12/17/13

Though there is no absolute pattern, one that guarantees a result worse or better when it comes to full moon phases, the most consistent result we can track is change. With the changing moon phases reliably comes changes in conditions and production. Any number of factors are always in play, so it is difficult to pinpoint the definite, but it is no surprise when some dramatic difference manifests in conjunction with a change of the moon; case in point today.

Ideally positioned for the big push, the oyster of the world ready and waiting on our plate, we planted Royal Star in the perfect morning position for a big zero - current was slack then almost opposite as the previous three days and there was no sign of fish; no bird life after daylight, no dolphins, nada - dead.

Of course we are no strangers to such phenomena living replica scenarios for the past almost thirty years. Nothing new here; time to get moving and figure out where they moved to. Before that however a long period of patience did produce a couple of indicators that the whole program did not dissolve. But there was no doubt that the real deal school of jumbos was elsewhere, of those we saw and caught none.

Such was the result at day's end also, no big cow's aside from one that squeaked over the mark at 204. A few more 170 - 195's found there way into the primo RSW, and a couple of handfuls of 120 - 160's (the day was far from a bust), but we are left to wonder, again, about what happened to that school of bruisers. Rest assured that they are around.

On another note, adding to the already fantastic overall signs here, our scouting today revealed a very good area of tuna in the 100 - 160 pound class, as well as huge quantity of 40 - 70 pound fish, in a zone opposite of where we have been focusing our effort. It looks really good around here. Such bodes well for upcoming voyages.

Photo number one today features angler Miguel Borromeo who demonstrated the virtues of patience and persistence yesterday in exemplary form. Rewarded with this 237 pound beauty, time and effort at the rail, and perfect rigging, again paid off as advertised.

Photo number two must be dedicated to the uncontested hottest hand at the rail, Warren Sakamoto, who has been on fire hooking trophies one after another all trip. In fact so many big ones have come over the rail at the hands of Warren and his assist team of Blake, Steve, Drew, and Paul, that I can't recall exactly which one of his trophies is in this image. It was a big one though, somewhere in the neighborhood of 220 pounds. "Sakamoto!"

Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...
Photo Here...