From Jorge

This week in Baja brings the full spectrum, from the roar of Bisbee’s Black & Blue to the glow of San José del Cabo’s Art Walk, Film Festival, and Book Fair. Cabo once again proves it can host the world’s richest fishing tournament and still pull off a small-town party, with the marina full of chrome, caffeine, and enough alpha males to fuel a documentary. Then, just as quickly, we shift to cobblestone streets where art spills from every doorway. The cultural season has officially begun, and at this pace, San José might soon need more gallery walls than hotel rooms.

Further north, the Baja night sky continues to outshine us all, drawing scientists, stargazers, and the occasional confused guy (me) mistaking satellites for drones. Turns out, our skies are among the darkest on Earth, and that’s worth protecting. As for more earthly matters, this week’s ILT question reminds us that sometimes clarity starts simple: when it comes to fideicomiso trustee banks, pick the one that actually answers the phone.

Subject of the Week

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I still remember my first Bisbee back in 1985. Cabo was smaller, the marina half-built, and the crowd could fit inside the old Hotel Hacienda, where Bob Bisbee and the Parr family ran the show. It felt like a friends’ wager with boats attached, a handful of crews, a crackling VHF radio, and just enough rules to keep everyone honest.

Fast-forward four decades, and Bisbee’s has become the Super Bowl of billfish. The docks now shine like a parking lot of floating Ferraris, drones hum overhead, and the prize money is reaching six million dollars. What used to be a local bragging session has turned into a global spectacle that pours life, and cash, into Los Cabos every October. Even folks who can’t tell a marlin from a tuna suddenly develop a deep knowledge and love for “the sport.”

Still, when that first line hits the water at sunrise, it’s the same ritual: coffee cooling in hand, eyes on the horizon, radios spitting half-truths and bravado from a sea full of alpha males. Then the gun fires, and every boat thunders off in a race for glory. For a few seconds, everyone on deck turns teenager again - hopeful, superstitious, and convinced their lure is the one.

The Evolution of the Game

1. Money & Momentum. Side pots, jackpots, and a media circus have made planning half the battle. Today’s captains study current maps and chlorophyll charts like Wall Street analysts, minus the suits and bonuses.

2. Professionalization. Boats are command centers; crews are part-angler, part-engineer. The fish stories remain, but now they come with spreadsheets.

3. Conservation. Minimum weights, quick releases, and strict scoring rules protect the fishery.

4. Community. For locals, Bisbee Week means packed hotels, humming restaurants, and traffic that makes you consider walking, even in flip-flops, the original dress code.

The 2025 Line-Up

Beyond Fishing

For Los Cabos, Bisbee’s is more than competition; it’s an annual reminder that the sea is both livelihood and legacy. Each tagged-and-released marlin is a small promise to keep it that way.

As for me, I’m grateful to have witnessed both worlds: the scrappy 80s version with more heart than hype, and today’s high-tech spectacle that still leaves room for luck. Every year, when a marlin swings over the scale and the crowd erupts, I can still hear the static of that old VHF radio from ’85, and smile at how Cabo turned a friendly bet into an international empire hosted by CLS.

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Clarity → Action

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Q: I’m setting up my fideicomiso for a beachfront property, and I’ve heard mixed opinions about trustee banks. Is one bank better than another? -  Phillip M…, San Marcos, TX

A: Not really, at least not the way people think. All trustee banks work under the same federal rules and serve the same purpose: to hold title, keep records, and follow your instructions as the beneficiary. There’s no “best” bank, just the one that fits you best.

What does matter is location. Choose a bank with a branch or representative in the same city where your property is. Local means faster, easier, and far less waiting around for signatures and paperwork.

What you want to avoid is a trustee in another state; that’s when “simple” things start taking weeks, with courier fees and calls that never get returned. Keep it close, keep it simple, and remember: the best trustee is the one that actually answers the phone. (Shocking, I know.)

Got a question? Send it our way, [email protected] and we might feature it in our next Q&A!

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I’ve always had a thing for stargazing, can’t help it. When I’m camping near Cabo Pulmo, dozing off at Scorpion Bay, or stopping overnight in Loreto, the sky out here gets really dark, the kind of dark that makes you realize how small you are. Turns out science agrees. Recent studies by COSCYT and UABCS found that Baja California Sur has some of the darkest skies on Earth. La Purísima ranked near the top, measuring 21.85 mag per arc sec². Translation: that’s how astronomers rate sky brightness, and that number basically makes them drool. (I had to Google it… twice.)

It’s more than a pretty view, it’s a tourism goldmine. Astro-tourism is officially a thing (apparently people plan vacations around constellations, who knew?), and Baja’s perfectly positioned to cash in. Imagine eco-lodges where visitors pay good money to sit quietly under the stars, trying to spot the Big Bear or their horoscope sign. I’ll admit, I still struggle to find Pisces. And every now and then, if a SpaceX launch happens to line up with our evening sky, we get front-row seats to a glowing spacecraft carving through the darkness, a cosmic show that makes everyone stop mid-sentence and just stare.

What’s clear is that darkness has value, ecological, cultural, and yes, financial. Protecting the night sky isn’t about nostalgia; it’s about smart planning and keeping Baja’s wild charm intact. Out here, it may take me a while to find Pisces or tell the difference between a Starlink satellite and a high flying drone, but that’s part of the fun. The sky reminds us that not everything worth keeping needs fixing, just a little less light and a little more wonder.

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It’s pretty amazing to see how Los Cabos has grown up, from beach paradise and golf haven to a full-blown cultural stage. These days, our high season starts with art, music, food, and films. San José del Cabo, in particular, has evolved into a hub of creativity, and honestly, it’s starting to look like they might need more walls for all the galleries. (Good problem to have, unless you’re trying to find parking.)

Every November, the Art Walk marks the unofficial kickoff of San José’s season. Every Thursday night, the historic district turns into a colorful, open-air gallery, cobblestone streets filled with music, conversation, and people moving at that perfect “Baja evening” pace. Visitors wander through more than a dozen galleries showcasing regional and international artists, alongside live performances and local artisans. For me, it’s the easiest way to pretend I actually understand modern art.

Then comes November’s headliner, the Los Cabos International Film Festival. It brings together filmmakers and storytellers from Mexico, the U.S., and Canada in what’s billed as a cultural exchange but feels more like a creative family reunion. Screenings have expanded into San José’s Sculpture Garden and Plaza Mijares, blending cinema, art, and community in a way that makes Cabo feel more Cannes than Cabo., though, I’ve never been to Cannes…

And right alongside it, the Los Cabos International Book Festival has carved out its own loyal following, a celebration of writers, readers, and ideas that gives November an even stronger cultural pulse. By December, Sabor a Cabo takes the spotlight, showcasing local chefs and artists in a culinary festival that keeps raising the bar. Add in February’s Jazz Weekend and the art and music fests in Todos Santos, it’s clear that Los Cabos isn’t just where the season starts; it’s where creativity comes to spend the winter.

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