A little of this. A little of that. This is pretty typical of what our catch is like now that the seasons are changing. Some bonito, sierra, pargo.
SNOWBIRDS IN TOWN – THE GAP BETWEEN HOLIDAYS
La Paz- Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Nov. 20-27, 2016
Hope you and yours had a great Thanksgiving week!
Not much going on this past week. Very few folks in town and most of the visitors are from colder climates and these snowbirds are just trying to find some sunshine. They’re not necessarily in town to fish, or snorkel or participate in other water sports…except for the windsurfers who are starting to head towards La Ventana/ El Sargento near Las Arenas. As our winds get strong and stronger, that area in the channel by Cerralvo Island is world-class for wind sports.
As far as our fishing, well, it is indeed getting windier and not the most ideal for fishing. So, you it is what it is if you plan to fish in the off-season. It’s definitely usually sunny, but winds can make it bumpy and/ or limit the areas we can fish and the types of species we can fish for.
Indeed, that’s what happened this week. No big pelagic to report for the first time all season. No dorado. No tuna. No rooster fish. No billfish. So, maybe the warm-water season has finally ended.
Or, maybe it’s just an aberration. When there’s not many boats on the water, a few boats can’t be everywhere at once checking out all spots. So, there could well be spots of big game fish still out there. Or not. As the season goes along and rolls into December, things will get clearer. It’s definitely a transition time right now.
So, what we got were some cargo, cabrilla, sierra and bonito. Pretty much inshore species. For now. We should get a few more folks on the water now that Thanksgiving weekend is over.
BUT WAIT!!!
Don’t close the curtains just yet…
From Twin Falls, Idaho, Terry Robinson had a great day nailing this huge wahoo…losing a few others…tangling with a big dorado for a bit and also getting the wahoo below.
And here’s the nice tuna. Chunky fish for November!
Just as I was putting out this report to make my deadline, we had some of our anglers hit wahoo and tuna! And lost others! So, hold everything. Maybe it’s not over yet!
That’s our story
Jonathan
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
Brandon and Tanya McGarr (next photo) were down to see us for their first trip and also celebrating their birthdays. They’re from Rock Springs, Wyoming. At the same time, they got this double-hook-up of big roosterfish and had to fight each fish simultaneously. Nice late-season roosters and both were released. They also got a wahoo to take home.
As mentioned above, Tanya McGarr tied up to this big rooster at the same time her husband, Brandon, also bit bit. It’s hard to hold up a fish for a photo when your arms are tired! She released the fish!
Wahoo, like the ones caught by Paul “LP” Hieb with Captain Pancho, are still around, but not sure for how much longer as conditions are changing.
FISHING MIXED AS WINDS INCREASE
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Nov. 13-20, 2016
Things are really sliding into different conditions with each passing week. More wind. Still wonderfully, sunny but cooler. More snowbirds showing up, not so much interested in fishing as just finding warmer conditions than where they were coming from. Fewer families right now as we approach the holidays and families have other things on their plates.
As far as fishing, there’s far fewer anglers than we had even a week or two ago. This is that “gap” between the holidays and the start of our off-season when we don’t see so many anglers again until late March or April.
There’s still fish out there, but it’s hard to get a great read on things when there are so few boats on the water. That one boat fishing just one day, might find the fish and have a banner time. Or, they could miss the fish but if they had been 500 yards away in a different spot, they might have hit a honey-hole. One or two pangas can’t cover the whole ocean.
So, one thing is for sure. There’s not a lot of boat traffic out there! Further, it’s a crapshoot for fishing. We do the best we can and we go have fun.
The other thing that’s guaranteed is that the winds are going to get stronger from the north. We have already shut down our Tailhunter La Paz fleet for the season. It’s just too unpredictable to be outside the bay when it can be blowing outside even when the bay looks calm. But even in the bay, sometimes, there’s whitecaps these days.
So, all of our fishing has been pretty much with our Tailhunter Las Arenas Fleet from Muertos Bay where at least the waters are a little more protected and the fish are closer.
But, even that being said, we had four days this past week where I recommended that the clients not go fishing and fish a different day because the winds were too strong. That made all the difference. But, those were cases where the clients were with us for a few days and had flexible schedules.
It’s different if some fishermen only have 1 day to fish or are walk-in clients to our store and want to go fishing…”tomorrow.” I can only advise them that it might be pretty windy if that’s what the forecast says or completely tell them it’s not even safe to go out because the winds will be gusting.
All that being said, out folks that went out this week got some nice variety out’ve Bahia de los Muertos.
There’s still some wahoo biting not too far outside of Metros and around Punta Perrico. The fish are nice-grade 30-pound class fish most times. Some a little bigger. Some a little smaller, but still…a wahoo! We’re still losing more than we’re putting in the boat. These wahoo have gotten cagey. They’re tough and fast and they’ve got those sharp teeth and are even biting off the Rapalas!
We also found a few tuna out there in front of the old Hotel Las Arenas too. Just about 100 yards or so off the beach, there’s some breezing yellowfin of 20-30 pounds that are wiling to eat the squid.
Near that same area, we also surprisingly got into some late season hefty 30-50 pound rooster fish as well. I can’t remember getting roosters this late in the season, but that could also be because I can’t remember anyone fishing for them this late, but still…GREAT CATCH and another exotic tough trophy fish!
Rounding out, there’s some pargo, cabrilla, jack crevalle, bonito, snapper and sierra working as well.
That’s our story!
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
Weather – Pleasantly sunny, but cooling off. Days high 80’s. Nights high 60’s (We’re using blankets at night!)
Water – Relatively still warm in the 80’s, but losing visibility as winds starting to churn up the water a bit
Wind – Becoming more of an issue and now getting more northerns. Had to suggest some folks wait a few days to fish because it was too rough outside and gusts blowing double digits.
Fishing Quantity – Lots of dorado if you fished with our La Paz Fleet. Only 1-2 fish per panga at Las Arenas, but they could be 20-50 pounders.
Fishing Quality – The La Paz dorado continue to be dinks…5-10 pounds. The larger wahoo this week were 40-pound class.
Jonathan’s Forecast – Gonna get windier and cooler as we head towards winter. Not hardly anyone on the water anymore.
Jonathan’s Attitude – Grateful and blessed to have reached pretty much the end of our 21st season here. Another year of great memories and so many smiles with all our Tailhunter Tribe.
THE FULL EDITION FISHING REPORT
That’s alot of wahoo meat! Linda Canizzo and Jack Stewart just had one day to fish but put this phat ‘hoo in the boat at Muertos Bay.
First day on the water for L.P. Hieb and his dad, Paul, produced this nice wahoo and a yellowfin tuna. Several other fish were also lost. It was a week where we got wahoo, but there were alot of bite-offs and lost lures. The wahoo were getting smarter!
You can tell the seasons are changing. From Rock Springs, Wyoming, Brandon and Tanya McGarr show off the type of catch we’ll be seeing more of…a mix of offshore/inshore species with the inshore species becoming more prevailant. But a sweet mix of fish including a tuna snapper, pargo, triggerfish and bonito.
Day 2 on the water for L.P and Paul produced a double handful of more wahoo for them out’ve Muertos Bay.
Happy Fella…Jack Steele spends a good part of the year in La Ventana and fishing with Captain Hugo put the wood to another speedy wahoo.
FULL MOON WAHOO PACE CHANGING BITE & CONDITIONS
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Nov. 6-13, 2016
Fishing conditions and seasons are definitely changing.
With each passing week, it’s a little cooler…a little breezier…the sun is going down earlier…the shadows are getting longer. But, it’s still a great time to be here with lots of sunshine mixed with an occasional passing localized pleasant afternoon shower. Temperatures have been in the high 80’s and evenings have been great an in the high 60’s. Fewer fishermen are here. Fewer families are here as well now that we’re approaching the holiday season. However, there’s snowbirds coming for vacations or seasonal residents escaping their colder homes to spend the winter here in La Paz.
As for fishing, once again, it seems that the closer we get to the full moon…and during the full moon…the better the fishing. As I mentioned, there’s not many anglers out on the water so you almost have the whole ocean to yourself and, although we’re seeing more and more cooler water fish like sierras, cabrilla, jack crevalle, pargo and rainbow runner, there’s still some great blue water pelagic fishing to be done. And, as I said, without many folks here, you’ve got the fishing grounds pretty much to yourself and not much pressure on the fish!
For our Tailhunter La Paz Fleet, as it has been been pretty much all season, the schoolie-sized dorado are still the main catch. They’re smallish, but fun and provide lots of action. Catch-and-release has been very common because you can hook way over your limit in short order. Anglers get enough for their limits and coolers or for dinner and then keep fishing just for fun and letting the extra fish go.
Most of the dorado continue to be 5-10 pounds, but occasionally, there’s a 15 or 20 pounder makes it in. Often, there’s so many “squirts” they don’t give the bigger fish a chance to grab the bait! In those same areas, there’s still some marlin and sailfish feeding as well providing the occasional hookups.
For our Tailhunter Las Arenas Fleet out’ve Muertos Bay, I was really surprised that we are still getting so many wahoo! In fact, almost every day, our pangas were hooking 1-5 wahoo each. Of course, that’s a generalization. It changed from day-to-day. Howver… Maybe getting 1 or 2 to the panga, but these are quality 20-40 pound fish! Great fun and great eating. Experienced anglers are getting even better scores.
One thing…we’ve been seeing wahoo almost all year. Now that we’re at the end of the year, I think the wahoo have gotten a little more clever. We’re sure losing alot more fish than before…even for our veteran anglers. I think the wahoo have learned to hit the trolled Rapalas from the side thereby cutting the lines. Rods go bendo then ZIP!!! Just like that, the lure is gone in a snap.
As well, there’s still flurries of 20-30 pound yellowfin tuna hanging out as well and willing to eat the chunked squid drifted down on a bare hook in the current.
No real roosterfish to speak of this week, but not really anyone chasing roosterfish this time of year. But it doesn’t mean they aren’t still out there. It’s just the wahoo and tuna have gotten (understandably) most of the focus.
But, with the cooling conditions, we’re seeing alot more variety. A little more of this and that and more inshore species. For sure, winds have become more and more of an issue and there were several days this week that we recommended that the clients stay in and wait a day or two before going out on the water.
It’s going to be coming more common as the north winds increase.
TAILHUNTER DONATION NATION
All the way from Alaska, Lonn and Emma Goldbeck brought down school supplies and toothbrushes along with some great smiles. Lonn is a guide for Hellbent Sportfishing in Alaska. Emma is a school teacher.
End of the season big shout out to EVERYONE all year who brought down so many good and great things for our families and kids in the barrio and the orphanage as well as the women’s shelter. Grateful beyond words at what a difference you made in other’s lives and the smiles you all created. I’m sorry that I also didn’t get Brandon and Tanya McGarr’s photo for this week’s donations!
…and one more big thank you from us
Well…eleven months later, it looks like we’ve come to the end of another season here in La Paz. If anyone is counting, I believe that wraps up 21-years! Jill has already left for the states and I’ll be following in a few days to start getting ready to hit the road on our annual tour of the fishing and hunting shows from late December to the end of March.
We have alot to do now to get the booth together…print out a zillion t-shirts…and brand new 24-page brochure…re-build a new website and find all our winter clothes in storage! I’ll post up all the cities we’ll be visiting in a report in a few weeks. I believe we hit 14 cities in 2017 so I hope we see you there!
But before we pull the curtain down, a few parting words…
You can still come to fish. Our awesome staff will take good care of you in our absence.
The Tailhunter Restaurant is ALWAY open and the margaritas and tacos will still be waiting for you along with our great Tailhunter Team so don’t be shy!
Finally, NOTHING happens without you and because of YOU! We are blessed to do what we do and honored that you share your special vacations and Kodak moments with us. We are beyond grateful. How many jobs can claim that “most of our clients also become our friends?” Thank you all. God bless and best fishes!
That’s our story!
Jonathan and Jilly
TAILHUNTER INTERNATIONAL
La Paz, Baja, Mexico
Mexico office: 755 Obregon, La Paz, BCS, Mexico
Phone: 612-12-53311
U.S. Office Mailing Address: 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA 91942
Weather – Nice Sunny high 80’s to low 90’s. Getting a little more breezy and cooling down. More north winds.
Water– Still nice, but cooling. Mid-80’s. Seeing more cooler water fish moving in. Colder thermoclines.
Quality of Fish – Billfish, tuna and wahoo are good sized when you can get them.
Quantity of Fish – If you fish La Paz, you can get lots of dorado. If you fish Las Arenas, fewer fish, but bigger fish.
Forecast– For coming week weather looks good. Nothing special forecast except sun! But winds getting stronger.
Jonathan’s Attitude – Great! It’s been a long season and we’re coming to end of our 21st season. And fish are still biting!
THE BIG PICTURE FULL EDITION FISHING REPORT
Bruce McFadden is the sales director at the famous Peregine Lodge in Canada and had just one day to fish on a quick visit to us in La Paz. With his wife Leticia and Captain Pancho, they tied into Bruce’s first marlin that he fought for 40 minutes before it got off. (they were going to release it) Then, they got this sailfish but were unable to let it go and generously donated the meat to the pueblo.
Our good amigo, Paul Nagata from San Francisco, with a chunky tuna he caught earlier in the week off Las Arenas on dead squid.
Really great first-timer with us, Scott Evans, tied into this yellowfin tuna and is all smiles and thumbs with Captain Jorge.
LATE SEASON STILL HOLDING BLUE WATER FISH
La Paz- Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Oct. 30-Nov. 6, 2016
Conditions couldn’t have been nicer this past week for weather and water although it’s obvious that everything is changing as we move through the late fall and towards winter. The sun is out and you really couldn’t ask for nicer days in the high 80’s with cooler nights in the low 70’s and high 60’s. (Us locals are wearing sweatshirts and even some jackets now!). Water is getting a little cooler too. All part of the cycle.
Moreso, you can tell we’ve pretty much come to the end of our regular season.
We’ve been rolling full steam since the end of March with as many as 20-50 anglers per day for 7 days-per-week. Now, we’re down to about less than 10 per week and that will continue to taper. From November to March, we might see only a handful as winds get stronger from the north; the waters get a bit rougher; and the “glamour” fish go elsewhere. There will still be fish to catch, but the majority will be inshore species and cooler water species like pargo, cabrilla, rainbow runners and sierra. That doesn’t mean fishing is bad. Just different and surely not to discount some of our cooler water “beasts” like amberjack and yellowtail that can still yank you right outta your socks!
So…to be more specific…we didn’t really fish too much with our La Paz fleet. Winds are already coming from the north and making it bumpy and most of our anglers might do one or two days, and catch a cooler of small dorado between 5-10 pounds, but then want to chase the larger species.
So most of our fishing has been with our Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay Fleet.
There’s some larger dorado there. The wahoo are still hanging around and surprisingly some marlin and sailfish pretty late in the season. There were two blue marlin hooked this week and several stripers and at least one-sailfish.
No tuna for once, but there are several factors that might play into that:
1. The tuna might have started moving out after about 2 months of them being around.
2. We did see some tuna, but moving fast on the surface and headed elsewhere and too fast to get on them
3. Not as many anglers out there from our fleet or any fleet to really pinpoint where the fish might be. (It’s alot easier when a number of pangas are on the water)
4. The few anglers we had this week wanted to spend most of their time chasing other species.
I guess we’ll see how it goes this week!
Some of the other species we got were rainbow runners, pargo, cabrilla and small bonito.
18th ANNUAL LOS CABOS TUNA JACKPOT TOURNAMENT
Team “Tu Corazon” from Los Barriles had the biggest tuna of the tournament with a fish that pulled at 298 pounds. It was worth over $100 thousand dollars, but was not the biggest money winner of the tournament. It did win for biggest fish of the tournament and biggest fish of the first day.
There were lots of fish in the 80-150 pound class that were caught by the 169 teams, but were never weighed because they would not have qualified since we had alot of 180-200 pounders and 8 fish over 200 pounds. These were beasts that were taking 3-4 hours to pull aboard.
Lots of big wahoo were caught both days. The two winning wahoo were 53 and 52 pounds respectively and were worth more than $60 thousand dollars each.
There were a record breaking 169 teams involved from all over the world and all over the U.S. and Mexico. Lots of teams from California, Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida. We had one team from Luxembourg and we’ve had teams from Japan and Russia competing. Good to see so many local teams and also teams from Mexico City as well. There was a record payout for the tournament of almost $800 thousand dollars.
Mark Rayor’s boat the “Vaquera” briefly held the money lead with this 251-pound yellowfin. This was the largest tournament in Mexico history and the largest tuna tournament in the world.
The teams from Texas are always colorful! “It’s not fuschia…that’s too big a word in Texas…It’s PINK!” they told us!
On the last day with only minutes to go before the scales closed, Team Reel Quest literally destroyed the field when they backed into the docks with 5 huge yellowfin tuna parked up against their transom weighing between 150 and 274 pounds. No one had seen anything like it and the huge crowd was cheering! Their 274 and another fish of 251 were the 2nd and 3rd largest fish of the tournament. Largest was a 298 caught the first day.
Team Reel Quest’s fish of 274 pounds wasn’t the largest fish of the tournament, but it was the largest of the 2nd day and it swept all the jackpot categories and resulted in the highest payout ever in the history of the tournament of almost $400 thousand dollars.
Jill and spent this last week working at the Western Outdoor News 18th Annual Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament in Cabo San Lucas. It’s always fun and great to see so many good friends every year.
This year had the largest field ever with 168 teams and 621 anglers from around the world. Lots of teams from the Western U.S including California, Alaska, Oregon, Arizona, Washington and Idaho. Plus so many teams from Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and Florida. I met anglers from Russia, Japan and even one team from Luxembourg in Europe…a first! (And their first time ever in Cabo or Mexico!).
Mexico also had a great representation with a huge number of teams from Cabo San Lucas, Los Barriles and La Paz plus teams from Mexico City and Puerta Vallarta as well. As you can imagine, these local “experts” all did well!
The field made this the largest tuna tournament in the world…and the largest tournament in Mexico. We had a record purse of almost $800 thousand dollars plus raised almost $40 thousand in charity funds for dental work for kids in Los Cabos.
Thanks to everyone who made it the best tournament ever. What a great time with great friends!
That’s our story!
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
Tailhunter Fish Report 