12/19/13

A flat calm passage across, glorious, made for happy times. Far out to sea, a mere speck on the ocean, the flat calm added another welcome layer of success to this incredibly rewarding voyage. I have previously offered the notion that positives tend to generate favorable results. One would be hard pressed to find a better example of this theory than the present run.

This stellar group of individuals, intent upon fishing in the big leagues, in the show, while maintaining kinship amidst the spirit of vacation, has been too consistently fortunate to argue otherwise. They get it; they get that it takes more than just catching to create success. Among the most important factors, if not the most important factor defining victory, is appreciation of the company one shares during their voyage. Such is why this annual run has chalked up a history of big fish triumphs that sets a standard for all others to strive.

Photos today again feature legendary Charter Master Bart Ryder first at the rail pulling on his second trophy yellowfin of the voyage, and second as his 261 is sliding through the gate.

Of special note in the first image is our "Anti Boobie Bird device" that served the cause well to the delight of everyone on board. 2013 features a particularly strong hatch with voracious, aggressive, dumb as a stump juvenile red footed and brown boobies harrying our fishing efforts by diving on every bait that enters the water. In mass they are way too successful both driving us nuts and potentially causing themselves harm by swallowing baited hooks. Enter exhibit 'A': the fire hose.

Properly deployed this method of Boobie control reduced the nuisance by at least ninety percent, one hundred percent at times, with everyone coming out winners on the back end. It was particularly effective when applied by hand but periods of steady catching dictated that we improvise a fixed installation at times.

Either way the win for us was being able to cast baits, fish, and broadcast sardines that were not instantaneously eaten. The win for the Boobies, completely defenseless in their witless infancy, was that most avoided the inconvenient consequences, or worse, of becoming hooked. At the very least this long overdue improvisation demonstrated that we are smarter than a Boobie; so we have that going for us.

Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...
Photo Here...