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Archive for March, 2013

yellowtail tags cavelini 3-13

Big yellowtail in the 30-pound class again provided super action all week for our anglers including John Cavellini who fished with Captain Victor near Cerralvo Island and shows off his first-ever forkie yellowtail!

yellowtail rack tags 3-13

Rack of fat yellowtail headed for the fillet knife and the freezer. Racks like this were not uncommon catches this week.

WARM WEATHER LOW WINDS MAKE FOR SOLID YELLOWTAIL BITE AGAIN!

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week of March 17-24, 2013

It was another very good week for weather with temperatures surprisingly warm for spring in the mid to high 80’s and winds giving us a break which meant good conditions for more yellowtail which did not disappoint.

Again, fishing around Cerralvo Island, especially the north and east sides of the island, as one angler put it, “There’s so much mackerel in the water, the waters are thick with them!”  This is like candy in the water for yellowtail and sure enough we averaged 2-6 big yellowtail up to about 35 pounds this week…a real healthy grade of fish.  Quite a few others were lost.

Check out some video of  Greg Hunley battling a big yellowtail.  Check out how close to shore we are with Cerralvo Island in the distance and how calm the waters are!  https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=d8a4dfbefd40a051&id=D8A4DFBEFD40A051%21238&Bsrc=SkyMail&Bpub=SDX.SkyDrive&authkey=!ALT32fTppT8gO_c

The fish were eating live mackerel as well as casted iron in blue and white as well as scrambled-egg patterns on the fast retrieve.  Slow trolled yo-zuri magnums were also effective and similarly produced some pargo and cabrilla in the same areas.

We also had (sorry I don’t have a photo), but a wahoo exceeding 100 pound was also taken in the middle of the yellowtail bites when the big fish was seen free-swimming next to one of the pangas and the quickly tied on some wire with a hooked mackerel and pitched it at the lazy wahoo.  The big wahoo took the bait and fish on!  Hopefully, I’ll get a photo of it for next time!

Conditions seemed to be clearing all over which is a great sign.  My captains scouting north of La Paz tell me the green cooler waters are getting better and yellowtail started to rise around El Bajo Seamount!

In addition, we also got some pargo, cabrilla and sierra close to shore!

COMING HOME…THANKS TO ALL!

C61_R64_fred-hall-iz-slide-46

After 3 months on the road and about 15,000 miles of driving, we’re finally coming home!  We’ve had a grand grand time!  We kicked it off in early January and drove from San Diego to the ISE show in Sacramento…then cross the plains and Rockies to Denver…Seattle (Puyallup)…Portland…Yakima…Phoenix…Boise…Long Beach…Salt Lake City…San Diego!   Wow!  Ten shows in 11 weeks!

We’ve criss-crossed the western U.S. up and down and back and forth at the biggest and best fishing and hunting shows around and talked to so many great folks and seen so much of this great country.  The best part was all the laughs, smiles and hospitality of so many of our old amigos and new amigos to be and talking about all the great fishing in La Paz.  It’s also great to see and share the road and shows with all our friends in the industry…many of whom we only get to see once a year.  We’ve had a blast and we want to say a big MUCHAS GRACIAS to everyone and GRACIAS A DIOS for keeping us safe on the roads and to God bless you all for a great year and season.  TAILHUNTER folks are the best!

Now..back to La Paz and let’s go fishing!

That’s our story!

Jonathan and Jilly

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

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

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report: 

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

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

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

 

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yellowtail art debbie tags 3-13

Great way to start your fishing vacation! Dr. Art Flippin usually spends his days in sub-zero weather working around the Arctic Circle! So, donning shorts and Hawaiian shirts is a welcome treat! He and his Debbie Divine kicked off their vaction by jumping on some fat yellowtail near Cerralvo Island as well as a few tasty cabrilla off the reef! They’re posing here on the beach at Bahia de Los Muertos.

Jorge jig gaff yellowtail tags 3-13

Our amigo, and former La Paz fishing champ shows hows it’s done as he does it all by himself! He hooks and fights the fish…hangs the fish…then gaffs it and brings it aboard Superman-style! We recommend you let our captains help you, but Jorge is a super-star! This is the back-side of Cerralvo Island. Not the big dorado-colored jig in the fish’s mouth and the flat waters close to shore!

Flippin yellowtail 3 tags 3-13

Art spent a few days on the water with us and shows off another nice fat yellowtail near the north point of Cerralvo. Check out the guy in the background on the bow of another panga…totally bent on another big yellowtail!

yellowtail to gaff tags 3-13 flippin

Nothing quite like seeing a fish come to gaff after a long battle! Looks like another yellowtail is gonna get put in the box!

Adam Toeniskoetter yellowtail tags 3-13

Adam Toeniskoetter and his dad came down to visit us from Northern California for the first time and had 3 banner days of yellowtail fishing before the winds kicked up again mid-week. Adam poses with a hefty yellowtail.

Yellowtail jigs

Handy to have! I’m getting alot of questions from guys asking what colors of lures/ iron they should bring down this time of year if the yellowtail are biting or if the bait gets scarce. Here’s a few samples I pulled from my own tackle box to show. They’re a little nicked and dinged and scraped, but that’s because they’ve been BIT!

photo

Just thought I’d throw this in. Chuck Toeniskoetter kindly sent me this photo of Steve Jobs new yacht that’s been parked in Marina Costa Baja in La Paz. This is what 140 million bucks can buy you. One amigo joked that it kinda looks like a floating iPod. It’s not the prettiest watercraft ever! But I bet if you get close enough you get free wi-fi signals! It’s probably hard to fish from!

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If you ever wondered…yes, whales do smile! The grey whales seemed to staying around a bit longer than usual this year and our visitors had a great time with them this week getting about as close to the mom’s and calves as you could get and rubbing noses! Thanks to Debbie Divine for this photo. We’re still running daily trips to Mag Bag as long as the whales stay around!

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Salt Lake City you were great to us! Thanks for all the hospitality and the fantastic time at the ISE show in Sandy UT! After 3 months on the road, Jill and I finally wrap up our Tailhunter Road tour and will be in San Diego starting Wednesday to Sunday at the Del Mar Fairgrounds for the Fred Hall Fishing Show! Then we head home finally to La Paz!

YELLOWTAIL SLAM MACKEREL AND IRON JIGS BACKSIDE OF CERRALVO ISLAND!

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week for March 10-17, 2013

It’s a good thing we didn’t have any fishing clients early in the week as the northern winds kicked in again and pretty much made it impossible to fish so just as well!  However, mid-week winds kicked down a notch and like clockwork, up came the bait and so did the big horse yellowtail that have taken up residence around Cerralvo Island.

Again, a good grade of 20-40 pound fish were the norm.  Mackerel worked as the hot ticket, but for guys who knew how to work the iron, especially blue and white, yellow and green and scrambled egg patterns the fish were more than cooperative and produced some of the larger fish.   Pangas averaged about 3-8 yellowtail each with almost as many tougher fish lost in the rocks or simply busted off…which is part of the fun.

Late in the week, it’s important to note that the mackerel did get harder to locate.  That’s not a good sign.  So, we’re keeping an eye on that.

We’ve had a great yellowtail season the last 5 weeks or so, but that was dependent on the mackerel being around.  As the mackerel go so do the yellowtail so we hope the mackies don’t go…just yet!  But that means that we had to work harder to get the fish especially using iron so one of those rare times when artificials are preferred over live bait simply because the live bait was hard to find, those angler who knew how to use throwing and yo-yo iron were at an advantage.  The basic technique simply means dropping the lure overboard and winding like your arm is falling off as fast as you can go!  The faster you crank the better the chance of getting a big yellowtail to slam the lure.  It also means that when you do have the mackerel, every one has to count!  No wasting bait!  Be on your “A” game!  Yellowtail don’t “nibble!”   The INHALE and head back to the rocks!   Big 40-pound fish don’t hesitate and they’ll slam into the baits and if you’re not ready, you miss your chances!

As for other species, the focus has been so intense for the last month on the big yellowtail that the other species common to this time of year are almost being ignored.  Yes, there’s pargo liso in the shallows as the big mutton snapper are in the shallows for their annual spawn.  There’s also cabrilla and sierra as well in the shallows and rocky areas plus we’re seeing more roosters as the weeks go on as well.

TAILHUNTER TOUR 2013 WINDS IT UP IN SAN DIEGO THIS WEEK!

San Diego-20120321-00243

After 3 months and almost 15,000 miles of driving, the 2013 Tailhunter Road Tour winds it up this week with our 10th and final show.  We’re back on the beautiful Pacific Ocean in S. California in San Diego at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.  We’re in the booth from Wednesday to Sunday at the Fred Hall Fishing and Boating Show.  This is always a fun show and it’s good to be back in the sunshine and on home turf!  Come say hi and let’s talk about your 2013 La Paz fishing vacation!  For more details, check out the link:  http://www.fredhall.com/pages/san_diego/sdticketInfo.php

Have a great week everyone!

That’s our story!

Jonathan and Jilly

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

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

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report: 

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

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

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

 

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yellowtail fabio tags 3-13

Big horse toad slugger yellowtail still running hard and strong around Cerralvo Island. Fabio shows a head shot on another big guy. If the winds are down the fish come to chew! (Thanks for the photo Hawk!)

yellowtail 3-13 ventana

Earlier in the week when the winds let us, this is the kind of world-class yellowtail fishing we were doing with 3-8 yellowtail per panga in the 20-40 pound class. As the winds increased over the week, the bite got a little pickier, but we still got into the fish! Mackerel, sardines, Rapala-type lures and yo-yo iron all worked!

Judy JR Caroline Jilly-proc

Thanks to everyone for the fantastic week at the Long Beach Convention Center for the Fred Hall Fishing and Boating Show! It was the best week we’d ever had in all these years and the best part was seeing so many of our amigos and amigas who stopped by to visit including Judy and Caroline from Western Outdoor News who work with us during the November Tuna Jackpot Tournament Cabo. Jill and I wanted to say thanks to everyone! Nothing like being home in S.Cal! “Fish Hard….Party Harder!”  Now we head to another of our favorite places…the ISE Show in Salt Lake City at the Southtowne Expo Center in Sandy UT.  Show is Thursday to Sunday!

WIND DOWN YELLOWTAIL UP!

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week of March 4-11, 2013

All-in-all, a pretty solid week of fishing with more yellowtail all week.   It wasn’t completely wind-free, but enough so that we could get into the yellowtail whch were again, horses!   Mostly the fishing centered around Cerralvo Island with some thick 20-40 pound fish coming up on the mackerel, sardines and especially the iron with blue/white…green/yellow…and scrambled egg patterns working the best!  Some of these fish were horses and as many fish were lost as were caught!

When folks got into the mackerel schools, especially, things could get wild as we had several stories of anglers jigging on their light tackle and getting slammed by big yellowtail and having their hands full…much to the entertainment of their fishing partners!   However, it wasn’t uncommon for the pangas to nail 4, 5, 6, or more of these big yellowtail each day!

Winds were great early in the week which corresponded with the best bite then increased as the week went on, especially in the afternoon and by the weekend they were back up to speed and the bite, consequently diminished.  That’s the biggest problem is the winds.  Winds up and the the fish are more difficult.  This coming week the predictions show that the winds start diminishing about Thursday so hopefully, we’ll get back into the thick of it!

Also, as a side note…yes! There are pargo and cabrilla running.  In fact, the pargo are up and thick in the shallows as this is spawning time.  However, everyone is concentrated on the yellowtail which are easier to stop than the big pargo which are embedded in the rocks!  But yea..the big red guys are there with the big seabass!

TAILHUNTER TOUR HEADS NORTH TO SALT LAKE CITY

Thanks, for the great visit, Long Beach!  We're headed to Salt Lake City now for the ISE show!

Thanks, for the great visit, Long Beach! We’re headed to Salt Lake City now for the ISE show!

We just wrapped up the best and busiest show of the season.  We spent 5 incredible days at the Fred Hall Fishing and Boating Show at the Long Beach Convention Center where it was just packed every single day.  Jill and I are hoarse from hours-and-hours of talking and seeing so many of our amigos and clients plus meeting new ones.  Lots of bookings too and we’re jazzed so many of you are coming back to visit us this year in La Paz!

Also, thanks to everyone who stopped by with wishes and goodies for my birthday!  Wow…it was like 5 days of Christmas and often it seemed like there was a bigger party in back of the counter than in front of the counter!  We had a grand time and we surely appreciated all the visits, the gifts…THE FOOD!!!  We ate non-stop from day 1 to 5!

We’re now on the road to Salt Lake City to the Southtowne Expo Center in Sandy UT for the International Sportsmens Expo.  It runs Thursday to Sunday and is always a blast. That’s March 14-17th!   We always enjoy being in Salt Lake City and seeing our friends.  So, come by the booth and say hi and let’s talk about fishing in La Paz this year!  Here’s info on the show if you need details or tickets:  http://www.sportsexpos.com/

That’s our story!

Jonathan and Jilly

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

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

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report: 

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

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

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

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yellowtail jig tags 2-13

Once the winter winds back off, the big fish bit back hard with big fat yellowtail like this one stuck on iron off Cerralvo Island. The only thing is that the winds took their sweet time to back down and we didn’t get into fish until late in the week.

yellowtail brian oneill tags 2-13

Another fish hung on the blue and whit iron! Take a look at the quality of this 40 pound class yellowtail that Brian O’Neil hung fishing a long week with us with our Las Arenas Fleet. Brian is from Atlanta GA.

yellowtail gerardo tags 2-13

The client didn’t want their photo taken so Captain Gerardo of our Las Arenas fleet took the pose with another fat forktail taken off the island.

cougar JR edit

Thanks for the great time and great show, Boise! One of our best shows of the season! And now…here we come, LONG BEACH FRED HALL SHOW! This is the grand daddy of shows! It’s one of the largest on the west coast and kicks it off Wednesday to Sunday at the Long Beach Convention Center!

WINDS BLOW AND KEEP US OFF THE WATER UNTIL LATE IN WEEK!

La Paz / Las Arenas fishing Report for Week of Feb. 24 to March 3, 2013

Compared to the previous week, this past week was a complete disappointment for the most part.  A week ago the winds gave us a break and laid down and the yellowtail went on a major feed along with dorado, marlin and sailfish.  Well, this past week, the winds were pretty unforgiving.  It was like Mother Nature was making up for being nice to us or reminding us that this is still winter.   So, she ripped  us pretty much all week!

But…on the good side, we didn’t have many fishermen either, so let the wind blow!  No harm. No foul.

However, as the weekend came up, the winds ran out’ve some of their steam and sure enough, it was enough of a window for the fish to come back up.  Yellowtail once, more came on the chew with fish in the 20-40 pound class around Cerralvo Island and south of Bahia de Los Muertos.  Our pangas averaged 4-8 yellowtail each in the boat with others lost to the rocks or inexperience.  Additionally, there were cabrilla and smaller pargo taken as well.  The fish were eating mackerel, sardines and willing to eat the yo-yo iron as well.

We just had one of the best shows of the 2013 tour season wrapping up our show at the Idaho Sportmans Show at the Idaho Fairgrounds in Boise!  Great to see so many of our amigos and talk to all the new folks.  We booked lots of trips for this year and excited about seeing everyone . Thanks to everyone who came by to say hi.  Boise is one of our favorite stops along the way!

LAST CALL CABIN FEVER CLASSIC

Last call for our 13th Annual Cabin Fever Classic Event.  We’re gonna have it April 10-15th in La Paz and it’s the only personally escorted trip we do and it’s always great fun with super friends, great food…and even some fish!  It’s 3 days of fishing and a day of snorkeling at the island plus lots of extras.  For more information, e-mail us at riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com.  There’s just a few spots left!

WE’RE HEADED TO LONG BEACH FOR THE BIG SHOW!

But now…the Tailhunter 2013 Road Tour heads to the BIG SHOW!  The Fred Hall Fishing and Boating Show at the Long Beach Convention Center.  This is probably the biggest show on the west coast with hundreds of vendors…tons of fishing and outdoor gear…seminars by the best in the industry…boats…travel…hunting…vacations…FIVE MASSIVE DAYS of craziness!  It starts Wednesday and goest to Sunday.  Comes see us and let’s talk about fishing in La Paz!  We’ll be in our booth in our usual spot next to Izorline and Whopper Stopper Rods on the main tackle row.  See ya there!

That’s our story!

Jonathan and Jilly

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

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

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

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

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report: 

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

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

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

 

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