Posts Tagged ‘Women fishing’

JUST BITE ME

Posted in airlines, aquaculture, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, camping, car, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charters, circle hooks, Dehydration, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, first aid, fish, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing hooks, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, Heat stroke, highway, historical, history, holidays in mexico, hurricane, hurricanes, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, Living in Mexico, los barriles, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, mexican food, Mexico, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, outfitters, pack for a purpose, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, Sea of Cortez, sierra, sportfishing, Tailhunter International, tourism, tours, Travel, trolling tips, tuna, Tuna jackpot, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, vacations, wahoo, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Bahia de los Suenos fishing, bahia magdalena, baja, baja fishing, Baja fishing reports, Baja sportfishing packages, baja sur, Baja Vacations, beach, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, carnavale, carnival, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, Cerralvo Island, Cerralvo Island Fishing, Chad Schearer, charters, circle hooks, costa baja resort, day trips, dog tooth snapper, dorado, east cape, ecotourism, el sargento, espirito, espirito santo island, Extreme Expeditions Alaska, family, family fishing, fish, fish report, Fishing, fishing and hunting shows, fishing charters, fishing guides, fishing reports, fishing tackle, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing video, fishing videos, flyfishing, Fred Hall Fishing Show, fred hall fishing shows, freediving, girls fishing, golden grouper, gray whales, Great Western Hunt and Conservation Expo, grouper, holidays, hotel perla, idaho sportsman show, igfa, International Fish and Game, international sportsmans expo, International Sportsmens Expo, ise, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, la concha beach resort, La Paz, la paz baja sur, La Paz Fishing, La Paz Vacations, la ventana, La Ventana Fishing, las arenas, Las Arenas fishing, light tackle, mag bay, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, Mexican sportfishing outfitters, Mexican sportfishing packages, mexico, mexico fishing, Mexico vacations, Muertos Bay Fishing, outfitters, pacific northwest sportsmans show, packages, panga, pargo, pompano, portland expo center, rainbow runner, robalo, roosterfish, sailfish, scuba, sea of cortez, sierra, sierra mackeral, snapper, snook, snorkel, spearfishing, sportfishing packages, squid, swimming, tailhunter, Tailhunter International, Tournament fishing, travel, tuna, tuna tournament, vacations, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, Washington Sportsmens show, Western Outdoor New Tuna Jackpots, western outdoor news, whales, whalesharks, whalewatching, Women fishing, world records, yellowfin tuna, yellowtail on August 27, 2017| Leave a Comment »

just bite me

JUST BITE ME!

Originally Published Week of Aug. 31, 2017 in Western Outdoor News Publications

It’s that time of the year in Baja.

In my opinion, nothing beats the late summer and fall for fishing. The sunny days are long. The waters are flat. The non-fishing tourists and families have left to go back to school. And the fishing just seems to ramp up.

Oh…and airline tickets are cheaper too!

More importantly…

The “glamour” fish seem to know it’s “showtime.” Billfish, wahoo, bigger dorado, larger roosterfish, tuna and others play to the crowds during prime time. It’s big boy time on all levels.

But, there’s some small-time players who also come to the party and can ruin a night or ruin a vacation faster than a wahoo blasting after a trolled lure. It’s often a reality that can’t be avoided. Or can it?

I’m talking about bugs…yea…creepy stinging flying annoying biting critters that can put a buzz kill (no pun intended) on a fun time really fast.

Mostly I’m referring to mosquitos, flies and no-see-ums (invisible biting gnats).

At best, they’ll pester you into submission as you slap yourself silly while trying to down your margarita; or catch a siesta on the beach; or ruin your evening with that (we’ve all been there) annoying drone in your ear followed by the inevitable bites and scratches.

At worst, they can cover you in bites. However, in the ultimate scenario, they can send you to the hospital with a severe case of dengue fever or other sickness. Nothing to laugh about.

Here in Mexico, we call dengue fever the “broken bone flu” because it’s very painful.

It starts with water.

The summer and fall is when we get our tropical storms and rainfalls. Water puddles and collects. By the roadside. Little containers. Trash.

Bugs lay eggs where it’s warm and wet. The heat hatches them and then they go on the hunt. In swarms. They search for food and pro-create other nasty critters!

You, sir and madam, are the perfect host!

You have all that unprotected exposed skin. And you smell!

Perspiration. Fruity fragrances like perfume and cologne; hair products like shampoo and mousse; your sunscreen; the “spring fresh” smell of detergent in your clothes…you’re just a walking neon sign that says “Bite Me!”

What’s that they say about an “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of pain?” (or itch?)

Let’s start with basics!

For Pete’s sake…keep your hotel doors and windows closed or at least keep the screens closed. Keep the bad critters outside.

A mosquito doesn’t care that you spent $1000 bucks-a-night for that ritzy hotel room with the 700-count-thread Egyptian cotton sheets. It’s gonna buzz your ear and you know it!

If you’re camping, that screen isn’t called “no-see-um” screen so people can’t see you change your clothes. It’s because the mesh is so small that the almost invisible little gnats with the mean sting can’t get through. So take advantage of it!

Once no-see-um get to you, they will attack in hordes and you’ll never know what hit you.

They’ll bite through your hair; inside your clothes; in the crack of your you-know-what; in your ears and under your armpits and you’ll never see a single one of them.

I was once working a photo shoot for a magazine with a bunch of models on a beach. Within 10 minutes of setting up, the girls and photographer were screaming back to the van covered in dozens of red itching little welts. The girls had been bitten even inside their bikinis and in their hair and weren’t able to work for over a week.

Which leads me to location.

Flying bugs have a hard time in the wind or breeze. Don’t set up your beach chair near the bushes or your campsite in the trees. For the photo-shoot I mentioned above, the photographer wanted to shoot the girls on the white sands next to a grove of mangrove trees.

If your boat is mooring up in a cove, get up-wind from brush as well. These bugs will fly out to your boat and create havoc. Near one remote island, we once had to sleep in our wetsuits on deck because of the bugs. Imagine trying to sleep in a rubber suite in 95 degree night heat.

Obviously too, as alluded to above, fragrances are your enemy. Avoid them. Almost impossible with all the chemicals we use on ourselves these days, but at least be conscious of it. If you spill food or sugary things, likewise, clean it up. It’s common sense, but bag of your trash.

Fragrances can also be your friend.

There’s a lot of bug repellants out there. Fragrance is their major component.

I’m not a big fan of putting more chemicals on myself, but there’s some newer and better natural and organic repellants that you can purchase that work well. Spray your clothes especially the openings. Lighting a citronella candle or two works great as well, especially at night.

In a pinch, acid things like a lime will work also!

Gringos like to stick a lime in their beer bottles. Well, that wasn’t created by beer company advertising. Squeezing lime on the rim kept flies away from crawling on the bottle or rim of your glass!

When I have nothing else, I’ll rub some lime or lemon juice on my skin. It’s better than nothing especially against flies!

Also, if you can, cover up. Long loose sleeves help protect against sunburn as well as bugs.

Critters like paradise too. And there’s more of them than you.

That’s my story!

Jonathan signature

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: jonathan@tailhunter.com

Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-53311

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:
http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g

“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”

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SO CLOSE BUT SO FAR

Posted in bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja fishing lures, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charters, dorado, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, fish, Fishing, fishing hooks, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids fishing, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, Living in Mexico, marlin, Mexican, Mexican culture, Mexico, Mexico life, outfitters, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, San Jose del Cabo, Sea of Cortez, seafood, sierra, sportfishing, Tailhunter International, tourism, tours, Travel, tuna, Uncategorized, vacations, wahoo, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Bahia de los Suenos fishing, bahia magdalena, baja, baja fishing, Baja fishing reports, Baja sportfishing packages, baja sur, Baja Vacations, beach, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, carnavale, carnival, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, Cerralvo Island, Cerralvo Island Fishing, Chad Schearer, charters, circle hooks, costa baja resort, day trips, dog tooth snapper, dorado, east cape, ecotourism, el sargento, espirito, espirito santo island, Extreme Expeditions Alaska, family, family fishing, fish, fish report, Fishing, fishing and hunting shows, fishing charters, fishing guides, fishing reports, fishing tackle, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing video, fishing videos, flyfishing, Fred Hall Fishing Show, fred hall fishing shows, freediving, girls fishing, golden grouper, gray whales, Great Western Hunt and Conservation Expo, grouper, holidays, hotel perla, idaho sportsman show, igfa, International Fish and Game, international sportsmans expo, International Sportsmens Expo, ise, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, la concha beach resort, La Paz, la paz baja sur, La Paz Fishing, La Paz Vacations, la ventana, La Ventana Fishing, las arenas, Las Arenas fishing, light tackle, mag bay, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, Mexican sportfishing outfitters, Mexican sportfishing packages, mexico, mexico fishing, Mexico vacations, Muertos Bay Fishing, outfitters, pacific northwest sportsmans show, packages, panga, pargo, pompano, portland expo center, rainbow runner, robalo, roosterfish, sailfish, scuba, sea of cortez, sierra, sierra mackeral, snapper, snook, snorkel, spearfishing, sportfishing packages, squid, swimming, tailhunter, Tailhunter International, Tournament fishing, travel, tuna, tuna tournament, vacations, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, Washington Sportsmens show, Western Outdoor New Tuna Jackpots, western outdoor news, whales, whalesharks, whalewatching, Women fishing, world records, yellowfin tuna, yellowtail on August 14, 2017| Leave a Comment »

This might be your first visit or your 20th visit. You really think you know more about fishing these water than these guys who have fished in one spot their whole lives?

SO CLOSE SO FAR

Originally Published the Week of Aug. 13, 2017 in Western Outdoor News

There’s an old saying that goes something like:

“If you believe something will work, chances are it will. If you don’t believe in it, it probably won’t work.”

I have often believed that when it comes to “local knowledge,” there’s nothing like it.

It’s home court advantage.

It’s the dealer’s table.

Home team’s locker room

It’s the golf pro’s home course

It’s being on a first-name basis with the owner of the butcher shop

It’s the difference in having “an edge” whether real or imagined. Sometimes “imagined” is all it takes.

Like having your favorite baseball hat or the pink striped neck-tie.

Or tying your shoes a certain way before the bowling league

Or that raggedy-A fishing t-shirt your family wants you to destroy.

You know it works and you could care less whether anyone believes you.

It’s like that down here where we live in La Paz.

We own and run two fleets of pangas. Technically, they fish the same waters…the Sea of Cortez. In fact their areas of operation often overlap. One works more north of the city. The other works more south of the city.

There’s a ven-diagram patch-of-water, however, that is common to both.

Use the same boats. Fish for the same fish. Dorado, tuna, billfish, wahoo, etc. Your typical Baja sportfishing fare.

Heck, many of my captains in one fleet are related by blood or marriage to the captains in the other fleet.

However, I have always found it amusing that each fleet, claims the other fleet “doesn’t know how to fish!” Or how their uncle, cousin, brother-in-law in the other fleet “fishes like an idiot.”

It’s always said with a roll-of-the-eyes or a grin, but the words carry sincerity. Strangely, they do fish differently.

Same waters. Same fish.

One believes in only using feathers to troll. The other fleet would rather drag Rapalas behind the boat.

One believes in heavily chumming the waters. The other thinks, that’s overdoing it. The fish will get full. They will lose interest. Only one or two pieces of chum in the water at a time please.

One fleet readily uses circle hooks. The other thinks clients lose too many fish with circle hooks.

One likes to troll with the lure way way way back in the wake at high speed. The other insists lures should only be fished slowly close to the boat.

One fleet considers fluorocarbon to be golden. To the other fleet…meh…pretty much indifferent. Flurocarbon is expensive in Mexico and a waste of money.

One fleet catches bait one piece at a time with a single hook. The other prefers Lucky Joe’s and Sabiki rigs to catch several at once.

You get the idea.

And my comment about “homecourt advantage” and “feeling lucky?”

Many of my captains have worked for us almost 2 decades so I’ve fished with all of them. They will certainly suggest you fish their way, but if you want to try something different, go ahead. They’ll grudgingly tell you it’s OK.

Afterall, you’re the boss. The client is always right.

You want to use some of those techniques that the other fleet uses? Go ahead. Oh, you fished a lot in Loreto or the East Cape and want to fish the way they fish? Sure.

Oh, wait, you’re an “expert” fisherman and you’ve fished all over the world and read all the books about Baja and you want to throw lures all day? Be my guest.

The captains are very accommodating. They know who butters their bread.

But, at the end of the day, nine out’ve ten times, the clients who fished the way the captains suggested do better. The ones who realized during the day that other boats are catching fish and make the switch to let the captain do his thing, do better.

If you want to fish, there’s lots of different ways to fish. If you want to catch fish, there’s nothing like local knowledge.

It might not make sense at first why one method works better than another. The captains in a certain area have probably fished that area all their lives and for generations. They have fished no other areas. Send them 100 miles away to Cabo San Lucas, and a lot of them might be lost. I’ve seen Cabo captains come up here and fall on their faces as well.

A certain technique works because the locals believe it works. Whether it’s logical or not. I put my fishing day in the hands of the local. I listen to what he says. And I will NOT throw away my lucky t-shirt either!

That’s my story

Jonathan signature

Jonathan

______________

Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-53311

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:
http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g

“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”

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I KNOW A GUY WHO KNOWS A GUY…

Posted in Baja, Baja Life, east cape, el sargento, espirito santo, family, Fishing, holidays in mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, Mexico, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, Sea of Cortez, Tailhunter International, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged amberjack, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Bahia de los Suenos fishing, bahia magdalena, baja, baja fishing, Baja fishing reports, Baja sportfishing packages, baja sur, Baja Vacations, beach, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, carnavale, carnival, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, Cerralvo Island, Cerralvo Island Fishing, Chad Schearer, charters, circle hooks, costa baja resort, day trips, dog tooth snapper, dorado, east cape, ecotourism, el sargento, espirito, espirito santo island, Extreme Expeditions Alaska, family, family fishing, fish, fish report, Fishing, fishing and hunting shows, fishing charters, fishing guides, fishing reports, fishing tackle, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing video, fishing videos, flyfishing, Fred Hall Fishing Show, fred hall fishing shows, freediving, girls fishing, golden grouper, gray whales, Great Western Hunt and Conservation Expo, grouper, holidays, hotel perla, idaho sportsman show, igfa, International Fish and Game, international sportsmans expo, International Sportsmens Expo, ise, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, la concha beach resort, La Paz, la paz baja sur, La Paz Fishing, La Paz Vacations, la ventana, La Ventana Fishing, las arenas, Las Arenas fishing, light tackle, mag bay, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, Mexican sportfishing outfitters, Mexican sportfishing packages, mexico, mexico fishing, Mexico vacations, Muertos Bay Fishing, outfitters, pacific northwest sportsmans show, packages, panga, pargo, pompano, portland expo center, rainbow runner, robalo, roosterfish, sailfish, scuba, sea of cortez, sierra, sierra mackeral, snapper, snook, snorkel, spearfishing, sportfishing packages, squid, swimming, tailhunter, Tailhunter International, Tournament fishing, travel, tuna, tuna tournament, vacations, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, Washington Sportsmens show, Western Outdoor New Tuna Jackpots, western outdoor news, whales, whalesharks, whalewatching, Women fishing, world records, yellowfin tuna, yellowtail on July 30, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Know a guy

I Know a Guy Who Knows a Guy…

Originally Published the Week of Aug. 1, 2017 in Western Outdoor Publications

If you live or have spent any significant time in Mexico, you know that getting something done can be an exercise in patience and futility. Depending on where you’re holed up, it’s not like you can run to the local strip mall, shopping center, Walmart or Home Depot or Auto Zone to find things.

Even if you happen to have one of those places nearby, there’s no guarantee you’ll find the item or service you’re looking for. And believe me, you can run all over town looking.

Heaven help you, if you don’t speak Spanish.

Ever try to explain a “funny knocking sound” in your engine to your mechanic…in English? Try that in Spanish.

Or explaining that you’re looking for a guy who can caulk your leaking shower tiles. Or that you really need a ¼ inch hex head bolt to fix something. (And Mexico is a metric country!)

As well, even if you do find someplace that might have what you’re looking for it’s not like you can look them up on YELP, GOOGLE or one of the other ratings services.

Are you kidding?

Even if you could “look them up,” I live in La Paz. It’s the capital of the state of Southern Baja. Almost 200,000 people. On a good day, the phones and internet only work part-time!

There’s no Angie’s List or similar to check out a doctor, dentist, plumber or electrician.

But it’s part of life. We have…stuff!

Stuff breaks. Things need adjusting or maintenance. We get aches and pains.

Back in the states, you call the guy from Sears or the Maytag guy or the cable guy, right? A plumber, carpenter, mechanic or handyman is as close as the yellow pages or the internet.

Every strip mall in the U.S. has an urgent care or dental facility.

Things can be returned and exchanged or fixed.

Plus…there’s such a thing and warranties and guarantees and vendors who actually back up their products and services.

While surely an inconvenience, when you need some help, help is available.

In Mexico, you suddenly need a hose for your car or a certain model of tire. Your TV goes on the blink. You bust a tooth. You need a certain sized screw for a project. You get an infected finger from a fishing hook. Your air-conditioner starts dripping water. You need a good photographer for a party.

Where do you go? How do you find someone? Moreso, someone or someplace reliable?

You don’t want just anyone fixing your tooth! You’d rather not let some guy carry your TV off “to his shop.” You really need that air-conditioning fixed NOW! Your tooth can wait. Fix the AC NOW!

In several decades of living here in Baja, some things do come with warranties and guarantees. But, half the time, the places are either out of business by the time you need something fixed. Or their phones are no longer connected. Or they’re clear on the other side of town.

Or, the person who can “fix” it is not the same guy who sold you the item. The repair guy that has to come from another city or county and will come “maybe tomorrow…maybe next week!”

You think waiting for the cable guy in the states is bad? In Mexico, you’ll hear “The repair guy might show up Tuesday.”

Or, he has to find the part first. That might take several weeks. If he can find it. So, he might show up next month!”

Sometimes, it becomes more pragmatic to throw up your arms in surrender and just buy a new one. But, obviously, that’s not always practical.

So, the best and most economic way to get things done is to simply ask around. In every situation, there’s a “guy who knows a guy.”

Every neighborhood has one. Every taxi driver knows the “guy who knows the guy.”

He’s the de facto jefe of the neighborhood. He knows everything about everyone. He’s connected. He’s the godfather of every kid. He gives the wedding toasts. He never has to lock the doors of his house.

Very often he’s an older hombre. Often times he’s a bit of a hustler; the “compadre” of the barrio; the “go-to” guy for advice or if they need something.

I’m not implying anything sinister. This guy is often the patriarch of the area and often a bit better off than his neighbors. He gets things done. He knows stuff! And he knows other guys.

That’s the guy you gotta find.

Not only will he usually find what you need or where to go, but don’t be surprised if he can sometimes “cut you a deal.” He’s a “broker” behind the scenes. He might be getting a referral fee out the back…or not. If he is, good for him.

And he’s good for you. If the thing goes sideways or doesn’t work or the service is not performed correctly, he’s your personal guarantee. No paperwork needed. His word or handshake is golden.

He’s vouching for the services or items and is usually pretty good about making sure it’s done right! It’s his reputation on the line and that’s worth more than any piece of paper in his community.

In return? Often nothing. Like I said, he might be getting something on the backside. Or not.

It’s good will. It’s good for the community. He knows that what goes around comes around. He’s a good friend to have. He might ask you for a favor sometime so be ready to reciprocate.

If his grandkid asks you to buy raffle tickets for the church fiesta have some pesos ready. Or if some family has a medical issue and he’s taking up a neighborhood collection, be sure to help out. He appreciates a Christmas card or sending over some fresh fish fillets. He won’t forget!

It’s how things work. Find the guy! Get things done.

That’s my story!

Jonathan signature

Jonathan

______________

Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-53311

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:
http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g

“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”

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DINING IN THE DARK

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, cerralvo, cerralvo island, charters, dorado, east cape, el sargento, espirito santo, family, fish, Fishing, fishing blogs, Fishing lures, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, la ventana, las arenas, light tackle, Living in Mexico, luggage, marlin, Mexican, Mexican business, Mexican culture, mexican food, mexican food stands, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico economy, Mexico life, Mexico neighborhood, missions, outfitters, packages, packing, packing fish, panga, Panga Fishing, pargo, pompano, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, Sea of Cortez, seafood, sierra, sportfishing, Tailhunter International, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, Uncategorized, vacations, Western Outdoor News, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Bahia de los Suenos fishing, bahia magdalena, baja, baja fishing, Baja fishing reports, Baja sportfishing packages, baja sur, Baja Vacations, beach, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, carnavale, carnival, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, Cerralvo Island, Cerralvo Island Fishing, Chad Schearer, charters, circle hooks, costa baja resort, day trips, dog tooth snapper, dorado, east cape, ecotourism, el sargento, espirito, espirito santo island, Extreme Expeditions Alaska, family, family fishing, fish, fish report, Fishing, fishing and hunting shows, fishing charters, fishing guides, fishing reports, fishing tackle, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing video, fishing videos, flyfishing, Fred Hall Fishing Show, fred hall fishing shows, freediving, girls fishing, golden grouper, gray whales, Great Western Hunt and Conservation Expo, grouper, holidays, hotel perla, idaho sportsman show, igfa, International Fish and Game, international sportsmans expo, International Sportsmens Expo, ise, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, la concha beach resort, La Paz, la paz baja sur, La Paz Fishing, La Paz Vacations, la ventana, La Ventana Fishing, las arenas, Las Arenas fishing, light tackle, mag bay, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, Mexican sportfishing outfitters, Mexican sportfishing packages, mexico, mexico fishing, Mexico vacations, Muertos Bay Fishing, outfitters, pacific northwest sportsmans show, packages, panga, pargo, pompano, portland expo center, rainbow runner, robalo, roosterfish, sailfish, scuba, sea of cortez, sierra, sierra mackeral, snapper, snook, snorkel, spearfishing, sportfishing packages, squid, swimming, tailhunter, Tailhunter International, Tournament fishing, travel, tuna, tuna tournament, vacations, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, Washington Sportsmens show, Western Outdoor New Tuna Jackpots, western outdoor news, whales, whalesharks, whalewatching, Women fishing, world records, yellowfin tuna, yellowtail on July 17, 2017| Leave a Comment »

tacos in the dark

DINING IN THE DARK

Originally Published the Week of July 18, 2017 in Western Outdoor Publiations

Many many decades ago on one of my first forays into Baja, my buddies and I found ourselves to be tragic victims of a common Baja disease of unsuspecting tourists. It’s called “over-serving.”

Poor us.

It started with “just one” innocent drink. The next thing you know those sneaky bartenders are “overserving” you and pouring you another round. Then another.

Who ordered this round of slammers? Well, I can’t let it go to waste, can I?

Followed by other rounds of something else with only slight intermissions of spastic dancing; howling; smack talking and lots of “bro-love.”

“Bro, I REALLY love you, man! No, I mean I REALLY love you!”

And so us “bros” found ourselves just a few hours short of dawn, cotton-mouthed and stumbling down the street looking for our hotel. We are hungry as heck and know we’d better eat something.

Who’s the idiot who booked us to fish in a few hours? I used to love you. Now I hate you, Dude!

No Denny’s or Jack-in-the-Box here in Baja. All the restaurants are closed. That crushed granola bar back at the room is sounding pretty good right now.

“Forget ‘bro-love.’ I’m not sharing it with any of these drunken boobs…” says my buzzing brain. Every drunk for himself!

It was then we ambled upon the dusty street corner. Like an oasis of light, a string of overhanging light bulbs beckoned to a bustling cart surrounded by other like-minded booze-addled wanderers. The sound and smell of searing chunks of meat drew us in like a Star Wars tractor beam.

Plastic chairs and tables surrounded a portable table filled with colorful salsas while fresh tortillas were coming off a flaming grill; filled with sizzling meat; and handed over to hungry revelers as fast as they came off the glowing coals.

Paradise found. My first ever street taco stand! Each of us devoured a half-dozen tacos like ravenous wolves and washed down with an icy Coke from an old-fashioned bottle. We would surely pay for our indiscretions in the morning, but for now, happy tummies accompanied us back to our hotel rooms.

I can’t remember if we ever made it to fishing.

But, I do remember the beginning of my street-food love affair in Baja.

If you ever want to eat “real Mexican food” you’ll find it on the streets. It’s estimated that 70% of locals eat more than 50% of their meals at street carts. It’s fresh, fast, cheap and muy sabrosa!

If you’re ever stumbling around at night like we were, you probably won’t find a restaurant. No Denny’s Grand Slam breakfast or short stack at the International House of Pancakes in Baja. But you will find street carts everywhere and probably a line of hungry people around them.

Each of them can be very different because each of them is probably a family-run venture. Each has it’s own specialty salsas (reds…greens…spicy…sweet…fresh…cooked). Each has it’s specialty condiments (cabbage…marinated onions…picked vegetables…chiles…nuts…spreads…guacamole).

Each might have it’s own particular meats, cuts of meats or seafoods. Usually at night, it will be mostly meats.

These are not the same as American tacos.

Real Mexican tacos are usually served in soft corn or flour tortillas so be prepared to tell them what kind of tortilla you want. American tacos (Taco Bell/ Del Taco) are in a strange pre-cooked hard “folder” of corn.

Americans are used to having their tacos with meat then buried under lettuce and tomatoes. Your Mexican tacos are filled with meat then you get to have the fun of packing it yourself with all the different fillings. It’s really what makes each taco stand different from it’s neighbor right next door!

Here’s a quick primer that touches just the tip of all the varieties:

Carne Asada – Grilled beef either on a flat grill or open flame then sliced or chopped and served in your tortilla. Different cuts of beef make a difference in the flavor and texture from cart to cart.

Al Pastor – thin sliced pork marinated in spices and pressed into a rotisserie “log” much like gyro meat or shwarma with a fiery brazier cooking it from the side as it slowly turns. Brought over from the middle east at the turn of the century pork is used instead of lamb. Often topped with pineapple, it’s sliced from the top down in thin strips right into a handheld tortilla.

Chorizo – Mexican pork sausage flavored with garlic, chile, vinegar and other spices chopped then grilled. Some folks like it dry. Others like the good greasy chorizo!

Carnitas – Chopped and shredded pork shoulder usually or sometimes just cut-off chunks of whole suckling pig. A big favorite. Try it mixed or topped with chopped crunchy bits of deep fried or grilled pork skin (cueritos/ chicharrones). Basically think deep fried pork belly chopped and fried! Who doesn’t like bacon?

Arrachera – Personal favorite. Tender flank steak that has been marinated in citrus juice, garlic and other spices sizzled on the grill then slices into my tortilla! Way better and more tender than plain carne asada.

If you’re at an authentic place, you’ll know if it they serve these. Don’t turn your nose up at it. Get past the names and it’s tasty stuff and often a line waiting to eat these tacos:

Lengua – Trimmed and cleaned beef tongue. Grilled and tender. Has a chew texture and mild flavor.

Buche – Pork throat and stomach. Actually very flavorful and delicious on a corn tortilla.

Cabeza – Steamed cow head / cachete cheeks – meat cut from the head and those tender cheeks. Eat this and you’ll get high-fives from the locals eating next to you!

A word about taco cart etiquette.

There may be a line, but you have to sometimes step up and tell them what you want. They’re jamming and busy. Raise your hand if you have to. On a Saturday night, it can be like a mini-version of the stock exchange. Everyone is hungry! It’s not impolite to yell out your order!

Reach into the ice chest for your sodas. Keep count of your tacos. It’s an “honor system” and often everyone there is a neighbor of the owners.

They trust you to keep count of how many sodas and tacos you scarfed down.

When your tummy is full, they’ll tally it up for you. Don’t wait for a bill to show up. There usually isn’t one!

Now go back to your hotel room and don’t forget to set the alarm to wake up for fishing! And drink lots of water.

That’s my story!

Jonathan signature

Jonathan

______________

Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-53311

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:
http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g

“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”

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WHERE THE WILD THING ARE…er…WERE

Posted in airlines, 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, christmas, chubasco, circle hooks, crankbait, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el nino, el sargento, espirito santo, family, farm-raised, first aid, 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, highway, historical, 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, 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, Sea of Cortez, seafood, sierra, spearfishing, sportfishing, squid fishing, storm, storms, suitcases, Sun stroke, sustainable, Tailhunter International, techniques, 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 amberjack, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Bahia de los Suenos fishing, bahia magdalena, baja, baja fishing, Baja fishing reports, Baja sportfishing packages, baja sur, Baja Vacations, beach, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, carnavale, carnival, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, Cerralvo Island, Cerralvo Island Fishing, Chad Schearer, charters, circle hooks, costa baja resort, day trips, dog tooth snapper, dorado, east cape, ecotourism, el sargento, espirito, espirito santo island, Extreme Expeditions Alaska, family, family fishing, fish, fish report, Fishing, fishing and hunting shows, fishing charters, fishing guides, fishing reports, fishing tackle, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing video, fishing videos, flyfishing, Fred Hall Fishing Show, fred hall fishing shows, freediving, girls fishing, golden grouper, gray whales, Great Western Hunt and Conservation Expo, grouper, holidays, hotel perla, idaho sportsman show, igfa, International Fish and Game, international sportsmans expo, International Sportsmens Expo, ise, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, la concha beach resort, La Paz, la paz baja sur, La Paz Fishing, La Paz Vacations, la ventana, La Ventana Fishing, las arenas, Las Arenas fishing, light tackle, mag bay, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, Mexican sportfishing outfitters, Mexican sportfishing packages, mexico, mexico fishing, Mexico vacations, Muertos Bay Fishing, outfitters, pacific northwest sportsmans show, packages, panga, pargo, pompano, portland expo center, rainbow runner, robalo, roosterfish, sailfish, scuba, sea of cortez, sierra, sierra mackeral, snapper, snook, snorkel, spearfishing, sportfishing packages, squid, swimming, tailhunter, Tailhunter International, Tournament fishing, travel, tuna, tuna tournament, vacations, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, Washington Sportsmens show, Western Outdoor New Tuna Jackpots, western outdoor news, whales, whalesharks, whalewatching, Women fishing, world records, yellowfin tuna, yellowtail on July 2, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Where the Wild Things Are…er…Were

Originally published the Week of July 4, 2017 in Western Outdoor Publications

As a little kid, there was a beach I would sneak off to back home in Hawaii.

I’m dating myself. I could ride my sting-ray bike there.

Down from the main road to where it sloped to gravel. Down through the thick over-hanging jungle canopy. The air was thick and moist and the gravel gave way to a path of rich soft wet damp earth that never seemed to dry out and carpeted with soggy decaying leaves.

It would suddenly break into a clearing that I simply called “my beach.” A sunny little white sand cove protected by a small shallow coral reef. Dark lava rocks at the two small headlands and waves broke gently over into a blue pool about as wide as I could throw a rock.

A small stream that started somewhere in the rain forest up in the mountains dropped from a small waterfall. It emerged from the thick vegetation and tumbled over smooth dark boulders through a gritty arroyo where it’s darker reddish waters joined the blue ocean.

It was a good little place to fish. Or swim. Or hang out with neighborhood pals under the coco palms. For a bunch of black-haired, barefooted, hell-bent tribal children with unlimited energy and imagination , it was the best playground.

Where the wild things are.

Build forts out’ve driftwood. Chase each other with rounds of “Marco Polo,” our version of “tag.”

Play “chicken” in the waters while perched on each other’s shoulders and exhausted ourselves with laughter attacking the “king of the hill” on the small sand dunes. Then later a retreat under the palms to eat sandwiches or maybe sticky-finger spam and rice rolls made by our moms.

Looking back we referred to it as “little kid time.”

It was “my beach.” And I was convinced no one knew about it. We never saw anyone else there.

On the island we just figured there were lots of little hidden beaches and coves. This was “ours.” Other people must have “their own beach.” Right? Little boys have their own brand of logic.

But, as with all “little kid time,” little kids grow up. Life and other things came along. The islands were left behind, but always carried with me.

Years later, I came back. To where the road ended. To where the gravel started. To where the dirt path emerged from the dampness to the light. And I stopped.

Or to be more precise. I was halted.

By a barbed wire gate. It had a sign.

“No Trespassing. Private Beach. Exclusively for Owners. No locals.”

Some “non-local” kids were gunning wave runners through the shallows where we used to play chicken. Some new “kings of the hill” had built expensive houses on our sand. An expensive European SUV was parked in front of one of them.

I stared at the barbed wire. . . and the sign.

Fast forward.

Two days ago. Mid-day Baja heat.

I drove out to one of the beaches north of La Paz where we live. Just needed to get out’ve the office and not to be found for an hour or so.

No more beeping text messages or phone calls. Maybe just close my eyes for a few minutes to the sound of…nothing.

Just to take a breath. Get some air. Look at some blue water. Get lucky and watch some dolphin make me envious.

I drove to one of the remote beaches. This one famous on postcards for sugar sand and water the color of sapphire turquoise. It often shows up on travel shows and brochures as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

And there, plain as day, the beach had been lined with umbrellas and plastic tables and chairs. And you needed to pay for a permit.

It was like being told you can’t look at Yosemite or the Grand Canyon without renting special glasses.

Oh, and no photos allowed either. Or what? Are you kidding me?

On the license plates here in Baja it says, “La Frontera.” The frontier. Yea, I get it. Wide open spaces. Deserted beaches. Solitary beaches. OK. It’s not Mexico City. It’s definitely not the mainland.

But, it had this reputation of being someplace you could still find the wild places to go.

And maybe re-aquaint yourself with some of your own internal wildness or hidden “little kid time” that seems to get buried in traffic jams, office politics, corporate jumble and suburbia strip-mall-life-back home.

I guess, it’s still here. You just have to look a little hard and go a little further. And further still. Everywhere. Somewhere.

That’s my story!

Jonathan signature

______________

Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-53311

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:
http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g

“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”

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THEY BETTER SPEAK ENGLISH!

Posted in airlines, 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, donations, dorado, driving, east cape, ecotourism, el sargento, espirito santo, family, fish, fish pens, Fishing, fishing blogs, fishing packages, fishing reports, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing videos, flyfishing, freediving, historical, history, holidays in mexico, hurricane, 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, 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, rentals, road trip, roosterfish, Salt Water Fishing, Salt water lures, San Jose del Cabo, Sea of Cortez, seafood, sierra, sportfishing, Tailhunter International, techniques, tourism, tours, transpeninsular highway, Travel, Uncategorized, vacations, weather, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged amberjack, bahia de los muertos, bahia de los suenos, Bahia de los Suenos fishing, bahia magdalena, baja, baja fishing, Baja fishing reports, Baja sportfishing packages, baja sur, Baja Vacations, beach, bonito, Cabo San Lucas, cabrilla, carnavale, carnival, catch and release, Central Washington Sportsmans show, Cerralvo Island, Cerralvo Island Fishing, Chad Schearer, charters, circle hooks, costa baja resort, day trips, dog tooth snapper, dorado, east cape, ecotourism, el sargento, espirito, espirito santo island, Extreme Expeditions Alaska, family, family fishing, fish, fish report, Fishing, fishing and hunting shows, fishing charters, fishing guides, fishing reports, fishing tackle, Fishing Techniques, fishing tips, fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing video, fishing videos, flyfishing, Fred Hall Fishing Show, fred hall fishing shows, freediving, girls fishing, golden grouper, gray whales, Great Western Hunt and Conservation Expo, grouper, holidays, hotel perla, idaho sportsman show, igfa, International Fish and Game, international sportsmans expo, International Sportsmens Expo, ise, jack crevalle, Jonathan Roldan, kids, la concha beach resort, La Paz, la paz baja sur, La Paz Fishing, La Paz Vacations, la ventana, La Ventana Fishing, las arenas, Las Arenas fishing, light tackle, mag bay, mahi mahi, marlin, mexican, Mexican sportfishing outfitters, Mexican sportfishing packages, mexico, mexico fishing, Mexico vacations, Muertos Bay Fishing, outfitters, pacific northwest sportsmans show, packages, panga, pargo, pompano, portland expo center, rainbow runner, robalo, roosterfish, sailfish, scuba, sea of cortez, sierra, sierra mackeral, snapper, snook, snorkel, spearfishing, sportfishing packages, squid, swimming, tailhunter, Tailhunter International, Tournament fishing, travel, tuna, tuna tournament, vacations, wahoo, Washington Sportsmans Show, Washington Sportsmens show, Western Outdoor New Tuna Jackpots, western outdoor news, whales, whalesharks, whalewatching, Women fishing, world records, yellowfin tuna, yellowtail on June 17, 2017| 2 Comments »

It’s vacation! Perfectly fine and fun to blow off some steam and act like an idiot. Completely different to BE and idiot when you visit a neighbor.

THEY BETTER SPEAK ENGLISH!

Originally Published the Week of June 19, 2017 in Western Outdoor Publications

They better speak English!

Or what?

Are you going to pack your bags and go home?

I’m usually pretty calm. Don’t get too excited and try to keep an even keel about things. But, I’m human. I have buttons that can be pushed like anyone else.

One that gets me is arrogant Americans. I’m sorry.

This isn’t political. It’s just about well…as my English buddies day, it’s about “bad form” and “behaving poorly.”

I’ve lived here 21 years in Baja. My wife and I try to be good ambassadors on behalf of Americans. We realize people look at us. We have several rather high-profile businesses. But, we always remember we are guests.

It’s how I would act if I were to come visit you in your home. It’s how you’d expect me to act if you opened your doors to me.

But this happened yesterday. I had the occasion to run into two couples who came into our restaurant. I like to visit the tables. Say hi. Check on the food and chit-chat.

“Where ya from?”

“How’s that taco?”

“Is that mango margarita OK?”

Seemed like nice folks. First time visiting Mexico.

They asked me about the possibility of going fishing. So, I went into my info about our fishing fleets. Blah blah blah…

Several sentences into my spiel, one of the guys says very straight-faced, “Your captains better speak English.” Totally squared up. Almost challenging.

Like the way the hall monitor talked to you…or down to you… in grade school. Or Father O’Malley talked to me when he nailed me for shooting a spit wad in church.

What? They BETTER speak English…or what? Was what bolted through my brain matter.

“UH…Well, sir, they do speak pretty good ‘Span-glish’ that has seemed to work pretty well for 2 decades. Everyone gets along.” I tried to deflect with a smile.

He replied.

“Y’know, that’s the problem with this country (oh-oh…anytime someone wants to tell you about YOUR problems red flags pop up…)”

“The problem is ‘THESE PEOPLE’ (another red flag) want our money, but they won’t learn English. How are we supposed to communicate and how do you run a business with employees that don’t speak English?”

Inhale. Take breath. How do I count to ten really fast? For a nano-second I really wanted to bark back.

I looked around the room at all my waiters and busboys hustling around the dining room terrace.

I said, “Sir, it seems to work out OK. This is Mexico. People speak Spanish. You’ll never find friendlier more welcoming people and hard workers. Folks really do their best. All of us do. And whether it’s fishing, dining or whatever, I think you’ll find that the language barrier is what you make of it. Everyone understands words like ‘Please’ and ‘Thank You’ and smiles are universal!”

I was trying to be cheery. This guy couldn’t be this much of a boob.

I was doing my best efforts using international relations / chamber of commerce party lines. But, my words were sincere.

One of the wives chimed in.

“Y’know, here’s another problem with THIS country. (emphasis on “THIS”) We went to a store to buy a t-shirt and they wouldn’t give us change in U.S. dollars. They wanted to give us that Mexican pesos! It’s like ‘play money.’”

“Yea,” chortled one of the other husbands. “I bet these people have American dollars stashed behind the counter and just love to screw with American tourists ‘cuz they think we’re idiots.”

Si, Senor. I’m thinking the same about you at this very moment. I didn’t know where to start. What are the rules of engagement here?

Do I address the insult or make some feeble attempt to educate? Or do I punch someone in the nose?

It was three of them against one of me. Three half-wits that didn’t have a complete thought between them.

Until the other wife joined the bashing party. She was gonna sum up the conversation.

“THESE PEOPLE (that phrase again) just have such a messed-up country.” There’s so much violence. Their politicians are all corrupt.”

“No one trusts their government. Everyone is on the take. Mexican voting is all rigged. Everyone knows that. Their president is a joke. Mexicans don’t care because that’s how it is. That’s their culture. They’re used to it.”

“All they know how to do is take advantage of each other and get free things. It’s all backwards in Mexico not like US back home in the U.S. Right?”

She said it so cavalierly. So dismissively bordering on haughtiness. So much smugness. She looked around at the other three to confirm. Nods and smirks from the other panel of “judges.”

Yup. Everyone knows. You are so very very right. Dumb-bass. Pointless.

Why are you even here?

Favor quedate en casa proxima vez.

Well, you folks finish your meal. Hope that margarita gives you the worst brain freeze ever.

I’m gonna go back into my office and do two things.

I’m going let off some steam and vent by putting some ideas down for my column. Insulted. Angered. Ashamed. Yea…that about sums it up.

Secondly, I’m going to be thankful that the majority of the folks who visit us are a lot more enlightened. Amen.

That’s my story!

Jonathan signature

Jonathan

______________

Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!

_____________

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

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

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

Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-53311

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:
http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g

“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”

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MOTHER’S DAY FAIL IN MEXCO

Posted in Baja Fishing, Baja Mexico Fishing, Fishing, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Tailhunter International, Uncategorized, Western Outdoor News, tagged baja, baja fishing, Baja Mexico, billfish, Cerralvo Island, charter, dia de las madres, dorado, Espiritu Santo Island, expatriates in mexico, Fishing, fishing charters, Fishing Techniques, fishing tricks, gringos in mexico, holidays in Mexico, jonathan, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, living in Mexico, marlin, mexican, mexican business, mexican culture, mexican life, mothers day, panga, Panga Fishing, roldan, sailfish, sea of cortez, sea of cortez fishing, tailhunter, Tailhunter International, tuna, vacations, western outdoor news, Women fishing on May 13, 2012| Leave a Comment »

To avoid a cultural faux pas FAIL, it’s important to remember which country you’re in! I forgot. HONEST!

MOTHER’S DAY FAIL!

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of May 16, 2012

I love sharing a bit of Mexican culture in these columns.

As I’m writing this, I realize I really screwed up. Have you ever forgotten an important day of the year? Like your anniversary? A birthday?

Well, I forgot that today (May 10^th) is Mother’s Day! Oops. Fail. Scramble to make phone calls…e-greeting cards…and other face-saving measures!

You see, in my brain, Mother’s day is always the 2^nd Sunday of May. That’s May 13^th in the U.S.

But here in Mexico, it’s May 10^th. Every year. Same date. It doesn’t matter if it’s on a Sunday, a Tuesday, a Thursday or the full moon. May 10^th is Mother’s Day and you’d better not forget it.

In Mexico, where culturally mom is the focus of pretty much everything, she is pretty much a saint. Where the concept of the centralized family and where generations often continue to live under the same roof or everyone lives within tortilla-tossing proximity to each other, moms, grandmoms, aunties, etc. are held in high esteem. And never so highly as on Mother’s Day.

(That’s why you NEVER EVER EVER call out a man’s mom. Those are fighting words and one of the highest insults. Don’t mess with a man’s mom in Mexico.)

Whereas Fathers Day barely draws a breeze, much of the country takes on a semi-holiday atmosphere. It’s pretty much a state holiday.

Mom’s don’t go to work or take long leisurely and sometimes elegant lunches much like the Sunday brunches seen in the U.S. Sons and family members stop working as well to enjoy the day with moms. Offices shut down. Stores close early. Kids sometimes play hookie and don’t go to school. (On Mom’s day, mom is not lifting a finger…that includes driving the kids to school!). Conversely, to keep the kids from taking the day off, many schools hold Mother’s Day pageants and recitals and invite moms to attend.

The whole country is on the same page, so it’s really not that big of a social impact. It’s like the day before Christmas or that last day of school before summer vacation. No one’s head is there. No one expects much efficiency anyway! Not much gets done.

Some families, especially the sons, go through some elaborate expressions of adoration. Huge bouquets of flower. Rooms of flowers! Sons will hire mariachi groups to sing outside mom’s window or all the sons will get together in the evening and serenade mom themselves accompanied by a boom box.

There will be incredible home parties either catered or home-cooked. Often, all the guys do the cooking so the moms can have the day off. In some homes where the mom does ALL the cooking every single meal and every single day, this might be the ONLY day of the year that the men cook or even approach the stove…sometimes to varying results!

Restaurants will have elegant brunches, lunches and dinners set out with Mothers’ Day specials and families will show up dressed in their jackets and ties, dresses and corsages as if headed for a grand social event…which is what Dia De Las Madres is in Mexico.

Historically, Dia de Las Madres was not always as we know it. In 1922, it was brought over from the U.S, but met with significant opposition from the conservative government who attempted to use the holiday to promote the unrealistic concept of women as no more than child bearers!

Over the next decade, the powers in Mexico debated the day as either being too “patriotic” or being “too religious” with all the connotations those labels involved. It got pretty heated and the Mexican political parties as well as the Church argued the current morals and values of the day such as empowering women, family values, country unity and basically whether women should be let out of the home! It wasn’t just a Hallmark thing!

It wasn’t until the 40’s…to be exact in 1940, Soledad Orozco Garcia, wife of President Manuel Avilla Camacho, declared 10th May a holiday, thus making it a state-sponsored celebration of mother’s day …and why I need to find some place that sells some quick Mothers’ Day Cards here in La Paz! Or a boombox with a microphone! I really messed up…

***********************

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife, Jill, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter-international.com. They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com or drop by the restaurant to say hi!

***************************

That’s our story

Jonathan and Jilly

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.”

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A LONG AND DUSTY LINE

Posted in Baja Fishing, Baja Mexico Fishing, Fishing, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Tailhunter International, Uncategorized, Western Outdoor News, tagged baja, baja fishing, Baja Mexico, billfish, Cerralvo Island, charter, dorado, Espiritu Santo Island, expatriates in mexico, Fishing, fishing charters, Fishing Techniques, fishing tricks, gringos in mexico, holidays in Mexico, international, jonathan, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, Light Tackle Fishing, living in Mexico, marlin, mexican, mexican business, mexican culture, mexican life, mexican retirement, mexican vacations, mexico, mexico life, panga, Panga Fishing, roldan, sailfish, sea of cortez, sea of cortez fishing, tailhunter, Tailhunter International, tuna, vacations, western outdoor news, Women fishing on April 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The cathedral in La Paz. In the days before cranes and hydraulic lifts and electric screw drivers, someone had to be around to lift the massive stones and drag the enormous beams into place.

A LONG AND DUSTY LINE

Originally Published the Week of May 4, 2012 in Western Outdoor News

Having lived down here for quite sometime now, it always gives me pause to see how much of the country is reliant on manual labor. There’s nothing wrong with it.

I come from a long line of manual laborers who came over to Hawaii to work the pineapple and sugarcane fields or to Central Caliornia to pick tomatoes. Dad used to take me out to the fields to show me what it was like and tell me, “Stay in school so you don’t have to make your living hunched over in the sun.” As I grew up, I learned to even despise pulling weeds in the yard, let alone chopping sugar cane stock or packing tomato crates.

Here, in Mexico, unskilled labor is inexpensive and folks need the work. And there’s a lot of folks here.

For instance, after a rain storm, the “broom army” materializes. Using nothing more high-tech than garden-variety-kitchen brooms provided by the government, scores of folks hand sweeping the streets. No machines. Basic sweat-of-brow technology.

Along the highways, you may have seen them. Long lonely stretches of desert road. Sometimes there’s a line of them. Sometimes there’s one solitary guy that makes me wonder “Did you apply for this job?” “Are you being punished for this?” Are you low-man on the seniority list?”

But there he is. With a shovel. Dirty pants. Usually a soiled t-shirt sometimes pulled up and tucked under the chest so that their tummys are exposed. A kerchief wrapped around his faces to ward off the dust. Tennis shoes or old torn up work-boots that look like Hernando Cortez himself brought them over from Spain. A baseball hat of some type worn “Foreign Legion” style with a t-shirt tucked and hanging down the back.

No gloves. No supervisor. No support truck with an orange Igloo of water. No “roach-coach” catering truck nearby. No handy porta-potty close either. No warning cones or vests. Cars come dangerously close since Mexican roads have little or no shoulders. Cows might watch from the scrub. Probably wondering the same thing…”What the heck are you doing out here?”

But there they are, one shovel of dirt at a time. It’s hard to tell what the project is. Move dirt from here to there? Shovel the dust off the highway? Each car or breeze that passes only blows the dust right back. Can’t you just phone it in and say you did the job? Collect some pesos and go home? Who would know the difference?

Often you see “gangs” of these worker standing like sardines in a stakebed truck. Shoulder-to-shoulder. No sitting. Obviously, not union.

Day-after-day…same guys or just one guy. Same stretch of road. Heat numbing. Mind numbing.

Sometimes, I do see them nap under whatever shade a cactus or other scrub can give them. Nothing special. Lie down. Tilt hat over eyes. Siesta. Who keeps track of time?

What got me writing about this subject is a recent visit to the old mission here in La Paz. Visiting the historic sites that dot the California, Baja and Mexican landscape is one of my favorite things.

Whether it’s Mission San Gabriel or San Diego or Santa Barbara or the Baja missions in Loreto or San Ignacio or, as I said here in La Paz, I never tire of walking into them and spending a few moments. Or touching the old adobe or walking the paths and tiles.

There’s something about touching a bit of history. It’s not a re-creation like going to Universal Studios or Disneyland. This is the same water trough where the Spanish soldiers watered their horses. Here’s the breezeway between the rectory and the church where some padre’s sandaled feet used to walk 300 years ago. And here’s the cemetery that holds so many stories.

If you get a chance to visit or ever have. Be quite for a moment and sit still and the history will honestly talk to you!

But, the last time I was in, I was doing just that and it occurred to me. There’s A LOT of wood in here. Huge thick wooden beams criss-cross and support the massive ceilings. Massive wooden doors. Solid hard wood benches and the ornate altar and crucifix and so many other items.

Y’know, Mexico doesn’t exactly have a lot of trees.

And the huge bells and ornaments. The masterpiece stained glass windows and tile work.

They didn’t just hop down to Home Depot to get these in the 1600 and 1700’s.

I’m sure the Jesuit padres and the Spanish conquistadores did hard work, but I don’t envision, Sargeant Garcia and Friar Antonio making bricks or dragging huge chunks of lumber over the mountains. They didn’t dig those irrigation aquaducts for the fields or paint the mission ceilings either.

Nope…they were built by some every-day Joe and Mary. Born with a native name that was probably taken from them at their Christian baptismal and given names like Jose and Maria.

And these are the folks who did the work. Who busted their backs often in the name of the spirit of Christianity and the promise of eternal salvation. Only IF they learned to wear a pair of pants and help build the church. Toil the fields. Build a wagon road. Sweep up after the soldiers and padres.

They built quite an empire. Same folks are still working. Still toiling in that hot Baja sun. Willing to work. Needing to work. I look at the guys on the side of the road as we speed by and wonder if they come from that long dusty line of laboral history. One shovel at a time.

_____________

______________

That’s our 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

.
Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:
http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”

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“CHANGES IN ATTITUDES REVISITED”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Cabo San Lucas, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tournaments, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Mexican, Mexican culture, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico, Mexico life, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, Tailhunter International, tuna tournament, Uncategorized, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, yellowtail, tagged baja, baja fishing, Baja Mexico, billfish, Cerralvo Island, charter, dorado, Espiritu Santo Island, expatriates in mexico, Fishing, fishing charters, Fishing Techniques, fishing tricks, gringos in mexico, holidays in Mexico, international, jonathan, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, Light Tackle Fishing, living in Mexico, mexican culture, mexican life, mexican retirement, mexican vacations, mexico, mexico life, panga, Panga Fishing, roldan, sea of cortez, sea of cortez fishing, tailhunter, Tailhunter International, vacations, western outdoor news, Women fishing on March 19, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Me and Jilly in our booth at the International Sportsman's Expo Salt Lake City UT. Just tryin' to sell smiles one fish at a time.

CHANGES IN ATTITUDES (“ARE YOU TALKING TO…ME?” REVISTED)

Originally Published the Week of March 23, 2012 in Western Outdoor News

So, here it is. As I’m writing this, we’ve been on the road 78 straight days now hitting all the major fishing/hunting shows…Denver, Sacramento, Portland, Vegas, Seattle, Long Beach…just to name a few. New show every week. 13,000 miles of driving and, by the time you’re reading this, we’ll be at our 11^th show at the Fred Hall Show in Del Mar near San Diego.

So, we see thousands of you all at these shows and many of you have asked about the experiences we had last year on our promotional tour. If you remember, last year, several times at every show we were actually accosted…mostly verbally…sometimes physically by knuckleheads telling us to:

“Go back to your country!”

“How did people like US get into the show?”

“Everyone of you effing people from Mexico should be killed…”

Y’know…lovely pleasantries like that. Every city. Every show. Not just the cities like Boise, Idaho or Billings, Montana either.

The worst were at the shows in Sacramento and Long Beach, California. Yup…you’d have thought folks in these hubs might be a bit more enlightened. So did we!

It’s a bit unsettling when a guy in an Izod polo shirt with a Tag Heuer watch and a wife looking like she just came from the spa grits his teeth, reaches across the counter at my booth and pokes his finger in my chest and hisses at me, “They oughta just nuke the whole stupid country.”

Well, we got hundreds of e-mails and letters about our experiences. Outrage. Embarrassment. Support. Most agreed that there’s some folks out there that just have their underwear on a little too tight. We didn’t take it too personally.

But after decades of doing shows and meeting the public, it seemed like the rage and frustration towards Mexico directly and us indirectly came out’ve left field.

So, what about 2012?

I don’t know what everyone was drinking or smoking in 2011, but it’s almost like someone someone threw the light switch the other way. Thankfully, we’ve had very few incidents this year.

In fact, just today while here at the Salt Lake City ISE show, someone did tell me, “I’m not going there to Mexico where they cut off everyone’s head!” He didn’t stop at our booth to say more or have a discussion. He said it loud enough for others to hear and his buddies to laugh. But that was it

We’ve had maybe only half-a-dozen actual heated exchanges. And they were quickly dissipated. Either we got the person to walk away. (No loss…anyone that tight will never visit Mexico anyway so why waste the energy!)

Or, in two or three situations, the angry person unknowingly walked up while our booth was surrounded by friends and clients who quickly bristled and got their own dander up.

The guy opens his mouth and gives us a piece of his mind. Party foul! Don’t call out the host in front of the host’s friends! The bad guy gets chased away really really fast by friends who give him a bit of his own vitriol.

“Buddy, you need to take a hike!” “You’re a jerk, keep walking.” “Back off, amigo, you’re full of…” Well, you get the idea. It’s hard to suppress a grin still thinking about it. Thanks guys!

But honestly, I don’t know what’s changed. Maybe people are coming around and are untangling fact from sensationalism and realizing that, while Mexico has a lot of problems, much of what the media feeds us isn’t the whole story and is not reflective of ALL of the country. It’s a big place.

The bad guys are not targeting tourists. Like pretty much anywhere else, there’s places in every city you shouldn’t visit places and things you shouldn’t be doing no matter where you are. I mean…why would anyone need to go into a dark alley in Ciudad de Juarez? Or, one in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco or New Orleans, etc? Common sense!

In fact, statistics show that American tourism to Mexico has been on the rise the past year. Last year alone, something like 15 million Americans visited Mexico and you know what happened…NOTHING!

What we’ve found instead this year is people walking up to us and asking,

“What do you think about the violence?”

“What’s the real story down there?”

“Is it really that dangerous?”

They really want to know. They want someone to give another side. And they listen. Really listen. And instead of a confrontation, it becomes an exchange of ideas. They may never come down to visit, but most times, I hear them say, “Wow, I didn’t know that. That’s really interesting.” They shake our hands and thank us. Hopefully with a little better understanding.

Now, I do hear people say that the ONLY reason we’re pimping this is that we have a vested interest in getting folks down to Mexico. Of course we do. We have a fishing business and a restaurant. To me, what’s good for us is good for everyone. A little understanding goes a long way. But, no matter what I say, people will still call it a sales job.

Well, just this week, none other than the U.S. State Department officially recognized and declared that “no advisory” is “in effect for La Paz and the entire South Baja region.” (that includes Cabo and Loreto!). According to the State Department the report was compiled at the behest of American business groups worried about employee safety and NOT to appease various boosters of Mexican tourism, e.g. self-serving “salesmen” like me!

So, there you have it. The U.S. Government finally telling folks something most of us in Baja already knew. Come enjoy!

_______

HOLD THE PRESS…just after I wrote this and it went to publication to the editor, we had two people walk up to us at the booth in Salt Lake City Sportsman’s Expo.. Just as we were thinking we had made it through with a kinder, gentler, season. Just after I wrote the above column the night before…two folks walked up to us and hissed…”WE HATE MEXICANS!” And walked on. Didn’t even stick around long enough for get a response from me or my wife. Both the woman and the man said the same thing and made a point of walking right up to our booth. “ I HATE MEXICANS.” Dangit…I guess there’s still knuckleheads out there. Sad.

_________

That’s our story…

Jonathan

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
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://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.”

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“DIFFERENTLY THE SAME”

Posted in Baja, Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, Fishing techniques, fishing tournaments, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, kids, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Mexican, Mexican culture, Mexico, Mexico life, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Sea of Cortez, Tailhunter International, Uncategorized, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, yellowtail, tagged baja fishing, Baja Mexico, billfish, Cerralvo Island, charter, dorado, Espiritu Santo Island, expatriates in mexico, Fishing, fishing charters, Fishing Techniques, fishing tricks, gringos in mexico, holidays in Mexico, international, jonathan, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz, La Paz Fishing, Light Tackle Fishing, living in Mexico, marilin, mexican, mexican business, mexican culture, mexican life, mexican retirement, mexican vacations, mexico, mexico life, panga, Panga Fishing, roldan, sailfish, sea of cortez, sea of cortez fishing, tailhunter, Tailhunter International, tuna, vacations, western outdoor news, Women fishing on March 5, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Only two guys who've fished together for awhile like Captain Jorge and Steve would mug like this. Just two guys fishing together!

DIFFERENTLY THE SAME!

Originally Published the Week of March 8, 2012 in Western Outdoor News

I’m just saying. I think the world might just be a better place if we all just did a little more fishing. It might solve a few problems, or at least not have so many.

Nations and, even neighbors, are pulled-apart by such complicated issues as religion, culture, politics and language or such silly stuff as, “I hate the music that jerk plays! ”

There are simply countless reasons NOT to like each other. So many reasons to polarize us all. I’m as guilty as the next person. I probably let a person’s differences jump out at me more often than they should.

But put two knuckleheaded guys as dissimilar as night and day in a boat… keep some fishing rods handy… and give them the mutally-advantageous goal of trying to fool an animal with a brain the size of a pea…

And it’s amazing to watch what develops. I see it happen all the time.

One guy speaks Spanish. One English.

One knows how to run a fishing boat. One knows how to run a million-dollar company.

One has 3 kids and lives in a cinderblock home with a tin roof and a chicken or two in the yard. The other has 1 ex-wife, two mortgages and rents a roof-top condo on the west side.

One has spent 30 years learning the waters that provide his livelihood and survival.

One has two advanced university degrees.

One can fix a Mercury outboard or Chevy engine with duct tape and a butter knife.

One can do Power Point presentations before a Board of Directors.

One makes the best goat-meat barbecue in his neighborhood.

One makes a mean happy hour martini.

In any other context, there’s hardly a single reason for these two guys to care a wit about the other. But, put them in a fishing boat…

And they get along just fine!

All the disparate petty things that pull drive us apart or keep us from getting to know each seem to take 2^nd chair to the overall goal of putting a dumb fish in the boat!

Language barriers are overcome with the simple universal communication of a smile or a laugh.

Often, both guys try extra hard to actually LISTEN more carefully and WATCH more closely. They SPEAK more carefully and simply to each other…even in their own languages, because they really WANT to be understood!

We have smart phones, Facebook, Twitter, Google and Skype…all the technology in the world, but we’ve forgotten the skills of LISTENING, WATCHING and SPEAKING SIMPLY! Two guys in a boat wanting to catch a fish will resort to animated and creative hand gestures to make themselves understood!

At the end of the day…smiles…and maybe a photo or two…and a handshake. Both understand “Gracias” and “Thank you.”

“Tomorrow” says one.

“Manana!” says the other.

By the next day, more grins on the beach as they meet to go out. The captain pulls out a little foil packet of grilled fish burritos that his wife made for the client and wants to share.

“Delicious! exclaims the client surprisedly.

“Delcio-SO!” confirms the captain proudly with a grin.

“Hey, Spanish and English are almost the same!” says the client through another mouthful of burrito.

“Si!…Yes!” replies the smiling Captain

“Good…uh…BIEN” laughs the client.

“Correc-TO!” confirms the Captain as he revs the motor.

The client rummages through his bag and pulls out a box of juice to share with the captain. Gratefully accepted. Smiles and nods.

And they head out for another day of fishing.

…and the language barriers start to diminish. And with each passing hour, the other barriers don’t matter. They never really did.

At the end of the day, the client “thinks” he understands that the Captain has a younger son who likes baseball. Both have daughters about the same age. The Captain now knows the client likes the N.Y. Yankees (Captain likes the Red Sox) and the client lives in San Diego. They both think politicians in both countries are the same…idiots! Laughs.

And so it goes. At the end of the day, more handshakes and photos. More smiles. The client gives the captain some lures as a gift. His eyes light-up gratefully!

“Mil Gracias!…Mucho thank you’s” says the captain grasping the precious lures.

“Thank YOU very much” answers the client pointing at the captain “…Gracias gracias, mi amigo!”

And then the next year, the client comes back.

Hands clasp. And there are big grins and smiles and anticipation of another great time on the water.

The fisherman shows photos of his kids on his cell phone and photos from the last trip! The captains smiles proudly looking at the photos. Using hand gestures and simple words he demonstrates that his kids have grown “this much…” He uses another hand gesture to happily say his wife has another baby coming!

And every year it grows…3, 4, …7…10 years of fishing together. And it’s no longer captains and client. A friendship grows. And not a hint of politics…or religion…or cultural differences. And they learn from each other.

He’s become a better fisherman and learned to love barbecued goat and fish jerky and how to catch his own bait.

The captain has picked up quite a bit of English and has enjoyed bagels and cream cheese. His son has a new baseball glove and a N.Y. Yankees ballcap. The captain proudly uses a new reel from a place called “Cabelas.”

Oh…and over the years, they just happen to catch a few fish too. But it never seemed to be as important or as fun as just two guys hanging out.

Yup…the world might be a bit better if everyone just went fishing. We’re so differently the same.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

__________________________

.
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.”

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Jonathan has written for:

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Pacific Coast Sportfishing
Discover Baja Magazine
Baja Life Magazine
The Log
Fish Taco Chronicles
Sportsman's Channel Magazine

His articles also appear in:

San Diego Union Newspaper
Los Angeles Times Newspaper
Sacramento Bee
San Francisco Chronicle
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MOTHER’S DAY FAIL IN MEXCO

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A LONG AND DUSTY LINE

A LONG AND DUSTY LINE

Originally Published the Week of May 4, 2012 in Western Outdoor News

“CHANGES IN ATTITUDES REVISITED”

CHANGES IN ATTITUDES (“ARE YOU TALKING TO…ME?” REVISTED)

Originally Published the Week of March 23, 2012 in Western Outdoor News

“DIFFERENTLY THE SAME”

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