We got off to a good start with plenty of yanking and cranking, jerking and pulling, winding and grinding, and/or any other like description characterizing full speed action on mixed yellowfin tuna, yellowtail, and incredibly bothersome, aggressive, watermelon sized skipjack that ransacked the action nearly every time we stopped on a school of 15 - 35# tuna. In spite of the voracious skipjacks attempts to overwhelm us, we managed to catch and successfully release a significant number of yellowfin tuna carrying electronic "archival" tags as well as begin our first hold with a decent layer of 20 - 35# fish. Mission accomplished.

As I reported prior to our departure, we are joined on this ten day adventure by Senior Scientist Kurt Schaefer and Scientist Dan Fuller from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission who are conducting tagging research on yellowfin tuna this voyage by deploying archival tags in tuna that are volunteered by anglers for science. This project has been embraced with tremendous enthusiasm by all Royal Star anglers on select ten day voyages since October 2002 and this voyage is no exception with anglers at times today lined up at the rail with specimens for tagging while already landed volunteered tuna we being outfitted with archival tags and recorded. The unique opportunity to participate in this high profile scientific project is an incredible experience for anglers to enjoy and remember and one that we are very fortunate and proud to be a part of.

So the plan moves forward and tomorrow will be dedicated to the offshore effort in search of tuna as well as whatever other game fish we are fortunate enough to find. Like today, grease calm weather is again in the forecast so we will see if we can put it to good use.