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"The good life in Buena Vista........."

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June ’07 Newsletter

The words from the 1958 Broadway musical “Carousel” couldn’t be truer . . . June is bustin’ out all over! In Baja, the month really did “bust out” with roosterfish cruising within a stone’s throw of the beach to bluewater tuna and marlin. Fly-fishers were tossing feathers at schools of roosters (pez gallo) and really catching – and releasing! – some dandy fish. The weather cooperated. It was in the low- to mid-90s with light breezes to make it even more comfortable. However, around the third week, a stream of cold water put a damper on things for a few days and fishing really tailed off. But, like a rubber ball, we quickly bounced back and ended June with bent rods and screaming reels. It was, indeed, a month to remember.

Special and Interesting Events

Felipe Barraza, whose holding company, Leopard, has the rights to numerous car rental franchises, brought staff members to the hotel Convention Center for their 30^th anniversary celebration then enjoyed themselves with a four boat mini-tournament and some late night wineing and dining on the beach. They represent Budget, Payless, Dollar and Baja Activities auto rental agencies. Sr. Barraza uses our hotel as his “getaway” base.

Luiz and Diana Diaz with the friends Ron and Kathy Viodes joined us for a great time. Luiz and Diana have visited us for more than 15 years celebrating birthdays and other special events, they make over a year reservations to make sure they fished with their favourite crew, Captain Felipe and Mate Reginaldo. . .while Tim Madden, Mr. Vacations from Oakhurst, Calif., always brings a group South of the Border Down Our Way, this year was extra special as he was joined with his daughter Lauren to celebrate her graduation from UCLA with a degree in urban planning.

Groups Big and Little

Brian Bisk and his building industry friends from Utah spent some time with us at the resort. They did extremely well with our run of tuna. Dean Lane with a group from San Jose, Calif. joined us at last. They were supposed to be with us last Sept., but got blown out by Hurricane John. Allen Reese – a hotel regular – and his friends from California BAFT staged a neat little tournament with Andy Burkett the winner. Actually, the real winners were kids from a local orphanage when the Reese Group donated about $4,000. Thank you . . .

Attorney David Hardacre, Woodland Hills, Calif., gathered five other members of his Moosehead Fly Fishers for a try at roosterfish on flyrods and did very well, with his now-retired partner Ivon Blum, Cambria, Calif., landing an estimated 35-pounder. The Mooseheads reluctantly gave up their namesake beer for some local Pacifico.

Other small groups included those headed by Larry Silvas, from the San Francisco Bay Area. Larry used to go to Loreto, but decided to try something new and joined us. Gracias! Ing. Borboa, an engineer from the small agricultural village of Ahome, Sinaloa, was at our resort fishing for a few days. They needed a bigger boat then ours, so we contracted for one. Another way we service our friends!

Jack Woody, from New Mexico, headed a group of eight – four guys and four wives. While the wives relaxed, shopped and did a bit of sight-seeing, the guys were out in pangas searching for fish. The Woody group has been with us over 5 years and they just keep getting better and better and better.

Fernando Velderrain, an agricultural guy (farmer) from Culiacan, Sin., organized a group of 12, but at the last minute he couldn’t make it. See you next year!

Mike Hatfield hosted his second annual Family Reunion. Mike just obtained his captain’s license, bought a Six-Pak boat and will be chartering out of San Diego. Great guys, look him up if you are going out from San Diego.

Returning Guests

It looked like old home week during most of June with so many returning guests meeting and greeting each other. While many didn’t the others’ names, there was always a moment of recognition in the bar or pool with a nod and a smile. We hope we haven’t accidentally left anyone off our list. Among those back with us in June were Debbie Eggleston, Larry Montano, Dennis Noble, Jeff and James Gagnon, Gary Zuniga, Joe and Paul Graff, Nancy Hummel, Dave Alcorn, Richard Dailey and Charles Lewis, Don Woll and Bob Monks.

Others included Larry Onstatt, Diana and Craig McRae, Patty Adams, Richard Deleon, Glen Holcomb, Geoffrey McCartney, Tom Ackerson, Ray Johnson and sons, Gary Spackman with sons and nephews, Mr. and Mrs. Diaz, Carol Fields and friends from the Dozgchen Community, Texans Michael Marr and Ruth, Phil Erickson, John Paulson with his brothers, Richard Cutler and Laurie, Ted and Sandy Wierbanowsky, John LaFrance and, last, but hardly least, our perennial Togo Hazard with friends!

Welcome “home to Baja” and thank you all!

Up ‘n' Coming

So many tournaments . . . so many fish . . . so many worthwhile causes . . . Good Luck and Best Wishes to all participants . . .

Beginning next week, we will be hosting the biggest money tournament in our area for the fourth consecutive year: the East Cape Bisbee Tournament.

In August, Steve Carson will be hosting the Penn Fishing University, a great event with great prices. It is definitely one of the best opportunities to learn from one of the top fishing professionals with knowledge in our area.

Early in October we will host Chuy’s Catch and Release, which has become a benchmark event for friends who met in Buena Vista to visit us again. This is the “most fun” tournament of the year with loads of prizes, food and frolic. We hope you can put it on your Fall calendar and join us.

Right after that week we will be supporting our good friend Lynn Rose on her annual East Cape Classic.

The following week, you are welcome to join a good cause and support the third annual ALMA (Animal Lovers of Mexico) AC Fishing Tournament, Oct. 19, 20 and 21.

And, finally, remember that in August and September we start our Summer Special, pay for 3 nights get the 4^th free, or pay for 5 nights and get the 6 and 7^th free. It is hot and humid, but definitely the best time to fish. We just need to keep our eyes, ears and Weather Satellite open for any Johns (hurricanes) on the map.

Condos on the Horizon

I have been getting e-mails by friends asking if I have sent any information out to those who have joined our list wanting condo information. As of this point, this newsletter has been the only way I have been keeping you guys informed about it; and it will continue until we start the reservation process. It may be that we will have to extend it to the Winter. But we are still working on it

We'll continue to incorporate our list, please if you haven’t already done so, send me an email to axel@hotelbuenavista.com

The Valdez Family

Passports Yes or No?

After the U.S. State Department and/or Homeland Security deemed it necessary for visitors to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean to have valid passports, the backlog to obtain them became unworkable. And so they changed the ruling to say that if you had documentation to show that you have APPLIED FOR A PASSPORT that would be sufficient.

Well, the passport issue has become an international snafu with some airlines accepting the applications, some demanding passports and others not sure either way.

Our best advice: HAVE A PASSPORT! It will make entry and exit much easier, safe and secure.

If you have any questions, call your Congress person’s office. If you don’t know who represents you, go to http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml

Special Deals and Events

You Won't Want to Miss!

July 31^st-August 4^th

6th ANNUAL

BISBEE EAST CAPE FISHING TOURNAMENT

Be a part of Hotel Buena Vista’s Team in the $300,000 cash prices in the East Cape Bisbee’s 6th Annual Tournament. Call for details.

August 8th-12th

PENN FISHING UNIVERSITY

Nightly seminars and instruction by Steve Carson, director of the Penn Fishing University series. Lots of prizes and fun! Sponsored by:Penn, Rapala, Luhr Jensen, Berkley, Flambeau, Owner, Albackore

click here to book your reservation on line

Did You Know?

Little known tidbits of Hotel Buena Vista's History

Did you know?

Last Month’s Question: How many species and varieties of birds are commonly seen within three of four miles of the hotel? The person coming closest to the actual number will receive a Specialty Dinner Certificate for two.

Answer: As reported in Baja Life Magazine, there are more than 150 resident species of birds including stilts, frigate birds, gulls, terns, ducks, herons, ibis, hawks, egrets, cormorants, ospreys, kestrels and hummingbirds! Additionally, there are 50 to 100 visitor species that pass through, depending on the season.

Our winner is Richard Dailey, a 25-year veteran guest who guessed 161 bird species. To repeat: Please remember to bring a copy of this newsletter with you on your next visit, so you receive your prize.

* * *

Note to all contest winners: Please print out a copy of the newsletter that announces the winner and be sure to bring it with you on your next visit to the resort. That way there is no confusion about the winner or the prize.

Contest of the Month!

Our June run of roosterfish prompted us to ask – What is generally considered the fastest fish in the ocean and approximately how fast has this fish been clocked? (Hint, yes, they are caught here on the East Cape.)

The person coming closest to the actual number will receive

Prize: 1 day fishing on a Super Panga.

Email your answers to: webmaster@hotelbuenavsita.com The closest guess and the first to the actual correct answer will be the winner.

Click Here for June 2007 Total Fish Count

Fish, Adventure or Inspiration Story

Rooster Tales

We had an amazing, stupendous run of roosterfish right off the beach in June. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this amazing specimen of fighting flesh, here’s a little information –

The roosterfish, characterized by its spectacular “rooster comb,” is one of the world's most exotic fish species. Roosterfish identification is about as easy as it gets. No other fish looks anything like this true oddball, a punk musician on acid as one person wrote.

The roosterfish is a member of the jack family, but it looks like no other jack. It is widely distributed throughout all waters of Mexico and viewed as a prized game fish that can generate an adrenaline rush as it chases live bait on the surface. Once hooked, it is one of the strongest hombres in the sea.

It is normally a “catch and release” species, as its food value is poor.

Roosterfish have been reported to reach over four feet in length and up to 114-pounds (the current I.G.F.A. Roosterfish world record, with the fish caught in our waters), and is found along the beach, predominately during warm seasons with water temperatures in excess of 80 degrees, and at depths of up to 100 feet.

El Gallo is a true visual phenomenon. It feeds on sardines and other small silvery fishes and travels in packs chasing food onto the shore. It is usually caught with slowly trolled mullet, ladyfish, or sardines just outside the surf line, outwards from shore to about a quarter-mile. It has also been caught with good regularity from shore using plugs and poppers, and can also be caught by fly-casting.

Next time you’re at Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort, grab your casting or spinning outfit and walk the beach looking for big, black shadows cruising 50-feet or so out, then cast and retrieve a plug just as fast as you can. Who knows? You might have one of the great experiences of catching a rooster from the sand!

Two of our biggest roosters during the June blitz were credited to Lon C. Brooks from Austin, Texas on June 2 while fishing with Captain Mauricio Ortiz on the Mosca IV;

and Ron Chordigian, Moorpark, Calif. with Victor Sr. just two miles south of the hotel. Both Lon’s and Ron’s fish were over 50-pounds!

Norma 029

June brought the first commercial long-liners into the East Cape, and even though it was not good to see, everyone got worked up and we called the Navy. In a matter of hours, a Navy vessel came and arrested one of the two and made the other one pick up its gear and leave.

There continues to be mixed feelings about the “by-catch” law. Most of our fishing neighbors from Cabo want the law to be voided, which is great since it has been a good way to keep everyone united, but I think it is a matter of perfecting this law and complement it to the point in which it will more helpful than harmful. It is a good tool in which the Navy can be called on to make the bust as they did in our area. They didn’t have this ability before. And with so many eyes in our area, I am sure they will think twice about coming back to fish; we have not seen them again and the major impact has not yet been felt.

There is much information out there about it, but reading through this law, you can tell it was done in good faith, but you and I know it takes more than good faith to make it feasible. Therefore I agree that there are many ways that NOM-029 can be improve.

If you have any concern about the future of recreational fishing in Baja, we urge you to see http://www.billfish.org and http://www.seawatch.org and express your outrage to fisheries officials and Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon

Nuestra Cocina

CHILAQUILES—A FAVORITE MEXICAN BREAKFAST

I am not a big egg eater, so whenever I find Chilaquiles on a breakfast menu, that's what I order. My first experience trying them was at the El Dorado Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta when I was a kid. We sat in yellow and green chairs right on the sand and ate at low tables in our wet bathing suits. It was Christmas of 1967. We had just ordered a late breakfast. My parents were discussing the concept of the empty nest. I could tell that my dad was worried about my mom being lonely as he anticipated Nina's and my eventual departure for college. Suddenly he stood up. My eyes followed his until I spotted the cutest little black and white puppy I had ever set eyes on. It was under the pier, on a frayed rope held by one of two little Mexican girls. Within two minutes my dad had bought that dog for $4.00 USD, plus a few pesos to buy ice cream for the crying little girls. We named her Victoria, and she was my mother's shadow for the next 16 years .

Meanwhile, back on the beach, Victoria fell asleep in Nina's lap. Our food arrived and we dug in. A beach vendor selling silver earrings, necklaces and rings diverted Nina's attention. When she looked back down at her plate, her chilaquiles were gone. Little Victoria, barely six weeks old, had scarfed the entire meal!

Chilaquiles were, and still are, a favorite of mine. They're served all over Baja and the ones offered at the hotel are awesome Oh, and by the way — Victoria flew home with us on Francisco Muñoz' Baja Airlines. Unlike a pet on an American airliner, she wasn't treated like a piece of luggage and relegated to the baggage department. Instead, she napped on the seat next to me and chased my dad up and down the aisle, barking gleefully as he helped hand out sack lunches. This recipe serves six and it will transport you south in a heartbeat!

3 poblano chiles, roasted and cut in strips or 1 - 7 ounce can green chiles, cut in strip 1½ pounds

12 corn tortillas

½ cup corn oil

2 cups enchilada sauce (canned is OK)

1 cup crema media ácida or 1 cup sour cream

1½ lb boneless chicken breasts, cooked and cut in chunks

4 cups Chihuahua or jack cheese, grated

½ cup media crema mixed with 1 tbsp water to thin out

If you have a gas stove, lay the chiles over the open flame and char skins well, turning with tongs frequently until they're uniformly blackened and stop snapping. The more charred they are, the easier it is to remove the skins. If you have an electric stove, place chiles in a large skillet on high heat. Turn frequently as above. Remove chiles to plastic bag, close it and let stand for 10 minutes. Remove from bag, place in ice-cold water and remove the stems, skins, veins and seeds. Cut into strips.

Cut tortillas into one-inch strips and fry in oil until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Combine enchilada sauce with sour cream in saucepan. Heat thoroughly.

In a 9 x 13 pan layer the tortilla strips, chicken, chile strips, cheese and enchilada sauce. Repeat. Top with a layer of tortilla strips, sauce and lots of cheese. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and chilaquiles are bubbling. Drizzle thinned media crema over each serving.

This recipe (along with all your favorites from the resort) is from Ann Hazard's new book, Cooking With Baja Magic Dos. Available online or at our gift shop, this book offers up the best in Baja cuisine. With 250 recipes, 80 colored illustrations and travel and adventure stories spanning four generations, this is a must-have for everyone who loves Baja!