9/11/14

We remembered the joy of fishing today. Unemcumbered by big production goals the setting was rife with laughter and easy going anglers passing time at the rail among good friends in premier conditions. Still warm and balmy the languid atmosphere did nothing to sap enthusiasm for catching, quite the contrary, but the tropical conditions out here have a contagious way of calming the soul. It was plenty good action, steady morning catching, but the scene was more akin to a vacation than hard core fishing. What a concept.

Early evening was the real show stealer as we headed in to target variety in some old haunts rarely frequented by us or our colleagues. It's that kind of year. Magnificent conditions, perhaps the finest I have ever seen in these regions, offer opportunities to explore areas that are tradionally off the radar. Real fishing; the chance to seek something completely new. A little tentative while poking around among the rocks and crannies we settled into a sweet little nook late experiencing variety fishing as good as one can hope for in modern times. Big ole' grumpy bass, marauding yellowtail, and just shy of a couple of handfuls of white sea bass had everyone focused and engaged in the fun. And that is exactly what it was - fun; good times, stress free catching where few anglers have gone before.

Tucked into our personalized haven as the day waned satisfied anglers reveled and enjoyed recognizing all things good about this entire program.The final push will find us back on the outside taking one more stab at glory in the form of something, anything worthy offshore. Dumb, stubborn, or dedicated this season's prior unsuccessful southern offshore outings must still be refused at such times. Nothing was ever caught in complacency, by the likes of me anyway.

Photo today is a draw from a few days prior. Long time Royal Star fishing veteran and model of positive attitude Eddie Abate enjoyed the triumph over this thirty five pound bluefin tuna displayed beautifully by Steve Gregonis.

Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...