Sparing the macro description and sugar coating San Benedicto was a worthwhile venture if nothing else for the opportunity to top off our bait before continuing on. In the way of tuna it was slim pickin's; not much sign, not much fish. What we did see was wily as all get out and tied close to local dolphins that had zero tolerance for our advances. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. With blankets of feed to focus on I speculate that our offerings drew little more than a yawn.

Actually it appeared that a few laughs were being had at our expense. As we approached any one of the numerous small spots of breaking fish their rubber skinned cohorts would dive at the last instant taking their tuna shadows with them. We would circle around and wait, occasionally throw a bait, and wind up moving on to the next spot that popped up another half mile off our bow. Of course as soon as the distance from our previous stopping point was around a quarter mile up came the fish again with their clever air breathing friends.

And so passed our afternoon that featured slight production at best, but set us up for a night of supplementation before weighing anchor for our next destination clearly visible thirty miles to the south. After checking in with the local navy garrison on Isla Socorro tomorrow we will ply the waters for tuna and squeeze in a thought or two for our sweethearts back home in recognition of St. Valentine. At this point, though we love our girls, tuna take precedent.

Tim Ekstrom