12/21/13

The passage northwest continues in fine weather maintaining a 0800, on schedule arrival on Monday the 23rd. A couple of photos to share today featuring one of the many inexplicable phenomenas that we occasionally enjoy. Pelagic schooling sharks - mainly "silky sharks" - are ever present in the areas we fish during the winter/spring months at times shattering all hopes of making a catch by asserting their dominance through sheer numbers.

Then there are other times (no explanation for where, why, and when) that the sharks are present but leave us alone. There is a definite correlation between the average size of the sharks around versus the average size of tuna and why and when they attack. Of course the number of sharks around also plays a key role as they tend to get much braver when they have plenty of back up. But there are times when despite everything in their favor they elect to swim around the boat and leave the fish we are catching alone.

Photos one and two are an example of this exact phenomena. This image would not exactly inspire or elicit confidence in an angler hoping to wind a struggling tuna through such an intimidating phalanx of sharks. Unbelievably enough during this stop we drifted for at least an hour and a half landing eight or nine yellowfin tuna from 140 - 195 pounds without losing a single one to the sharks. They halfheartedly chased a couple fish, even scratching up the tail of one, but preferred to simply remain on patrol and clean up scraps washing overboard.

The angler featured in the shark photos is Charter Master Bart Ryder, who released his last big fish of the voyage estimated at 190 pounds, after grinding it right through this ball of "grinners". Photo number three features master winemaker Ken Volk, who's international varieties and brand can be found in many esteemed retail venues, also pulling on a good one amidst the shark melee below. Ken triumphed in this effort landing his final yellowfin of the voyage that came in at an estimated 160 pounds.

Tim Ekstrom

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