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Posts Tagged ‘western outdoor news’

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report from Tailhunter International for Week of Sept. 1-7, 2014

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Scott McKenzie from Seattle WA and his sisters Jana and Lauren have fished with us many times for many years and caught all kinds of fish with us including marlin that they released. But this one was quite a story. While fishing with our Tailhunter fleet at Bahia de Los Muertos, they caught a few dorado the saw a marlin on the surface. They tossed a bait at it and the fish went off. Over three hours, the three of them battled the fish on a light rod and 40-pound test. However, during the first hour they almost had the fish to the boat and it was battling down and bulldogging without doing much jumping. Suddenly the big striper went ballistic as two killer whales started to chase it! During the balance of the battle, the fish stayed largely airborne trying to avoid the killer whales which circled the marlin and the panga adding quite a measure of excitement. They finally got the fish to the boat but were not able to revive it…but the marlin probable didn’t want to go back in the water anyway. The killer whales kept circling and finally swam off.

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The McKenzie marlin gets air as it’s being chased by the killer whales!

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Happy Birthday to me! Our good amigo, Mike Whitlow from Kennewick, WA came down to celebrate #50 with us. He’s a spectacular light tackle fisherman and pro bass guy too! He got himself this nice rooster on light tackle and did a great release after the photo! Feliz cumpleanos, amigo!

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Some images from Mike Whitlow’s 50th birthday party at Tailhunter Restaurant! Good time had by all! Thanks for sharing, Mike and Wendy!

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Darryl “Buffalo Soldier” Poindexter…one of the nicest and funnest guys on his first trip regretfully, only got to fish one day before the storm hit us ,but he made the most of it with a good day of dorado fishing like this nice bull he presses overhead!

NORBERT

It was FUGLY! Norbert eventually turned into a Cat 3 hurricane that by now has gone up the Baja coast and is dropping rain on the SW United States, but not before doing some pretty bad damage to Baja coastal areas. Gratefully, La Paz didn’t get hit too hard, but enough to put the clamp on fishing. Better to be safe and dry with a cold one.

HURRICANE PARTY!

When you can’t fish…fishermen very often…find other means of entertainment! Thanks to everyone this week, including Alex Trasvina and his boys who kept grinning even tho’ they had only one day to fish and had to cancel. They ended up at Tailhunter Restaurant watching football and raising their glasses! Salud, Fish Brothers! The “Tequila Bandito” says you rock!

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This is another great story. Adam Florence all the way from Kansas was fishing with Captain Pancho. He went to Walmart here in La Paz and got a cheapo freshwater spinning rod with 8 lb. test. He got bit big time and this bull dorado was all he could handle almost spooling him. They had to chase it down with the boat!

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Great shot and super fish by Wade Ralston who visited us from Washington on his first trip down. Punta Perrico in the background right off the rocks. Wade is a light tackle guy and fishes bass tournaments professionally. He did a great catch-and-release on this pez gallo.

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Nick Petrilli and his son, Nick, Jr. had a banner day out’ve Las Arenas with Captain Pancho and a slammer of mahi.

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Just after the storm, the waters started to get back to normal. Dave Sundgren and Steve Rosebaugh hold up a nice pair on the beach at Bahia de los Muertos!

 

GOOD FISHING SLAMMED BY STORM NORBERT

ALTHOUGH LA PAZ ESCAPES DAMAGE

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week of July 1-7, 2014

It was a worrisome week on alot of levels.  The previous week had been one of the slowest weeks of fishing for the season for no apparent reason.  All the signs were there for good fishing, yet the fish just either didn’t show up or just weren’t ready to cooperate.  It wasn’t just slow, it was dead.

So, we jumped into this week not knowing what was going to happen. It was a tale of two completely different weeks…

EARLY IN THE WEEK

As it turned out, the fishing came back to life!  Maybe not full blast, but compared to the previous week, we were rocking with bent rods and good variety.  Both of our fleets…the Tailhunter fleet in Las Arenas and our Tailhunter La Paz fleets found dorado between 8 and 15 pounds on the average, but also some of the trophy bulls running 20-40 pounds.  Limits were not uncommon and it was good to see that some times there were so many fish that anglers were releasing them as fast as they could go or at least kicking back the small ones!  It’s been a few weeks since we had that kind of bite.  Moreso, we often had double…triple…and quadruple hookups!

Even better, for our Las Arenas fleet where it’s really been a struggle sometimes, we not only had dorado, but a surprising number of sailfish and marlin were hooked between 70 and 200 pounds.  Most were released, but really did a number for some of the guys using light tackle.

As well, rooster fish showed up again between 10 and 50 pounds and we even had a few wahoo hooked up although none made it back to the boats!  Add in some big bonito…jack crevalle…some pargo and snapper and it made for a pretty decent week of fishing.

During this whole time, we were all watching the weather…and watching…and watching.  Norbert started as a little blip…it got bigger and bigger…and went to tropical storm level.  But like so many other storms that have appeared on the horizon down south, the tracking for the storm showed it was going out to the Pacific and wouldn’t do more than drop a little rain on us.  We were sure that like all the other storms, it would continue to veer out and away from Baja.

It didn’t…

LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK

Tropical Storm Norbert became Hurricane Norbert and would eventually reach a category 3 ripper.  Although La Paz did not suffer extensive damage, in areas of Cabo and along the Pacific Coast, there was extensive flooding and damage.  Several thousand people had to be evacuated and over 1000 homes were damaged.  At the time of writing this, there was at least 1 fatality related to the storm.

For us in La Paz, the heavy wind and rain hit us just as we were launching in the early dark of Thursday morning.  Rain began to pelt and the winds began to howl.  And it got stronger.  We all went for cover and hunkered down. And hunkered down.

For three days pretty much everyone had to sit it out.    The roads to Las Arenas got flooded.  Mud everywhere.  While La Paz pretty much did not flood. there were intermittent bits of heavy wind…rain…drizzle…and more rain as the storm passed.  AND THE PORT WAS CLOSED!  So, we couldn’t even get out if we wanted to.  For safety measures, the port captain kept the port bottled up and prevented anyone from leaving until mid-morning Saturday.

It was really bad especially for some of our many anglers who never got to fish before having to go home.  Or only getting to fish 1 day or 2 days.  And, when they did get to fish, conditions weren’t the best.  If it wasn’t windy or wet, then the waters, even after the storm passed, were turned over green and muddy.  Hat’s off to so many guys who grinned and were patient and still kept smiling while we did our best to control things of which we had no control.  You guys and gals are the best!

It wasn’t until Sunday that we finally started to see some changes in the water and some better fishing action with dorado, billfish and pargo waking up.

This coming week, as you’re reading this looks like it might have some of the best weather we’ve seen in awhile.  Hopefully, it lets the fishing come ripping back!

That’s our story!

combo-signature-black letters

Jonathan and Jilly

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website: 

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

U.S. Mailing Address:  Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA  91942

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:  https://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videoshttp://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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La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report from Tailhunter International Sportfishing for Week of July 6-13, 2014

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That’s the way to do it! Our Captain Eddy Carballo helps 13-year-old Luke Fregoso from Agoura Hills with his biggest dorado. The 40-pound class bull was hooked north of La Paz and Luke fought it solo all the way to the boat. He also had a fish estimated at 50 pounds on for awhile.

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Yes! There was some crazy weather this past week. Here’s a shot taken from the beach of the giant waterspout that popped up in the channel between Cerralvo Island, La Ventana and Las Arenas. No one has ever seen one this big out there.

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Fortunately, this didn’t affect the fishing! But, it was pretty fascinating to watch!

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Sam Sybesma (right) and Landon Tilema (left) have a handful of bull dorado here on the beach at Balandra after another good day of fishing with our Tailhunter La Paz fleet.

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Debbie White , our amiga from Tualatin OR, spends several weeks a year with husband, Don, with us in La Paz getting in some great fishing and always taking big fish like Debbie’s massively huge bull dorado here just outside of Bahia de los Muertos!

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Wayne Moss has been my friend for many years and an exellent fisherman. He is a commercial pilot in the Maldives but took a few days to visit us and got a nice catch-and-release roosterfish just outside of Las Arenas.

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Dick Carroll and his wife, Jeanette come to us from New Mexico and pose with a really nice Las Arenas bull dorado on the beach at Bahia de los Muertos.

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Norm and Dorothy Fulco have known me since I ran JNJ Fishing Tackle in Rosemead CA some 20 years ago! The usually come to visit in July for Dorothy’s birthday and like fishing with Captain Pancho.

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“Big Fish” Don White and an incredibly-colored blue bull dorado! Don is from Tualatin, Oregon near Portland.

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Rob is looking pretty serious here but had to be one of the funniest guys this week. He took a day to give pargo fishing a shot and, while they lost several large models to the rocks, did manage this smaller one to bring back and add to the box of dorado!

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Syd De Vries from Ripon CA and Captain Rogelio put another dorado in the boat. Yes, Rogelio is shorter than Syd! They were fishing north of La Paz near Espirito Santo Island.

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Not as many whalesharks around these days, but there’s a few around. This “baby” 12 footer came up in the middle of the fishing boats to check out the action.

 

FULL MOON – TROPICAL RAINS – WATERSPOUTS AND DORADO!

La Paz  – Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week of July 6-13, 2014

 

It was another one of crazy weeks.   The fish were here but the weather was crazy funky.  We had afternoon tropical storms that brought some heavy thunderstorms at times and flooding.  The nutty thing was that it would rain for 10 minutes here…but not there…30 minutes in one area and 2 blocks away, it would be totally dry.  This is normally the kind of weather we get in the fall, but El Nino conditions seem to have changed the game a bit.  Thankfully, no hurricanes and no serious damage from the flooding, but out-of-the-blue mid-week, we actually had some pretty intense water-spouts show up between El Sargento, Las Arenas and Cerralvo Island.   They looked like water tornados like the kind that would pick up your house and send you off to the Land of Oz!  Incredible to watch.

Here’s what we saw this week:

LAS ARENAS

Our Tailhunter fleet at Las Arenas again found lots of action on the smaller school-sized dorado in the 5-8 pound range.  They are like little squirrels all over the place.  The larger models were harder to find, but the few we got were trophy 30-40 pound slugs.     Dorado made up 80% of our Las Arenas catch.

Other species included some marlin and sailfish and roosters along the beach.  Live bait continues to be problematic, but we’re still getting fish.  No wahoo this week, but that’s because no one was really fishing for them.  However, divers say the skinnies are still out by the island.

LA PAZ

La Paz fishing has been our “cooler-filler” action.  The dorado have been 10-40 pounds regularly with a number of fish in the great 15-20 pound category.  Lots of fun.  Plenty strong without destroying anyone!   I think the fact that we have move live bait in our La Paz area has made a difference.  In addition to the dorado we are getting hookups with striped marlin and sails as well.  We did some schools of roosters along the beaches and some of our guys that went after pargo and cabrilla got schooled on some big fish that took them to the rocks!

That’s our story!

combo-signature-black letters

Jonathan and Jilly

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website: 

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

U.S. Mailing Address:  Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA  91942

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:  https://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videoshttp://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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La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report from Tailhunter International Fleet for June 30-July 6, 2014

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This is the “OH NO” moment when your reel is screeching…your arms are aching…your rod is bent when you see the big monster 45-pound dorado and you realize you only have 30-pound equipment! Becky Csutoras took this great shot of her dad’s fish as it made that big jump. Yes, he did get the fish. See the tired angler below…he fought it for 45 minutes!

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Don White always does well. He was just off Punta Perico with Captain Pancho when he tied into this baby blue marlin. Happily released! Check out the video below of the unceremonious, but successful release. The marlin was not complaining. Congrats to our amigo, Don, who visits from Oregeon each year!

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Becky Csutoras, is normally travellng all over the country as an accountant, but she takes some time each year to get in some fishing with us at Tailhunters. She has to be one of the happiest fisher people we ever see. Every day is a “GREAT DAY!” Check our this fine dorado she caught off Las Arenas! She did well all week!

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Start ’em young! Six-year-old Roman, gets a hand from his grandma, Kelly Jimenez, with a nice bull dorado standing on the beach at Bahia de Los Muertos. “Romo” had himself a great time all week helping grandma and grandpa to fish!

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John Russell told me, “They fight harder than salmon!” He used to be a salmon fishing guide. Visiting us from Milpitas CA, he put the hurt on this colorful big bull dorado fishing near Espirito Santo Island north of La Paz. Great colors…big fish!

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My old classmate from law school, Skip Coomber in the center with friends and family got out for a day even during the ugly cloudy weather and got a few dorado. Skips daughter, Amelia, in the gray t-shirt is with her girlfriends Haleigh and Isabella…all 3 girls on a last hurrah before staring their respective college careers in several weeks!

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She never fails to get big fish! Oregon in the house, Debbie White in flat water with another big dorado on her scoreboard! Punta Arenas in the background. Each year, Debbie makes us the best homemade moonshine “Apple Pie” for our Oregon show.

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John Gothie had just a few days to spend with us, but made the most of it with a nice wahoo plus some fun dorado while fishing with Captain Adolfo and our Tailhunter Las Arenas fleet.

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Another youngster headed to college for the first time…Brian Russell will be headed to Arizona State in just a few weeks, but got his first striped marlin here with our Tailhunter Las Arenas fleet.

 

TROPICAL STORM DROPS SOME RAIN AND DAMPENS FISHING

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week of June 30-July 6, 2014

 

Rain cells moving through the area and bringing a mix of some thundershowers, drizzle, wave surge and winds marred some of the fishing.  Fortunately, it wasn’t a hurricane, but just some tropical storms.  In most cases, the rain didn’t get anyone wet until the afternoons when the fishermen were already back and it really cooled things off, but it did rob sunshine from vacationers looking for more sunshine than we got this week.

It was very tropical.  It could rain for 5 minutes or two hours.  It could rain on one spot but then 200 yards away, it would be bone dry.  An hour later, it would change again.  Or not rain at all until the next day.

Again, the most cooperative species were the dorado.  Both our Tailhunter Las Arenas fleet and our Tailhunter La Paz fleet had some good results that differed from day-to-day and boat-to-boat.

LAS ARENAS

At Las Arenas, there was again, no shortage of little firecracker 3-10 pound dorado.  Some days, all you wanted.  There were some billfish hooked and we did get a few wahoo and pargo.  The big roosterfish are still around, but most of the focus has been on the bluewater species.

The week started OK, but then the skies would darken and each day, the winds and waters got a little rougher as we got the tail end of the storm and the periphery of the rain.  At least, there wasn’t alot of wind, but it still wasn’t real comfortable towards the end of the week.  We actually, had most of our fishermen move over to fish with our La Paz fleet where the fish were at least a big larger.

LA PAZ

For our Tailhunter La Paz fleet, the dorado were a bit bigger and went normally 10-30 pounds and were in areas scattered around Espirito Santo Island and the western side of Cerralvo Island.  After the storm clouds moved off, waters went back to calm and flat pretty quickly.  We did get some dorado up to the 40-pound class and other large ones lost.  Billfish were also in the area with most fish getting released.  Decent live caballitos for bait.

Keep an eye out.  There’s alot of sealife out.  Turtles…manta rays…whale sharks…blue whales were all seen this week!  Water’s 85 degrees.  Jump in!

According to the forecast, we’re gonna get a little more rain at times at least through next week.  But, every day the forecast changes.  As of writing this, there’s not a cloud in the sky and it’s brilliant sunshine and now they are saying no rain!  Just come fish!

That’s our story!

combo-signature-black letters

Jonathan and Jill Roldan

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website: 

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

U.S. Mailing Address:  Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA  91942

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:  https://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videoshttp://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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La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report from Tailhunter International Fleet for Week of June 8-15, 2014

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WHOAAA!!!!   That’s a big fat rooster! Captain Jorge helps out Robert Rost who was fishing with us for his first time from Boise, Idaho! Robert had super week topped by this huge rooster they caught and released near Punta Arenas!

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That’s a big wahoo for Ty Mitchell from Washington on his 2nd trip with us. He got this trophy off Cerralvo Island fishing with our Tailhunter Las Arenas fleet!

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Captain  “Fettucine” Alfredo from our Tailhunter La Paz fleet photobombs deckhand Blas posing with our amigos from Colorado Doc Art Flippin and son-in-law Mike Shepherd!

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Tiffany FLOYD could NOT have been a more fun person to come down to fish! I don’t think she ever stopped laughing or smiling and this big sailfish with Captain Joel put a big smile on her face. She was down celebrating her anniversary and she caught this just outside La Paz Bay!

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OH the joy! This is just pure ecstasy! Mike Shepherd had a great week with us, but a big dorado eluded him all week. But at the last hour with almost his last bait on the last day, he finally put the wood to this nice bull dorado! Great facial expression, Mike! CLASSIC!

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I think this should be their new 2014 Christmas card photo! The Nichols family run a big time fishing operation out’ve Florida and came down for a few days to visit. They all got and released their first roosterfish plus some nice dorado including this trophy bull that ended up for dinner at Tailhunter Restaurant!

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Dennis Cudal knew this one was headed to the grill when he stuck this nice big barred pargo around Espirito Santo Island.

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Check this off the bucket list! Nothing like an exotic roosterfish on the line! Jeff FLOYD from Idaho, was fishing with Captain Pancho literally just a few yards from the beach at Las Arenas and caught and released this big time rooster!

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An extended Father’s Day Week plus graduation present for Craig and Ashley Sanford from the Phoenix AZ area where they show off quite a variety of fish they caught with our Tailhunter Las Arenas fleet including cabrilla, bonito, triggerfish and dorado!

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Great story. Mike Shepherd was trolling a big bait in the shallow waters near Punta Perrico when his rod went off and all heck broke loose. He started yelling, “MARLIN! MARLIN!” Captain Jorge was tying up some lines and not looking and said, “There’s no marlin here!” Until he looked up! MIke had on a fish estimated at well over 200 pounds! Unfortunately, only 30 pound test so they hung on as best as they could while wife, Candi snapped photos! Folks ask all the time for “bigger boats” so they can go out further and catch “bigger fish!” Well, as you can see, we don’t have to go far and our pangas do just fine!

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Our good amigo, Don Busse, always does well and he put this big pargo on board at Las Arenas and ended up bringing it to our Tailhunter Restaurant for dinner!

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It was a good week for big barred pargo! Al Nojadera has been fishing with us for alot of years and shows off one of his big pargo.

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Gary Pilkington is from Northern Cal and fished with Captain Pancho. Gary was on his 2nd visit with us and wanted to get a rooster! Mission accomplished with this caught-and-released trophy!

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Luke Appel from Malibu took a nice picture and a great photo of this barred pargo in full raging colors! These are tough tough fish when hooked and fight like beasts!

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This is our rockstar, Rick Kasper, who always gets fish with us. Rick has a place our there near La Paz now and spends several weeks hanging out and fishing!

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Captain Adolfo and Megan Kennedy with another colorful rooster onboard and flat blue waters behind! The fish was caught and released. Megan was on her first trip and came down with dad.

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This is just a super fun photo! One on board and another on the rod for Tiffany and Jeff Floyd celebrating their 19th anniversary with a trip to La Paz!

 

ROOSTERS DORADO LIGHT IT UP WITH THE FULL MOON…AND ANOTHER MISSED HURRICANE!

 

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week of June 8-15 2014

 

 

Another fairly solid week of fishing even with the full moon…even with another hurricane missing us and blowing out to sea (Christina!)… but the difference between our anglers who fished with our Las Arenas fleet and those who fished with our La Paz fleet was like night and day…in a good way!  Fortunately, for us, our clients get to fish both sides if they so choose!

For Las Arenas, at times, the winds plus the big swell generated by hurricane Cristina far to the south had to be contended with and made for some bouncy days, especially towards the end of the week.   The hurricane was up to a category 4 with winds up to 170 mph, but thankfully banked out to the west before it got up to the Baja.

However, it still pushed residual winds and waves our way and up the Sea of Cortez.  The surfers at Land’s End by Cabo and also around Todos Santos were loving the big waves with the thick lips!

But, at Las Arenas, we continued with swarms of little dorado.  So many that some of the anglers are calling it “the nursery” where it was not uncommon to hook and release a dozen or more dorado in short order of fish no bigger than 3-5 pounds!  Great light tackle action, but very few fish larger than that.  The good thing is that the way dorado grow, in just a few months, these fish will be 15-20 pounders!  So, it’s good that many are getting released.

The better action was on the wahoo, especially earlier in the week when that area south of Cerralvo Island kicked out another nice jag of 20-40 pound speedsters on trolled lures like the Rapala X-Raps and Yo-Zuri Magnums.  For every fish taken, at least 2 more were lost so there’s some fish out there.

The other part of Las Arenas were the big roosters that seemed to pop up again with a vengeance.  We had several days mid-week when, as one angler said, “Every bait thrown in the water generated an immediate hammer from a big rooster!”  The fish this week were as “small” as 35-40 pounds, but we had some larger estimated in the 60-85 pound class (by the captains!).

For La Paz anglers, it was a completely different story altogether!  The dorado were bigger.  They were more abundant and they really bent rods and went 15-40 pounds with some larger ones lost.  The bonus was the many of the best bites were literally right in La Paz Bay or just outside without having to go very far.  As well, where the smaller dorado were found, marlin and sailfish were in the same areas either eating the same baits or else feeding on the small dorado themselves.

That’s our story!

Jonathan and Jilly

combo signature 2-proc

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website: 

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

U.S. Mailing Address:  Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA  91942

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:  https://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videoshttp://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.”

 

Read Full Post »

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report from Tailhunter Sportfishing for Week of May 4-11, 2014

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Nice “skinny” for Matt Garrett from Washington who pulled up this nice wahoo that ran about 30 pounds just off Cerralvo Island. This was Matt’s first trip to La Paz. The wahoo have been pretty consistent now the last few weeks. We’re taking a few every day.

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This is the kind of dorado we like to see! Big bull dorado on the beach caught by Vince Bussio from Utah! There’s a few other dorado tails down by his feet as well.

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Great photo, smile and colors as Sandy Davis poses with a fresh wahoo off the south end of Cerralvo Island. Sandy is the sister of our good amiga, Donna Thompson who rocks the fishing grounds and lives in La Ventana. (Thanks for the photo!)

Marion Lawver pargo small tags 5-14

Kansas City  in the house! Marion Lawver  pulled this nice dog-tooth snapper (pargo perro / dog-tooth snapper) out’ve the rocks. Tough tough fish that is all teeth, sharp gills and scales and lots of power. But they taste great! Nicely done!

Don Henderson Bill Cook tags dorado small 4-14

Some nice mahi on the beach as Don Henderson and Bill Cook from Idaho hold up a couple of dorado they caught with our Tailhunter Fleet and Captain Victor.

Rick Rieken tags small 4-14

Rick Rieken from Las Vegas has his hands full with a nice dorado and a nice wahoo! Some fish packing is in order. Muertos Bay in the background.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

It’s late in the season, but whalesharks are still in our La Paz Bay. Early this week, Jill and I took a few hours to snorkel with the hoping to find maybe 1 whale. Instead we ended up in the water with 8 of the gentle creatures! This one glides by the panga and is about 20 feet long! A baby…they grow over 50 feet long!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

With water only between 10 and 15 feet deep and incredibly warm, the big “babies” are feeding on plankton near the surface and often gulp their meals by opening their mouths and letting the food flow in! One of them seems to be giving Jill a big smile as it came next to our panga. We were snorkeling with our good friends at Fun Baja.

DCIM100GOPRO

It’s a great experience to get in the water with huge creatures and we had EIGHT of the “baby” whalesharks around us while we snorkeled for a few hours in water that was only 10-15 feet deep. Schools of foraging bait fish accompany the big whalesharks and feed off the leftovers! This big guy waited very patiently while I took his photo.

 

FISHING STILL ERRATIC BUT SOME QUALITY FILLS THE GAPS

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week of May 4-11, 2014

 

Winds continue to be a problems…some days.  Others it’s barely breezy.  But this type of weather is consistent to this transitional time of year when it’s not quite spring and still not quite summer although air and water temps are relatively warm.  So, some days, it can be pretty bouncy out there limiting our range and style of fishing while other days, it’s like a pond!

Fishing is reflective of those conditions as well.  If it’s windy, we’re somewhat confined to inshore fishing, although that can be quite good for cabrilla, snapper, pargo, jack crevalle, small to large rooster fish and even some late-season sierra.  On the days that we’re able to range a bit further (fortunately, we never have to THAT far for our fishing!), we add to that list the larger dorado and wahoo which bit pretty well this week, especially off the north and south end of Cerralvo Island.   The wahoo were most aggressive in the early morning hours around sunrise and mid-morning and ranged from 20-40 pound fish.  Trolling with dark-colored Rapalas and Yo Zuri’s worked best.

The rooster fish saved us quite often with fish right up near the beaches and rocks going 25-50 pounds.

Summarily, it was spotty action.  Straight on…

It’s hard to explain.  You can do OK one day and, even tho’ conditions had not changed much, you can really struggle the next day.  Different boats do differently each day.  There can be long stretches of little action suddenly punctuated by the zing of a line going off or jetting jerked outta your socks by a fish slamming the bait or lure.

Bait continues to be a problem.  From what I’m hearing, the el nino has been plaguing the entire Baja.  I’m getting communications from the East Cape as well as Cabo asking if we have bait to sell or send.  I heard from friends in Loreto that they are also having trouble with live bait as well.   We’re making do with what nature gives us these days.  We’re using larger baits like stripped bonito as well as mackerel and caballitos…that all make excellent bait, but it’s not like you can throw handfuls of larger baits into the ocean for chum like we’re used to doing with sardines.  We are also using live ballyhoo as well.

One note of optimism is that I’m getting reports that out at the 88 bank outside of Cerralvo Island there’s lots of small mackerel and caballitos and small bonito balling up.  These are palm-sized fish that are super on the hook and we’re looking hopefully that in the week or two that area could blow up on us.  Last year, in the summer, the 88 turned into dorado and marlin candy land with dorado all going 40-50 pounds and marlin cruising the area in great numbers as well.

We’ll keep you updated!

Happy Mother’s Day to you and yours!   Hope it’s a good one!

That’s our story!

Jonathan and Jill

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, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA  91942

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:  https://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videoshttp://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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La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report from Tailhunter International Sportfishing La Paz for Week of April 20-27, 2014

Taylor Murphey wahoo small 4-14

We got into some wahoo this week and we’re not surprised that young Taylor Murphy fishing with grandpa Roger Thompson got one of them. She always does well. A purple Rapala off the south end of Cerralvo Island did the trick.

Karyn Jennings fish on beach 4-14-proc

Birthday girl! Karyn Jennings was fishing with her husband Greg and had a good birthday week with us in La Paz. Here she shows off a day’s catch with a great mix of dorado, cabrilla and wahoo fishing with our Tailhunter Las Arenas fleet. A good bunch of fillets was cooked up at our Tailhunter Restaurant! Karyn is from Colorado.

Dorado Steve Bradley small tags 4-14

First timer, Steve Bradley who lives in Northern California on the Smith River was out with Tailhunter Captain Pancho and got his first dorado just outside of Bahia de Los Muertos. He also got his first rooster, a 30 pounder that was released and lost a larger fish as well.

Wahoo john nagy 4-14 tags

John Nagy from Marina del Ray CA slips quietly in and out’ve La Paz and just nails the fish! I think he got our largest wahoo of the week with this 4- pounder off the south side of Cerralvo Island on a blue and white Rapala. He was fisihing with our Tailhunter driver, Esteban and they also got one other wahoo,  2 pargo, and released a marlin. Nicely done!

 

yellowtail Jenny Raul tags 4-14 small

Yup…still a few lingering yellowtail around in the cooler water. Jenny celebrates with Captain Raul from our Tailhunter La Paz fleet and shows off this big slugger forktail caught near Espirito Santo Island. Jenny is from Colorado.

KLING Ron dorado small tags 4-14

Captain Victor “El Jefe” from our Tailhunter Las Arenas fleet poses with first-timer, Ron Kling from Byers, Colorado who came down to catch his first roosterfish. On this particular day, he got 5 roosters between 40 and 50 pounds which he released! And he kept this nice dorado for dinner!

Greg Jennings 4-14 tags

Guys come for years trying to get a sniff from a wahoo fishing our area. Greg Jennings nailed one his first try fishing with our Taihunter Las Arenas fleet just outside of Bahia de Los Muertos.




 

FISHING SLOWLY GETS BETTER WITH WARMER TEMPS

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week of April 20-27, 2014

 

There were good and there were bad things about this past week of fishing.  Let’s start with the bad.

There were some really windy days.  Some cooler water temps.  But those things are to be expected this time of year when things are in transition between the warm and colder seasons.  Still, it didn’t always make for the best fishing conditions nor, did it help with getting bait.  Basically, it’s almost like a chart…the higher the wind, the poorer the fishing.  The lower the wind, the better the fishing.   Overall, I’d give this week a so-so rating in terms of fishing.  It’s been worse.  But, normally, it’s a whole lot better.

But, let’s focus on some of the positives.

Take a look at some of this week’s photos.  Yup…wahoo made a nice surprising reappearance this week.  Around the north and sound end of Cerralvo Island, the speedy skinnies were around and willing to eat slow trolled Rapalas and bait.  Sizes ranged from pinky 15 pounders up to about 40 pounds.

Additionally, we had a really great week on the roosters for our Las Arenas anglers.  I think just about everyone who really wanted to check “rooster fish” off the bucket list got at least one.  I don’t have any photos this week because, with much appreciation, all the roosters were released!  But, there were some nice quality fish taken off the sandy beach areas with fish in the 20-45 pound size and some larger that were lost.

To the good stuff, add in a few marlin coming alive and taking some hits, but all of them coming off plus the dorado were still around although not in big numbers as previous weeks.  I still consider the dorado to be our bread-and-butter fish at the moment.  Both our Las Arenas and La Paz fleet had dorado as their predominant go-to fish.  Some decent 20 pounders in the mix, but some larger fish lost to pilot error!

Hope the winds slow down and the bait gets better!  Should all improve as we move closer to summer!

That’s our story!

combo signature 2-proc

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website: 

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

U.S. Mailing Address:  Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA  91942

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:  https://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videoshttp://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.”

 

Read Full Post »

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Repor from Tailhunter International Fleet for Week of April 13-20, 2014

BLOOD MOON 2014

Hope you got to see it! It was pretty amazing to watch the moon go dark…then go red! It was already a HUGE full moon this week ,but extremely amazing to watch the “BLOOD MOON” eclipse! Unfortunately, combined with other factors, it might have had an affect on the fishing this past week…dangit.

 

yellowtail peter koschnitzke small tags 4-14

Captain Boli from our Tailhunter La Paz fleet helps out young Peter Koschnitzke from snowy Colorado who earned himself a cigar and a beer from dad for nailing this slugger-sized yellowtail near Espirito Santo Island. I was told it tasted great with manga salsa!

 

Pargo Tim Butterworth tags 4-14

Pargo were a good bet this week, but putting these tough good-eaters in the boat required some luck and skill as some of our anglers will tell you as they head straight back into the rockpiles! Tim Butterworth hung this fat hog north of La Paz on live bait.

striper in water tags 4-14

With the warmer waters, we’re already seeing some billfish around Cerralvo Island and Las Arenas. Nothing full turbo yet, by any means, but promising! This hundred-pounder was hooked and released out by the buoys east of Bahia de los Muertos.

 

terrafin 4-20-14

The latest satellite shot from http://www.terrafin.com shows the heavy bodies of warm water around Cerralvo Island while cooler waters still hold north of La Paz city.

BLOOD MOON WHAMMY?  TOUGH WEEK OF FISHING

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week of April 13-20, 2014

 

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Easter week and weekend!

Well…

Not the best of weeks down here.  Kinda wacky actually.

It’s really hard to put a finger on what happened.  It was sort of a convergence of a lot of things that could have affected the fishing…a variable here and a variable there could have made the difference.

But, fishing was really down! It doesn’t happen often.  The track record here…like any other fishing destination that has a reputation…is that sure…you get the down day now and again.  But it usually bounces back pretty fast.

Well, this week we had several days that were either bad or at best…ho-hum…

But, here’s how the planets lined up that could have made a difference.  Any single one or two of these items usually makes no difference, but perhaps all of them converging at the same time?  I dunno.  Take a look.  All I know is that fishing was off.

1.  Stronger than normal winds…even for this time of year when it can get breezy.  This week we had some white-cap days!

2.  Waters got a little cooler…not warmer as has been the trend.  Maybe caused by the stronger winds!  Fish get lock-jawed when water temps change drastically…especially for the cooler.

3.  Strong winds make it harder to get bait as the shallow areas where we get bait are spanked with waves and the bait scatters or we can’t get up close to the rocks to throw nets.

4.  Combination of #2 and #1 meant clouded green and off-color waters…again affecting fish activity and feeding

5.  THE MOON!  I hardly ever blame things on a full-moon, but in combination with the other factors PLUS it was not only full, but did you see the RED MOON ECLIPSE???  The moon was not only larger than normal, but it eclipsed to dark…then went almost dirty red!  Here in La Paz everyone was out taking photos with their cell phones in the dark. It was pretty funny to see “photos flashes” going off!  (Oh sure…that flash reaches up to the moon!).  But, maybe…just maybe the fish freaked out too!

Anyway, by the time you’re reading this, the full moon will have waned and hopefully the rest of these things will have settled back to normal. Either way, a weird week.

That being said, it was still sunny most days…although we had some weird cloudy days when I thought it would rain.  But day temps are usually in the high 80’s to low 90’s and pretty pleasant.

And, we still managed a few fish here and there.  For our La Paz anglers, yellowtail up to about 30 pounds were found around Espirito Santo Island as well as some sizable barred pargo and some dorado in the 20 pound class.

For our Las Arenas anglers, it was picky.  Some dorado up to about 15 pounds.  Some big bonito.  Some snapper and pargo and a few rooster fish (released) plus some sierra along the beaches.

Still better than working, but the fishing honestly could have been better and hopefully is back on track by the time you’re reading this!

SPOTS STILL OPEN FOR JUNE “SUMMER PANGA SLAM” WITH TAILHUNTER and WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWS

dorado Lily Chung 8-13 tags

We still have a few spots open for our 2013 Western Outdoor News/ Tailhunter Sportfishing PANGA SLAM!

The dates are June 17-21 and promises to be great fun, and it’s really GROWING!  It was going to be a fun low-key tournament and fun get-together, but word got out!  Now, it’s gotten some legs and it’s gonna be a special blast!

  • Sponsors aboard now include:  Okuma Reels, Costa Sunglasses, Yo-Zuri, Sufix, Turners Outdoors and Lazer Trokar Hooks!
  • Three full days of panga fishing at Las Arenas  (gear, breakfast and lunches included) 
  • 4 nights La Concha Beach Resort in ocean-facing room
  • Welcome dinner and Awards Dinner
  • Taco feed night and live music at famous Tailhunter Restaurant
  • Two days jackpot tournament (cash entry $100 in La Paz per team) 
  • Event t-shirts
  • Cabo San Lucas Airport Shuttles 

 

Additionally,  Tailhunter Sportfishing is now an IGFA weigh center with certified scales and will also have the new release measuring devices for the new IGFA “release categories.”  As members of the Roosterfish Foundation, we will also have devices to tag and release roosterfish in the first sanctioned roosterfish release event of it’s kind and a great opportunity to posssibly get a world record in an area that has produced arguably more world records than few other places in the fishing world.  IGFA record holder, representative, author and journalist, Gary Graham, will also be on hand.

We are limiting this to just 40 persons on 20 panga “teams.”  Couples are welcome!  Cost is $1350 per person!  For more info, contact Mike Flynn at Western Outdoor News at Flynn@wonews.com or call him at 949-366-0030 extension 30.  Or Western Outdoor News Editor, Pat McDonell at 949-366-0030 extension 33 or pat@wonews.com.

Gonna be a real kick!

That’s our story!  Happy Easter to you and your family!

combo signature 2-proc

Jonathan and Jilly

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website: 

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

U.S. Mailing Address:  Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA  91942

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:  https://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videoshttp://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.”

 

Read Full Post »

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report from Tailhunter International Fleet for Week of April 6-13, 2014

yellowtail Tim Butterworth tags small 4-13

Tim Butterworth from Petaluma has been coming to the La Paz area for many many season and been a Tailhunter amigo for almost as long! But, he never had caught a yellowtail. Until this past week where he stuck this thick one north of La Paz.

 

Bob Neilson sierra tags small 4-14

This is a very special picture. Bob Nielson has been a Baja rat for years and a good friend and clients for many seasons with Tailhunters. He was so excited because in all those years, he had never caught a sierra and was jazzed about bringing it that night to Tailhunter Restaurant to have us make ceviche. Regretfully, Bob flew home Monday evening from La Paz…went to bed…and passed away in his sleep. Bob was a great guy and there was never a dull moment. He was always a character. Our waiters at Tailhunter Restaurant called him “Bob ZZ Top!” God bless you Bob! We miss you fish brother!

Mindy Pollock tags pargo 3-14

Here’s a tough fish…a big fat pargo mulato…great eating and great to catch out’ve the rocks. But, Mindy Pollock jacked up this trophy with some help from Captain Bolo around Espirito Santo Island.

Mick Pollock dorado tags 3-14

I love this photo! Talk about the “look” of a fishing pirate, this is our amigo from Idaho, Mick Pollock who fished with us a few days and got yellowtail, pargo and sierra but shows off one of his nice dorado.

BILL AUSMAN 3-14 dorado small

Bill Ausman from Atascadero CA was able to squeeze in a quick day of fishing with us while on vacation in La Paz and jumped on one of our pangas at Las Arenas to put the hurt on this nice bull dorado just outside of Bahia de Los Muertos.

lap_140410_1109a_71_80_4

A check on the satellite water temperatures from our friends at Terrafin.com show all the warm water in our area. All that orange and red stuff is water temps i the high 70’s and 80’s! Not much cool water around!

 

 

FISHING AND TEMPERATURES WARMING UP!

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week of April 6-13, 2014

 

Gosh, it’s getting warm down here!  I would say it’s a bit warmer than usual, but a really pleasant week with cool morning and then highs in the high 80’s to low 90’s during the fishing day dropping to great afternoon and early evening breezes!  Water temps, as we’ve been saying the last few months are warmer than normal now with most surface temperatures in tickling the 80’s as well making for some great swimming and diving, not to mention warm-water species for fishing.

That being said, since we fish both Las Arenas and La Paz with our fleets, the bite this past week reflected exactly those water temperatures.  Around Cerralvo Island and the Las Arenas area where water temperatures are pretty much all warm now and in the 80’s dorado have been the mainstay catch already…much earlier than normal.

Fish are found in a number of places including right in Bahia de Los Muertos up close to the shore and beach then out towards the nearby buoys.  You don’t have to get out that far to find the mahi!  Fish size has also increased.  Still alot of 10 pound schoolie-fish, but some bigger 20-25 pounders have been taken and larger ones lost.  In this same area, we’re seeing an increased number of billfish as well like striped marlin.

As you go north to deeper and cooler waters (relatively speaking, but still “warmer than normal”) , especially around the north end of Cerralvo Island and Espirito Santo Island, we’ve been naturally encountering the cooler-water fish including some big barred-pargo and 40+ pound yellowtail (the ones we can stop!  Some of these beasts are pretty mean!)  There’s also some dorado moving into the area as well as waters get warmer.

Bait wise…gosh…not sure how that’s gonna play out.  There seems to be zero or minimal sardines around.  At Las Arenas, we’re using ballyhoo as well as stripped bonito. And, we’re using the larger ladyfish to get the bigger roosterfishg.  For La Paz, we’re going out early and getting mackerel and caballitos (small jacks).

2013 TAILHUNTER / WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWS “SUMMER SLAM” STILL HAS A FEW SPOTS OPEN!



dorado jill tags pancho 11-12

We still have a few spots open for our 2013 Western Outdoor News/ Tailhunter Sportfishing PANGA SLAM!

The dates are June 17-21 and promises to be great fun, and it’s really GROWING!  It was going to be a fun low-key tournament and fun get-together, but word got out!  Now, it’s gotten some legs and it’s gonna be a special blast!

  • Sponsors aboard now include:  Okuma Reels, Costa Sunglasses, Yo-Zuri, Sufix, Turners Outdoors and Lazer Trokar Hooks!
  • Three full days of panga fishing at Las Arenas  (gear, breakfast and lunches included) 
  • 4 nights La Concha Beach Resort in ocean-facing room
  • Welcome dinner and Awards Dinner
  • Taco feed night and live music at famous Tailhunter Restaurant
  • Two days (optional) jackpot tournament
  • Event t-shirts
  • Cabo San Lucas Airport Shuttles 

 

Additionally,  Tailhunter Sportfishing is now an IGFA weigh center with certified scales and will also have the new release measuring devices for the new IGFA “release categories.”  As members of the Roosterfish Foundation, we will also have devices to tag and release roosterfish in the first sanctioned roosterfish release event of it’s kind and a great opportunity to posssibly get a world record in an area that has produced arguably more world records than few other places in the fishing world.  IGFA record holder, representative, author and journalist, Gary Graham, will also be on hand.

We are limiting this to just 40 persons on 20 panga “teams.”  Couples are welcome!  Cost is $1350 per person!  For more info, contact Mike Flynn at Western Outdoor News at Flynn@wonews.com or call him at 949-366-0030 extension 30.  Or Western Outdoor News Editor, Pat McDonell at 949-366-0030 extension 33 or pat@wonews.com.

Gonna be a real kick!

That’s our story!

Jonathan and Jilly

combo signature 2-proc

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website: 

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

U.S. Mailing Address:  Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA  91942

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:  https://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videoshttp://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.”

 

Read Full Post »

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report from Tailhunter International for Week of March 23-30, 2014

yellowtail rod brown tags 3-14

It’s been awhile since we had some good yellowtail photos to post up but we finally got a few this week. Captain Joel and our great amigo, Rod Brown from Alaska pose with a nice pair of forkies taken north of La Paz!

dorado brown 3-14 tags

And dorado too? Triple shot of mahi for Captain Joel, Jeff and first-timer Miles Brown.

yellowtail jeff brown tags 3-14

All the way from Minnesota, Jeff Brown, stuck this trophy yellowtail near Espirito Santo Island north of La Paz Bay.

cabrilla jeff brown tags 3-14

Great eating and a super-sized cabrilla (Mexican seabass) for Jeff.

terrafin 3-20-14

Check out the latest satellite images of the ocean around La Paz and you can see where sea temps are abnormally warm ranging from the mid-70’s to 80’s already. Photo fromhttp://www.terrafin.com/sstview/showChart.php?ct=sst&zn=bc&rg=lap&ix=1&java=0

SPRINGTIME CONDITIONS BRING VARIETY!

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week of March 23-30, 2014

 

 

Except for a few breezy days, it was more like late spring/ early summer style fishing this past week.  Air temps were in the low to mid-80’s and actually pretty pleasant.  Water temperatures which have risen unseasonably high have been in the mid-70’s to low 80’s.

The resulting effect was a decent mix of fish.  Some cool water fish.  Some warm water fish.  But, overall a nice variety.

The cooler water fish mostly taken inshore and in shallow areas included some nice yellowtail up to 25 pounds.  Nothing widespread, but a smattering here and there.  As well, we took some nice slugger pargo, cabrilla and sierra around both islands.  Some good fish were lost to the rocks…not unusual when big fish are holding close to structure like reefs and rocks!

Warm water fish…well, once again…dorado!  We’ve been getting them on and off for about 2 months now. Way early for a normal season, but once again the warm water species were found anywhere from the islands, to the shallows around the beaches, near the buoys and free-swimming in the channel.  No great numbers, but every day a few dorado here and there.  Mixed with the other species, it made for some interesting boxes of fish coming back in our pangas each day.

We’re going to keep an eye on these water temperatures!  Those temperatures will dictate what we’ll be catching.

THANKS EVERYONE!  ANOTHER ONE FOR THE BOOKS!

RoldansWEB

We’re finally headed home to La Paz.  After almost 3 months on the road encompassing almost 15,000 miles of driving…9 states…10  hunting and fishing shows including:  Sacramento, Denver, Puyallup (Seattle), Portland, Yakima, Phoenix, Boise, Long Beach, Salt Lake City and this past week in San Diego.  Whew!!!

And what a grand time we had…almost 20 years doing this now and every year it just gets better and better!  Jill and I want to thank all our amigos who came to see us at the shows and everyone during the 3 months for their friendship, support, encouragement and smiles.  And to all our friends for making us feel welcome and all the hospitality on the road…all the gifts…food…drinks…invitations…Tailhunter tribe members are the best!

Now, let’s head home to La Paz and get some fish! God bless you all!

That’s our story!

combo signature 2-proc

Jonathan and Jilly

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website: 

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

U.S. Mailing Address:  Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA  91942

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.

Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:  https://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videoshttp://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.”

 

 

Read Full Post »

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report from Tailhunter La Paz Fleet for Week of March 16-23, 2014

sierra cindy from Oregon 3-14 small tags

That’s a big sierra! Great eating and feisty on light tackle, Cindy holds up a trophy sierra she nailed trolling Cerralvo Island with the purple rapala you see in the photo. Cousins to the wahoo, these guys make super ceviche!  (Thanks for the photo, Hawk!)

dorado water tags 3-14

Dorado were the mainstay for our anglers this week as waters up to 80 degrees have moved into our fishing holes bringing the warm water species as well. This female was hooked just outside of Bahia de Los Muertos and released, but we’ve been getting some bulls up to 20-25 pounds.

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Inshore action has been good for light tackle and the flyrod like this cabrilla (Mexican seabass) that Dennis McGuffee caught fishing with Captain Archangel from Tailhunters. Dennis is from Colorado.

Here is why we're getting so many warm water fish...WARM WATER!  This is the latest ocean satellite reading from www.terrafin.com showing water temps.  The copper colors are in the 80's and the greens are the high 70's!

Here is why we’re getting so many warm water fish…WARM WATER! This is the latest ocean satellite reading from http://www.terrafin.com showing water temps. The copper colors are in the 80’s and the greens are the high 70’s!

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After 3 months on the road, we’re back in home grounds of S.California for the Fred Hall Fishing Show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego! Show is from Thursday to Sunday! Come visit us in the booth and set up your 2014 La Paz fishing trip!

WARM WATER SPECIES AGAIN TOP CATCHES

La Paz – Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week of March 16-23, 2014

Unless something dramatic happens, which might not be good, I would venture to say that cold-water fishing is pretty much done for the year.  Given the patterns and catches all winter, our chilly-water season has come and gone…what there was of it!

Whether that’s good or bad depends on how you look at it.  For fishermen coming in the spring to chase yellowtail, I think they might be disappointed.  There’s still yellowtail around, but certainly not in the numbers we’re used to seeing this year.  Our divers say there’s a colder water thermocline down deep that seems to be where the fish are holding.  But, the warmer waters on the surface…up 78 degrees around Cerralvo and into the 80’s on the outer banks!   There are still some other species around that are great fun like the spawning pargo and reef-bound cabrilla, but frankly no one has really been chasing these challenging species, not when there’s top water species around that are easier to catch and less frustrating.

That would be the other way to look at things.

The warm water species have really not left.  They’ve slowed a bit, but folks…we’ve been catching dorado since Christmas.  We’ve had little jags of wahoo and even tuna throughout the winter and even the occasional marlin.  These are all “glamor “ species we don’t see until later in the season…at least late spring or so.  The warm waters have kept these fish in the area and that’s what folks have been catching.  They’re fun.  They’re impressive fighters.  They’re great eating.  What’s not to like?  Captains, as a pragmatic issue, will also follow the path of “least resistance.”

No sense in chasing bottom fish like pargo or amberjack that will bite, but will frustrate the anglers and possibly send them home with empty fish boxes when dorado are swimming around and make for fast action and great fun and Kodak moments on the beach.  Same with cabrilla which are tasty and small…3-5 pounds…then there’s 20 pound dorado swimming around.  Yes…20 pound dorado…and some larger!

This past week our some of our pangas got limits of dorado up to 25 pounds…plus cabrilla…plus a few small roosters…bonito and jack crevalle.  Good action.  There were some yellowtail caught by commercial guys around Cerralvo Island and north of La Paz, but early in the week there were some huge winds that kept everyone close or not even going out.

At the beginning, I said that a dramatic change might not be good.  Given the current warmth of our waters, if something dramatic happens, like a sudden decrease in open temperature and everything got cold, I don’t think that would be a good thing. In our past experience, that might just shock the waters and the fish.  The waters would turn green and murky and fish wouldn’t bite.  That’s just speculation on my part, but I’d rather have fish biting than possibly none at all!  Even if they are dorado and billfish!  Nothing wrong with that.  And nothing wrong with the ocean either!  It’s just another cycle that we go through and this year just happens to be warmer than normal!

END OF THE ROAD!  WE’LL BE IN SAN DIEGO THIS WEEK!

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Sr. Agustin Olachea, head of the La Paz Hotel Association, came all the way up from La Paz to visit us at the Long Beach Fred Hall show! He does alot to help bring tourism to La Paz and Baja, Sur.  Great to have him visit us to see what we do at the shows!

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We’re coming back to La Paz! The scene at our booth in Long Beach two weeks ago as Jill and Don Busse and his gang of amigos toast the upcoming fishing trip returning to fish with us in October!

Our Tailhunter 2014 Road Tour started at the end of December and it’s finally coming to an end..sadly!  Because we’ve had a blast driving all over the country and visiting so many of our amigos at the west’s largest fishing and hunting shows!  We’ve been doing it now for almost 20 years!  Our road show started with us driving from San Diego to the Sacramento ISE show….then across to the Denver ISE show…then to the Puyallup Fairgrounds in Washington.  Then it was just south to the Portland Expo Center.  From there to the fairgrounds in Yakima, Washington.

We then took that long drive from Washington all the way to the Phoenix ISE show at the football stadium.  Then back north we went to Boise, Idaho for another great show.  Then back south to the Long Beach Fred Hall Fishing and Boating show.  Last week we drove to Salt Lake City at the ISE show there in Sandy, Utha.  Now, we’re here in San Diego!  Finally!   What a long fun trip it has been!  We rocked!

So, come see us starting Thursday for the Fred Hall Fishing show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds near San Diego.  The show goes until Sunday and both Jill and I will be in the booth. Come say hi and let’s chat about having you come fishing this year in La Paz.  Here’s more information about the show and how to get discounted tickets!   Click the link:

FRED HALL SAN DIEGO FISHING & BOATING SHOW

Also, click on the video below!

That’s our story!

combo signature 2-proc

Jonathan and Jilly

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website: 

www.tailhunter-international.com

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

U.S. Mailing Address:  Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA  91942

Phones:

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:  https://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videoshttp://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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