PHOTO 1: Steve Hastings was in town from Washington State to study with our friend Juli Goff at Se Habla La Paz Spanish Language School. He figured to take a day or two and go fishing just for a break-in-the-action. He ripped on a variety of fish including bull dorado such as this, despite winter-conditions. Captain Pancho looks on. Bahia de Los Muertos in the background. On his 2nd day, Steve even hooked a marlin on a light tackle spinning rod before it broke off.
PHOTO 2: Craig Black from Canada was on his first trip to La Paz. He’s an avid flyfisher and despite warnings to perhaps not expect too much since it’s windy and the off-season, Craig caught and released 26 roosterfish in the span of 3 hours as well as several nice jack crevalle that tore into him plus hooking numerous needlefish and losing several pargo.
PHOTO 3: Captain Pancho standing on the beach at Muertos Bay with Stan Kirkland from British Columbia and Steve Hastings from Washington. They are holding some nice dorado as well as pargo. Fun fishing to get both warm and cooler water species at the same time!
PHOTO 4: Calm waters and tough fish are a great combination, especially for flyfishing. This is Craig Black again with one of the jack crevalle he caught and released. He was impressed with the power of the fish the Mexicans nickname “toro” (bull) for good reason.
PHOTO 5: Match the hatch! This is a sample of the fly pattern used this past week on the roosterfish and jack crevalle. They match the sardines that we use for bait very well.
PHOTO 6: Leonard “Don’t call me Leo Di Caprio” Bishop is a transplanted Canadian flyfisher who got into the roosterfish as well. He got dozens of the schoolie gallos and is now trying for one of the bigger toads. Notice how close he is to the beach.
PHOTO 7: Matt Fiamengo came in last week to celebrate his 1 year wedding anniversary and took a day to knock down some fish with his wife. Not a bad day with pargo, dorado and sierra standing on the beach at Muertos Bay.
PHOTO 8: I couldn’t resist this Jimmy Buffet shirt worn by Matt Fiamengo at our Tailhunter Bar. “The Weather is Here. Wish You Were Beautiful.” Thanks to all of you this past year who helped us open the new bar and restaurant in style and being part of the fun. We’ve already been rated #1 on Trip Advisor. Thanks also to all of you who wrote a review or comment! If you’d like to add your own or post a photo click this: BEAUTIFUL WEEK OF CHRISTMAS FISHING WITH COOPERATIVE FISH AND WEATHER!
We probably could not have asked for a better week for fishing conditions. There were some strong breezes, but that didn’t stop the fish from biting and overall, it was just really pleasant time on the water with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70’s to low 80’s. All of our fishing was done out of Muertos Bay and we really got a surprising variety of fish. Despite the cooler temperatures and it being late in the season, pelagic species such as tuna, wahoo, dorado, marlin and roosterfish are still around!
The tuna were just off the drop off between Punta Perrico and the old Hotel Las Arenas. Nothing big, but a fun size 20 pound class fish were great on light tackle. There also seemed to be a school running around the high spots south of Cerralvo…er Jacques Cousteau Island! It’s the same place were getting the occasional wahoo rip as well! The 2nd mount seems to be some type of concentration of wahoo with fish around 30 pounds there. One boat got 6 fish one day. Another day, a panga got 3 while several others dropped fish.
Dorado are just as surprising. Pretty much, the mahi are free ranging. We’ve been finding the fish by dragging a strip of fresh bonito behind the pangas, especially around concentrations of bait or where the waters fall to deeper waters. No telling. But all of a sudden if you get bit on the strip bait, tossing some live sardines around often brings 2, 3 or more dorado into the bite as well. The fish aren’t big, but you can have a blast on 10-25 pound fish! Straight live bait with nothing else except possibly a heavier leader, like 30-40 pound test, is about all it’s taking!
And then, there’s the billfish…striped marlin and sailfish. Steve Hastings from Washington fished several times with us and he was busy with tuna and dorado and a striper went swimming by the panga. He grabbed the nearest rod and fired out a sardine which got inhaled by the striper. Unfortunately, as Steve laughed later…it was his light spinning rod! He immediately realized his error and hung on for about 2 minutes but said it was incredible fun. He would have released the fish anyway.
As well, what’s up with the roosterfish? I think this is the longest roosterfish season I’ve ever had down here! We were getting them as early as February and even now in December, there’s big sluggers around as well as schoolie fish! My amigo, Leonard Bishop and his amigo, Craig Black from Canada took out the flyrods and in a matter of about 3 hours caught and released close to 30 school-sized roosterfish and some nice sized jack crevalle and had a hoot.
TAILHUNTER ROAD TOUR 2010 COMING SOON NEAR YOU!
In a few days, we climb in our trusty white van and hit the road to visit all of you back in the states as we start our 2010 Tailhunter Road Tour setting up our booth at all the big hunting and fishing shows in the Western United States.
Our first show is January 7-10th at the International Sportsman’s Expo in Denver CO at the Denver Convention Center. Come say hi and pick up a copy or our DVD and brochures!
Here’s our full schedule:
January 7-10 – Denver Convention Center for the International Sportsman’s Expo Booth 648
January 14-17 – San Mate Expo Center (San Francisco) for the International Sportsman’s Expo Booth 556C
January 21-24 – International Sportsmens Expo Sacramento CA at the State Fairgrounds Booth 3108
January 27 -31 – Washington Sportsmens Show at Puyallup Washington Booth 1041
Feb. 10-14 – Pacific Northwest Sportmens Expo at Portland OR Booth 1231
Feb. 26-28 – Cardinal Football Stadium Phoenix AZ for the International Sportsmen’s Expo Booth 533C
March 3-7 – Fred Hall Fishing and Boating Show at Long Beach Convention Center
March 9-15 – Central Oregon Sportmens Show Redmond OR Booth 135
March 18-21 – International Sportsmens Expo at Salt Lake City UT Both L1422C
Hope to see you in 2010.
Have a great New Year! That’s our story…
Jonathan and Jill
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
Website: http://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
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.”
Tailhunter Fish Report 