05/11/15 So continues the scratch. There are times when signs flare up and ignite real belief that the change we are pining for has arrived, then it fizzles and we are back to waiting; waiting and fishing. And that is the real key to success in this instance, and so many others like it. Enduring tough conditions and slow production is all part of it. If everyone hasn't figured it yet I'll let the cat out of the bag: long range fishing is not wide open 365 days a year. The significant percentage of the catches that we make come from anglers practicing their skills during much time at the rail. It can be frustrating, disappointing, maddening - fishing defined. But then come the good times, that far outweigh and outpace the opposite, and dispositions and perspectives are transformed. Satisfaction did come for several today albeit at a tortoise's pace. One here, one there again added up to a fair lick at day's end. These anglers logged a lot of hours at the rail with lines in the water. Most came up with at least a little something to show for it. Scratch fishing, barely scratch, at it's finest. We are making progress; the RSW tanks tell us so anyway. So continues the grind in blessedly beautiful conditions - light breeze, calm seas: in itself a huge bonus to be coveted. Scratch fishing in these conditions is a pleasant affair, in sloppy conditions it's pure work; no fun unless one is on the end of your line. Leading perfectly into the days first image that features another long time Royal Star friend and angler Fred Uno. Fred got into the game early starting all of us off strong with a 177 at the break of dawn. I did my best to digitally capture the setting but admittedly fell a little short. The real life image was something only the eyes can describe; a piece of the world very few will ever know. Tim Ekstrom