01/15/15

Following a heavenly night fast to the bottom we spent the vast majority of our morning in search mode. Again the fish gods did not favor the waters on our bow. But with the afternoon came mercy. Good scratch fishing for yellowfin tuna in the 60 - 90# class with a handful of 100 - 120's and a couple three shots at bruisers.

A lot more like what we came for that full afternoon of stationary fishing and catching did wonders for morale. Not that anyone was griping or downtrodden before, concerned is probably the best description, but a lot of that angst melted away when fish started coming on board. For certain the atmosphere on the bridge improved. We're not out of the woods by any means. But now we have something to work with.

Tomorrow will come with a new challenge. Not unexpected the big weather forecast yesterday afternoon is due to arrive. Out on the periphery our location should be fine; nothing all of us haven't worked in hundreds of times so we're hoping for business as usual. But we have to wait and see. At the very least the boys will be donning their rain coats and tightening the chin straps on their sou'westers; should be a good time. Sometimes the sweetest ones are earned the hard way.

Photos today feature Royal Star veterans Mark Shimozaki with a healthy, 120 pound class yellowfin, and Ben Van Dyke, better known as "BVD" who barely missed the mark with his first run at a jumbo yellowfin. This dandy weighed in at a worthy 196.

Tim Ekstrom

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