Tailhunter Fish Report

FISH DON’T KNOW IT’S WINTER AND CONTINUE TO BITE!

La Paz / Las Arenas Fishing Report for November 26, 2o06

Photo 1: Al Burriesci from Auburn CA is getting his tan and his dorado as he hoists this good-looking bull dorado. He hooked it and others north of La Paz from that hot spot at the SE corner of Espiritu Santo Island

THE FISH REPORT

It’s sounding like a busted record, but dorado keep biting even though we’re into the holiday season. It’s surprising even old veterans but no one is complaining as rods get bent so late in the season!

La Paz Fishing

It’s been the most consistent fishing I think I’ve ever seen. Since August, the La Paz dorado bite has been off the charts. Who would have thought that this deep into November we would still be hooking dorado and these aren’t punk fish either! This past week we’re taking trophy-class bull that are pushing the 30-60 pound marks. Not all fish are that size, but bottom line is that there’s some great quality still out there not to mention just alot of fun. Hard to believe, we still have marlin in the area too! Just incredible…(see the story below)…

This is from long time amigo Walt Korbler who has been coming for 8 seasons:

“As far as the trip was concerned, all went well, except that I was not able to fish Las Arenas due to the winds. La Paz was great anyways with all the big dodos, I caught and released 8 on my first day, and 4 on my second. Jack even gave his “amazing new superpanga” on my second day with captain Miguel. Miguel is a great fisherman, we even hooked a blue marlin and had it on for a while, but it came unbuttoned, since the knot broke.(thank God I did not tye it). Anyways all in all a great trip!”

This is from our another good amigo, Sid Sicoff:

” Thursday we hit the jackpot with (Captain) Martin, he is the best!
We caught 8 dorado bulls. Something for the first day of fishing. I must say that I have been coming to La Paz for over 15 years and now I really am a happy camper with you and your staff. The bonding experience that I am having with my son Brad and my son-in-law Mike is something most fathers only pray for. We expect to return very soon to experience this one time in a life experience.”

Las Arenas Fishing

Well…when the winds are down fishing is surprisingly good! But, that’s the problem. Conditions have been inconsistent but still, considering all things, there’s quite a bit of variety for our anglers who soak some boat at Las Arenas. Take a look at the photos below!

In addition to occasional late-season tuna, there’s still some roosterfish around (almost unheard of!), sierra, cabrilla, snapper and pargo. We even had a few striped marlin hookups that didn’t stick but what a great surprise for the anglers who were just soaking some sardines to have 100 pound billfish suddenly come up and grab the baits. Nothing like going from a lazy morning of fishing to all hell breaking loose in nano seconds! Either way…Great fun on light tackle and a great way to stick some different fillets in the cooler without having to go chugging too far offshore. Still a pretty place to be and one of the nice things is that even when the winds blow you can still hide a bit in the coves and the lee side of the island and still get some fish.

Photo 2: Dennis Deaver and Ron Nass from Northern CA show off a great day of fishing at Las Arenas. This is about as good as it gets for variety. What a smorgasbord. In front of the ice chest are some yellowfin tuna. On the ice chest, the reddish fish to the left are pargo (pargo lisa). The darker brown fish are seabass (cabrilla). Towards the back is a yellow snapper and towards the front is a red snapper and they add a small dorado to the mix as well.
Photo 3: Larry Manis from Los Angeles made his first trip to La Paz and is holding a dorado headed for a stack of tortillas.

Something Extra:

I don’t know if you’re a fan of TV fishing shows but I’ve worked on them and been on them and for that 1/2 hour or hour of fishing footage, there’s tons of footage taken over days or even weeks most folks never get to see. Here’s some funny outtakes from Bill Dance the champion bassmaster: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3432265409994388404

Have a great week, everyone!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

Phone: (626) 333-3355

FAX: (626) 333-0115

E-Mail: Riplipboy@aol.com

U.S. Office: 3319 White Cloud Dr., Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745

Mexico Office: Carr. a Pichilingue KM 5, Numero 205, La Paz, Baja Cal Sur, Mexico

“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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LA PAZ ESCAPES ANOTHER HURRICANE SCARE AND FISH KEEP BITING!

La Paz-Las Arenas Fishing Report for Nov. 19, 2006

Photo 1: Steve Marabella from Wilmington CA is a happy fella. Although this fish blew apart his favorite Penn 500 reel, he got the last laugh and landed the big dorado which went home in his ice chest along with alot of other fillets.

Once again, in late season surprise, we got a hurricane scare as “Sergio” started brewing to the south. No one can even remember having storms so late in the season let alone so many hurricane warnings in a single year. However, like so many, nothing much materiliazed and the fish continued to bite!

LA PAZ FISHING

Hard to complain too much! Despite it being so late in the season…despite the fact that some days are seasonably windy…despiote the fact that we should only be fishing inshore for rock fish…the DORADO are still biting!

Sure, we’re getting typical fish like snapper and some of those great sierra, but it’s pretty unusual that we get this kind of dorado fishing in November. Heck it’s almost Thanksgiving! Dorado are warm-water-blue-water fish! However, around Espiritu Santo Island the honey holes keep kicking out the fish. These aren’t small fish either. Check out the photos! These are still the slugger-style fish that has made this perhaps the most increcible dorado season in memory. Will it last? Who knows? We’re enjoying it while we can.

Photo 2 : One of the prettiest flyfishing shots I have seen in a long time. This is Bill Mitchell from the Carmel CA area. Bill had problems all season coming to see us. First it was Aero California screwing things up. Then Hotel Los Arcos went on strike over the summer. Well, he finally made it down and the fish gods were good to him as you can see by one of the nice dorado he nailed. (See story below for more details)

LAS ARENAS FISHING

Earlier in the week, strong seasonal winds pushed our pangas all over the ocean and the tuna outside, but as the week went on, the weather conditions improved and so did the fishing. In addition to the nice football yellowfin tuna, sierra, dorado and a few billfish were also hooked. Pargo and snapper fishing also kept anglers in fillets.

FIRST PERSON REPORT

Louis Guillen was just down with us and fished two days…one day at Las Arenas and one day at La Paz. He was nice enough to write up his trip for us…(also see photo below)

“I had a great trip to La Paz!.

Tuesday, I fished La Paz with Capitan Miguel, and it was a wide open bite for Sierra trolling goma squid in the morning. We targeted Dorado by Espiritu De Santo, but no luck. Though the trigger fish were happy. Bottom of the ninth, and a few fish in the box. Miguel went to his secret honey hole and we boated some forearm size Pargo.

Wednesday, I drove up to Las Arenas with Carlos. It was a GREAT trip. Victor was my Capitan and he got me into fish. “Jefe Capitan” or “Patron” (???) He baited my hook with a sardenas and threw it in. I hooked up instantly and my reel spun and sprayed water in my face. Victor laughed and said, “Bonito …mucho Bonito” We moved to a second spot and we saw a boil behind us. The current was moving down stream from our Panga, so I knew I would get bit soon. I adjusted my drag and and watched my line. BAMMMM!!!

Yellow Fin Tuna … That one broke off after a long fight, but Victor kept another one on the string for me. He gave me the bent rod and we were able to boat that one. BAMMM!! another one on the hook…this Tuna fight went on for a while, and it drew other Pangas to us. It seemed like Victor and I we were the only ones hooking up. We would later discovered at the beach that my suspicions were true. While other Pangas got 1, 2, or none, we boated 12 Tunas and about 4 or more broke off. It was an early morning bite. I told Victor in Spanglish, “Mis Brah-sos es hurting!” …he replied, “No problem,” and laughed.

There was a bunch of needle fish and I swear they were trying to aim for our Panga. One dove into the water just before it was about to go through, or over our Panga. Victor turned his back as if to say, “tear up my ass and not my nuts.” They were like surface to air missles out of the water. I think they wanted Victor and I to go away and leave their cousins alone (Tuna). “

Cheers! Louis.

Photo 3: Louis Guillen (right) with Captain Victor on the beach at Ensenada de Muertos (Las Arenas) with his great day of fishing yellowfin tuna.

FIRST PERSON REPORT

“Jonathan,
Excellent trip. We had a 6 YFT and 2 Rooster day at Las Arenas. And out of La Paz we had a 7 Dorado day and an 8 Dorado day….BIG fish, bulls pushing 50 LBS.
And several Triggerfish, Bonita, etc. Las Arenas was all flyrod, but La Paz was all conventional gear….It’s tough to use the flyrod out of those super pangas on the La Paz side. As you know, once we get into a bunch of Dorado, rods are thumping, reels are screaming, bait is flying, etc, and the only place to cast is from a precariously balanced point on the bow, where the fish AREN’T….But it was lots of fun. I’ll try to email you some pics.
Thanks for all your conscientious help….We’ll definitely do it again.
Bill
PS That (Captain) Raoul is awesome.”

That’s my story! Happy Thanksgiving everyone…Be safe!

Jonathan

Jonathan Roldan’s Tailhunter International

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

Phone: (626) 333-3355

FAX: (626) 333-0115

E-Mail: Riplipboy@aol.com

U.S. Office: 3319 White Cloud Dr., Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745

Mexico Office: Carr. a Pichilingue KM 5, Numero 205, La Paz, Baja Cal Sur, Mexico

“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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DORADO AND TUNA STILL ON LATE SEASON CHEW!

La Paz / Las Arenas Fishing Report for Nov. 12, 2006

PHOTO 1: Craig Peterson is one of our regulars in La Paz and just got himself into the record books with a new world record yellowfin tuna. Craig was freediving off Puerto Vallarta when he shot this big dawg cow that weighed in at 317 pounds. This is all done “freediving” (no air tanks!)
If you want more details, click: http://tailhunter-international.com/jonathansblog.htm

THE FISHING REPORT

Unbelievable late season fishing, amigos. Yes, the winds are up. Yes, the water and the air is cooler, but the fish don’t seem to mind. Anglers fishing both La Paz and Las Arenas continued to hang some great fish!

La Paz Fishing:

Who would have thought that it’s almost Thanksgiving and we should be fishing smaller species in the rocks that we’d still be hanging big dorado! It’s definitely NOT summertime conditions and it’s a little bumpy and breezy, but the big mahi…some in the 50-60 pound class…are still biting. Check out the photos below. That area south of Espiritu Santo Island and also near Punta Coyote has been producing dorado since August. Using sardines, bonito and strip bait the fish can be dormant one moment then come crashing like gangbusters the next and all hell breaks loose leaving bloody decks, tired anglers, busted tackle and full fish boxes.

In addition to the dorado, big bonito, sierra and snapper were also caught.

PHOTO 2 : Ron Martis from San Diego had an outstanding day on the water. Using a live puffer fish that Capt. Chito pinned on the hook, Ron fought this fish for 45 minutes from start to finish despite having a sore back. They said that the big dorado showed no hesitation eating the puffer fish. Ron couldn’t lift the fish any higher, but it was estimated that the fish was over 50 pounds.
PHOTO 3: Mark Martis has fished with us alot over the years. Mark is from Redondo Beach Ca and he’s had some great success over the years when we have fished together. However, his recent fishing this week was the best dorado fishing he has ever had. He said for an hour-and-a-half, the fish were non-stop. He lifts up this big bull dorado that’s as long as he is tall!

Las Arenas Fishing:

Well, in more surprises, I can’t remember the last time we had yellowfin tuna in November! However, sure enough…right there outside Muertos Bay, the tuna were bending rods most of the week. The fish weren’t big, but they were fun 15-30 pound fish and everyone had a blast. Winds came up later in the week and it as harder to get out and fish moved a little more outside, but it was some great fishing. In addition to the tuna, anglers also mixed it up with pargo, dorado and even a few marlin were hooked this week. Everyone took home fish!

FIRST PERSON REPORT:

Amigo, Kwame Satterfield came to see us and fish with us during the summer and came back again just this week, but this time brought his family. He took time to type this up for us. Thanks, amigo:

“Jonathan, I just want to say you have a first class outfit. Your people and the service you provide were excellent. My wife and son had the time of there life.. . In regards to the fishing, I now know what a wide open tuna bite is. I always wanted to catch a tuna, well I caught 11 hard core fighters that took me and my equipment to the limit. Man it was great! Also on the La Paz side I landed 3 nice dorado, overall this was my best trip ever. I got a chance to spend quality time with my family and also do what I love which is fish.”

PHOTO 4: Mark Kojima of Hacienda Heights CA made his first trip to La Paz and holds up one of the nice dorado he hooked.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

Jonathan Roldan’s Tailhunter International

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

Phone: (626) 333-3355

FAX: (626) 333-0115

E-Mail: Riplipboy@aol.com

U.S. Office: 3319 White Cloud Dr., Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745

Mexico Office: Carr. a Pichilingue KM 5, Numero 205, La Paz, Baja Cal Sur, Mexico

“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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TUNA and DORADO BEND RODS AFTER STORMS!

La Paz and Las Arenas Fishing Reports for Nov. 5, 2006

Photo 1: Kerry Armstrong has made two trips to La Paz and always seems to do well. Here she is with Capt. Martin off Espiritu Santo Island with a beautiful blue bull dorado. More on her trip below!

In an unbelievable start to November, blue water species make a great showing after last week’s storms. Tuna and dorado mix it up with pargo, snapper, sierra and cabrilla!

LA PAZ FISHING

It was hard to believe it was November, but dorado came roaring back for our boats and our anglers fishing out’ve La Paz. Sure, there were some seasonal winds, but fishing wasn’t too far anyway. Hitting that same honey hole just off Espiritu Santo Island big dorado foamed for many of the fishermen who jumped all over fish from 20-60 pounds.

Last week it almost seemed like the bluewater season was all but done after the stormy wintry weather that jumped all over us making fishing almost impossible. However, this week, it was like nothing had changed and the dorado were willing to pick up right where they left off and have been chewing the last 3 months in what to me has been the best dorado season in many many years! I mean…hey…it’s almost winter and we’re still hanging big bull dorado.

Using sardines, whole bonito and stripped bonito, the big mahi can change a slow day into pure frenzy. One of our good amigos who has been fishing with us for years told us that they got some of their fish, including their biggest…a 50 plus pounder by using live pufferfish! He said our popular Captain Chito kept a few in the bait tank and when the big dorado came up, he pinned them on the hook and dropped them back. “The fish hit in seconds!” said Mark. His dad, who has a bad back, and is 82 years old, toughed it out and fought the fish start to finish. Whenever Mark would try to help his dad would say, “Get away from me!”

Anyway, hard to say how long this will last, but we’ll take it for as long it lasts!

LAS ARENAS FISHING

Once again…surprises!!! Who’d have guessed that this late in the season yellowfin tuna would pay us another run! All week, I had told our anglers that the bluewater stuff was probably pretty much done for the season and to expect stuff like a few stray dorado, some snapper, some sierra and maybe some seabass. H0-hum! Fun stuff no doubt, but not always rod pumping stuff!

Then, whoa…what happened? The tuna showed up! It wasn’t WFO, but make no mistake this was fun football tuna fishing and a great surprise for the anglers who were taking 2-6 fish per panga rounded out with some sierra, snapper and pargo.

FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS

Court and Kerry Armstrong – Salt Lake City Utah

“WOW , that,s all I can say about our last trip to fish with Tailhunters international , Jonathan Roldan,s fishing experience has not failed me yet ! This is my third trip to La Paz , and every trip has it’s highlights. We might get one slow day in a week but that is about it .
My daughter, Kerry has joined me for her second year in a row and already is planning for next year ! this year I brought a friend for his first trip to La Paz , Beau Valtinson and his daughter Mckell and they has a BALL!!

Beau was plenty excited to outfish me for the biggest fish of the trip a big Bull dorado of at least fifty or more !! But pound for pound I got him!!

Kerry and I filled two ice chests , and had to buy another and still had to put more fillets in the suitcase ! The local food was excellent except for one night at Applebees, so I recommend just eating as the locals do , the mexican hotdogs off the food carts are KILLER !! We also took a day and went diving at the SeaLion colony and it was a great first time scuba experience for my daughter, Kerry, and were totally blown away with the sea lions and all the lifeforms under the water !!! Thanks again for such a great trip Jonathan , you took care of us in every way that is the most important part in making everyone enjoy themselves !!! adios amigo… Court and Kerry Armstrong”

Photo 2 : Court Armstrong from Salt Lake City UT got a number of big bulls fishing almost an entire week with us.

Photo 3: Kerry Armstrong came with her dad. This was her second trip and she is never a slouch always getting some great fish.

FIRST PERSON REPORT

Craig Petersen, an Orange Co. California , chiropractor, is one of our amigos and regular free divers in La Paz. In freediving, it’s an amazing sport. It basically means spearfishing without the use of tanks which are illegal in Mexcio. Therefore, these incredible athletes have only the air they can inhale in a single breath and dive to incredible depths to hunt! A number of world records have been set in the La Paz area, but Bruce didn’t come to La Paz this week, but he went to Puerta Vallarta and it resulted in a new world record yellowfin tuna!

“I have been going down to Puerto Vallarta the last year to hunt for this fish. We were diving high spots around a rock about 25 miles out and making dives to about 50 ft and just hanging there for 30 seconds or so.

Once in a blue moon a monster tuna will swim by. On this dive I had just leveled off at 50 ft whenI saw him in the distance maybe 40 ft from me and moving toward me and to my left. I quickly kicked hard to close the distance and was able to get about 20 feet away before the fish started to act like he didn’t want my company.

I let the shaft fly and it found its mark a bit lower and further back than I would have liked and not as deep of penetration but I hoped the shot would hold. He pulled me around for at least 45 minutes-after it took 6 or 7 minutes just to find the float and another 10 to catch up to it. I think he died or was close to death as I could finally start to pull him up. As I got him to within 30 feet and clipped the end of my float line to my float and swam down to him I could see that the slip tip was toggled just under the skin!

I decied I would try to grab him and point him up and swim up with him. Tied him off to the boat-feeling great but I thot he was only 250 to 280. When we got him on board the captain said he was definately over 300! WOOOHOOO! Luckily we found an IGFA certified scale and well… I am one happy camper.”

Photo 4: Dr. CRAIG swims his tuna to the surface! Remember…no tanks allowed. This is all done with whatever air you can inhale in your lungs.

Photo 5: Fat tuna and a new world record 317 pound yellowfin tuna for CRAIG!

AIRLINE NEWS

In case you hadn’t heard, Alaska Airlines is now flying from Los Angeles to La Paz 3 times a week. They commence flights from the San Francisco Area Nov. 15th. Beginning on Dec. 15th, Delta Airlines under the name of “Eastern Atlantic” starts flying from Los Angeles to La Paz.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

Jonathan Roldan’s Tailhunter International

Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

Phone: (626) 333-3355

FAX: (626) 333-0115

E-Mail: Riplipboy@aol.com

U.S. Office: 3319 White Cloud Dr., Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745

Mexico office: Carr. a Pichlingue KM5; Numero 205, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico

“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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