Lets Re Set

 Before we jumped the jet for Moootana we were having supper with old friends who in this strange covid era had other health problems as well as difficulties getting their usual place to stay in Mazatlan.  Feeling just tired they told me and MPeasy that they being in their seventies were thinking that this was probably the last year for them in Mazatlan. They'd been coming for over 30 years and  were talking about pulling the plug....yikes...They love Mazatlan, who doesn't ?  So , I encouraged them to not be hasty and think it over, maybe all we really need is a reset, ya know, kind of start over . I told them that for us that I feel like somebody kinda stole two years of our lives. I know we can't get any of that back so maybe rather than slow down our goals and adventures what we really need to do is stomp down on the gas pedal a bit. And that's what we're doing....By the time we left Mazatlan our friends agreed to see us in MZT for another supper  in less than a year 😎

So that's the plan....what we really need are first's and not last's...Just yesterday I trimmed my first ever hedge, now that ain't a fun or adventuresome thing but...hey, it's new to me and me and MP had fun working together on it. This years first's,  and we'll see how many we make, I hope all and more.

1. My first Walleye's. I made that plural cuz I'm intending to learn that deal and you know me, when I do it will be like a Space X launch. Every ardent fisherman I know speaks about or knows about those fish so there must be something to it.

2. Our first drive to Mazatlan. Next fall we're road trippin for sure. Last year we came close with a trip to Green Valley AZ but next season we're going all the way...We'll stop and get our Mexican insurance and our FMM and our T.I.P. and enough cold Coca Cola's to give for propina's to every toll collector we meet along the way. 

3. Our first lower 48 salmon. Yup, they got em down here to and if we had to list what we miss about Alaska I guess eating, catching, talking and smoking salmon would be number one. They got em close by and I know how to get em.

4. MP's first Mariner game ( I've been to just one ) . They spent some money after coming so close last year we gotta go see it up close and personal. We'll get out to Seattle and visit all our friends in Squim and then grab Samuel John King and get us some of those right field baseline seats on a Thursday night game that starts at 6:00.  Pass the garlic fries !

5. My first real musical gig. Now I've played music for hundreds of people and even in a few fairly large venues but I'm feeling like I can do some good and of course have some fun. The Senior facility that MP's mom was at was looking for somebody to come in and play for the residents and I think I'm just the right guy...Not going to effect my tax situation but I'd bet ya I can get some cookies out of the deal.

So you get the idea. Speaking of music, here's a song I just love. The lyric is so simple that it's pure genius. It's what all of us older people in the new covid world are kind of feeling. The song was on the soundtrack of the movie Crazy Heart . Somebody told me one time that I reminded them of  Jeff Bridges character in the movie, well I don't think that's true but if loving that music is a reminder well then maybe it is. It's written by Ryan Bingam. 

In one month I'll have the new suspension in my old white truck so we'll have the camper on and ready to race. The ice is just about all out on the lakes so I'll get the boat over from HamBone and be out pretty soon. and I will, I really will do at least a couple posts per month, just squeezed in under the wire this month but hey, it's been busy. Hope ya all come back !

Fat Tuesday

 As you know, Mazatlan has the third biggest pre lent Carnaval in the world only behind New Orleans and Rio De Janiro. We've gone to the parade on Fat Tuesday every year since we've started coming to Maz. But there seems to be a view in the gringo community that the crowds are huge and unsafe and there's pick pockets and thieves preying on the unsuspecting....I won't say if that's true or false, I'll just say we go every year. As we walked out of the building on our way to the bus we bumped into a couple of friends who saw the folding chairs and beer cooler and said " oh, you're going to risk it "? Well....mmmm....what the real risk is in not going. What you risk is becoming an old cautious ' watch it on TV ' kind of couple and me and MPeasy ain't headed in that direction. Here's my favorite float of the night

The celebration like everything here  so family orientated. Every year we get adopted by a family that we end up sharing some real estate on the sea wall with. So here is pic of our new friends from 2022 who we had cheeto's in pepper sauce with and shared many a chuckle...Pura La Vida my friends.

I really didn't get the electro shock deal until the young guys who gave it a try went into hysterical laughter. Yup, at Carnaval you can  buy just about anything including getting hooked up to a car battery for 2 minutes. Me and their mother were watching with kinda ' I can't  believe this ' curiosity when they get the Mom to join hands left and right to complete a circuit ...she didn't seem to enjoy it as much as the young guys.

Parade food is outstanding and most everything comes with some kind of pepper sauce. A big thing is simply opening a bag of chips or better yet Dorito's and pouring your chile pepper sauce in . Kinda messy but it's sooo good.  I'd of jumped on this guys Tamales if I hadn't just woofed down a bacon wrapped hot dog with chili/mayo and grilled onions.  When it comes to protection from this pandemic that's changed all our lives you can't have to much. I got him to pose for this pic and it's typical, everyone is so engaging and fun.... I like that real good. And oh...he had free Wi Fi.

Now speaker scooter man took up  some real estate near us and we were liking him pretty good even if he was the loudest thing in ear shot...and that's saying a lot. But he just rested and recharged then moved along to continue what we know about Carnaval...you can be any thing or anybody you want. He was obviously a gadget guy, coolest watch I ever seen.

This new Lumix camera of mine is good for fishing as it's waterproof and shockproof but for quality shots I'm not so impressed.  My 'good' Lumix that died had a telescoping lens and low light sensors which took cool night shots....So these float pictures are a little disappointing but trust me, the floats are huge and each tows a generator for music and lights, very spectacular. This years Parade theme was Countries around the world or something similar.We had Marilyn Monroe in the smoke and the Beattles playing ' A Hard Days Night '....and a Mazatlan Venado ( Deer ) that shot confetti out of it's mouth.

So you're thinking " he ain't got no fish pics this edition ".....WRONG. I gotta tell ya about our new friend Dave. He's been fishing in front of the house here for a couple weeks . He sits in a fold up chair and has a cart for his stuff and mostly bait fishes although he keeps another spinning rod ready to cast with....but I'd never seen him use it. well the other morning I was casting long and hard because on several occasions I had seen the close white water ' get nervous ' with that tell tale that signals Robalo are chasing bait onto shore. So Dave gets out of his chair and grabs his spinner and on about the third cast he's on...He hollers, the fish jumps, I put my rod down and grab the gaff just in case and before you know it he tows this beauty up the beach....it's the magic of fishing. It was his last day in Mazatlan and the biggest Snook he'd ever caught or even seen. He was soooo excited and I was sooooo happy for him.  Well done Dave when you read this....and you flat  out earned that fish ....that's why we do it 😎

Making Friends

 Now that's something I've always been good at, maybe it was my military upbringing. But whatever it is when I  combine that with the wonderful welcoming style of the Mexican people I just seem to fit in real good...just kinda normal. Today as we walked old town the blaring sound of the a water salesman rang down the street and I shot this, we just don't advertise in such a personal manner N.O.B.   ( north of the border ) 

As we were at the Plaza Machado a bunch of kids were getting their pics taken for graduation or something I'd guess. It was cool so I asked if I could get a pic along with the professional that was  shooting and I had about 5 kids step forward....and then the rest seeing an opportunity joined in and I ended up with this.  Our son Max was impressed and told me that's powerful...I said  just fun and who doesn't like that .

And who doesn't consider these guys friends. The defined our youth and showed us the way to being ourselves. In my case they inspired me to get that first guitar and now I have several hundred songs and all of the the things I've done in life playing the music stands tall...

When I was young 

so much younger than today.

I never needed anybody's 

help in any way.

Now those days are gone 

and I'm not self assured.

And now I find the time to change

 my mind and open up that door.

Help me if you can I'm feeling down

and I really do appreciate you being around.

Help me get my feet 

back on the ground.

won't you PLeeeeease , please

Help Me.

And of course to be good with new friends ya gotta love on your old friends which since our life change we've been a little short on...But Maxwell Steven our oldest surprised us with a Mazatlan visit. I've always called him " best buddy " but that's not really the deal, every parent knows that...of all that I've learned in life I've learned the most and the most important from him and his brother Sam.

Nice Soldotna Stars shirt eh ?....mmmmm.....now where was I. Oh, you' re wondering about fish by now and I have not to many stories to tell. In one of life's poetic ironies I seem to have come up with a thing called Ciguatera, which is the most common type of fish poisoning. It has been hell. Look it up if you're curious but the short version is this : big predator fish ( that we all want ) in tropic areas eat small reef fish that get the ciguatoxin from eating coral or algae off the inshore rocks. It collects in your system and you get sick when you eat those fish as your system has all it can handle already. Some people are more sensitive and some less. In any case I'm the poster boy fish hound that's eaten and handled so many fish that now it makes me sick...But hey...the joy is in the pursuit so I'll continue to chase and report back. Just been sick a  lot his month...

So right now the best I can do is show every fish bum a beautiful thing... I told my friend Rafa at PescaMaz that I'd never seen a million dollars worth of lures in one place. Everyone knows how I feel about the Mirro Lure....in Alaska if you were to have to fish with only one lure it would be Blue Foxes Pixie, here in Mazatlan Mexico it would be the Mirro lure....Catch five for low and medium tide to dive on 3 to 5 ft. just above the rocks. M77 for high tide to dive to 10 or 15 feet and the new XXL for a medium depth long casting master .....what a lure. Oh, be careful with them , they're expensive.

About Snook

 Well  they're my favorite surf fish opponent. They fight well and will jump but my favorite thing is when they come up shaking  their heads when hooked, it's sooooo cool. It took me years to catch my first real nice one but lately there seems to either more of them or I finally learned how to catch them. They're interesting fish. They are hermaphrodite in that they all start out as males and turn into females at around 10 to 12 pounds , there are 6 verity's with the White Snook being the one we see the most. Like salmon they are anadromous , meaning they go into fresh water to spawn although some spawn in the open seas. They also think that because they are more prolific on the Caribbean side that they are extending their range. relying on warm water which seems to be everywhere in this day and age. Here's a pic of one I caught yesterday.

They love the Mangrove swamps and lucky for us the El Cid golf/ harbor / residence development used to be a pristine saltwater estuary and I always wondered how much of the original is still there . So I talk Jack into going up in his Boston Whaler which is about the cutest damn boat I 've ever seen....you know I'm kinda queer for boats. Well Jack and I found out there's a  lot of undisturbed mangrove wetlands and there's lots of fish to go with them....so cool....here' two shots to give you an idea. On one hand we could be out in backcountry and then go around the corner and you see the condo's.  We never saw another boat on our two trips.

Jack grew up in Mazatlan and he's about the first real waterman I've ever met and oddly enough he hasn't caught fish with a rod and reel, only a spear gun. So I got a big kick out of it after he landed this snook he told me " ya know Jeff , that's the first fish I've ever caught when I wasn't wet and cold ". So we're working on Jack to find the allure of sportfishing and we slide into the golden years together. He was trolling a nice deep diving plug when the rod went off and he grabbed the rod and reeled for a couple seconds then lifted this fish into the boat....poor snook never had a chance. 

I guess I've taken a few things for granted in the last few years so missing Mazatlan last year kind of rekindled my appreciation. Our garden suite is far from the nicest unit in the building and our privacy ain't what our neighbors have but I took this pic last night as I barbecued burgers and you gotta admit...that ain't a bad view...and while we were gone the city built us a brand new bike path from our place to Cerritos point 3 miles away. The lighting and all is fantastic and we're riding more because it's finally safe....thank you Mazatlan.

Now that I'm healthy I'm not missing another sunrise. This morning I was out of bed at 4:40 and then on the bus at 6:00. I met the guys at the spot and beat a couple but Tim and Tom beat me . It wanted to rain which is unusual and when this developed I put my new camera to use and it turned out pretty good. The Lumix shockproof / waterproof isn't really made for perfect shots nut I liked this real good...it really is why we do what we do.

And in the change is good category....here's a pic of us saying good bye to  our friend Gilberto who has run the water taxi ever since we started here in 2004 . He is retiring after an awesome career. He runs the boat like it was part of his body which is saying a lot as the boat is pontooned, under powered and catches a lot of wind along with tide. I tell people all the time that it's the hardest boat to run in the harbor and Gilberto does it with good cheer, so easily. I gave him a fishing rod and reel for retirement and I hope we get to fish together....we love this man, well played Gilberto.

See ya'all again soon....

 

We're in the Money

Pretty obvious that the dollar is shrinking wouldn't ya say .

 I guess I wrote about the covid to soon....it's been a long three weeks and my recovery was slower and harder than I thought it would be. But , I'll save you the details and just say that old Guide #003 is back in the game and feeling 99 % , you know at my age it's always something....and that's why ( here's the unabashed sales pitch ) I have become friends with these wonderful ladies at Marina Spa.

Being a 100% guy my back hurts from time to time and massage therapy is not only a cool indulgence while in Mexico but I'm here to tell you it helps. Isabel, Martha and Tama know the way. I've known Martha for 15 years and when my back is at it's worst with the sciatica pain running down my legs she knows the pressure points and has helped me sooooo much....so Mazatlan peeps, give them a try. Marina Spa Camaron Sabalo # 1502 in the mini mall next to Henderson Meats , 669-225-6693 . And if you read this ladies, thank you for being so wonderful.

to quote Robert Earl Keen ' it feels good feeling good again' . I missed these morning's of watching night turn to day, being the first on the beach with every day bringing new hope, it's the same feeling I had every morning on the run down river for 37 years...wondering what would happen, anticipating. Before the moon sinks it feels like there's more light from different angles and it seems to ricochet around differently than a sunset....

I had a camera crisis. I brought two and they both gave up on me...it's been a kinda a bad karma mechanical run I've been on. But friends brought me a new Waterproof Lumix from North of the Border and I'm once again on the search for the unusual. I like this pic real good.

You've heard me speak of momentum many times . I firmly believe that when things are going good they continue, objects in motion tend to stay in motion. I started Monday with this nice little Paleta that is smaller than a real Snook which was to come later.  They are great eating but you need to get about one per person.

The next morning I was up by Dan's house before light. Just as I turned off my headlamp I got the jerk and knew it was a snapper. The rocks up there are way more covered than I've ever seen them and they just aren't holding the fish they usually do. These Snapper fight so different, they pull and try to go right back down to the rocks from which they came...Two days, two consumables.

Of course I hustled up to the same spot the next morning and nadda but as I sat on the Terrace reading a cool book about ocean Life Guards in California I could see the Pelicans hunting and the little white birds were signaling...It's kinda hard to throw at low tide and maybe a bit dangerous but me and my new friend Armando worked over the Toro's pretty good. The long skinny things the locals call Cheeto's. They have a soft moth and you only land every 3rd or 4th but they jump and are great sport.

So that brings us to this morning. My friend Tim Lockwood arrived and of course his first morning on the beach I knew exactly where he'd be. He was there of course and when I arrived we really visited and were unhurried about the fishing although we could both see bird activity and lots of baitfish along the foamy whitewater...perfect formula for Robalo. And it wasn't long before I had the pull, when I told Tim it was heavy he said it looked Snooky and he was right. The first one weighed over 12 pounds. Here's pic of me with one right before the release.

If we'd had more Team Xers around who knows how many we could have caught . Tim went at it methodically and missed a few and landed 2. I kept the first and then had a surf / sand release and then another release. I missed a couple and had one open his moth and just about got the lure but he and I both ran out of water, they were right on the shore, how we don't see the splash from their tail as they swim by I don't know. Pretty darn exciting....so tonight we'll have snook with The Lockwoods and and Sharon and Bill Radke from Slowdotna Alaska at Loco Loco's. They're are friends and with these larger fish I clean up the carcass real well and Javier's and Jamie's mother makes soup, it's surprising how much meat the fillet job and the collar leaves.

Ya'all come on back now, ya hear ?

The Covid Kid

 That sounds kinda catchy huh ?  Sorry for the pun as it's really all not that funny but Crisco sent me this video and I got to say....it was pretty darn chuckly as I recovered.

The day after Christmas I had a scratchy throat and just didn't feel right and after consulting with MP and convincing her that I really was sick we both decided to do as the CDC recommends and test for Covid. Well I got swabbed and forked up the 900 peso and went back to the condo where MP brought me the positive results news and grabbed another 900 peso for her test, which was negative. This scenario was exactly why we missed Mexico last year but being vaxed and boosted we figured it was a different game plan now....and it is. Our biggest two problems were keeping MP safe while I quarantined  and the unsettling feeling I had that if things got bad I was a long way from the health care I know although as the covid progressed I soon realized that it was a text book Omicron case and it was proceeding exactly like the CDC said it would.....here's pic of the meds.

The biggest two things are hydrate, hydrate and don't watch the news. I used a Mucinex type of expectorant as well as a liquid Ambroxol type...to sleep I took a Mexican type of NightQuil and used an effervescent type of High dose Vitamin C . We used Tylenol only a couple of times when my temp got well over a hundred but that was only one day of the four that I had symptoms...So I guess the best thing I can tell you is that everything you need to know is on the CDC webpage and the symptoms, treatment and effect of the virus was exactly as they say...and that was comforting to me.  Here's a pic of my view for 4 days . Thanks baby....

Naturally how I caught it is the 42 dollar question but you don't have to be a rocket scientist to look around this building and figure that with our open door policy to the public and overall dysfunction it was right here in my own backyard. This sign went up after I tested positive and it only says that visitors of which we have many with public restaurant and bar as well as tri weekyl yoga etc should be advised that masks are recomended.....yup....suggested. 

So it's a real life petri dish here at LaMarina Yacht and Tenis. People test here daily....only because they have to to jump the jet and go home and complain about the price. As I was sick and waiting to test one lady here told me it was all a ' scam'.  I'm the only one that has tested in hopes of not spreading. We have people here that keep their illness a secret ' I don't want people knowing'.....yikes !  But the worst part are the unbelievers who keep there non vaxed status to them selves and give ya catty remarks about what you should have done when you're sick. Within 10 minutes of my postive test everyone in this building new I had the covid and that's a good thing but it's aggravating to think I'm living with people who withhold the truth about the risk they bring to you by being non vaxed idiots. That's the thanks that people like us who try to do everything right and then endure 6 days alone in your room so you don't spread to them...hell of a world.  So my message to LaMarina is this....ya'all better wise up. I know you all think I gave it to myself but it don't work that way....So if you don't mind getting in the elevator with a realtor and his people with no masks you shouldn't mind 6 days at home alone....but you people probably wouldn't do that , would you ? Good luck .

As I fished this morning one of my Mexican friends wanted to talk as I released a Toro. I stopped him short and asked him to stay back as I've had the covid but until I test negative I don't want him to take any chances so keep away for awhile...he thanked me and said he must be very careful as it has brought so much sadness to his family already.......

The right stuff

 Nobody will ever tell you recently retired guide #003 on the world famous doesn't know what he's doing. So as I bought my yearly new Plano Box because the rust they collect while you're up north discolors the expensive lures in them I decided on a new strategy . This year to keep the salt water out I'm not returning used lures to the box until after they're bathed in fresh water at the end of the day, just like my rod and reels. We'll see how it works . Just as on the Kenai where I'm convinced the shiniest and prettiest lures work best here on the playa I hate to see the lures with the dulled rust on them...

I also carry a small plano box just for Mirrolures which is my got to lure. The big box has top water poppers , Cabo Killers and Rangers. A collection of metal from 1 to 2 ounces and rubber swimfish in 1/2 to 2 ounces as well as pluma's feather jigs . So if you're coming to surf fish that box right there will about cover it....nice , new and shiney. And seeings as I'm on an education mission here I'll give you my number one piece of advice...if you don't know what to throw or if fishing is brutally slow throw metal, anything that swims will jump on a cast master or equivalent. The reason I have different sizes and shapes is simple the castmasters have great action but don't sink very fast and the action that makes them so good creates a lot of  drag that can make reeling tiresome. And for max distance yu want the lean looking metal like a Hopkins or a big swedish pimple....nothing will out cast a 2 ounce P-Line Lazer Minnow.....here's some consumables me and Jack got north of town a couple days ago.

Jack was looking for the good surf break and as we drove along the beach we stopped at any rocky point we came to and I caught a snapper off of the first two, on metal . We end up stopping while Jack gets out on his high tech sit down board that has a rudder etc...really cool.  As he surfed I cautiously climbed out onto the rocks and hooked the unstoppable. It was shiney and long and lean so I think one of the Mackerels they call a Snake Mackerel. I grabbed the reel and locked up the spool with only about 20 wraps left so that monster was half way to Cabo when the line parted. It was nice to be out in the wilderness again.

So with two nice pargo's it was off to Loco Loco's for entero. This something you just couldn't do at home and it sooooo  good. Crunchy and served with as nice garlic butter, washed down with a couple Pacifico's and a side order of fantastic conversation about books....Thanks Jack and Tammy for a great night and day.

So I'm half way through the process of 4 dental visits and new tooth. Right around the corner from Francisco's office is the coolest and cleanest little Marisco's joint where we had the crab tostados that we're hooked on....but check out this menu, next time we're steeping out and  going to untried palate places.

Here's an early Merry Christmas to all my readers....and thanks for reading...it's kinda like I say about the music, ' it's only music if someone hears it '