9/19/13

We have seen a lot of good fishing over the years. On occasion the kind that re-defines all conventional notions of the age
old fishing term "wide open". For certain the school of thirty to forty pound yellowfin tuna that the red hot Captain
Toussaint wandered into today established a new level of action in the minds of just about every angler on board; one that
they will be lucky as recreational fishermen to see again in many outings, perhaps in a life time. It was that good.

The incredible stop we encountered on the run south ended up being little more than a warm up for the show today. Much better
working weather this time around provided an enhanced perspective of the uncountable swarms of completely suicidal tuna that
desperately attacked anything that hit the water three hundred sixty degrees around the boat for the better part of two
hours.

On the upwind side, stern, bow, downwind - it didn't matter, the instant any bait or lure hit the water boom! one was on. As
impressive as the bite itself was the sight of the twenty or thirty other charging tuna that missed out on the opportunity.
And all this was taking place inches from the rod tips - no imagination necessary. For anglers who have never seen this grade
of fish behave with such abandon the vision, the opportunity, the entire program was surreal.

Previously a dream only the imagination could conjure these lucky few anglers have been initiated into a rare fraternity of
individuals fortunate enough to experience the ocean's magic at this level. This was far beyond good fishing. This was old
school, I never believed such things could happen kind of fishing; just how we like it.

It goes without saying that such an opportunity did not go to waste on these intensely proficient anglers who made hay the
old fashioned way taking full advantage of the chance by clobbering the wanton and willing until we were done. It didn't take
long to attain complete satisfaction opening the door for some epic fish watching while the boys squared away the deck and we
waited for a few of our colleagues black smoking it in our direction.

Capt. Toussaint well knew that we had not even come close to exhausting this bunch of fish. We got our quota and there was no
discernable change in the behavior and/or quantity of fish surrounding Royal Star. In fact if anything the longer we sat the
better it got. Recognizing this spot as one that would spread beyond our hull Randy put out the call. While it is satisfying
to be fat and happy loaded with fish the feeling is magnified ten times over when all the guys we ply the ocean with are in
the same position. By the end of this morning such was the case. Everyone loaded up big time. This was the real deal.

The remainder of the day was spent in leisure mode steaming ahead in search of bluefin far off the beaten path. Not seeking
any kind of real quantity, by any measure we have enough fish, we are definitely still in the market for a few handfuls of
trophy bluefin that would put the proverbial cherry on top of this already fantastic catch. With nothing to lose on our final
day offshore our goal is well defined - trophy bluefin or bust.

Good weather, one day past the full, the rapidly becoming legendary good fortune of the "Fishin' Lumberjacks" - we'll see how
it goes. Speaking of the "Fishin' Lumberjacks" one and all send their greetings and best wishes to Steve and Sharon Kramer
who had to miss this year to everyone's disappointment; none however more than theirs. At the very least Steve and Sharon
please take solace in the fact that you will be enjoying plenty of delicious tuna soon to come.

Photo's today first feature an image shared by Dr. Terry Roelofs of someone enjoying a little fish teasing for the sake of
this photo. Though unfiltered by polarization one can still make out the hoards of tuna beneath the surface as brownish spots
of color just beyond the rod tip of the angler dangling the bait. Photo number two features veteran angler Dave Manning and
one of his many nice yellowfin landed amidst the fray.

Tim Ekstrom


Photo Here...

Photo Here...