By Griffin Page Very few birds attract attention like Pelicans do. Soaring high in the sky in flocks, forming a near perfect “V” or diving abruptly within a school of fish. They are simply amazing. As we sit quietly by the ocean, watching their acrobatics, one can only be reminded of those prehistoric birds, leaving us to ponder on what the world was like back then. Their sheer size with their wing span of around 6 ½ feet and the grace with which they fly leaves us mesmerized. Brown Pelicans are found from the Pacific coast of the northern part of South America, Central America up to the southern part of North America as well as the Caribbean and the Galapagos. Here in the bay, I doubt you’ll find an area where they cannot be found. They are just everywhere you look, perched on a fisherman’s boat, a tree, a dock or just sitting there in the water, floating near the beach. Pelicans have the largest gular sac (pouch below their beak and from which the young ones feed) of all the pelecaniformes. They build their nests in mangroves or in low coastal bushes. Females will lay 2 to 3 eggs and both parents will participate during incubation and feeding. The fishing technique they use is a difficult one for the juveniles and occasionally, once on their own, some juveniles die of starvation for lack of having mastered the technique. In order to feed, the pelican will dive down amongst a school of fish and open its beak just before they impact the water, causing great quantities of water and some fish to accumulate inside the gular sac. They also keep their wings somewhat open and this may serve as a breaking system in order to avoid going too deep and allowing them to fish in shallow areas where small fish are more plentiful. The tricky part happens when they close their beak, keeping their head submerged and attempt to remove the water by pushing the gular sack inward with their beak and at the same time try to retain the fish. The different coloration patterns make distinguishing juveniles and adults quite easy. Juveniles usually have a grey face, bill and feet with a darker brown body and lighter lower body. Adults will have a grey / brown upper body, a dark or almost black under body and a white neck. Adults will also occasionally have a yellow patch on their crown. During the reproductive season, sexually mature adults will develop a dark rusty / brown line down the length of the back of their neck. Brown Pelicans are often seen congregating along with Blue-footed Boobies, Brown Boobies as well as sea gulls. Have you ever seen a pelican take an afternoon nap? I have and I included a photo for those of you who haven’t. They can be seen resting on a rock, laying low with their head tucked backwards into their wings. Quite interesting don’t you think? Nature is disappearing at an alarming rate. Let’s all give a helping hand in keeping our oceans and beaches clean. Let’s make sure our mangroves and coastal environments remain populated with these spectacular birds which we would dearly miss should they one day disappear. They are not as yet threatened and that is good but it is our responsibility to make sure that they never are. “Nature could be such a wonderful teacher if only we saw it for what it really is” ~ Monachí We, at Natural Treasures, take this opportunity to invite you to witness these wonders with us. We specialize in helping you find the nature activity that suits your needs and desires. Make sure the tour you book is the right one for you. Many options are at your disposal. Let a knowledgeable eco-guide present you with a selection best suited for your needs.

By Wayne McLeod
100 Million Peso Multi-Use Facility 'Fully Funded' Says Governor

After years of false starts and delays, Jalisco's governor and Puerto Vallarta's mayor announced Tuesday that the planned Convention Center here was now fully funded, and that construction would start in 45 days.

Under a tent erected on the site – located directly across from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport – for the ocassion, Governor Francisco Ramirez Acuña and Mayor Gustavo Gonzalez Villaseñor jointly announced that the long-planned convention center with a capacity of 5,000 people will be completed by January/February 2007 at a cost of 100 million pesos (approx. $9.5 million US). The 5,000 square meter site will also contain a large public park, they said to a group of local officials and press numbering approximately 50 people.

Funds for the convention center will derive from Pemex monies payed out to state treasuries, said Go

Ramirez Acuña, explaining that the national oil company's windfall profits (as a result of international high oil prices) are divided up between states. He also said that though the "first stone" ('primera piedra') was layed 714 days earlier when the project was announced at the then newly-chosen site, private investors had not stepped forward to help fund the project. Now, Acuña said, the state would fully fund the 100 million peso cost.
The Guadalajara-based architectural firm Gomez, Vazquez, Aldana y Asociados, a much experienced large project company, have been chosen to build the multi-use facility, the governor said, adding that Expo

Guadalajara, a company that runs similiar centers in the state capital city, would administer it.
For years here tourism professionals have
been calling for a convention center in the 5-10,000 visitor capicity in order to compete with other destinations that offer multi-use buildings for large-scale conventions.
Several different sites had been considered – just south of the Sheraton Buganvilias Hotel, on the tip of the Marina Vallarta peninsula, and in the ecologoical estuary – but for multiple reasons none were finally green-lighted for the convention center.

The current location borders the estuary – a wildlife reserve – but officials say the center will not interfere with drainage or other environmental concerns.
Clean-up crews have been razing the grounds of the site for months, preparing it for construction, now announced to start in late September, 2006, with completion in early 2007.

* Reporters Miguel Angel Oceaña Reyes and Jaime Castillo Copado contributed to this report.

El Tigre Club, have the pleasure to share the joy with you and, proudly presents, our new FAMILY.
3 beautiful Bengal tigers, they were born on FRIDAY June the 30th. Tomorrow they will be 3 weeks old.

They are very healthy and gorgeous as you can see, the mother is fine and the 2 girls and the one boy are just getting bigger and stronger every single day.
These cups are number 37,38 & 39 born here at the Paradise Village Group, part of the successful program that we have with the Bengal tigers, and their names are;
Boy.......................Hobbs.
Girls.......................Princess & Joy.

Two 12 year old sailors bring honor to the state of Nayarit in the Mexican National Olympics
June 7, 2006, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit: Every year Mexico has a competition for the top junior athletes from every State. This year the event, called the Olimpiadas Nacional, was held in Acapulco on May 12-16. Representing the State of Nayarit, the Vallarta Yacht Club entered two youths from their newly formed Junior Program, Manuel Dussault Gomez and Paul Alexandro Moreno McCarthy. These two novice sailors placed 8th and 10th respectively in their class of 20 and 31st and 41st in the overall competition of 104 sailors.

When asked about the event, Vallarta Yacht Club Director, Dan Green, indicated: "We are extremely proud of these two young men and their coach Adize Oceane, who worked very hard over the last 2 months to prepare for this prestigious event. The Vallarta Yacht Club is committed to developing world class sailors through its junior program and making Banderas Bay one of Mexico's premier sailing venues."

The Vallarta Yacht Club (VYC), is a non-profit organization, which was founded in 2005. It began it's Junior program last year with the purchase of 8 Olympic class Optimist sail boats. It is a member of the Mexican Sailing Federation and recently hosted the Mexican Optimist Association qualifying race for the North American and European Championships. The junior program coach, Adze Oceane, was herself a French National ranked Optimist sailor. Although, not much larger than her students; she is an energetic, inspiring and very qualified coach. The VYC Optimist program is available to all youths in the Banderas Bay area (ages 8 – 14).

The Club plans to begin a Laser fleet in 2007 which will be available to all youths from ages 14 – 85. For more information on the VYC Junior program, it's costs and availability, contact Adze Oceane at 322 222 8771 or the Club Manager Raphael at 322 297 2222.

 IT’S TIME TO LIGHT UP SMILES FOR CHRISTMAS WITH TOYS FOR TOTS

Plans are underway for another successful year of delivering toys to 7,000 of the neediest kids in the Bahia during the holiday season. “Toys for Tots” will be holding their annual golf fundraiser on Saturday, December 17, at the renowned Weiskopf course at Vista Vallarta. A gala dinner dance will follow on Sunday, December 18, in the ballroom of the Marriott Casa Magna Resort in the Marina.
This is always a highlight of the season in Puerto Vallarta, and is not to be missed this year with many surprises in store. They’ll have a female Marine in attendance from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, plus a record number of door prizes and silent auction items, including golf equipment, art, memorabilia, airline tickets, and other valuable items that just might be perfect as Christmas gifts for friends or family. Last year’s dance band was a big hit, and will be back to entertain guests during and after a gourmet dinner with all wine and cocktails included.
Toys for Tots is organized locally by the Navy League, Marriott, Vista Vallarta, Continental Airlines, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, International Friendship Club, and U.S. Consul Kelly Trainor. Other local business sponsors number near 100. Tickets are limited, so get yours soon. Tickets can be purchased at the Marina or Vista Vallarta golf shops, the Marriott concierge, U.S. Consul office, IFC Clubhouse, and from many Navy League members. Or you can reserve tickets by calling Jerry Lafferty at 221-6156. Cost is $165 (1800 ps.) for both golf and dinner, or $65 (700 ps.) for the dinner dance only.
Plan to support this heartwarming charity by purchasing tickets at your earliest convenience. 100% of proceeds are used to buy toys, as all expenses are covered by the generous business sponsors. You win, and the kids win!!

By, Bill Reed
One day in early 1981, I was sitting with friends at Pichòn's beach restaurant when John Huston arrived offshore and hailed me from his panga. I had received word earlier that he wanted to see me, but I had put off going to Las Caletas because I didn't want to tangle with the Alacran. I went down to the water's edge to see what it was that John wanted. He tossed me an envelope. "There, Billy. That's the final payment on the book. That does it."

No mention of foreign rights, subsidiary rights, or other income to which I was entitled by our contract. Simply, "That's it!" Maid was sitting beside him, a triumphant smirk on her face. Of course this was all at her prompting. I had no time for such petty nonsense.

I said, "Yeah, John, I suppose so. That just about does it."

John Huston and I looked at each other quietly for a few moments, exchanged casual salutes, and went our separate ways. I opened the envelope. Inside was a check for $5,000 dollars. Added to what I had previously received, that check brought my total recompense for almost four years of work with John Huston to exactly $32,500. It occurred to me that during the same four-year period, my retirement income from the U.S. Navy had totaled three times that amount. Also inside the envelope was a statement from John's business manager, Jess Morgan, which neatly itemized – and deducted from the amount which was rightfully due to me - considerable monies that I had been advanced for research and travel expenses. Not everything had been deducted; there were some items which Morgan graciously indicated were gratis.

I recalled my original conversation with John Huston concerning the subject of expenses: "I want you to go where you think you need to go, Billy, and do whatever you have to do. Interview whomever you wish. There are no restrictions, and don't penny-pinch on this. We want to do it right, don't we? And don't worry about what it costs. I'll take care of everything!"

I then re-read that sneaky Clause 7 of our written agreement, and realized that legally they had me cold. It wouldn't do any good to scream "... but you said ..." nor would I demean myself to that extent. Nor would I embarrass John by even mentioning "contract violations." I am sure that Huston had nothing to do with that, and didn't even think about it; he was above such trivial and mundane things as contracts. The head office (Jess Morgan and his Hollywood lawyers) were behind that clever gambit. Well ... another experience cost. The expense column in my life-experience-ledger was mounting alarmingly. So much for the Big Time, Reed.

I only talked with John Huston once after that, at Boca de Tomatlan. We found ourselves waiting there one day for our respective pangas. We chatted for awhile. John said, "You know, Billy, I really miss Jerry Preston. Remember how he used to stand, with his arms folded over his chest, rocking back and forth on his heels, telling those marvelous stories about Cuba? Remember the way he used to grin, give that little jerk of his head, and say, 'Yep, John. That's the way it was!' He really was something, wasn't he? I wonder what ever happened to Jerry Preston?"
I didn't have the heart to tell him. Let somebody else bring that unpleasant news. I said, "I don't really know, John, but wherever he is, I'm sure he's happily engaged in a scam of some sort."

We laughed, for the last time together. We really had nothing to say to each other. I guess we never had.
And so it went; repetitive cycles of frantic-if-prosaic activity, comedy, and semi-tragedy worthy of a first-rate soap opera. The last four years had been one hellacious merry-go-round. I was determined that 1982 would be quiet, pacific and, if possible, totally uneventful for me. I needed a break. I got one. I started off that year by breaking my back in a parachute accident. Ho hum.

That's why they call it fishing and not catching! We worked very hard on a friend of mine's 38 ft. Blackfin sportfishing boat to get it ready for some very serious offshore fishing. After fixing one thing after another we got the boat running and ready for the hunt for big fish.

We were going to run out with Danny on the Marla 2 and he got to the dock before we did and tried to run out and see how the seas were and came back, I rang him on his cell and he said it looked pretty rough and would try and go out after the sun came up. The Blackfin is one of the best offshore fishing boats for almost any kind of weather so we went out before the sun came up.

In a lot of cases the worst seas you will see will be in the pass getting out from the harbor and such was the case on this day. We decided to stop at "the rock" (Corbetena) first and catch some bait and see if there was any action there. We were the first boat there and a lot of bait was around and seas running 6 to 8 feet, but the swells were very wide apart so it wasn't all that bad. We put out two live Skipjacks and one Google eye. The other boats started to show up including Danny on the Marla 2. There wasn't any action except one boat that said they had a big Yellowfin Tuna hooked up but lost it. We fished about one hour and said to heck with the weather and pulled in the lines and headed for the Banks.

We were there in just under an hour and low and behold what do we see but big, and I do mean very big Yellowfin Tuna feeding on schools of Skipjack. They looked like Volkswagen's coming out of the water chasing the very scared bait. My heart started beating twice as fast and got bait out as fast as I could. Now, when you are trolling with live bait you have to troll slow, like 2 to 3 miles per hour. The school wasn't all that big but the fish were and moving fast.

One thing about diesels motors is that the noise will scare a school of Tuna's and mostly the big one's. When you get close to the school they will dive down and disappear. You can always drift with the baits and turn the motors off and of course we tried that with no luck. We even switched over to lures and a faster troll and still no luck, so back to the tried and true live bait.

I did get one hooked up on a live Goolge eye that I tossed as close to the school as I could but lost it right away! We were the only boat at the Banks that day and it just kills me to see the giant Tuna's and can't get one hooked up! We finally gave up and headed back in. The only thing that helped that day was we heard that nobody had any luck at "the rock" either. That's fishing!
Offshore: There are big fish out at both Corbetena and the Banks. The water can be dirty one day and then clear the next.

Charter Dreams reports that Black Marlin in the 350 lb. range and Yellowfin Tuna 30 to 300 lbs are out there and this is a great time for big fish. Live bait is what everybody is using to get hooked up to one of these monsters. Dorado (Mahi Mahi) are around the trash line along with Sailfish, just look for that clear green water. A bait that is not used that often around here that I really like is what they call locally a Cookie or Green Jack, it looks like a blue Runner that we use in Florida. It is easily caught with small jigs inside the bay around rocks or a mile off the beaches. This month is one of the best for looking for that world record Yellowfin, so get out there and lets nail that world record for Puerto Vallarta.

Inshore: I haven't heard as much as I usually do (everybody is out after the Marlin and the Tuna's) but got some reports that the Pargo (Dogtooth Snapper) are being caught around Punta Mita with a few Roosterfish and Toro's. The beach fishing can still be good if you can get around feeding fish. The morning and at sunset have still been the best time, but you never know, it could be in the middle of the day.

Cajon de Pena: The lake is filling up and the fish are a little harder to find because you have more water to look in. Still some very good catches are coming in, Kim at Charter Dreams says that they are catching the fish around the feeder creeks with distinct feeding times. They have been using spinner baits and buzz baits.

Captain Steve says he is still getting real good catches with fish up to 8 lbs and 10 to 15 fish per day. If you are looking to go out after some of our fine fishing drop me an e-mail and we will get you hooked up. Love those bent rods.