La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of May 23-June 1, 2020
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Popular Captain Pancho got out to fish close-in for some cabrilla and pargo for the family and said there’s alot of roosterfish along the shoreline like this one he caught and released.
Dennis is a Canadian amigo who lives in San Pedro near Muertos Bay and was out trying to catch some food. He ran into this hefty jack crevalle.
With no fishing allowed, the fish have no pressure! Check this crazy video of jack crevalle on a feeding frenzy in the Cabo Marina. Turn up the sound. Thanks for the Pisces Fleet in Cabo for the footage!
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Looks like La Paz will slowly be opening after June 15th.
Although Covid is raging in many parts of Mexico, La Paz has been designated as the safest tourist city by Mexican Health authorities and will have a gradual re-opening mid-month. Authorities are saying, it would still probably take 10-14 days for businesses to resurrect themselves plus establish the safety and sanitation protocols that are being required to re-open. Some, but not all airlines are also re-establishing routes and services.
As I’ve stated before, just because everyone gets the green light on June 16th to open, that doesn’t mean automatically everyone suddenly opens! Like the U.S. many businesses suddenly just turned the keys and had to walk out. Some will take time to re-open. Others may never open again.
As of right now, I have no idea who plans to be open and when!!!!
Businesses are required to pass a health certification inspection. New sanitary protocols have to be put in place. Employees have to be found…and re-trained. Everything has to be cleaned extensively after being vacant for almost 3 months. Hotel rooms need to be sanitized from the ground up. So do restaurants. Even sportfishing boats need to be sanitized.
And then what? How will folks eat in restaurants? How many people in the shuttle from the airport? Can hotel rooms be located next to each other? How do you clean the rooms after a guest leaves? So many moving parts!
TAILHUNTER SPORTISHING
The bottom line for us is that we will be back in La Paz June 23rd. We finally found a flight home! But, that also gives hotels, etc. a chance to get going and establish new routines, etc. We lost our Tailhunter Restaurant permanently in the early days of the quarantine so we don’t have much to prep. We are READY to fish!
But, we don’t (and can’t ) have you down if we don’t even know if the hotels will be ready! Some still aren’t answering phones or e-mails because no one is in the offices. Even if you have reservations, there might not yet flights…so many airlines seem to be making adjustments daily!
I’ve sent e-mails to everyone who had reservations for the month of June to contact us. For all practicality, I think we’ll be up and going July 1st. I hope.
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of May 14-23, 2020
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Secret parties being held all the time! Despite the quarantine.
Curfew time is 8 p.m. everyone off the streets, but locals use Facebook to let others know where the checkpoints are or where patrols will be.
This last weekend alone more than 8,000 people were chased off La Paz beaches which have been “closed” almost two months…supposedly. At one point, law enforcement confiscated everyone’s picnic gear, beach gear, floatie toys and ice chests.
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No fishing to report – Ports/ Marinas and all sportfishing and water activities continue to be closed and under quarantine.
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The news from Mexico and Baja continues to be conflicted and baffling…to say the least.
Amid reports that the State of Mexico and Mexico City seemingly keep setting records each week for infections and deaths, more than 300 “less infected” areas have started to ease their quarantines. This is occurring despite warnings that Mexico has not even faced it’s worst infections…yet.
So, some areas have started re-opening. Some industries like mining, auto manufacturing and construction might be re-starting.
Baja is not one of them.
Originally, slated for re-opening June 1, the government now says it is more likely to keep things shuttered until June 15th…or later. For, sure it definitely doesn’t look like anyone is opening up June 1st. Everyone from hotels to restaurants and airlines is back-peddling now.
This comes in the face of many hotels, restaurants and other businesses, and airlines who were already making plans to open their services at the beginning of June.
The U.S and Mexico also agreed to continue with the border being closed until June 22. However, this does NOT apply to air, sea or rail travel.
The problem is that Baja is among a handful of Mexican states where the virus has not abated. In fact, in areas such as Mexico City, many reports say that the infection and death counts are highly “under-reported.”
It sounds a bit like China. Experts hypothesize that the real statistics might be as much as 3 times higher than reported. As of this writing, there are more than 66,000 confirmed infections with more than 7000 deaths. Numbers that might only be 1/4 or 1/3 of the actual numbers.
In Baja, the big issue is that Baja Norte, which includes the border cities such as Tijuana and Mexicali are seeing very high numbers. It is being lumped together with Baja Sur (which includes Los Cabos, La Paz, Mulege and Loreto) which has relatively few cases.
It’s somewhat like grouping North Carolina and Southern Carolina together. Two different areas. Different cities and populations, etc. Or comparing New York and North Dakota.
However PER CAPITA, Baja has among the highest infection and death rates in the country. It’s always in the top 4 or so. And that’s not good and has the health officials concerned.
The tourism zones of Cabo and La Paz have been quarantined now for over a month. All non-essential businesses are closed. So, are hotels, beaches and restaurants. The ports and marinas are closed so no sportfishing is allowed either.
There’s also 8 p.m. curfews and many other restrictions.
However, as one of my gringo amigos living in La Paz told me, “The locals either ignore the restrictions or don’t give-a-s#@t! They party…sneak out to the beaches…have secret gatherings…you should have seen Mothers Day and Childrens Day!”
“The authorities are supposed to enforce the quarantine, but it is very arbitrary. Anyway, the locals use social media and other clandestine means to avoid checkpoints and to inform each other when the police are searching areas. It’s like a big game to not get caught! Many folks during the daytime wander downtown as if nothing is going on.”
So, bottom line is that no one really knows what’s going to happen. There are a lot of moving pieces.
And, I have to ask, what is the new “normal” going to look like? Do any of us even know what normal will look like in our own towns and cities in the U.S.?
In Mexico, we come to fish, dive and party and spend time with family and friends.
Fishing might be the vehicle that brings us to Mexico, but it’s the whole ambience that keeps us coming back. We come for the beaches, the great food, the nightlife, the shopping, and more.
I have no doubt that when Baja opens up again, it’s going to take time to get on it’s feet again. Whether things open up in early June, late June or whenever, it’s going to be a slow opening.
Officials predict 20-30% of all restaurants will not be able to open. I know our own Tailhunter Restaurant in La Paz had to be closed permanently as a casualty of the pandemic.
I think fishing will be some of the best ever. The fish have been left alone for months. But, which operators will still be running? I once heard that Cabo has over 500 “charter” operators. But, what now? Many could not afford the high slip fees in the marinas during the quarantine.
And what about the hotels and restaurants.
New sanitary protocols will have to be in place.
Does that mean social distancing in restaurants? In hotels? Wearing masks around town or to go to night spots or shopping? What does that mean for tours like snorkel tours or booze cruises where big groups get together? Hanging out on the beach with a mask or walking the waterfront or marina but not after a certain time or keeping social distancing? How are rooms going to be cleaned? Everyone will have to be re-trained.
How is all that going to work out?
I just don’t know. We’re all figuring it out as we go. Everywhere.
ON THE GOOD NEWS FRONT! THANK YOU ALL!
Hugo, our awesome Tailhunter team member, amigo and popular driver for our fishermen to Las Arenas/ Bahia Muertos was hospitalized about 2 weeks go with Covid. It was touch-and-go for a bit.
Happy to say that he has been released and is re-cuperating at home!
I made sure to alert him to all of the e-mails, and facebook messages and prayers that you all sent on his behalf. He saw them all and said to thank you and tell you that the messages were “the best medicine.” He’s looking forward to getting back on his feet and seeing you all again in La Paz very soon!
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for May 7-14, 2020
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Maybe the La Paz Malecon will be open after May 30th? Almost feels like there should be some tumbleweeds blowing across the street.
Police checkpoints are still in effect with “supposedly” only 2 persons per car and an 8 p.m. curfew.
A man in a beer store stands behind a sign reading “I don’t have beer” following the shortage of beer, after the breweries countrywide closed their production due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Monterrey, state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, on May 5, 2020. (Photo by Julio Cesar AGUILAR / AFP) (Photo by JULIO CESAR AGUILAR/AFP via Getty Images)
View of empty fridges and freezers in a store due to the shortage of beer, after the breweries countrywide closed their production due to the COVID-19 coronavirus in Monterrey, state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, on May 5, 2020. (Photo by Julio Cesar AGUILAR / AFP) (Photo by JULIO CESAR AGUILAR/AFP via Getty Images)
TUEDAY May 12- Mexico recorded it’s highest number of deaths for a single day of 353 fatalities. (Mexico Daily News)
Short story…no fishing to report. Ports and Marinas still closed down as well as beaches and hotels.
So…
Since the beginning of the Baja quarantine, I’ve been doing my best to keep y’all posted. Folks are asking where I’m getting my info. As I may have mentioned, I’ve become a news junkie lately.
For my wife and I and our employees in Mexico, our livlihood and your vacations depend on it.
So, here’s some links below that have daily updates. The three newspapers are in Spanish, but will translate to English automatically. Might not be grammatically correct all the time, but you’ll get the idea.
One thing you’ll notice is that what the governor of one Mexican state says is often different from what the Mexican President says…is different from what a city mayor says…is different from what the business people say…and is completely different from what the health officials and doctors say.
And everyone LOVES to point fingers!
The curve is up…the curve is down. This is “under control.” We are “not ready for this.” It’s the “President’s fault.” We don’t care “what the government says.” Face masks work. Face mask don’t work. Blah blah blah…
Sound familiar? As different as we are, the more we are the same.
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As of today:
Mexico – more than 40,000 cases / more than 4,000 deaths/ more than 123,000 suspected cases
State of Baja Norte (Tijuana, Ensenada/ Mexicali/ San Felipe ) 2,300 cases/ 365 deaths
State of Baja Norte (Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Loreto, Mulege) 373 cases/ 22 deaths
The Baja quarantine is still in effect until May 30th, with health officials saying the next week or two will be the apex of the pandemic.
HOWEVER…just as I was putting this report together, the governor or Southern Baja, Carlos Mendoza Davis, and the health officials are now saying they probably will NOT re-open June 1 as it is one of several Mexican states where the virus has not flattened.
Great site updated daily. It chronicles almost a daily diary of the progression of the disease in Mexico from day 1 to the current day. If you like charts, graphs and maps, this is a one-stop information source.
COVID 19 DASHBOARD by Johns Hopkins University COVID 19 MEXICO by Johns Hopkins University
Incredible interactive maps of every country, city, state, province, county IN THE WORLD that is infected with the statistics charted every day. You can spend hours on these. But, completely interactive press, click, enlarge, scan…very thorough.
Takes a bit getting used to having Spanish translated to English, but this covers La Paz/ Cabo/ Loreto/ Mulege and areas in between with headline news, government, politics, sports, tourism, etc. Stories are short and concise.
Good writing and in English! Short stories like a smaller version of USA TODAY. Main stories are free. A few of the more in-depth stories you need a subscription for $2.50 a month. But, I haven’t needed it yet. I think even if COVID wasn’t around, I think I would enjoy this website.
This site IS EXACTLY like reading USA TODAY. Lots of good short articles about Baja, Mexico from news to sports to culture plus international news.
By the way, because a lot of these articles are translated from Spanish, “PEACE” is actually “LA PAZ” which is the the word for “Peace.” So, whenever you see that they are referring to the City of La Paz.
In a past life many many galaxies and lifetimes ago, I was a TV, radio and newspaper reporter. I was also a litigation attorney. There’s always several sides to every story. I learned to read and watch ALOT of different sources. Everyone slants their news or their version of events one way or the other, either intentionally or unintentionally.
You’re really doing yourself a disservice if you only get your news and stories from one source. That’s why I read from so many different sources and suggest you do the same. You’re smart enough that you can sort out what’s truly relevant to you and where each source if really coming from. Kinda like if you only get your news from CNN or FOX or only read the Los Angeles Times, etc.
My personal opinion, for what it’s worth, is that Baja Sur is gearing up to open after May 30th. That includes restaurants, hotels and other facilities.
Many locals have been ignoring the restrictions from the beginning or finding ways to circumvent the quarantine whether that be having private parties; descending on the beaches; using social media to find their way around police roadblocks, operating past curfews and blackmarketing “non-essential items.” Once businesses start re-opening, it’s going to be hard to shut them down again. Or keep people inside. Even if that is in defiance of the quarantine.
Remember, this isn’t like the U.S. There’s alot of people living together in small spaces. There’s often no TV. There’s no internet. Without work, there is no food. I think they will have a difficult time keeping people inside.
But…also, just because businesses re-open does NOT mean tourists, the lifeblood of the economy, will return in right away or in big numbers. That’s the key. Hotels and restaurants might unilaterally shut themselves down if no one shows up.
And then again, it begs the question on all our our minds. What will the new “NORMAL” be like?
I think fishing will be just fine.
But, if beaches are technically still closed. If restaurants are still closed or no one is in them? If the bars and clubs aren’t really open or if not really anyone is on the street, that’s all part of the vacation and fun…it’s the “BAJA EXPERIENCE.” Will tourists still come? Will fishermen still come?
Your guess is as good as mine.
We are planning to be back home the first week of June…all things considered.
Hope you find these interesting and informative.
That’s my story! God bless. Be well. Stay well, amigos!
U.S. Mailing Address: Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA 91942Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863
.Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report: https://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of April 22-29, 2020
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
Please remember that anything I say, might have already changed between the time I recorded this, produced it and when you are actually seeing this!
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Our Tailhunter Captain Luis has been a hotshot the last two seasons and has been rocking some big fish during the downtime. He’s got the DNA for it! His uncle is popular Captain Chito and his grandfather is Raul who have both fished for us for several decades. Luis is our youngest captain and already in big demand. He was out at El Bajo this week and took this big tuna on THIRTY POUND test with 50-pound leader after a 3 hour battle. The fish is estimated at 160-170 pounds.
Only commercial fishermen or locals fishing for sustenance can fish right now. Here’s a smattering of species caught by one of the local guys to feed his family for the week that includes triggerfish, pargo, snapper and cabrilla.
The only folks fishing are locals and folks who have homes there and are staying in place. And, even then, not many. Most are sheltering-in-place. The quarantine in Baja Sur was extended through May 30th and more stringent restrictions have been mandated because too many people were ignoring the quarantine.
CHASING CAMPERS OFF THE BEACH
Therefore, the non-essential businesses remain closed like all hotels, restaurants, stores (not markets) as well as beaches, public areas, etc. However, with the new restrictions, there is also a 10 p.m. curfew now. Facemarks are required by everyone. Only 1 person from a family or group may enter a market now and only 1 person in a car at a time. Plus no alcohol sales after 6 p.m. The governor or Baja addressed the state and said that penalties would include fines, jail time and/or public service.
YOU NEED A GOOD REASON TO BE DRIVING AFTER 10 P.M. ONLY 1 PERSON IN THE CAR AT A TIME
Maybe it’s paying off. Maybe it’s too early to tell.
With almost 800,000 residents in the state of Baja Sur (including Loreto, Mulege, La Paz and Cabo San Lucas), has less than 200 cases with only about a dozen fatalities. 230 have recovered.
Compared to the state of Baja Norte (including Ensenada, Tijuana, Rosarito, Mexicali and San Felipe) as well as mainland Mexico, Baja Sur (so far) is weathering things better than most.
Assuming there are no drastic changes, major hotels are talking about opening up in June.
Several Airlines will resume flights including Delta, Aero Mexico, United, Alaska, Spirit and others.
Restaurants are gearing up to re-open.
They are telling students be prepared to get back to school on July 1. (Just learned…Now June 1)
No idea yet about the ports and marinas which would allow sportfishing boats to get out, but that would be additional good news.
FISH…
We know there’s fish around. A few of our captains and their families are finding yellowtail, dorado and tuna in various spots, but again, barely anyone is fishing. Some have commercial licenses and are using them to get out. However… If you don’t have alot of gas, you can’t go too far, but inshore fishing has been good for amberjack, pargo, cabrilla, triggerfish and snapper. But, again, most of the fish caught is for personal consumption.
However, as in many other parts of the world where human traffic has diminished significantly, there are some interesting reports.
It’s hard to go fishing when there’s no work or money to buy gasoline for the boat.
The waters in the marinas have cleared up. Big gamefish such as yellowtail and roosterfish are being seen close to shore in schools and numbers that haven’t been seen in awhile. Pargo schools at the islands are crashing the rocky areas. Even diving areas such as Cabo Pulmo and around Espirito Santo Island are seeing more and larger sealife that hasn’t been around in awhile.
Mother Nature recovering! Hope we can all say the same very soon as well.
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of April 16-23, 2020
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO FISHING REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY
Popular Captain Ramon “Moncho” Green went north to Espirito Santo Island and took this 80-pound yellowfin tuna and several big 20-pound class yellowtail using sardines.
Gary Wagner, who owns the Rancho Costa there in Muertos has been a bright spot in getting us photos these past few weeks since he’s able to get his own boat right off the beach and go fishing. He sure has a colorful dorado here. Thanks, Gary.
Alot of you know our great Captain Pancho. His son Carlos is growing up (heck of a guitar player too!) and looks he definitely has dad’s fishing DNA. Big tasty pompano in the boat!
Wish I could say things were better, but no one out on the water. Even the locals are having an issue with fishing for personal consumption. The ports have been closed for several weeks now to all traffic, but there’s quite a bit of confusion over whether local fishermen can fish for their families. Some think no problem and are out. But others have been stopped and told they can only be out if they have permits and apparently the paper process is lengthy and confusing in itself.
From the couple of reports that I did get from local fishermen, there’s some nice jags of 25-pound class yellowtail around both Espirito Santo Island and Cerralvo Island. Tuna up to 70-pounds also at the north end of Cerralvo with scattered schools of dorado moving in as waters warm up. Roosterfish have started showing up near the beaches as well as pargo liso started their yearly spawn. No shortage of bonito either.
Tons of bait. No fishermen.
RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES (AS OF APRIL 22)
Mexico almost has over 10,000 confirmed virus cases a jump of over 3,000 in a single week.
Coronavirus deaths are over 950 and climbing daily. Three weeks ago it was 125.
Health officials think that as many as 54,000 is a true number of cases because of so many unreported cases and very little testing.
Four Mexican states with more than 33 million residents are not reporting any statistics because they do not want to violate people’s privacy or “cause panic.”
More than 200 municipalities in 10 Mexican states have closed their roads unilaterally to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the towns.
Hospitals in Mexico City are already almost at capacity.
Baja (states of Baja Norte and Baja Sur) has almost 800 confirmed cases with 38 deaths.
Baja has the highest incidence of infection per capita in the country. Mexico City has the 2nd highest per 100,000 people.
Baja has extended the quarantine past the original April 30th In the absence of something changing, the quarantine is now extended to May 30th.
Health officials estimate that only about 60% of the population are adhering to the quarantine. Many are ignoring the mandates while law enforcement and the military continue to chase people off beaches, public areas and gathering locations.
Healthcare workers are pleading for non-existent personal protection while now themselves becoming targeted for attacks by people who say the workers are spreading the disease.
There’s no stimulus checks, unemployment or health insurance (socialized medicine). In fact 40% of the working population aren’t even on anyone’s books. They work as laborers, vendors and other “cash-only” workers.
The Mexico Undersecretary of Health has not recommended face masks because it gives people a “false sense of security.”
LA PAZ IN QUARANTINE – You Might Recognize a Few Places
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of March 30-April 6, 2020
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Scott McClure was fishing with local friends before the shutdown and caught our first rooster fish of the season near Cerralvo Island. The fish was released. Captain Beto from La Ventana was running the panga.
When you’re staying at your dad’s place at Bahia Muertos, it’s easier to get in a little early evening fishing. Miles Wagner’s dad owns the Rancho Costa resort in Bahia Muertos near La Paz and got out to fish the nearby rocks where the big pargo have shown up. They lost quite a few of the tough fish even with their drags buttoned down, but Miles put this big pargo liso (mullet snapper) in the boat. Miles normally lives in Colorado Springs CO, but with school closed down, he’s spending the off-time fishing in Baja.
Phil Perrone from Oregon was out with our La Paz amigo, Keith Wiliams, where they worked that area on the east side of Cerralvo Island and boated a few nice yellowtail like this one.
He’s always into fish! Keith Williams moved to La Paz a couple of years ago and is able to spend a fair amount of time fishing. He took some friends out before the lockdown last week and added this schoolie dorado to the fish box.
Gary Wagner sits in a sweet spot at his place in Muertos Bay, Rancho Costa and he’s on prime waters. He got this rare hawkfish (china maru) just down the beach off the rocks fro his place.
Roger and Captain Hugo both wore masks while fishing but took his off for this pose with his yellowtail.
Hard to believe that dorado this big are running around in April, but Tailhunter Captain, Luis Martinez took this big bull north of La Paz.
Like everywhere else, the world has changed drastically in Baja which finally jumped in to full-lockdown this past week.
Good news is that the fish are biting and there’s alot of variety. Some of the best fishing of the season.
The bad news is that the only ones fishing are locals or folks who have their own boats. All commercial and Sportfishing activities have been banned. By national decree, all the beaches and public beaches are shut down. All hotels have closed as of April 5 until 30th (but maybe longer). Any one hanging out, we evicted.
All restaurants are closed. The La Paz Malecon is closed. All the ports have closed. In Cabo, and a number of other cities all alcohol sales of any kind have been prohibited. In some cities, even drinking alcohol is now being stopped. La Paz is probably not far behind.
On land and water, sadly, it’s a ghost town and the military and police are enforcing the restrictions. Many people are expecting a curfew soon.
But, on the water, the fish haven’t been on lockdown. It’s like Murphy’s Law.
We’re seeing our first roosterfish of the season. The big mullet snapper (pargo liso) have started to spawn and are showing up in the shallows. Dorado between 10 and 30 pounds are cruising through the warmer currents. Closer inshore, cabrilla, snapper and sierra are holding. There are also all the bonito you could want and yellowtail up to about 25 pounds can be found around structure, banks and reefs. And, there’s live bait too! Oh, and the weather has been pretty good too with temps in the low to mid-80’s although some very strong winds are predicted for this week.
RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES (always wanted to say that)…
Just to give you a quick nutshell of what’s going on in Mexico, here’s some bullet points of information. Just please keep in mind that things are changing daily and rapidly. Anything you read here might and probably will have changed by the time you are reading this:
The Mexican government is finally asking folks to stay home although President Obrador continues to go out meeting and hugging people and shaking hands ignoring his own edicts. His own health officials say it’s too little to late.
The government this week has officially closed all beaches, public areas and non-essential businesses.All hotels in the nation will be closed from April 5-30th. Anyone trying to stay has/ will be evicted. Staffs have been sent home. Administrators are trying to work from home. So, all La Paz hotels are now shuttered.
The government shut down the beaches and public areas because when schools and businesses were closed last week, many people decided it was “vacation” time and thousands headed to the beach.Mexico does not have many outbreaks…so far…and less than 100 fatalities. However, experts do not find the statistics reliable because Mexico does not have the means to test many people.
The La Paz Malecon has been shut down. Army and police are enforcing the lockdown.
All restaurants have closed.
Mexico has 133 million people, but only 400 ICE beds. High obesity, diabetes and heart disease are rampant in the population which is between 10 and 15% of the population.
Many places are ignoring the requirements for social distancing. About 60% of the working population are from the “unofficial economic sector” and work day-to-day and hand-to-mouth existence as vendors, laborers, street works. If they stop work, they don’t eat.As many as
10 million Mexicans do not have access to water so “washing hands” is pretty much out’ve the question.
A growing number of cities, including Cabo San Lucas have banned all alcohol sales completely. The fear is that with so many people locked-down, violence from drinking will increase.
A number of breweries such as Corona/Modelo have or are shutting down since there are no distributions points any longer. Some of the breweries are converting to manufacturing anti-bacterial gel.
Panic buying has already started. But, it is not toilet paper. People are starting to go crazy buying cartloads of beer and hoarding.
Some Mexican cities are blocking the roads so no outsiders may enter. The government says it is illegal but locals are putting up roadblocks.
Airports are generally open, but there are very very few flights with many airlines canceling services.
There is a growing interest to close the borders of Mexico to Americans so they don’t bring down more infections.
Mexico is asking Americans to please stay home.A group of 70 University of Texas students flew a charter to Cabo San Lucas on spring break. When they came back 44 of them tested positive for the virus.
Many Americans were shooting across the border from California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to shop in Mexico which has not had the depletions of goods in grocery stores. That being said, places like Costco have huge lines and are now limiting customers.The U.S. State Department is telling all Americans to come home immediately or be prepared to stay in Mexico for an indefinite period of time.
SADLY ADIOS TO OUR TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT AFTER 13 YEARS…
LOTS OF FUN TIMES!
It’s been a difficult several weeks trying to keep Tailhunter Restaurant open. Jilly worked tirelessly trying to make it go using only “take out” but more importantly to save everyone’s jobs. Many of our employees have been with us for many great years.
With the national closing of ALL restaurants, there were not many options.
We resolved it to the best of our capabilities. Cantina is officially closed indefinitely.
The nation has closed all restaurants until April 30th. Then, they think this will all go away. We know better. Mexico hasn’t even begun to get sick yet.
Closing was the in the best interests of our staff and economically better for us than keep going 30 days…then another 30 days…ad infinitum bleeding money because we would still have the same costs plus having to pay everyone their full salaries. We were not allowed to lay anyone off during the pandemic.
However, by completely closing the restaurant, we are best able to take care of the employees so they do not have to worry. They have money and we continued their health insurance. It’s not like they have other places to find work right now with everything closed.
Consequently…
We paid all employees three full months generous salaries, with full benefits, all earned and accrued vacations and bonuses. They can go home and sit this out safely and not have to wait for the other shoe to drop and should have a buffer to find work on the other side. They are all highly skilled, trained and prized food and beverage industry workers. The best we could do for them…
When the dust settles on this Covid mess, we will then turn all attention, time and talent to getting the fishing company up and running full steam asap. 60 more families of captains, drivers, caterers and managers are counting on us, not even to mention the resorts and their staff, taxi drivers etc…..
We are tremendously touched by the outpouring of sentiments via e-mails, phone calls and social media from around the world as well as our La Paz community. Tailhunter Nation is the best!
Let’s get on the other side of this as soon as possible! In the meantime please be well and stay well. Take care of each other.
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Feb. 16-23, 2020
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Our amiga, Donna Thompson, who aced some nice yellowtail using live mackerel on the east side of Cerralvo Island.
Winter winds and chilly breezes pretty much domininated the past week. Although not really much of anyone fishing during the winter months, we had a few folks scheduled to go out this week fishing as well as whale watching over on the Pacific side all set and ready to go. However, we had to either cancel because it was too rough or re-schedule.
Had to cancel trips this week because of the winds!
Most were folks in town for a few days and not hardcore anglers. They were just looking for a day on the water and wanted to give fishing a try. Not many were too upset about staying onshore rather than braving the waves or else they had other days to re-schedule.
A few anglers did find a few small windows of opportunity to fish between bouts of wind. If you had mackerel or got lucky on a trolled Rapala, the eastern side of Cerralvo Island was holding some nice forktail yellows. These yellowtail ran about 10-25 pounds, but that can be a long run over there and you gotta scoot really fast if the winds kick up.
Also, a few schoolie-side dorado were hit here-and-there which could produce some nice surface action with fish about 10 pounds or so. As well, a few snapper and pargo pretty much round out the scant moments of fishing.
Town has been packed for Carnaval which runs from Feb. 20-26th with pretty much a good portion of the waterfront closed down with booths, rides, fireworks, parades and huge concert stages every single day. So, it’s pretty lively in town this week.
Parades every day! Food, fireworks, concerts and more!
Best place to watch the parade on the waterfront is from our 3 story Tailhunter Restaurant.!
Thanks to Jay Statman for this video clip of one of the parades!
TAILHUNTER CALENDAR
Our next show will be the 76th Annual Fred Hall Fishing and Boating Show at the Long Beach Convention Center Mar. 4-8. This is the BIG ONE! 5 days of madness and fun! Here’s a link for more info:
The night before the Fred Hall Show in Long Beach we have a get together on Tuesday Night Mar. 4th to celebrate my birthday! It’s at the iconic Joe Jost’s Bar in Long Beach that’s been there since 1924! Come have a beer; eat a sausage sandwich, a pickled egg, an egg-salad sandwich and lots of peanuts! Nothing formal. Just friends and some fun!
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Jan. 26- Feb. 2, 2020
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST OF THE STORY…
Colorful dorado for Captain Jorge giving Jen Martinez a hand with the gaff.
Mike and Jen Martinez from Washington had just one day to squeeze in fishing and they picked a day when the winds lay flat and a few dorado put some bend in the rods.
As expected, we had the typical winter wind, chill and waves. That’s to be expected this time of year, when not many folks are fishing or even on the water.
However, we had a few windows of opportunity, especially earlier in the week when winds laid down enough for us to get some folks out to get some lines wet. In fact, we had folks fishing with our Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay Fleet and, for the first time of the year, with our La Paz Fleet. Still a bit chilly, but at least the wind diminished enough to head out!
Captain Boli pulls out with Sherry and Stu Maitland from Canada. Note the flat waters!
Surprisingly, despite it being winter, we got into some decent dorado biters. These are WARM water fish! But, here it is, the end of January and some 8-15 pound schoolies were on the chew. In fact, our La Paz boats found some nice jags of fish near the mouth of the bay where the water was warmer and loaded on limits in about an hour!
WHAT? Dorado in January? And limits just inside the bay? Wow!
This was total bonus fishing because many of the folks fishing were first-timers and visiting from chillier areas of the U.S. and Canada.
In addition, there were some nice schools of bonito to keep rods bent including some of the tasty blue and white bonito. Plus, there were catches of cabrilla, snapper, pargo and jack crevalle to round out the fish boxes.
Scott and Lynn Pichette are usually in negative freezing weather this time of the year in Canada where they run a hunting guide service. But, they were able to catch some warm sunshine and even some fish while fishing both La Paz (dorado) and Las Arenas/ Muertos where they hooked some white/blue bonito and a cabrilla.
Other than fishing, most of the action on the water are folks coming to town to either swim with the whalesharks or to do whalewatching as the whales are just starting to arrive up at Bahia Magdalena.
The grey whales have just started showing up in Bahia Magdalena. Ask us about day and overnight trips!
Whalesharks are now in the bay in the shallow water just a few hundred yards from the malecon. We’re running trips to go swim with the whalesharks now. Ask us about this incredible adventure!
TAILHUNTER 2020 ROAD TOUR TAKES US TO PORTLAND
We’ve been on the road now over a month and had some incredible fun shows in Denver…Sacramento…and Seattle (Puyallup). And now, by the time you’re reading this, we’ll be in Portland, Oregon for one of the largest shows on the West Coast.
The Pacific Northwest Sportsmans Show will be at the Portland Expo Center Feb. 5-9 (Wednesday to Thurday) for a huge outdoor show featuring exhibitors from all over the world with great stuff for the whole family including fishing, hunting, travel, boating, canoeing, kayaking, flyfishing, equipment, off-road, RV’s and more!
Come by and let’s set up your 2020 La Paz Fishing Vaction. We’re filling fast! Don’t wait!
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Jan. 5-12, 2020
Mexican Minute Video Report
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Like alot of places in North America this past week…
It’s been COLD in La Paz to go along with some windy weather. The winds are expected this time of year, but it’s been colder than normal…at least by La Paz standards with us locals bundling up and even the tourists donning the occasional sweatshirt or windbreaker. Although most look at us kinda strange as they walk around in shorts and flip-flops.
Check out this video clip. The voice you hear is Benny outiside Tailhunter Restaurant:
Lots of snowbirds in town and although the temps are in the 60’s and 70’s with the wind, it’s still a lot warmer than where they live back in places like Minnesota, Wyoming and Alaska!
The climate, of course, affects the ability to be out there fishing. It’s been hard to put anyone out there and there’s not that many folks wanting to fish anyway. Or, folks that want to fish understandably get discouraged when they see the winds. Best to just hang out drinking a margarita by the pool!
When folks have been fishing, the better fishing has been tucked in close to shore, especially in areas where you can find some protection from wind and waves. Therefore, the majority of the fish have been inshore specias like cabrilla, snapper, triggerfish, pargo, jack crevalle and sierra. All fun and good eating fish.
When there are window’s of calm, there’s still some dorado around running to about 10 or 15 pounds plus some good action on 5-pound bonito. The larger issue has been finding live bait in which case lures are the most productive way to catch fish. With rough waters it’s tough to get into the areas where the live bait is holding along the shores and rocks.
I’ve heard a few stories about commercial guys finding some yellowtail as well as some private boaters. We’ll keep an eye on that!
ROAD TOUR 2020 HEADED TO SACRAMENTO!
Thank you for the hospitality Denver! We always have a great time!!!
We just wrapped up an incredible 4 day show at the International Sportsmans Expo at the Denver Convention Center. It was fantastic! So great for Jill and I to see so many of our old amigos and make so many new ones! Welcome to the Tailhunter Nation! We took lots of new reservations for 2020 and we’re looking foward to the visit!
At the time you’re reading this, Jill and I will be on the road headed west. We have about 1000 miles to cover to get to the next show which is the International Sportsmans Expo at the California Fairgrounds in Sacramento CA. This is a HUGE show with tons of stuff to see and do. Bring your walking shoes and the whole family! I’m told more than 700 exhibitors will be on hand to talk about fishing, hunting, camping, boating, RV’s, kayaking and so much more!
Jill and I will be there in our booth with new flyers, brochures and hats all four days Jan. 16-19 (Thursday to Sunday). Let’s talk about fishing in 2020! Hope to see you there!
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Dec. 8-15, 2019
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Not too different even in Mexico! Christmas scenes like this one with kids lining up for visits with Santa and their favorite cartoon characters downtown La Paz.
Manger scenes for Christmas in La Paz
Town is kinda quiet right now! It’s that lull between the holidays and not many folks in town right now except for some snowbirds and kiteboarders and windsurfers taking advantage of the winter breezes. Not really many folks on the water as this is off-season for fishing, but even then, most folks in town are just enjoying the sunshine and getting ready for Christmas. Definitely seems like you can already smell the tamales cooking on the streets! But, lights are up and folks are doing Christmas shopping and that’s kind of it.
Some action for fishing has mostly been inshore. There’s a decent bite over the rocky spots of cabrilla up to about 5 pounds plus snapper and pargo. All great eating fish. The hard-pullers include some nice jack-crevalle running up to about 10 pounds plus good activity on bonito. Really hard to get a complete fishing picture when not many folks are fishing. It was too bad because this past week was one of the better weeks for weather and minimal winds.
I’m sure town is gonna start getting more crowded in the next few days as we get closer to Christmas.
BOOKING FOR 2020
It’s not too early to check on getting your dates together for next year which hits us in just a few weeks already! Reservations are already coming in steadily and some dates are filling fast and a few are already sold out. Don’t wait to see at at one of the sport shows. Last year, by March, we were largely all booked up. Get in touch with us today. Check out the website at http://www.tailhunter.com or e-mail me directly at Jonathan@tailhunter.com and let’s get you set up to fish with us in La Paz in 2020!
Tailhunter Fish Report 