That&#039;s My Story

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

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

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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.”

“WELL THAT EXPLAINS ALOT”

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, charity, charters, chubasco, circle hooks, crankbait, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, fish, fish farming, fish pens, 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, green, Heat stroke, highway, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, hurricanes, 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, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, missions, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, 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, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged accommodations, activities, amberjack, bahia, baja, baja editor, baja sur, bars, bay, beach, Bill Boyce, billfish, blogs, blue water, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, cerralvo, certified scale, charter, children, chubasco, costa baja, day tour, deep sea, del mar fairgrounds, discount, dog tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tour, el sargento, espirito santo, extreme fishing, family, fish, fishing and boating shows, fishing and hunting shows, fishing sportfishing, flyfishing, fred hall, free dive, get-away, girls, grey whales, grouper, guide, guide service, holiday, hotel, hotel marina, hotel perla, hotel seven crown, hunting, idaho sportsman’s show, igfa, images, inshore, International Game Fish Association, international sportsmans expo, ise, isla, island, jack crevalle, jillene roldan, jilly roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, lodging, los barriles, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos, northwest sportsmans show, offshore, outfitter, pack for a purpose, package, panga, panga slam, pargo, photos, pompano, portland expo center, Puyallup Fairgrounds, reef fish, reports, restaurants, rockfish, rooster fish, rooster fish foundation, sailfish, saltwater, san jose del cabo, scuba, sea bass, sea of cortez, sealions, shuttle, sierra, snapper, snorkel, spearfish, suenos, swim, tackle, Tailhunter International, tailhunter restaurant bar, techniques, tips, tour, tourism, travel, trolling, tuna, tuna jackpot tournament, updates, vacation, video, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, weather, western outdoor news, WFN, whale watching, whales, whaleshark, wife, women, World Fishing Network, yellowtail on July 3, 2016| Leave a Comment »

WELL THAT EXPLAINS ALOT

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of July 5, 2016

I was doing a little online research about some obscure Mexican history and, as web-surfing often does, I stumbled into some completely different stuff.

And, that led me to something else…and something else.

That’s why it’s called “web-surfing.” And there went my evening and my initial research.

I bumbled upon a couple of websites that post lists of the average wages for various Mexican jobs.

Take a look at some of the higher end occupations.

I looked at websites and divided by the current peso-to-dollar exchange rate of the devalued Mexico peso. It’s 18 pesos for one U.S. dollar right now.

Compare them to your own job. Would you be willing to work for these paychecks? Ready to apply?

Remember these are the jobs that require either a bit of education or at least a good chunk of experience. They show median salaries for these job categories.

Of course, these are general and salaries vary from area-to-area. There are also other variables to factor into the equation like experience; city; specific industry, etc.

These might surprise you. I did a double-take myself…

Operations Manager – $28,016 per year ($2334 per month)

Information Technician – $27,031 per year ($2252 per month)

Softwear Engineer – $15,132 per year ($1261 per month)

Design Architect – $10,237 per year ($853 per month)

Physician (General Practice) – $13,080 per year ($1090 per month)

Graphic Designer – $7560 per year ($630 per month)

Check out what your average State and Federal Mexican police officer pulls home (before taxes, etc.)

State Police Officer – $6,666 per year ($555 per month)

Federal Police Officer – $8000 per year ($666 per month)

Municipal police officers make a lot less.

Contrary to the stereotype, there are many good, hard-working and dedicated law enforcement officers in Mexico. But, you can imagine the temptation to either accept bribes; look the other way (“They don’t pay me enough to risk my neck or my family!”) or outright participate in criminal activity.

Now…

Take a look at your average worker in Mexico. These are the good folks most tourists run into on a daily basis on their vacations.

As of the beginning of 2016, the average minimum wage in Mexico was raised to a whopping (drumroll please)…

$73.04 pesos…or about $4.05 PER DAY.

That’s not per hour. That’s what you would earn PER DAY if you were an average employee or general laborer in Mexico.

And yes, taxes are technically deducted just like anywhere else. Maybe union fees, social security, etc. That’s an astronomical gross of $28 bucks a week!

Your working day can be 8-12 hours per day or longer. There are no regulations really on how long you have to work. I know guys who work 10-15 hours regularly. And no overtime!

You go 6-7 days per week. Do the math and you’ll get pretty depressed fast.

It kinda helps explain the immigration situation a bit. It’s why your local Home Depot has a ready labor group willing to paint your fence.

What would YOU do if you had a family to feed and you pulled down less than $30 per week?

And, at the rate the peso is falling in the market, you’re earning even less than ever and it’s not looking good!

So, what must your average hotel employee think as Americans toss $20 bills around. Or we think no big thing of $100 dinners.

Leaving two bucks on the dresser of your hotel room for the maid is a ½ day salary for her. Imagine receiving a tip at your own job worth ½ of your daily salary.

Here’s some other general minimum salaries to take a look at:

Chain Grocery Store Cashier – $4.92 per day ($34.44 per week)

Security Guard – $5.23 per day ($36.67 per week)

Hotel Maid – $5.37 per day ($37.59 per week)

Electrician – $5.55 per day ($38.85 per week)

Mechanic – $583 per day ($40.83 per week)

Bartender – $5.36 per day ($37.58 per week)

Janitor – $4.05 per day ($28 per week)

So, let’s see. If you make 4 bucks a day and your boss makes you work a 12 hour day. You work 6 days a week you’re pulling about 38 cents-an-hour for a $28 work week.

You and I both know folks that won’t get out’ve bed for $28 an hour, let alone $28 a week.

My point being is that the next time you visit Mexico, you might see the taxi driver; or the waiter; or the lady sweeping up your beer cans a little differently. Or the police officer. A different perpective for sure.

It’s pretty harsh where someone like a Mexican doctor makes less than a high school kid at McDonalds back home. And depressing.

And makes you a little grateful for your own opportunities and blessings and a little more tolerant and appreciative too.

That’s my story

Jonathan

_______________

______________

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

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

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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:

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

“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.”

HASTA LA VISTA BABY!

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, charity, charters, chubasco, circle hooks, crankbait, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, fish, fish farming, fish pens, 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, green, Heat stroke, highway, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, hurricanes, 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, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, missions, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, 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, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged accommodations, activities, amberjack, bahia, baja, baja editor, baja sur, bars, bay, beach, Bill Boyce, billfish, blogs, blue water, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, cerralvo, certified scale, charter, children, chubasco, costa baja, day tour, deep sea, del mar fairgrounds, discount, dog tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tour, el sargento, espirito santo, extreme fishing, family, fish, fishing and boating shows, fishing and hunting shows, fishing sportfishing, flyfishing, fred hall, free dive, get-away, girls, grey whales, grouper, guide, guide service, holiday, hotel, hotel marina, hotel perla, hotel seven crown, hunting, idaho sportsman’s show, igfa, images, inshore, International Game Fish Association, international sportsmans expo, ise, isla, island, jack crevalle, jillene roldan, jilly roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, lodging, los barriles, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos, northwest sportsmans show, offshore, outfitter, pack for a purpose, package, panga, panga slam, pargo, photos, pompano, portland expo center, Puyallup Fairgrounds, reef fish, reports, restaurants, rockfish, rooster fish, rooster fish foundation, sailfish, saltwater, san jose del cabo, scuba, sea bass, sea of cortez, sealions, shuttle, sierra, snapper, snorkel, spearfish, suenos, swim, tackle, Tailhunter International, tailhunter restaurant bar, techniques, tips, tour, tourism, travel, trolling, tuna, tuna jackpot tournament, updates, vacation, video, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, weather, western outdoor news, WFN, whale watching, whales, whaleshark, wife, women, World Fishing Network, yellowtail on June 20, 2016| Leave a Comment »

LA NINA

HASTA LA VISTA BABY!

Originally Published the Week of June 21, 2016 in Western Outdoor News

Wish we could say it was fun. Adios, Baby! Don’t let the screendoor bang your butt as you exit.

Yea, that’s right. Like the neighborhood kid who comes to hang out but overstays their welcome, we needed a break. Get this kid outta here!

Well, it’s official.

Meteorologists are officially declaring the demise of “The Baby” aka “El Nino.” After almost 2 years, the experts are saying the kid is finally on the way out.

The weather phenomenon we know as “El Nino” was first recognized centuries ago by Peruvian fishermen. They noticed that a warming cycle occurred every few years which changed their weather patterns and their fishing.

Insofar as it happened towards the end of the year around Christmas, it became known as “The Baby/ El Nino.”

Extremely waters is exactly what we’ve seen down here in Baja during this particular cycle and, in fact, on the entire Eastern Pacific bordering the western shores of North and South America.

In fact, this El Nino was one of the strongest on record superceded only by the last great El Nino in 1996-97.

The warmer waters produced more storms and more rain along the western U.S. which was much needed. But, conversely, it produced drought condition and water shortages in epic proportions on the other side of the Pacific.

However, for the first time since about 2014, the experts say that May was the official turning point. Last month produced cooler neutral water temperatures on our side of the Pacific for the first time.

El Nino hasn’t been very good to us down here in Baja and Mexico.

Sure, it produced rain. The problem is, it often fell all at once. In buckets.

In fact, two historically massive hurricanes, “Patricia” and “Odile”, were among the strongest ever experienced in Mexico. Odile pretty much flattened Cabo San Lucas which still bears some scars. Patricia would have been the strongest ever and barely missed crashing into highly populated Puerto Vallarta.

From a sportsman’s perspective, we know how good the fishing has been in areas around Southern California as warm-water species like tuna, yellowtail, marlin, wahoo and others followed the currents north. It’s been an economic windfall for the sportfishing industry not to mention, a lot of fun.

Those areas produced some of the most exotic and finest fishing ever recorded. In fact as I’m writing this huge bluefin tuna are being caught in S. California waters. Hey, and what about all those sharks cavorting in the surf off California beaches? Great fun, right? I’m being facetious.

But for us down here in Baja, the warmer waters weren’t very kind to us. Without the cooler upwellings from down deep, nutrients for baitfish never arrived. Accordingly, baitfish never arrived either which either starved or moved to more fertile waters.

In the foodchain, no bait meant no larger sportfish or certainly smaller sportfish. That was a big ouch to the sportfishing industry here in Mexico.

But, everything is cyclical on this planet. Things come. Things go.

With El Nino headed out, the meteorologists are now telling us to get ready for “La Nina.” (The little sister!). What? Another bratty kid? C’mon already!

But yes. Chances are this little girl is a bit chillier.

However, according to the experts, La Nina isn’t exactly a complete opposite of El Nino. Ice won’t start coating the ocean’s surface.

Whereas El Nino involves huge warm spikes over a short period of time, La Nina is more of mild extended cooling event. The pros say it’s a return to an extended period of “normalcy.” Whatever “normal” means these days.

But, like every planetary phenomenon, what’s good for some is less-so for others.

While El Nino surely helped the drought ravages in the United States, it wasn’t enough to break it as many expected it would. La Nina won’t help at all as fewer storms can be expected.

That’s good for hurricane and tropical storm watchers in Mexico.

Over the past 2 years, there were times when every week one storm after another appeared on the radar and we had to brace for perhaps another onslaught and wonder if the “next one” would hit. Or would it race out to sea towards Hawaii?

However, conversely, the Eastern and Gulf states will be on higher storm and hurricane alerts now with La Nina. Atlantic hurricane predictions are usually elevated during La Nina patterns.

Likewise, along Eastern Asia, the waters will now be warmer on that side of the Pacific. After two years of crippling drought and heat waves, those poor folks will have to contend with the looming aspect of monsoons and cyclones.

And what will this do to the fishing in Baja?

After so many crazy things these past few years, I don’t know what “normal” looks like anymore. I threw my “fishing charts” out the window awhile ago.

I just go fishing. The weather will be what the weather is. There’s always something biting if it’s Mexican waters. And it still beats sitting in traffic.

Hasta la vista, Baby. Thanks for the visit.

That’s our story…

Jonathan signature

_______________

______________

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

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:

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

“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.”

The Mighty El Pez Fuerte

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, charity, charters, chubasco, circle hooks, crankbait, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, fish, fish farming, fish pens, 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, green, Heat stroke, highway, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, hurricanes, 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, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, missions, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, 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, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged accommodations, activities, amberjack, bahia, baja, baja editor, baja sur, bars, bay, beach, Bill Boyce, billfish, blogs, blue water, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, cerralvo, certified scale, charter, children, chubasco, costa baja, day tour, deep sea, del mar fairgrounds, discount, dog tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tour, el sargento, espirito santo, extreme fishing, family, fish, fishing and boating shows, fishing and hunting shows, fishing sportfishing, flyfishing, fred hall, free dive, get-away, girls, grey whales, grouper, guide, guide service, holiday, hotel, hotel marina, hotel perla, hotel seven crown, hunting, idaho sportsman’s show, igfa, images, inshore, International Game Fish Association, international sportsmans expo, ise, isla, island, jack crevalle, jillene roldan, jilly roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, lodging, los barriles, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos, northwest sportsmans show, offshore, outfitter, pack for a purpose, package, panga, panga slam, pargo, photos, pompano, portland expo center, Puyallup Fairgrounds, reef fish, reports, restaurants, rockfish, rooster fish, rooster fish foundation, sailfish, saltwater, san jose del cabo, scuba, sea bass, sea of cortez, sealions, shuttle, sierra, snapper, snorkel, spearfish, suenos, swim, tackle, Tailhunter International, tailhunter restaurant bar, techniques, tips, tour, tourism, travel, trolling, tuna, tuna jackpot tournament, updates, vacation, video, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, weather, western outdoor news, WFN, whale watching, whales, whaleshark, wife, women, World Fishing Network, yellowtail on June 6, 2016| Leave a Comment »

THE MIGHTY EL PEZ FUERTE

Originally Published the Week of June 8, 2016 in Western Outdoor News

Whenever someone catches this particular fish, the uninitiated usually bust out the usual comments…

“I caught a what?”

“Is this like…uh…a tuna or something?”

“Is this a junk fish?”

“Should I throw it back?”

“Any good to eat?”

“My brother caught one once and said it was good fertilizer.”

OUCH! Talk about no respect. Into the rosebeds with the mackerel, the Miracle-Gro and the mulch.

The Mexicans call this fish the “ el pez fuerte.” And it’s name is well-deserved. Nothing fancy, colorful or elegant. It surely doesn’t rise to the level of say, “wahoo.” Or maybe “sailfish.”

They call it like they see it. “ El Pez Fuerte” means “the strong fish.” Simple. Clear. Word economy at it’s best. At it’s most descriptive.

Most of the rest of us know it as the amberjack. And yea, it’s pretty strong.

Like the rest of the members of it’s family.

That includes the more famous, yellowtail (jurel). And glamorous roosterfish (pez gallo) . And the hard-charging jack crevalle (toro) and pompano (pompano…no fancy name at all. ). All three of these sure get a lot more press than the amberjack.

Folks line up to get in on the bite when the yellowtail are going off. Anglers come from all over the world to hook up on a Baja roosterfish. Jack crevalle are a favorite of light tackle and flyfishers.

So, why does the amberjack get slighted?

Better known as the Almaco Jack or the Pacific Jack, these guys sport the same bad attitude as their cousins. Bullish runs. Dogged battles. Quick to bend rods and just as easily send anglers into frustration as they dive back to cover and snap tackle.

They are just bigger and stronger. Actually, they are the largest of the jack family. Fifty…sixty…seventy pounders and larger are not uncommon.

It’s like the old saying about a good big guy is usually better than a good small guy, the amberjack here in Baja are characterized by the big thick powerful bodies of the roosterfish (but without all the fancy rigging on their back.)

They have linebacker bodies compared to, for example yellowtail which are more slender.

They have muscular tails and blunted heads. And yes, they do get bigger.

The current IGFA record of 132-pounds was caught in Baja waters. In my 20 years here in southern Baja, I’ve seen larger fish that never got to the certified scales.

It happens more than you think. Several years ago, a fish estimated at close to 150-pounds got carved up on the beach before we could stop our amigo who had visions of delicious sashimi dancing in his eyes!

Because for sure, they make great eating. Amberjack in other areas are often tossed back or tossed into the rose bushes. These are the same fish. The pez Fuertes we see here are famously tasty.

Roosterfish and jack crevalle have dark stringy strong-tasting meat. Most captains will tell you to release then. Yellowtail and amberjack are at the other end. Definitely keeper fish.

The amberjack is a culinary surprise for most folks. Imagine the tender moist meat of the yellowtail. Only better.

I had one marine biologist tell me that the amberjack are not as migratory as their kin, the yellowtail. They tend to be more “homeguard” fish and their diets include shellfish, shrimp and mollusks. So, imagine the succulent flavor of flaky white yellowtail with a slight hint of crab or shrimp!

As sashime, it’s meat is almost translucent and velvety in its’ texture and highly prized. But rarely found because they’re not commercially chased.

So, that leaves it to us sportfishermen…and ladies.

Fishing-wise, folks genuinely are surprised to catch them. It’s not too different from fishing for yellowtail in Baja.

Usually, they are found near structure which would include rocks, reefs, boulders and deep drop-offs like canyons. When scuba diving, I seem to encounter schools where there are vertical objects like rock walls where the fish hold at certain levels.

They’ll take live and dead bait like squid, mackerel and caballitos (a smaller member of the jack family). You can fish them on the flyline (with no weight). Or, you can fish them with a sliding egg-sinker on a Carolina rig or similar. Depending on the depth.

They will often school. Find one and you’ll find others. If they’re hungry, look out. They don’t “nibble” and will slam a rod right out’ve your hand.

And they are not shy. Being the big dog, they don’t have to be. I’ve had spearfishermen tell me they didn’t shoot amberjack because the fish will swim right up to them out’ve curiosity and look right at the point of the speargun.

“It didn’t seem fair to shoot a fish that swims right up to the gun!” said on spearfishing client.

And, they do love lures too.

Slow trolling a diving lure like a Rapala, Yo-Zuri, Mirro-Lure or other lipped-lure produces well.

If you like to fish the iron or knife jigs, this is another popular way to get hooked up. Drop down and crank like your arm is going to fall off.

Basically, fish like you’re fishing for yellowtail. And that’s why folks get surprised when their reel goes screaming; they’re double-bent; and they pull up a fish that doesn’t quite look like a yellowtail.

Often copper-colored or even golden tan in the sun, it’s definitely not a junk fish. And yes, it tastes darned good. Save something else for the fertilizer!

The other great aspect is that a good time to fish for them is during the same season as the yellowtail. That would be the late winter and early spring.

However, when the yellowtail have moved off to follow the colder waters, the amberjack can stick around for many months into the summer or even longer.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

_______________

______________

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

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:

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

“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.”

I”ve Got Work to Do!”

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, charity, charters, chubasco, circle hooks, crankbait, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, fish, fish farming, fish pens, 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, green, Heat stroke, highway, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, hurricanes, 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, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, missions, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, 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, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged accommodations, activities, amberjack, bahia, baja, baja editor, baja sur, bars, bay, beach, Bill Boyce, billfish, blogs, blue water, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, cerralvo, certified scale, charter, children, chubasco, costa baja, day tour, deep sea, del mar fairgrounds, discount, dog tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tour, el sargento, espirito santo, extreme fishing, family, fish, fishing and boating shows, fishing and hunting shows, fishing sportfishing, flyfishing, fred hall, free dive, get-away, girls, grey whales, grouper, guide, guide service, holiday, hotel, hotel marina, hotel perla, hotel seven crown, hunting, idaho sportsman’s show, igfa, images, inshore, International Game Fish Association, international sportsmans expo, ise, isla, island, jack crevalle, jillene roldan, jilly roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, lodging, los barriles, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos, northwest sportsmans show, offshore, outfitter, pack for a purpose, package, panga, panga slam, pargo, photos, pompano, portland expo center, Puyallup Fairgrounds, reef fish, reports, restaurants, rockfish, rooster fish, rooster fish foundation, sailfish, saltwater, san jose del cabo, scuba, sea bass, sea of cortez, sealions, shuttle, sierra, snapper, snorkel, spearfish, suenos, swim, tackle, Tailhunter International, tailhunter restaurant bar, techniques, tips, tour, tourism, travel, trolling, tuna, tuna jackpot tournament, updates, vacation, video, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, weather, western outdoor news, WFN, whale watching, whales, whaleshark, wife, women, World Fishing Network, yellowtail on May 23, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Attitude makes all the difference.

“I’VE GOT WORK TO DO! “

Originally Published the Week of May 25, 2016 in Western Outdoor News

Fishing has been a bit tough right now down here in Baja lately.

Some days there’s a lot of smiles. Other days…well, maybe not so much. The smiles are a little more forced.

There’s a lot of factors that go into a fishing day and any one of them can be the difference in a good day, a great day or a stinky day.

You can do something about some of them. Some other things are just the way they are. You roll with them.

Of course, there’s the natural factors like weather, wind, heat, current and bait.

There’s the mechanical factors like the boat, the equipment, or the technology.

Then, there’s the human factor. Oh my, that list is long.

Experience

Talent

Ability

Attitude

Hubris

Ego

Of course, there’s also plain-dumb-luck too!

Again, some things you can do something about. Some others…well…they just are what they are. But, it all comes to the table.

I had an interesting study in contrasts last week. I had two groups of fishermen. They all had some success, but overall fishing was scratchy. It was really a pull. Compared to previous years, it was rugged fishing with long days in the sunshine punctuated by the occasional bite.

The fish were there. Conditions seemed right. But, for whatever reason, the fish “lockjawed” on us. You’ve seen it. I’ve seen it. It happens.

The head of one group made it pretty clear he wasn’t happy.

As each day wore on, he got a little more sullen. A little less ebullient. There was less chest pounding. He was making less and less eye-contact with me.

He wasn’t saying anything directly to me, but the vibe was not good. Anyone who has ever been in the sportfishing business knows the feeling.

Everyone says, “It’s fishing, not catching” until they are the party that’s not catching. Believe me!

The level of “jolliness” was slipping away.

Unfortunately, it was rubbing off on his group as well. It’s toxic. How the leader goes so goes the troops. Naturally.

And that’s too bad because as often happens, as the enthusiasm wanes, the energy level wilted right along with it.

They weren’t trying as hard. They were mailing it in. Like the 2^nd half of a game…down by 20 and just wanting to take the ball and get off the field.

At the end of trips, before anglers head home, I like to chat with them and assess things. It’s always better when things go right and the sun stayed out and the fish bite.

Getting high-fived at the end is great.

It’s so much harder to face a group, knowing that you did everything you could to make it work, but there are things that couldn’t be controlled. Simply put, sometimes the fish just don’t cooperate.

So facing a group or leader that had a bad outing is like taking that long walk to the principles office. And you know it’s not gonna be good.

The head of the first group and his guys said, it was “Ok.” Just OK. I heard comments about the weather…the bait…the currents…the wind…

It’s what I expected. They shook my hand climbed in the vans back to the airport and off they went. I doubt I’ll be seeing them again. No one’s fault. We just didn’t shine down here as far as fishing was concerned.

Then there was the head of the other group. And his guys.

Again, a very experienced angler.

He and his gang fished the same waters as the other group. Used the same gear. More or less had the same results. Some good. Some bad.

Like the other group, it was their first “Baja adventure.” You just never want first-timers to have a bad time.

Obviously, we want everyone to have a good time. Surely, we want everyone to also come back. Returning happy clientele is what makes or breaks any business. No matter what you do.

It was my turn to say adios to them as well.

With some trepidation, I started out apologizing for the crummy fishing.

“I’m really sorry the fishing wasn’t…”

The head of the group stopped me right there.

What followed was one of the most refreshing comments I’ve heard in more than 30 years in the fishing industry.

He said, “That’s not your fault. We had a great time and can’t wait to come back.”

“Uh…really?” I said with some skepticism. “You’re joking right?”

He went on to say with a grin, “The fish were there. Everything looked good. You did everything you could and more. Your captains busted their rears working. We’ve fished all over and sometimes fishing is just…well…it’s fishing.” And he laughed and slapped me on the back.

“When the fish don’t bite, it simply means that ‘I’m not good enough.’”

That caught me by surprise! “You’re not good enough?”

“All fish eat. All fish hunt. As a sportfisherman, my task and challenge is to find a way to get them to bite. If they don’t bite, then I have work to do. There’s something else I need to learn. There’s something else I need to improve.”

“Maybe it was my bait presentation. Maybe it was the color of my line. Maybe we trolled when I should have drifted. Maybe it was just luck and I should have worn my lucky green shirt instead of my lucky red shirt.”

He added, “To me, putting that right combination together is what makes it fun. That’s why I want to come back to fish here again and solve that puzzle. That’s why my whole group wants to come back. We learn. We get better. We learn from each other and we learn from the fish! “

“We have work to do before we come back! And we’ll be back. And the fish I missed this time will only be that much bigger next time. But, I will also be that much smarter!”

Every now and then…even the principal surprises you.

That’s my story!

Jonathan signature

_______________

______________

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

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:

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

“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.”

“Big Bait Big Fish…No Bait No…?

Posted in airlines, aquaculture, bahia de los muertos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, camping, car, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charity, charters, chubasco, circle hooks, crankbait, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, fish, fish farming, fish pens, 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, green, Heat stroke, highway, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, hurricanes, 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, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, missions, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, 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, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged accommodations, activities, amberjack, bahia, baja, baja editor, baja sur, bars, bay, beach, Bill Boyce, billfish, blogs, blue water, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, cerralvo, certified scale, charter, children, chubasco, costa baja, day tour, deep sea, del mar fairgrounds, discount, dog tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tour, el sargento, espirito santo, extreme fishing, family, fish, fishing and boating shows, fishing and hunting shows, fishing sportfishing, flyfishing, fred hall, free dive, get-away, girls, grey whales, grouper, guide, guide service, holiday, hotel, hotel marina, hotel perla, hotel seven crown, hunting, idaho sportsman’s show, igfa, images, inshore, International Game Fish Association, international sportsmans expo, ise, isla, island, jack crevalle, jillene roldan, jilly roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, lodging, los barriles, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos, northwest sportsmans show, offshore, outfitter, pack for a purpose, package, panga, panga slam, pargo, photos, pompano, portland expo center, Puyallup Fairgrounds, reef fish, reports, restaurants, rockfish, rooster fish, rooster fish foundation, sailfish, saltwater, san jose del cabo, scuba, sea bass, sea of cortez, sealions, shuttle, sierra, snapper, snorkel, spearfish, suenos, swim, tackle, Tailhunter International, tailhunter restaurant bar, techniques, tips, tour, tourism, travel, trolling, tuna, tuna jackpot tournament, updates, vacation, video, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, weather, western outdoor news, WFN, whale watching, whales, whaleshark, wife, women, World Fishing Network, yellowtail on May 9, 2016| Leave a Comment »

BIG BAIT BIG FISH…NO BAIT NO…????

Originally Published the Week of May 11 2016 in Western Outdoor News

Yikes! Hijole! What’s wrong with this picture?

You may have heard the old saying in fishing. “Big Bait Big Fish.” Basically, to catch a big fish, use a big bait. Makes sense.

So, what if there’s no bait? No bait no…?

For the past two-to-three-years and maybe even a touch longer, there’s no doubt that something is up with the bait stocks here in Baja. What’s up with that?

Here in the “Aquarium of the World” as Jacques Cousteau called it, we are used to huge dark undulating ribbons of millions of Mexican sardines. We are used to giant baitballs of mackerel. We’re used to having a cornucopia of all the green jacks, cocineros, ballyhoo and other baitfish we needed for sportfishing.

So, what’s going on and why have we all been scrambling to find bait? In the local Baja waters where we took bait for granted, we’re lately perplexed, annoyed, troubled and sometimes angry at the dearth of stuff to stick on the hook!

The commercial bait guys used to pull up to our cruisers and pangas and they’d be hawking and competing against each other to sell you all you wanted. They’d be zipping around in their own pangas like gadflys from customer-to-customer trying to make a deal in their best Span-glish…

“Almost free, amigo! Almost free! Cheap bait, Senores! Best quality! C’mon! C’mon! How much you want to buy? Vamanos. Let’s go. No waiting! Sure, we got change! Twenty dollars, no hay problema! Si, senor!

And we surely used it too! We burned through it like a sailor burns through his money roll on a 24-hour liberty.

We tossed handfuls out for chum. If a bait wasn’t looking exactly real good or lively, we tore the hook out and pinned on another one.

Feed the pelicans and seagulls? What fun. Sure!

Dead bait? Don’t need it. We scooped it over the side and watched the trigger fish chomp it or the scavengers in the marina water frenzy on it.

The times have changed.

Before, there was so much bait, the bait guys eked out a living because there was such an abundance and so much competition, prices were low. Now, they eke out a living because they can only find a few bits and pieces and gringos are willing to pay dearly for each precious piece.

But so often, fishermen now pull up on the commercial bait guys in those early mornings and find the carniceros still trying to catch or net the enough to sell.

And, to a greater degree, anglers are met with a shrug and frown and hands turned up in resignation.

“Sorry, amigos. No bait today.”

“No mas, amigos. No more bait today. Ya los vendemos. We sold it already.”

“Si, pero tenemos solo poquito. We have just a little to sell.”

And we get angry with them or wrongfully blame them or our crews. And can’t understand why we don’t have bait today. Heck two years ago, we had all we wanted. Or we think that the bait guys just didn’t work hard enough on YOUR day that YOU want to fish! It’s THEIR fault!

Actually, believe me. If they had it, they’d sell it to you. There’s families to be fed and kids need shoes.

Chances are by the time you’re ready to go fishing at 5 a.m., the bait man has been trying to catch bait for you all night. He’s as ticked, perplexed and disappointed as you.

So, que paso? What happened?

I speculate that it’s a combination of things.

As a matter of nature, we’re in an el Nino cycle. Waters are much warmer than normal on this side of the Pacific.

The cooler waters from down deep never came up bringing with it the micro-nutrients that the bait fish need. The bait fish either starve or don’t re-produce in their normal numbers or simply follow their food source somewhere else.

That applies all the way up the ecological food chain.

With altered and diminished food sources, the sportfish also lack their usual chow. They are smaller. Or they starve. Or they move to other areas. Simple natural logic.

The other part of the equation is points directly at us.

There’s more pressure on the current bait stocks, small as they are.

There’s more anglers on the water. There’s more boats and charter operations. Everyone wants bait. Everyone expects it! Plus…

As sportsmen we’re used to having all we want and we will use all we can get. And we’ll also use anything we can find.

Whereas, before, we might use 4 or 5-inch mature Mexican sardines, now we’re taking one-inch fry. We’re sticking 3 or 4 of them onto a hook at a time because one doesn’t cover the hook.

Conversely, the bait sellers are using nets with smaller and smaller mesh-holes to trap the smaller baits. Nothing gets to grow up.

As one bait vendor sadly told me, “I know we’re not supposed to use nets so small, but I am just trying to make a living. I know that this is taking all the small baby baits. “

The other side of the commercial coin is acuaculture. Huge stocks of bait are being used to grow marketable fish in the fish farms. It takes many POUNDS of baitfish to grow one of these market fish a single pound larger.

There’s a hungry world out there and the demand for seafood exceeds the supply.

Simple economics.

The earth is doing it’s thing. And it’ll cycle around again. El Nino is supposed to be slacking off this year.

I’m not sure what we’re doing about our end of things. But, I know I sure don’t take those little fish for granted anymore.

That’s my story…

Jonathan

_______________

______________

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

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:

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

“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.”

HOW YOUNG DO YOU FEEL?

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, charity, charters, chubasco, circle hooks, crankbait, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, fish, fish farming, fish pens, 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, green, Heat stroke, highway, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, hurricanes, 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, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, missions, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, 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, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged accommodations, activities, amberjack, bahia, baja, baja editor, baja sur, bars, bay, beach, Bill Boyce, billfish, blogs, blue water, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, cerralvo, certified scale, charter, children, chubasco, costa baja, day tour, deep sea, del mar fairgrounds, discount, dog tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tour, el sargento, espirito santo, extreme fishing, family, fish, fishing and boating shows, fishing and hunting shows, fishing sportfishing, flyfishing, fred hall, free dive, get-away, girls, grey whales, grouper, guide, guide service, holiday, hotel, hotel marina, hotel perla, hotel seven crown, hunting, idaho sportsman’s show, igfa, images, inshore, International Game Fish Association, international sportsmans expo, ise, isla, island, jack crevalle, jillene roldan, jilly roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, lodging, los barriles, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos, northwest sportsmans show, offshore, outfitter, pack for a purpose, package, panga, panga slam, pargo, photos, pompano, portland expo center, Puyallup Fairgrounds, reef fish, reports, restaurants, rockfish, rooster fish, rooster fish foundation, sailfish, saltwater, san jose del cabo, scuba, sea bass, sea of cortez, sealions, shuttle, sierra, snapper, snorkel, spearfish, suenos, swim, tackle, Tailhunter International, tailhunter restaurant bar, techniques, tips, tour, tourism, travel, trolling, tuna, tuna jackpot tournament, updates, vacation, video, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, weather, western outdoor news, WFN, whale watching, whales, whaleshark, wife, women, World Fishing Network, yellowtail on April 24, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Go ahead! What’s the worse that can happen?

HOW YOUNG DO YOU FEEL?

Originally Published the Week of April 26, 2016 in Western Outdoor Publications

“We love Baja and I want to bring my family, but I have a 6-year-old and I don’t think he’s old enough yet. “

“My dad is 85 and he has always wanted to fish in Baja, but he thinks he’s now too old. “

I get comments like this all the time. Too young. Too old. Whatever.

But, it’s a common question as the parameters of Baja visitors change. Although it is still “la frontera” (the frontier) and there’s more than enough ruggedness in the Baja to go around. There’s no debating that this is not your grandfather’s Baja.

For better or worse. It’s a kinder-gentler Baja.

There’s no doubt more families; more kids; more wives and girlfriends are now coming down. And they’re not just here to splash poolside at posh resorts; drink infused martinis; go to spas; and line up at the all-inclusive buffet lines.

They’re fishing; surfing; off-roading; zip-lining; scuba diving and grabbing their vacation by the two-fisted-double tortillas. The spirit of adventure is far from dead. It’s just that nowadays, there’s a safety net.

If your car breaks down now, the vultures won’t start circling overhead. There are very few roads that don’t have a gas station or convenience store nearby. And…Walmart probably has your part.

If you run out’ve water or ice, it’s no longer an emergency. (Well, maybe running out’ve ice IS an emergency to SOME people!)

But, you simply walk down the hall to the ice machine. Or call the front desk.

Boat radio goes out? Grab you multi-satellite cell phone.

You get my drift. No pun intended.

Mistakes, accidents and quirks of nature, are much more forgiving in Baja than back in the day. Back then, venturing to the Baja was sometimes about like going on safari.

You carried enough parts to rebuild your car or boat engine. You had everything from cables to belts and hoses to air filters.

You strapped on enough extra jerry cans of gasoline to cover those long stretches of desert highway. Or build a big enough bonfire if you had to signal for rescue. (That actually happened to me once…but that’s for another story).

This was Baja in the year “BC.” (Before cell phones).

You brought a first aid kid that would have made a trauma team proud. And you never went anywhere without duct tape, some rope, shovel, some rope…and the simple necessities like toilet paper!

Hope hoped for the best. Planned for the worst.

Usually, for most of us, nothing happened harsher than bad hangovers, mosquito bites, a touch of Montezuma’s dance, a dinged surfboard or a few flat tires. But with each trip, we always left with a lifetime of memories.

In that respect, it hasn’t changed THAT much!

But, back then it was good to have a just a bit of madness in you; a pirate spirit and it didn’t hurt to have a hearty constitution.

However, now Baja truly is accessible to everyone. There’s stuff for everyone to do.

So, when I get a question about someone’s age and the ability to visit Baja, it’s not an issue of how old you are. At least not chronologically.

I have 4-year-olds who have the time of their lives. I’ve had 92-year-olds who outfish and outlast the “youngsters.” Conversely, I’ve seen “30-somethings” that should have stayed home and had no business down here mixing it up.

It’s not how many rings on your personal tree trunk; crow’s feet at your eyes; or candles on your cake. To me, it’s how young your heart is.

If you’ve got enough “play” in your heart and in your spirit, Baja has a lot to offer.

If you still don’t mind the occasional skinned knee to go along with a good laugh and believe a little sunburn is a small price to pay for a little adrenaline rush or a memory of a lifetime, then you can never be too old or too young.

If you think you can break away for a few days to a place where everything is not climate controlled and hermetically sealed…where you might only get 1-bar on your cell phone…where you might not find your favorite diet soda…where nothing and no one moves faster than they have to…where there’s no happy meals but you love the greasy street tacos cooked up by a smiling amigo in a threadbare New York Yankees shirt…you’re gonna do just fine down here.

Believe me, there are some folks who can’t handle that! I’ve seen them freak out down here!

If you can handle miles of beach that has no lifeguard station; dusty cobblestone streets; unfettered sunshine on blue waters; friendly people who speak a different language, but say more with smiles and their eyes then you’re used to…

Then…

…Don’t ask about how old you need to be. Ask how young you want to feel? How young do YOU feel?

I’ve always believed that we don’t stop playing because we get old. We get old because we stopped playing. Come down and play!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

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

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:

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

“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.”

MEN OF THE (Hawaiian Print) CLOTH

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, charity, charters, chubasco, circle hooks, crankbait, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, fish, fish farming, fish pens, 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, green, Heat stroke, highway, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, hurricanes, 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, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, missions, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, 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, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged accommodations, activities, amberjack, bahia, baja, baja editor, baja sur, bars, bay, beach, Bill Boyce, billfish, blogs, blue water, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, cerralvo, certified scale, charter, children, chubasco, costa baja, day tour, deep sea, del mar fairgrounds, discount, dog tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tour, el sargento, espirito santo, extreme fishing, family, fish, fishing and boating shows, fishing and hunting shows, fishing sportfishing, flyfishing, fred hall, free dive, get-away, girls, grey whales, grouper, guide, guide service, holiday, hotel, hotel marina, hotel perla, hotel seven crown, hunting, idaho sportsman’s show, igfa, images, inshore, International Game Fish Association, international sportsmans expo, ise, isla, island, jack crevalle, jillene roldan, jilly roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, lodging, los barriles, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos, northwest sportsmans show, offshore, outfitter, pack for a purpose, package, panga, panga slam, pargo, photos, pompano, portland expo center, Puyallup Fairgrounds, reef fish, reports, restaurants, rockfish, rooster fish, rooster fish foundation, sailfish, saltwater, san jose del cabo, scuba, sea bass, sea of cortez, sealions, shuttle, sierra, snapper, snorkel, spearfish, suenos, swim, tackle, Tailhunter International, tailhunter restaurant bar, techniques, tips, tour, tourism, travel, trolling, tuna, tuna jackpot tournament, updates, vacation, video, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, weather, western outdoor news, WFN, whale watching, whales, whaleshark, wife, women, World Fishing Network, yellowtail on April 10, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Just regular dudes hanging out!

MEN OF THE (Hawaiian Print ) CLOTH

Originally Published the Week of April 12, 2016 in Western Outdoor News

The first time these “guys” came down to fish, I was a little pensive.

Let me ask you something.

Did your shorts ever get a little tighter when you were a little kid and you found out your teacher, priest or minister was coming to visit…or to dinner…or sat at your table at the pancake breakfast or scout meeting?

There are certain people in life’s journey who occupy a special pedestal. Being a good Catholic kid, priests and teachers…nuns and lay teachers in my case… come to mind.

I mean…you’re little. You were down here close to the floor. Then there were your parents. Then there were these unassailable folks waaaay up here on levels where you tread lightly.

I was a pretty outgoing kid, but around these particular individuals, I was slack-jawed and goofy-brained. I would scuff my shoes around and never ever make eye contact!

Heck no. They could fix you in those tractor-beam eyes and then you’re done. Or something could happen.

They thought I was rude or shy. I was just scared!

So, in those social events that we all go through like school festivals, Knights of Columbus spaghetti dinners, Christmas pageants and the like. It was giggle-and-point time to see such esteemed personage chowing on barbecue; dressing down in regular-people-clothes; picking up a bat at the softball game (and clubbing it) ; or bringing their spouse to the PTA dance.

Hard to believe they did “normal people things!”

“Hey, Sister Mary Paul is eating a real hot dog!”

“Mrs. McNulty is here with her (gasp) husband!”

“Father Flynn is wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the dunk tank!”

Whoa!

So, it was with some apprehension many years ago when Rabbi Bernie booked his group of other rabbis and members of his congregation to come down to fish. Including the clergy, it also included Jewish lawyers, Jewish accountants and Jewish executives. All from the same temple.

This would be interesting.

Back in the day, I actually used to go to the airport to pick up our clients and wasn’t sure what to expect.

I knew they were not Hassidic so I didn’t expect the long black robes, hats and beards, but as they arrived through the terminal, I admit I was relieved to see shorts, sandals and Hawaiian print shirts and baseball hats! Whew.

And each of them greeted me with the biggest hug and told me how glad they were to be there, as if we were old friends!

The next few days dispelled any anxiety I might have had.

At dinner that evening (I made sure there was no pork), it was nice to see them sip a beer. Put their feet up. Relax.

As one of the rabbis told me before headed to bed, “It’s nice to decompress. Nice to not be under a microscope. Just like normal dudes!” Dudes? Did he just say “dudes?”

The next day on the pangas, I was out there with Rabbi Bernie. He wasn’t exactly fishing too hard with a lot of energy.

I was trying to imagine this man in his temple vestments. Today, he was “styling” with Ray Ban sunglasses; a pirate-print bandana and a very loud red Hawaiian shirt.

He leaned back against the gunwale with his feet up, “You know, I don’t care if I catch a fish or not. Out here, there’s no phone. There are no emergencies. If I want to belch or have an occasional beer or have Rabbi Jerry pull-my-finger, I don’t have to worry that someone might see and judge me.” He laughed.

I never thought of it like that.

He then started to softly sing a Hebrew song in a wonderful resonant voice that had graced many a congregation. His voice swelled.

As water will do…his voice carried to another panga. And the song was picked up by the rabbi and the lawyer in that panga.

As I was told later, it was a biblical song about prophets finding an oasis in the desert of Israel. How appropriate.

It was picked up by another voice… then another. Beautiful manly voices carried across the water. Glorious. Uplifting. Spiritual. Every fisherman on every panga stopped to listen!

And then it stopped. A moment of silence. And then one-by-one, there was a hand clapping. And another. And another. And soon a dozen captains and their fishermen blended their applause and cheering!

“That was cool!”

“Awesome, dude!”

“Que bueno…excelente!”

And then the craziest thing…

The rabbi broke out into the rousing Broadway tune “OKLAHOMA” from Rogers and Hammerstein! Four others joined in and we had rip-roaring-deck-stomping a-capella going! With gusto!

“OOOO-kla-homa where the wind comes sweeping down the plain…!”

“…and when we say…YEEOW! A Yippie-yo-kai-yay…”

It was an incredible treat for everyone who witnessed it. And heard it.

At the end, again the applause and hoots!

Rabbi Bernstein sat down on the panga bench seat with the biggest smile. He shrugged like it was no big deal. He winked.

“Several of us were theater majors in college as well as theology students, “ he revealed off-handedly with a laugh as he tossed a new bait into the water.

“God can be glorified in many ways… in many languages and I’m sure he likes a lively Broadway tune now and then!” He laughed again. And so did I.

I have no doubt that God also smiled on us that day.

Later at dinner, one of the rabbis said, “Jonathan…Before we were ever members of the clergy, we were all guys. Regular guys. And we did guy things. Trips like this are an opportunity to be regular guys again, and that’s why these fishing trips to Baja are so special. Thank you for having us.”

They toasted.

It was I who was grateful.

Shortly after, I saw a half-dozen 50-and-60-year-olds start a spit-wad fight with straws and wadded napkins.

In the restaurant.

You never heard such laughter. Boys will be boys. A guy has to do what a guy has to do. And when a target presents itself…I grabbed a straw and joined in. I hadn’t done that since 2^nd grade! Duck!

When they left after 3 days of fishing, Rabbi Bernie pressed a little note into my hand. He had scribbled…

“Sometimes it is better to sit in a fishing boat thinking about God. Than to sit in a church thinking about fishing.”

Shalom Jonathan. Peace.

I never forgot. And to this day, I remember the words to “Oklahoma too.” And a special day in the Baja sunshine

########

That’s my story!

Jonathan

_______________

______________

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

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:

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

“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.”

“How’s the Fishing?”

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, charity, charters, chubasco, circle hooks, crankbait, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, fish, fish farming, fish pens, 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, green, Heat stroke, highway, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, hurricanes, 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, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, missions, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, 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, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged accommodations, activities, amberjack, bahia, baja, baja editor, baja sur, bars, bay, beach, Bill Boyce, billfish, blogs, blue water, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, cerralvo, certified scale, charter, children, chubasco, costa baja, day tour, deep sea, del mar fairgrounds, discount, dog tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tour, el sargento, espirito santo, extreme fishing, family, fish, fishing and boating shows, fishing and hunting shows, fishing sportfishing, flyfishing, fred hall, free dive, get-away, girls, grey whales, grouper, guide, guide service, holiday, hotel, hotel marina, hotel perla, hotel seven crown, hunting, idaho sportsman’s show, igfa, images, inshore, International Game Fish Association, international sportsmans expo, ise, isla, island, jack crevalle, jillene roldan, jilly roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, lodging, los barriles, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos, northwest sportsmans show, offshore, outfitter, pack for a purpose, package, panga, panga slam, pargo, photos, pompano, portland expo center, Puyallup Fairgrounds, reef fish, reports, restaurants, rockfish, rooster fish, rooster fish foundation, sailfish, saltwater, san jose del cabo, scuba, sea bass, sea of cortez, sealions, shuttle, sierra, snapper, snorkel, spearfish, suenos, swim, tackle, Tailhunter International, tailhunter restaurant bar, techniques, tips, tour, tourism, travel, trolling, tuna, tuna jackpot tournament, updates, vacation, video, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, weather, western outdoor news, WFN, whale watching, whales, whaleshark, wife, women, World Fishing Network, yellowtail on March 28, 2016| Leave a Comment »

You REALLY wanna know what we’re catching?

How’s the Fishing?

Originally Published the Week of March 31, 2016 in Western Outdoor News

It was one of those rare days when I was able to get out on the water with one of our favorite skippers and one of our long-time clients. Captain Julio has been with us for 2 decades. Billy has been fishing with Julio and our operation for almost that long. Every year. Twice a year.

Billy’s wife opted out for a day at the spa. And I just couldn’t take another day in the office back in La Paz. Let me out!

So, it was really like 3 old amigos fishing together. Lots of years among us. Families, chins and wastelines had grown. Hair and stubble had gone south. Lots of stories to tell. Good laughs. You know. Guy stuff…

“Remember when…”

“What about the time…”

“There was this girl I met who…

“There was that one fish…”

“We stopped for a quick tequila…”

No one hardly noticed that we hadn’t caught a fish in awhile. Actually none at all. Yawn.

Captain Julio had his rod in a holder and the other lazily draped over the outboard tiller and gripping a cold beer. He was grinning and making an obscure point about Mexican politics and bad soccer teams.

Somewhere under the shade of his ragged straw lifeguard hat, Billy was sipping on another frosty one in between laughs. His bare feet were up on the ice chest and rod loosely under his arm balanced on the gunwale. If a fish bit…Adios! Billy’s rod was going for a swim.

I didn’t even have a rod in the water. I figured if the fish bit, I’d get in the game. I told the boys I was “conserving energy.”

Let Billy and Julio get the bite started. It’s not as if they were exerting a lot of effort. I don’t think Billy even knew if he still had bait on his hook. Julio had let us drift off the “hot” spot half-an-hour ago.

We were so into talking about achy joints and the Los Angeles “Doyyers” that we hadn’t noticed another panga drift up close by and hail us.

“Hey guys, how’s the fishing?” asked one of the occupants hopefully.

“Muy bueno!” responded Captain Julio with a laugh.

“What are you catching?” yelled back one of the fishermen.

“A buzz!” waved back Billy with a Pacifico upraised. He nearly fell over busting a gut with his wittiness…which set me and Julio off as well. I nearly spit out my own beer! Like guffawing knee-slapping idiots.

“What you got in the boat?”

“Bait!” I roared back! Such a smartass…Now I’m doubled. I think Julio almost snorted beer out his nose!

You know how it is. Once you get started everything is funny. No stopping.

I’m sure the other panga mumbled something about us being “knuckleheads and idiots.” And pulled away. We were obviously no help.

Great fishing.

Catching? Less so. At least as far as fish are concerned.

But who cares?

Someone once told me that I was an “alpha dog fisherman.” It was a compliment.

I caught bigger and more. It was important to me. I studied fishing books and magazines. I actually kept records and charts. I poured over “fish porn” on the internet…photos…reports…weather (admit it…you’ve done it too! LOL).

What a nerd. Tunnel vision angler! In many ways, defined by my fishing success.

To me it was FILA…First in…Last out.. as far as my fishing day was concerned. If there was a mud puddle, I’d be looking at it as a fishing hole. All bodies of water were seen in the context of whether it was fishable!

And now here I was, sitting in a drifting panga in the Sea of Cortez. I didn’t even have a rod in the water. Ho-hum.

It just wasn’t that important. I’ve realized that as I’ve gotten older, it’s become less important. I want everyone else to catch fish. I get a bigger kick out’ve that. But, my own rod doesn’t need to be bent.

I was having more fun “catching a buzz” off the day. I was away from the office and e-mails and cell phones. I was drifting in the warm sun on the water and moreso spending time with my THREE good friends…Mr. Billy…Mr. Julio…and the ever-icy Mr. Pacifico (mas fina) !

Nothing to prove.

How many fish would we catch today? Fish limits would not be an issue today. Time was our only limit.

Time.

Not enough time to sit out here forever. Not enough time to laugh about “Los Doyyers”, politicians, bad old girlfriends, legendary fish and funny bar stories.

Three good fishing friends subtley understanding that there were probably more days behind us than ahead of us. And reveling in every moment! Just three knuckleheads drifting in a boat having a great day fishing.

Not catching. Not fish at least.

We were catching a few things probably much more important than fish.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

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

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:

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

“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.”

“When Is A Day Not A Day?”

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, charity, charters, chubasco, circle hooks, crankbait, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, fish, fish farming, fish pens, 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, green, Heat stroke, highway, history, holidays in mexico, humboldt squid, hurricane, hurricanes, 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, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico Christmas, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, missions, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, passport, planning, pompano, rental car, 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, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, vehicle, wahoo, waterspouts, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged accommodations, activities, amberjack, bahia, baja, baja editor, baja sur, bars, bay, beach, Bill Boyce, billfish, blogs, blue water, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, cerralvo, certified scale, charter, children, chubasco, costa baja, day tour, deep sea, del mar fairgrounds, discount, dog tooth, dorado, east cape, eco tour, el sargento, espirito santo, extreme fishing, family, fish, fishing and boating shows, fishing and hunting shows, fishing sportfishing, flyfishing, fred hall, free dive, get-away, girls, grey whales, grouper, guide, guide service, holiday, hotel, hotel marina, hotel perla, hotel seven crown, hunting, idaho sportsman’s show, igfa, images, inshore, International Game Fish Association, international sportsmans expo, ise, isla, island, jack crevalle, jillene roldan, jilly roldan, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, live bait, lodging, los barriles, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, mexico, muertos, northwest sportsmans show, offshore, outfitter, pack for a purpose, package, panga, panga slam, pargo, photos, pompano, portland expo center, Puyallup Fairgrounds, reef fish, reports, restaurants, rockfish, rooster fish, rooster fish foundation, sailfish, saltwater, san jose del cabo, scuba, sea bass, sea of cortez, sealions, shuttle, sierra, snapper, snorkel, spearfish, suenos, swim, tackle, Tailhunter International, tailhunter restaurant bar, techniques, tips, tour, tourism, travel, trolling, tuna, tuna jackpot tournament, updates, vacation, video, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, weather, western outdoor news, WFN, whale watching, whales, whaleshark, wife, women, World Fishing Network, yellowtail on March 13, 2016| 5 Comments »

jr3pic18

WHEN IS A DAY NOT A DAY?

Originally Published the Week of March 15, 2016 in Western Outdoor News

A French philosopher once penned, “A drunk mind speaks a sober heart.”

And so it was that I was sitting around with one of our captains that work for us in La Paz.

Stubble-faced leather skin. The “Baja squint” from so many years staring into the glare of the Sea of Cortez. Character lines earned from a lifetime on the water make it hard to tell his age. Maybe 65? Could be 10 year younger. I’ve never asked. He’s never told me.

He’s worked for my fleet for 20 of those years. His salt and sweat encrusted Dodgers hat has to be at least that old.

After a sip or two, people often say things prudence might otherwise put the brakes on. And in this case, after a long day of good fishing, a little pyramid of cans was building on the worn plastic Modelo Beer table with the faded logo.

Some small talk. But then…he looked up at me and said thoughtfully, “Do you want to know what I really think of you gringo Americans? “

Oh-oh. Danger. Danger. Little red lights go off in my head.

It wasn’t said belligerently. It was said the way one guy at a bar talks to another guy when he wants to let the other guy in on something…or get something off his chest.

One of those situations we all get into. Even if you said, “No”, they are going to tell you what they think anyway.

Except, I was his employer. And, although I’ve been in Mexico two decades, the gringo label on my head still hasn’t rubbed off.

But, this wasn’t like the guy from the mail room at the Christmas party slobbering over the CEO. I respected this man and considered him a friend.

No matter what you think of yourself, it’s often harder to hear what others think about you. Or people like you. Tread lightly.

OK. Bring it. But, I leaned back a bit defensively. Arms crossed in classic body language.

“I think Americans are good people. Very generous. Mostly very kind and thoughtful.”

My anxiety eased a tad, but I could hear a “but” coming.

He took a sip of beer. Swirled and swallowed choosing his words carefully.

“But (here it comes)…they have too much money (he laughed). And they do not understand what a day is.”

He paused and let that sink in. I looked curiously and cocked an eyebrow. He had my attention now.

“For example, me and a gringo fisherman are the same age. If we both die at the same time, I will have lived twice as long as him!”

Made no sense. I hoped this wasn’t going to be a one-sided rambling of a guy on a buzz.

Be he explained slowly and pointed at me.

“The problem with gringo Americans is that they are always in a rush. Go here. Go there. Running. Even on their vacations, they are always in a hurry. Their day is always too short. Too complicated. They do so many things. They have too many things. But, they never really enjoy what they have. “

“My day is simple. My day is NEVER too short. My day is twice as long as yours! So, I will live twice as long! “ He said with a emphasis and a laugh.

He swallowed a burp. He slapped me on my back; winked at me; and teetered into his house to the call-of-nature. And to think about what he said.

A drunk mind speaks a sober heart.

Left to contemplate, I sat there in that dusty yard under a tree watching him disappear into the house. A bee buzzed the empty beer cans.

With my own beer in hand, I tried to wrap my brain around the logic of a simple Mexican fisherman who plans to live twice as long as me…twice as long as most of us.

Because he lives slower.

It was a hard logic to rebut.

People tell me I’m “living the dream.” Don’t get me wrong. I’m blessed.

But, I’ve often wished my day was 2 or 3 times longer so I could get more done. I live with a cell phone in one pocket. Another phone in my hand. A clipboard in the other. Two laptops on my desk and an internal clock in my head that’s always ticking.

The only reason I happened to be sitting for a few minutes with my captain friend was because I had to pick up some work-related equipment he had fixed for me.

And I think of so many of our friends and clients who come down to La Paz to see us. They eat at our restaurant and all of them are glued to tablets and smart phones as they eat. Every day of their vacation, there’s an agenda item that requires a schedule. They live full exciting lives. They talk business, family and obligations even while fishing.

They video everything, but I often wonder how much do they really watch later. Who has the time?

Every now and then it’s good to be reminded not to forget the here-and-now. THESE are the “good old days” you’ll be talking about tomorrow.

The way that sun rose over the Sea of Cortez…that day the tuna exploded behind the panga…the day your kids swam with the whalesharks…the afternoon the lady at the taco cart became a new friend… the stupid jokes you and your buddies told over the campfire that night…the day in Baja you did absolutely NOTHING and didn’t see another person on the beach all day.

These are the days that should be savored and locked in our brains and hearts and not just in our cell phones or stored “on the cloud.” Take our lives down a notch. Live slower. Live longer via the logic of a simple country fisherman.

My cell phone rang. I let it go to voice mail. I sighed and pulled another beer from the battered ice chest.

They say the secret to success is to hire people smarter than you. I’m gonna sit for a little longer with my captain friend.

That’s my story

Jonathan signature

Jonathan

______________

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

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:

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

“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.”