GillBilly Chronicals: The Baja Boating Fear Factor

A CLASSIC PHOTO OF THE TIJUANA BORDER CROSSING

As humans, we possess a natural fear of that which we do not understand. Also, as humans we often do things we would prefer not to do if fear is a determining factor. The ideal situation before embarking to Baja is that your fears are reduced and the choices are made through a previous local knowledge of the area, enabling the benefit in your trips success to be the determining factor in your decision.

The isolated stories you have heard or read of misfortune experienced by others have been the result of bad judgment, poor preparation, and/or a bit of bad luck. Driving in Mexico after consuming alcohol or drugs is not advised. In addition, any possession of firearms in Mexico is strictly prohibited. Your drive to and from Baja may include a checkpoint for firearms and drugs search and seizure. The majority of times through these checkpoints you will be waved on through, however, at times a search may be performed. Your attitude is very important when dealing with any form of authority in Mexico. A smile and an attempt at what little Spanish you may speak will go a long way toward determining the treatment you receive from the Mexican authorities. This may determine if you are lightly searched or all your belongings searched in earnest.

When crossing the border there is the famous red light/green light system determining whether you are subject to search for imported goods or allowed to cruise through. A red light and loud bell will be your cue to pull to the right and into the inspection lanes. Again, attitude is important if inspected. Have the original copy of your importation document issued when you checked your yacht into the port of Ensenada with you. If you are importing a lot of boat gear, this may allow you through without paying importation duties. But that document is not a guarantee of you not paying importation duties; this is subject to the mood of, and interpretation of the law, subject to the discretion of the inspecting official. Our best advice is a friendly greeting by you and a willingness to open every door when asked. Don't willfully offer information about what you have, your destination, or your possession of the importation documentation, except when asked. Also, try to keep importation of new gear to a minimum. The Mexican border officials would have you pull into the "Declare" lanes automatically, but this could be costly in time and funds. A part of your pre-trip planning would have all that great new stuff from your local marine store already on the boat when disembarking from the U.S.. But forgotten or upgrade items may have to be transported during your in Baja. Remember to smile and learn to say “Holla, como esta usted?” (“hello, how are you”), etc… in Spanish to lessen the tension and put you back on the road to your time well spent in Baja.

Once more, do not drink and drive, possess firearms or drugs, and most importantly cop an attitude if stopped or searched. The ugly American image is not wanted south of the border and Mexican citizens can sense that attitude immediately. A measure of mutual respect and common sense, along with local knowledge of the area will go a long way to help lessen the Fear Factor.

I love fishing. You put that line in the water and you don't know what's on the other end. Your imagination is under there.
Robert Altman

GillBilly Chronicals: Baja Softball Report, New Combined League

11 year old Johana Gabriela Sandoval Sandez delivers a strike in a recent game at El Sauzal.

The leaders of the new Ensenada Girls Softball League met this past week to put the final touches on the new Community Development League that starts its winter league play Sept. 20^th and goes until Dec. 7^th. Under the League umbrella, there will be two divisions, Ensenada and El Sauzal. With both communities participating in the new combined league, there will be more players, coaches, and leaders involved in the league as it makes its move to be the biggest, brightest, and best league in Baja. “Our goal is 300 players in our league by 2010” quips league Director Charles Tawil, “We can accomplish this bright and realistic goal by recruiting, promoting, and insuring that our on the field performance is fun for the player, parents, and all involved”.

Currently, the league has 110 players signed up in 3 categories; 8 and Under, 10 and Under, and 12 and Under. Each category will field 4 teams that will play each week on Saturdays at the El Sauzal Sports Park. The teams will play 12 league games during the winter season with playoffs at the end deciding a champion. Each player will receive a participation medal the with the League champions receiving championship T-Shirts to commemorate their achievements. The league will play both winter and spring seasons with an All-Star Team for each category being chosen at the end of the spring season to play in summer All-Star Tournaments both here in Mexico and in the USA.

“With a combined league, our All-Star teams will be competitive with other C rated recreation and community leagues in the USA” says Patty Campuzano, President of the Ensenada Board of the Directors that manages the El Sauzal division. “We really think that this is the best for us to field tournament teams that are on par with the best of leagues in Mexico and the USA.”

As the league prepares for its inauguration of the new combined league Sept. 20^th the players and coaches are finishing up their summer tournament season. The 12u El Sauzal All-Stars will travel to Tijuana to play in the big Otay Mesa International Tournament on Aug. 30 and 31. They will play 3 games on Saturday and play single elimination on Sunday. El Sauzal will host its last summer tournament on Sept. 5-6, when they host a 6 team 10u and Under Tournament at the El Sauzal Sports Park. Confirmed teams are Tijuana Cobritas, Tijuana Yankees, Ensenada Chispitas, Ensenada Diablitas, El Sauzal Uvitas, and the El Sauzal Sirenitas.

Visit the brand new web site for all of softball in Mexico at www.MexicoSoftball.com. There you can find all the current info on girls softball in Mexico. Check it out. It’s an exciting time for Girls Softball in Baja. If you have a player who would like to play visit their web site at www.BajaSoftball.com for more info.

There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind.
Washington Irving

MAYA SINGS MARIACHI: 9 Year Old Baja Singing Sensation

Maya's (pictured here between her 2 best friends) other favorite pastime is playing fast pitch girls softball with the Baja Softball League Uvitas (little grapes) team sponsored by the La Casa de Doña Lupe Winery.

Maya Burns is a 9 year old gringita that sings ranchero mariachi music Linda Ronstadt style. She loves to sing and has had no formal training. She has lived in Baja since she was 4 years old and has also been singing since that tender age. Maya started playing piano at 18 months and could rap out a mean “twinkle, twinkle little star”. She started performing Spanish songs at 4 singing the song “Cielito Lindo” which her parents had on a computer disc of songs of world languages. At that age she made friends by sharing the free candy she was given after singing for her amazed adult admirers. When she was 3 she looked at her startled parents and said, “books will be written about me”. She hopes to sing someday with anyone of her three favorite Divas; Barbara Streisand, Linda Ronstadt or Debbie Reynolds.

Maya Burns was a loud baby blessed with a really long tongue, a characteristic of many virtuoso singers in our history. On long car trips she would entertain her parents mimicking her favorite excerpts from the Rocky Horror Show and her favorite Grateful Dead song Peggy-O. She soon progressed to doing Streisand and Judy Garland tunes. Currently Linda Ronstadt is her favorite singer and you can hear Ronstadt’s influence in her mariachi songs. Visit the YouTube address listed below to hear Maya sing Viva Mexico, Por Un Amor and La Cigarra among other favorites. Take a moment and google "Por Un Amor", there is Maya's YouTube video right below Linda Ronstadt's at the top of the list with a 5 star rating! She delivers her performances with amazing power without accompaniment… demonstrating controlled octave range, sustained notes and perfect tone, pace and presence. She recorded the same song two days apart in the studio without accompaniment and a computer analysis showed they were identical!

Maya is the daughter of self admitted throw back hippie parents who moved the family to Baja from Monterrey, California five years ago. Jim and India own the Café Bohemia on the east side of the transpeninsular highway near Estero Beach at KM 115 just before you go down the hill to the agricultural plains en route to Maneadero. India’s Dad was Clint Eastwood’s personal chef and worked at Clint’s restaurant the Hog’s Breath. They have taught a local bakery how to bake sour dough and rye bread, rarities here in Baja. To compliment your visit, the finest in the highest grades of organic coffees are daily brewed. The Café features pastrami, turkey breast, and roast beef French dip sandwiches, homemade lasagna, homemade white clam chowder, salad choices made with organic produce, fresh chocolates and many unique pastry surprises.

At the ripe old age of 9 Maya often complains about the local mariachi bands “being out of key” and gets ramped up for performances in front of large audiences, and not so much for small gatherings. Her growing singing legend precedes her wherever she goes. She can be scheduled to perform for your party or special function, just visit the Café Bohemia to discuss arrangements. The Café’s phone number is 646 120 3361. They are open 8am to 7pm 7 days a week. There you will find paying customer free Wi-Fi internet service within the homey living room style atmosphere. Every day they have special featured dishes, just ask.

Maya’s YouTube internet channel is WLAAAAA, there you will be able to experience Maya’s incredible singing skills. On YouTube you will find many child prodigy potential teen idols, but here in Baja, Maya is OUR pre-teen idol! CDs of Maya’s songs are available at the Café Bohemia.

______________________

The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad.

A.K. Best

GillBilly Nostalgia: BOGEY AND BACALL Remembrance

BOGEY AND BACALL ABOARD THEIR SAILBOAT THE SANTANA

“It’s even better when you help… You don’t have to say anything and you don’t have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe, just whistle. You know how to whistle, don’t you Steve? You just put your lips together and blow.”

Our tradition is that of the first man who sneaked away to the creek when the tribe did not really need fish.

Roderick Haig-Brown

GillBilly Chronicles: Cigarette Butt Litter Facts

Most cigarette filters are composed of cellulose acetate, a form of plastic. The white fibers you see in a cigarette filter are NOT cotton, but a plastic that can persist in the environment as long as other forms of plastic. Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter in our everyday world and are estimated to last in your local gutters and in our sea for up to 15 years before they biodegrade… Have you ever looked down at the street gutter at a busy red-lighted left hand turn lane? Everyone seems to think this is the place to empty his or her ashtray- YUCK.

Next time you have a family gathering or take a walk along an ocean or bay jetty, look between the jetty rocks and you will see piles of cigarette butts. Mother Earth is not happy, as demonstrated by the recent natural calamities that have befallen our global society. One who smokes a pack a day can potentially litter the earth by the mindless flick of their 20 butts per day, 7,300 items per year. In fact, over 4.5 TRILLION toxic, non-biodegradable cigarette butts are tossed into the environment annually by smokers. Please think before you discard your next butt into our environment. Better still, STOP SMOKING for yourself and the family you love and the family of man we hope to preserve.

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Bass fishermen watch Monday night football, drink beer, drive pickup trucks and prefer noisy women with big breasts. Trout fishermen watch MacNeil-Lehrer, drink white wine, drive foreign cars with passenger-side air bags and hardly think about women at all. This last characteristic may have something to do with the fact that trout fishermen spend most of the time immersed up to the thighs in ice-cold water.

Baja Boater Safety

Recently Baja California has been the subject of many new stories regarding crimes perpetrated against visitors from north of the border. As in all walks of life, one must take all measures possible to prevent being in the “wrong place at the wrong time”. But if you find yourself in an unfortunate situation, the glaring difference in Mexico is that you are basically on your own and can’t rely on local authorities to protect you or to pursue those that may have committed a crime with you being the ill-timed involved party.

Any trip south of the border must be well planned at the outset. Whether traveling by sea or by land, file a float plan or a road itinerary. Be sure that those at both ends of your journey have a copy of your agenda. Try to depart and arrive during daylight hours. While in Mexico stay in well populated areas preferably gated with guards in attendance. Install an alarm system on your yacht and know how to activate the alarm in your vehicle. Always secure your vehicle with a club device and park in well lit and well traveled areas. If possible, transit by convoy on the road, or fleet by sea. The support group strength in numbers is a great haven when in a new and unfamiliar country.

Be sure that your yacht and car insurance are extended to cover you and your crew south of the border. Bearing arms in Mexico is strictly prohibited, and if you violate that law you will spend time in a Mexican jail. Your best weapon in Mexico is a working cell phone. Be sure your phone plan includes Mexican coverage before you depart. All areas of northern Baja now have excellent cell coverage. Arrange to have someone on speed dial back in the States to act as your personal 911 contact.

Above all, behave respectfully while in Mexico. Mexicans resent the “ugly American” syndrome and can sense it immediately. Speaking what little Spanish you know goes a long way toward bridging the gap between cultures. Remember, attitude begets attitude, and your good behavior while in Mexico will often determine the mood and tenure of your surrounding environment. But, again, careful pre-planning is the key to any adventure in Mexico. We hope to see you here soon!

ADDED NOTE: If you are carrying a cell phone and need vehicle roadside help during your True Travels to Ensenada you are encouraged to dial 01-520-800-990-3900, if you need crime prevention help dial 01-520-800-440-3690. There are also phones along the way on the Toll Road at various distances that will connect you directly to the Green Angels green emergency service trucks.

There will be days when the fishing is better than one's most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse. Either is a gain over just staying home.

Roderick Haig-Brown, Fisherman's Spring, 1951

GillBilly Chronicles: The Travels of Seguaro

Hi Everyone,

When we wrote last we were just leaving Cape Town bound for Trinidad. We had a great trip, just over 39 days at sea with two stops—each for four days—at the islands of St. Helena (UK) and Fernando de Noronha (Brazil). For the most part, it was an uneventful trip—the best kind. Here are a few things that stand out in our minds:

Seguaro did very well. He hadn't sailed since he was a few months old, so we were very concerned—prepared—even, to throw in the towel if he couldn't handle the boat motion or was just plain miserable. We left Cape Town on a stiff southwester, with big beam seas, and while Josh was a bit green, Seguaro could watch Curious George videos and swing around the boat like his hero. He apparently inherited his Mom's stomach. The better part of most days was spent doing crafts, emptying out Dad's tools, reading kid's books, baking snacks, etc. Basically, he took to the whole thing better than we ever imagined—and we were so relieved. He never did appreciate it when both parents had to go out and do sail changes—not only would he be alone, but the sounds of sails flapping, winches turning and parents swearing always freaked him out.

Coming into port was always a good time for him. He would help hoist the yellow quarantine flag, (the "new people" flag) and enjoy the ice cream and kiddos we had promised would be waiting for him.

Every morning Suzy would wet down the teak and Seguaro would follow her around and collect all the flying fish that littered the deck, tossing them back into "Momma Ocean". It was his chore and he was proud to do it.

Light airs were a bit of a problem—we did probably half of the first leg under spinnaker. Sometimes winds were light and steady enough, and the squalls mild enough, to tempt us into leaving it up at night (mistake). Even with Josh sleeping in the cockpit and looking about every 15 minutes, a squall overtook us and blew it clean in two. I suppose that's better than a boat we met in St. Helena who got caught the same way but instead of parting, his spinnaker held until his boat was completely on its side and water was flooding in the portholes.

St. Helena was a throw-back kind of place: all very clean and British, pastel colored buildings, tea shops, etc., and so removed from the world—no airport, and only a (decreasing) population of about 4000. Steep-to and volcanic, with lush valleys and high plateaus and the population being blended English, black and Asian (the latter two groups having been brought as labor in previous centuries) that spoke in a sort of pigeon English w/cockney accent. Incredibly friendly and accommodating, the people seemed to really appreciate being able to live in a remote, completely clean and crime-free corner of the world—although much debate was going on about the British Government's plans to build an airport and gradually curtail the subsidies that keep the place going. We enjoyed a day of hiking with a single-hander fellow. Another day we joined a local family on a picnic at a cricket match. Our favorite was eating curry in the "Castle Gardens"—with a fountain and grass for Seguaro to run around on. The damp, green scent was heavenly after all the days at sea.

We celebrated Seguaro's 2nd and Suzy's 32nd birthdays underway. Low key, obviously, but highlighted by cakes covered in melted Cadbury bars—Seguaro's topped with a tractor carved out of chocolate and caramel. We don't feel too bad giving him that kind of stuff on occasion since the little guy only eats about three bites and is full.

Some nice fish were caught—mahi, tuna & wahoo. Too much, in fact and Josh was told to put the gear away. It's funny how when starting out on a trip we're never interested in catching fish, but later on we actually sail (way) out of our way to troll across sea mounts and around atolls. Protein deficiency? On the subject of deficiencies—Josh's gums began getting sore when flossing—cured quick enough with vitamin C pills.

The Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha was beautiful, but very hot and very, very expensive. Just to anchor in the bay we were whacked for $140.00/day! We know the dollar is getting weak, but that's insane. We did rent a buggy and Josh got to surf each day—one spot in particular is known as the Brazilian Pipeline and is a beautiful, sand bottom peak that really heaves. Other than the waves, the best thing about the place was this drink made from crushed, frozen acai (ahh-sigh-ee) berry and banana paste and sprinkled with toasted oats. It was even better than it sounds.

At 4 degrees south of the equator, we anticipated the southeast trades to continue for awhile. But on leaving, we basically found ourselves in doldrums conditions which lasted until we found the northeast trades at 2 degrees north—a bit sketchy as we were down to 35 gallons of fuel with 1600 miles to go. For days we would work the squalls for a push, making as little as 70 miles a day and constantly changing the sails to keep the boat heading (drifting) due north. Suela glided across the equator at 0130 in the morning after 5 years in the Southern Hemisphere. When the first puffs of breeze began to fill in, a trace of chill could be felt—serving notice that it was winter and we'd soon be wearing clothes.

Although the "rhumb-line" distance was 5400 nautical miles, with all the zigzags the trip ended up being just about 6000 (not those Zigzags). After clearing in at the lush cove of Chagauramas Bay, Trinidad, we enjoyed our first freshwater showers in two months, not to mention a sit-down feast at an Italian restaurant. You would have thought we were ordering for six—and all that followed by a full night's sleep. It's good to go cruising from time to time if nothing more than to be reminded to really appreciate the little things (while having endless time to look around and ponder the big things).

We're flying back to the states tomorrow and hope to see some of you before Josh rejoins his ship in Brazil and Suzy goes . . . wherever she likes. Next go-round we'll aim for the canal and spend time enjoying the Pacific coasts of Panama and Costa Rica.

Take Care,
Josh, Suzy & Seguaro

Men and fish are alike. They both get into trouble when they open their mouths.

GillBilly Chronicles: Will the 90 DAY YACHT CLUB Disappear over the Horizon Again?

Governor’s proposed budget for 2008-09 would bring back one-year waiting period

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA -- The rejoicing was almost unanimous in the boating community last summer, when California legislators brought back the sales tax exemption for boats purchased offshore and used out of the state for more than 90 days. However, because of the state’s impending budget shortfall, the governor has proposed a requirement for fiscal year 2008-09 that vessel, vehicle and aircraft purchases remain out of state for a full year to qualify for the exemption. According to a report from Betty Yee, chairwoman of the state Board of Equalization, the move is expected to bring in “$21 million in additional General Fund revenues by making permanent the use tax on vessels, vehicles and aircraft brought into the state less than one year from purchase.” The move brings back a measure enacted in 2004 to restrict the sales tax exemption. During last year’s budget negotiations, California state Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman, R-Irvine -- a boat owner -- successfully convinced fellow legislators to remove a renewal of the one-year out-of-state requirement from the 2007-08 budget.

At the time, Senator Ackerman said the 2004 law restricting the sales tax exemption “was going to be an experiment,” and he believes that experiment had failed. Yacht brokers and boat builders statewide had been adversely affected by 2004’s tougher requirements for buyers who sought to avoid sales tax, Ackerman said. A return to the 90-day out-of-state requirement for offshore deliveries provided a valuable incentive for new buyers, and was expected to result in increased sales of larger vessels by California yacht dealers and brokers. The return of the 90-day requirement was approved as one of several budget compromises with Democratic legislators, which resulted in passage of the $145.5 billion budget signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger last Aug. 25.

Senator Ackerman recently told members of the California Yacht Brokers Association that this time around, he will need extensive data on the effect of the 90-day exemption on yacht sales -- and the related impact on vessel repair, accessory sales, marine service and tourism industries -- to convince legislators of the value of keeping the “old rules.” Meanwhile, boaters can make their voices heard on this issue by contacting their California Assembly representatives at www.assembly.ca.gov , California state senators at www.sen.ca.gov and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at www.gov.ca.gov .

Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught.

GillBilly Style Jumbo Squid Sandwich

Ingredients:

4 servings

1 – 1 1/2 lbs jumbo squid body, membranes removed
3 T olive oil
3 T seasoned rice vinegar
2 lemons, juice only
1 T Dijon mustard
1 t dried basil leaves
3 garlic cloves, minced
pinch each salt and pepper
3 T mayonnaise
1 t capers
dash or two Tabasco
shredded lettuce
sandwich rolls or bread

Instructions: Cut squid body so that it lays flat on a cutting surface. Slice diagonally (at an angle) into very thin strips. Combine olive oil with next 6 ingredients in a bowl. Add sliced squid, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add squid and cook for 30 – 40 seconds or just until color changes. Combine mayo with capers and Tabasco. Spread on rolls. Mound lettuce on rolls and top with squid.

Note: If your squid is tough and rubbery, you cooked it too long.

My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it.
Koos Brandt

Yet Another Exciting Series of Designs Introduced in our GillBilly Store!

We keep outdoing ourselves here in GillBillyville as we continue to improve our store and introduce new staples of the “GB BRAND”. Here we have the new Gnarly Charlie and Mollie designs. We are having great fun discovering the innermost essence of this “who knew?” marketing contraption known as “internet marketing.” Though these designs are not ready yet for public consumption, er, for you to buy as of yet… we know these 2 new designs will thrill both young and old in their unique appeal. Been there, done that, I know, and now we are showing the results of our many days toiling at sea feeling you in our implementation of the creativity we are sharing.

Soon we will be placing your photos on this site wearing our GB gear. Feel free to e-mail us your collection of fish photos caught while wearing and soiling our designer concepts. Your kids we are sure will love both Gnarly Charlie and Mollie, soon we will be sponsoring kids fishing adventures and supplying our shirts at a wholesale price for those events. If you have a youth outing in mind, please contact us and we will make it possible to supply your entire crew with a shirt as a memento of their day out catching fishes. We are available always at the e-mail address billy@gillbilly.com to discuss your needs in this regard, keeping the kids stoked fishing and always aware of the conservation and beauty of our Mother Ocean.

As we gear up we will be offering you more design configurations; tank tops, shorts, and other stuff all replete with the famous GillBilly logo here on this site. Click the title above to be instantly transported to our GillBilly store… and visit our CafePress store linked on the right hand margin of this blog to find more choices already made available in the spirit of the GillBilly creed! As our spokesman Pablito says, “Catch and release to keep the Ocean’s peace!”


"Carpe Diem" does not mean "fish of the day."

GillBilly Chronicals: The GB Brand's Official Choice for President!

Fishing tournaments seem a little like playing tennis with living balls...
Jim Harrison

El Corralito, the Margarita House, Established 1966

How would you like to visit a local restaurant that has Ensenada’s finest Cadillac Margaritas and 24-hour food service too! Welcome to El Corralito! The restaurant and bar are distinguished by the green glass enclosed structure on the curb that sandwiches the sidewalk in between the outdoor seating area and the main bar and galley. This results in everyone that is passing on the walkway to walk through the establishment. Wherever you are seated, the color of the day is vividly on display, and in this reporter’s book, this eatery and bar rivals even France’s sidewalk cafés for an interesting menagerie of passing town traffic. On cruise ship in-port days you will find Ensenada’s streets filled to overflow with a melting pot of locals, partying and shopping gringos, strolling mariachi minstrels, and the town’s many enterprising street vendors.


Eduardo Escobedo has owned the El Corralito for the entire 42 years of its existence. You will see the same employee faces every time you visit, creating a warm and friendly ambiance for you and your party. The food is excellent, as witnessed by a party of 20 that was visiting last week from San Francisco. They had just arrived from Cabo San Lucas by cruise ship and said the El Corralito food was the best yet on their trip. Loren and Michelle had a day in Ensenada to kill during a 13 hour lay-over fresh from Catalina by cruise ship and said, “great tunes, good food, good beer, and a great atmosphere”. They had spent 2 hours watching 3 of the 5 big screens featuring a live Beijing Olympic satellite dish broadcast, a U-2 concert and Baja off-road racing. The place does have a unique interior look, the walls and ceiling are covered with Baja racing memorabilia, signed dollar bills and Polaroid camera shots that date back many years. By the way, all those hundreds of dollars of US dinero are rendered non-negotiable in Mexico after being defaced by the act of personalizing that bill with an ink marker before it is stapled to the wall.

The menu has changed little over the years. The last time the menu was changed was for design purposes only, 2 years ago. Now the El Corralito is expecting a new menu in coming weeks reflecting the new food prices caused by the weakening dollar against the peso. One dollar tacos will now be a little more, as will the most expensive dish, steak and lobster. You will still get a huge serving of local Mexican fare for just over 6 bucks. The specialty of the house is the huge fishbowl Cadillac Margarita, still priced reasonably, containing an interesting and tasty mix of spirits. The best brands of tequila will be found here, if you want to splurge, try a shot of one of the many preeminent brands of Mexican tequila the bar has to offer! Curbside enclosed and indoor eating 24 hours a day, the bar is closed from 2am to 10am.

Calling fishing a hobby is like calling brain surgery a job.
Paul Schullery

Wahoo! It Can Only Get Better!

The above albacore were caught off the Baja coast near Ensenada aboard the Bad Dog. This has been a banner week of fishing here in the southern California and Baja California, Mexican waters. Yesterday a rare wahoo was caught among a school of that species. That is a very good sign for fishing prospects this week and into the fall. The full moon later this week and quality offshore weather sea conditions can only make this a week and month to remember in fishing lore. Boats are catching all the exotic warm water species currently; marlin, yellowtail, yellowfin, bigeye, bluefin, albacore, and a huge quantity of smaller dorado. Add to that the arrival of wahoo, and the water getting warmer offshore, and all GillBilly can say is, “It can only get better!”

Even if you've been fishing for three hours and haven't gotten anything except poison ivy and sunburn, you're still better off than the worm.

Yet Another Exciting Design Introduced in our GillBilly Store!

Always ready to tell a tall tale, and stretch the truth a bit about his latest catch, here is our newest introduction to the GillBilly product line, Fibber McFish. We keep outdoing ourselves here in GillBillyville as we continue to improve our store and introduce new staples of the “GB BRAND”. We are having great fun discovering the innermost essence of this “who knew?” marketing contraption known as “internet marketing.” Though this design is not ready yet for public consumption, er, for you to buy as of yet… we know this new design will thrill both young and old in its unique appeal. Been there, done that, I know, and now we are showing the results of our many days toiling at sea feeling you in our implementation of the creativity we are sharing.

As we gear up we will be offering you more design configurations; tank tops, shorts, and other stuff all replete with the famous GillBilly logo here on this site. Click the title above to be instantly transported to our GillBilly store… and visit our CafePress store linked on the right hand margin of this blog to find more choices already made available in the spirit of the GillBilly creed! “Catch and release to keep the Ocean’s peace!”

The best way to a fisherman's heart is through his fly.

GillBilly Style Grilled Yellowtail with Spicy Peppercorn Oil

This Spicy Peppercorn Oil is best made a day ahead, so plan accordingly. In a pinch, you can make a fast batch and just slap it on your fish, but it’s better after a day or two.

Ingredients:
4 servings
4 yellowtail fillets, 6 – 8 ounces each
3 Tbl whole peppercorns, any color or mixed
1 cup olive oil
2 tsp red pepper flakes
5 garlic cloves, crushed
1/4 cup red or yellow onion, chopped
1 lemon peel
1 1/2 tsp Kosher salt

Instructions Place peppercorns in a medium-hot dry skillet and lightly toast for 3 – 4 minutes while stirring(releases flavor!). Add peppercorns to a small saucepan with oil, pepper flakes, garlic and onion. Bring to a boil while stirring. Remove from heat, stir in lemon and salt and allow to cool. Place in a jar and let stand at room temperature for 12 – 24 hours. Strain through coffee filter (optional). Brush fish with peppercorn oil and place on a white-hot grill for 3 – 4 minutes each side or until just a tad undercooked. Drizzle additional oil over and serve.