Fish Report for 3-12-2013

Royal Star Fish Report

3-12-2013
Royal Star
https://www.royalstar.net

3/11/13

The eagerly anticipated break in the weather indeed arrived; and what a pleasant condition after the residual seas
and swell subsided. That did nothing however to advance the fishing cause as signs of life, with the exception of a
few merciful gangs of wahoo, were non existent.

Then around mid morning my heart gave a leap when a real deal spot came up right where one would hope for. In
anticipation of the pending action the bait trays were filled and anglers quickly changed from wahoo to tuna mode
grabbing their bigger outfits as we closed the distance between us and the school. Upon arrival we set up
perfectly, followed the time tested strategy offering our wares, and waited for the eruptions to begin and reels to
start screaming.

It didn't happen. "No fish for you!" as we are so fond of saying in humor. But I have to admit that I wasn't
languishing in the irony of the occasion at the time; and still am not. They were not biters, not even a little
bit. A layer of tuna stacked ten fathoms thick cruised beneath the hull and never even so much as crashed on a
single bait. Amazingly we saw the exact same behavior numerous times during the four days we were at Clipperton.

If I hadn't seen such behavior so many times in the past I would be stunned. Go figure. Moon phase, water
condition, water temperature, red crabs, global warming - take your pick. The bottom line is that they aren't
biting right now; and that doesn't add up to much in the hatch. Fortunately in this case, as is the case on most
voyages, we are not in the company of pure "meat hunters". The sole act of loading up does not predicate success.

It does matter however, a lot, and such times are when the durability of our character, and capabilities as
professionals, are revealed. We press on as our resolve is hardly shaken, and our list of options has yet to be
exhausted. This is not our first rodeo. Today's photo features long time Royal Star friend and veteran Lohn Storms
enjoying one of the high points of his day pulling on a nice tuna hooked on the kite.

Tim Ekstrom


Photo Here...


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3-11-2013
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