundled up in long pants, shoes, and down vests against the “chilly” 60-70 degree weather, folks from Vancouver, Canada…Bozeman, Montana…Portland, Oregon. …happily stroll through town in tank-tops and cargo shorts.   God bless ‘em, they are in sunshine Nirvana!

But, they are often discouraged from fishing when they find out that so many places are rough, windy, or certain “glamour” species like marlin and tuna just aren’t biting in the winter. Or, if they are biting, heading off-shore to catch them can be a long rolling bumpy wet adventure more akin to the very conditions they left back home!

It’s much simplier to park it on a bar stool with a cold umbrella drink and gaze out over the sand and water or take the glass bottom boat ride in the harbor.  Yawn. Right up there with going to listen to a time-share presentation so you can get the free lunch and discount shopping coupons.

But, they shouldn’t let winter discourage time on the water.

One of the great things about fishing in Baja and Mexico is that there is always SOMETHING to catch! 

Frankly, the further south you go, the warmer it will be and the better the chances of catching a glamour fish, but even then, remember that it’s still winter and most of Mexico and Baja’s Pacific coast faces the open ocean (which is why winter surfing in Hawaii is so great!).  There’s big waves and there’s big winds.

It’s no fun being wet and cold and bounced around.

So…

Consider fishing inshore.  So few folks ask for it and so few of the outfitters or charter operators offer it, especially for someone who just walks in or walks up to sign on for a day of fishing.  Which is what so many winter visitors do.  They go fishing on a whim. 

“Honey, instead of visiting the Mayan pottery store,  let’s go ‘deep sea’ fishin’ tomorrow!”

But, chances are you’ll light up a big smile if you ask for inshore fishing.  For the captain our agent or outfitter, it’s a lot more economical since they won’t be burning up a lot of gas.

 Secondly, there’s a lot more inshore fish than offshore blue-water fish .  Therefore,  the chances or success are much greater for them to have smiling anglers at the end of the day.  Finally, believe me.  They don’t want to get beat up out there on the big water any more than you!

From the anglers perspective, waters will probably be calmer.  You’ll have more action with rods in your hands rather than long days of trolling offshore.  Pragmatically, you don’t need a big expensive sportfishing cruiser either.  You can downgrade of fish from pangas since most of the action will be closer to the shores, beaches and reefs. So, it’s less expensive!

In fact, often you’ll just be yards from the shore.  You will often see the bottom and, very often you’ll actually see the fish as they bite. 

And there’s so much variety and action to be had.  Exotic roosterfish…giant pargo…tough jack crevalle…sierra…cabrilla…pompano…are just some of the species available inshore.

And don’t think these fish are any less tough or formidable just because they inhabit the inner waters.  Pargo can be 30-50 pounds with sharp teeth and gillplates as they attack from the rocks.  Roosterfish can swarm in schools or be the big trophy sluggers between 30 and 100 pounds that have made them famous in Baja and the world.  Catch 20 five-pound sierra or a half-dozen 30 pound jack crevalle and I can guarantee your arms will still be sore!

Another bonus is that this is very pro-active fishing. Since you’re not simply dragging lures offshore waiting for hits, you’ll have a rod in your hand most of the time.  This is a great plus if you’re fishing with first-timers, family members or the kids!  Everyone participates.  Everyone has fun.

And, at the end or the day, inshore fish is among the best eating!  So, don’t let winter deter some great fishing fun!

That’s our story!

Jonathan and Jill

__________________

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: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745 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.”

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts