As luck would have it we mixed it up on the final morning with a string of kelps productive on 8-12 pound offshore yellowtail with a few standout 15-20 pounders. Freighting a bounty of primo bluefin and yellowfin tuna in the RSW tanks the variety was exactly what we needed to keep the roll we have been on intact. Enthusiasm for the high paced action and new species was consistent with the opportunity. 

In perfect weather we hopscotched our way west planning to target jumbo bluefin for the last hurrah. What has been a consistent pattern for the past three weeks continued. Massive, almost unbelievable, quantities of 100 - 300 pound bluefin were easy to find. They were not so easy to catch. The lockjaw bastards tormented and tantalized our senses in big areas of breaking fish and mile long breezes. In the end we did wrangle a few; enough to instill that sense of awe unique to big tuna. There is nothing like seeing one or two laying on the deck. Even vanquished their beauty is extraordinary. 

Heading home in the grease evening calm even more amazing were sheets of big bluefin darting off ahead of Royal Star glowing green in the brilliant phosphorescence. What an image. Amazing hardly does it justice; Blue Planet material. Enjoy the final trip photo featuring long time fishing veteran Mike Tierney with his personal best, 128 pound bluefin tuna.