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IT’s OK…UNTIL SOMEONE SAY NO

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AHHHH…the DAYS WHEN WE BROUGHT EVERYTHING WE WANTED!

IT’s OK…UNTIL SOMEONE SAYS NO

Originally Published the Week of Nov. 22, 2025 in Western Outdoor Publications

Lately, there’s been more than a bit of anger on social media about Mexican customs “suddenly” clamping down on visitors bringing gear into the country. 

Specifically, sporting equipment and, in particular fishing equipment has come under scrutiny. 

For years, fishermen have been accustomed to bringing rods, reels and other fishing gear down to Mexico.  I’m as guilty as anyone. 

I remember trips where I had a huge bundle of at least a half-dozen sticks (rods) and 20 or 30 pounds of reels.  That doesn’t even begin to include all the lures, lines and terminal tackle that also came along on the trip! 

“I need my toys! I’m bringing it all!”

Fortunately, those days are mostly in my rearview mirror, but more incoming fishermen are getting stopped at the airport recently. Moreso, they have faced some hefty fines!

The surprise and outrage are understandable.

What a way to start your vacation!

You’re been looking forward to the trip forever.  You gather and pack all your gear for travel.

Your plane lands and you’re ready to get through the airport as quickly as possible and get that vacation started!  There’s a cold margarita and big fish waiting with your name on them!

Then, BAM! 

You’re stopped at customs in the airport.  An inspection of your gear results in a big fine. 

You’re delayed.  There are forms to fill out.  And your credit card takes a hit to pay the fine.

Talk about a buzz kill!

You’ve never had a problem before. You have always brought gear. All you wanted.  If you’re with fishing buddies, they also got hit.

You just don’t understand.  It’s a WTF moment  and under your breath (or maybe not) you’re uttering every expletive you can think of.

And that’s the rub!

This is NOTHING new!  The searches may be new, but the rules are NOT!

None of us ever read the fine print on the customs forms!  We never had to. 

We didn’t need to read it.  We pretty much brought what we wanted.

But, it’s right there in black and white on the customs form we all blindly sign.

I have to admit. In 30 years, I’ve never read the whole set of rules about what you can and cannot bring on your vacation.

Take a look:

http://omawww.sat.gob.mx/aduanas/pasajeros/Paginas/Mercancia_ingresar_Mexico.aspx

It specifically allows us to bring no more than 4 rods. 

It has always been there. It’s just that now the Mexican government is enforcing it (as they have every right to do). 

Give the list a look.  All kinds of things I didn’t know I couldn’t bring.  There are rules about cameras, CD’s., tobacco products and more!

If you bring more or something not allowed you should bring paperwork like an invoice showing the value of the object.  Otherwise, the inspectors will assign a value to the product and fine you accordingly.

Two years ago, I flew back to Mexico with a $2500 certified scale use to weigh big fish in tournaments and for world records. 

It wasn’t new.  I had brought it back to California to have it certified and repaired. 

But, this one time, I forgot to bring the invoice for the repairs.

I got inspected and pulled into the customs office.  I got hit with a $250 dollar fine and spent a good hour in the inspection office.

As much as I hated it, it was my fault for not bringing the paperwork like I usually do.  The law is the law.  I get it.

 Although I am a resident of Mexico and own businesses in Mexico, I am still a guest and subject to Mexican laws. 

My bad.

It’s like driving down the freeway where the speed limit is posted at 70 mph.  You ALWAYS drive it at 79 mph and it seems like everyone else does as well.

Or this one…talking or texting on your cellphone while driving!

But…if a patrol car wants to stop and ticket you, it’s hard to argue.

So, what to do?

Obviously, narrow down your gear. That’s the easiest.

Also, bring some paperwork with you.  If you got that new $600 reel at a discount $450 and don’t have the paperwork, inspectors will value your reel at $600. 

The whole point is to prevent tourists from bringing gear down and selling it to locals and avoiding the import taxes.  Like ALL governments everywhere, they want their pound of flesh.

I personally know guys who have brought gear to sell.  Often.

These days, compared to decades ago, fewer anglers are bringing their own gear.  It’s expensive to bring and unwieldy and cumberson to travel with it.

Most good outfits these days have fairly adequate to good gear.

But, if do decide to bring your own equipment, know the laws so you’re not surprised.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter Sportfishing Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico  www.tailhunter.com .  They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront.  If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

Or drop by the restaurant to say hi.  It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!

_____________ 

 
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter Sportfishing

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:  http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

“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.”

COVID REBOUND

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COVID REBOUND

Originally Published the Week of Nov. 14, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications

Mexico tourism, like many places took a big hit in 2020 with the Covid Pandemic.  Baja, in particular took it right on the chin with a virtual lockdown that turned many areas like Cabo and other cities into ghostowns.

Some of it was external.  I mean, if you have no airline flights there’s not much you can do about it.  Likewise, if the U.S. government has closed the passport office, it’s outta your hands.

But, Mexico at ground level was trying to figure out how to handle it.  In many respects, they were late-to-the-game in dealing with it. 

Mexico is highly dependent on tourism. It needed to keep the general economy moving and people working. Therefore, it sat on it’s hands when the rest of the world was going into lockdown.

It didn’t help matters that Mexico’s own President was still running around visiting restaurants and kissing babies; or telling folks that “Mexico will not be affected by Covid because we have Mayan blood and only rich people are affected by the virus.”

Uh, yea, right. 

He also wore a special “amulet” that he claimed would ward off the virus. 

It wasn’t too long ago to forget some of the wacky attempts to curb the spread. 

That included sanitizing your feet and shoes before you could go into a building or shuttle van.  Or who could forget, spraying sanitizer from helicopters?

The stopping of all beer sales was a big winner.  So was having to walk through a fumigation tent to go into a market.  And only one family member in the store at a time.

At hotels, you could not have two occupied rooms next to each other.  One occupied.  The next one empty.  Then an occupied room.  Social distancing to the max!

Since we run a fishing operation, this one was near and dear.  At one point, they declared that you could not be on a boat with open-toed footwear.  No flip flops.  No sandals. To fish “safely” you had to wear closed-toed shoes.

…and the captain could only stay in the center of the boat.  And the boat had be regularly fumigated.  Even if it was a panga.

Those were just lovely days!

But, the point being, none of this was very conducive to welcoming tourism on any level even after things started to open up.

However, here we are.  Almost 3 years post-covid and about a year since masks more-or-less came down.

Tourism is booming. 

In fact, tourism in Mexico is breaking records. American tourists are up 35% over last year. 

But… not just with Americans.  It’s an international vacation destination as well.  Mexico is the number one tourism spot in the world right now.

In fact, for the upcoming holiday season, if you’re headed to Cabo, be prepared.  It might be hard to find beach space!

We run our own shuttle service for our clients who fish with us in La Paz.  The majority fly into Cabo  and we transport them north to our city.

I was there in Cabo Airport a week ago and the line of shuttle vans picking up and dropping folks off was incredible.  Vans and cars were triple parked with arriving and boarding tourists.

Statistics showed that this year visitors are thronging in greater numbers than ever before.

So much so, that they’re adding another 1500-2000 more hotel room construction in the next year. Airlines have added more flights to the tune of almost 2 million more available plane seats.

By this past spring 2020, almost 3 million visitors had already shown up in Cabo.  They expect by the end of the year, Cabo alone will have hosted some 7 million tourists.

During the Thanksgiving holidays, the expectation is for at least 30,000 visitors and more than 80% hotel occupancy. 

It’s a phenomenal number.  We think of all the big-name hotels brands like Hyatt, St. Regis and Four Seasons to name a few.

However, there are also all the little mom-and-pop operations as well.  The big ones have been booked for weeks or months even though statistics show that the average hotel room night is now $400!

Of course there’s plenty of smaller more economic places (like where I stay!).   But, the flood of tourists has now slowed down. 

Not surprisingly, Cabo has edged Cancun as the #1 Mexican vacation destination.

Just be prepared for crowds if you’re coming down in the next few weeks.  Give yourself extra time so you can enjoy your time!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

______________

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter Sportfishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico  www.tailhunter.com.

They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront.  If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

Or drop by the restaurant to say hi.  It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!

_____________ 

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:  http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g

“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.”