Well after all my griping and whining about not be able to get in a groove this trip, the fish gods finally relented and washed away our sour disposition with a four hour burst of nonstop, full speed action on mixed fourteen to eighteen pound yellowtail and twenty to thirty five pound yellowfin tuna. The therapeutic effect of getting a bite on nearly every bait or lure that hit the water was unmistakable in the smiles, laughter, and colorful banter between anglers who took full advantage of the opportunity to fill out limits and satiate themselves with pure catching action. What a relief.

Better yet, what a perfect example of why there is no room for quitters or defeatists in fishing. It sure would have been easy to say the hell with it and run straight home. Like I stated in a report a few days back - it is not in Randy's or my nature. If there is any way to squeeze out an extra hour, an extra morning that could profoundly impact a trip that is the path we will choose - every time. I cannot express the number of occasions when we have produced incredible fishing in eleventh hour of a voyage through pure determination, and some cases obstinacy, that has transformed the entire tone of an adventure from morose to jubilant. Those of you who have followed these reports over the years are well aware of this tendency. Thank goodness for it. The reality of it is that there are those inevitable times out here when good luck fails you and you are left to make your own. "When the going gets tough, the tough double down." I love that saying.

Speaking of tough going, we knew there would be a price to pay for spending the final morning below. With the bountiful results in perfect condition in the RSW tank, we blasted off for home in sloppy sea conditions that reached the lower zone, as forecast, the night before. So once again we earn the northward miles fully satisfied that the effort and sacrifice is well worth it. Similar to the previous voyage, the ride and sea conditions are far from horrible, but one is definitely utilizing all available handholds when navigating the galley or companionways down below. On these occasions there is nothing like a good book, or the standard travel day movie marathon in the galley, to pass the time. Look for tomorrow's report with a few final thoughts before we shut down for a quick holiday break.

Tim Ekstrom