It's a good thing I snapped a few “extry” photos during the four fishing days prior. This day fell flat in the catching department. One mid size dorado saved us from the humiliation of a total skunk, thank goodness, but suffice it to say that the offshore program for us was a bust. Again – again – we plowed up about one hundred twenty some odd miles of offshore ocean, with four experienced men in the pipes burning, and did not see a single kelp; not even a leaf, scrap, or string of grass. I'd say such a result in the ocean we crossed was unbelievable but this is 2015 – the year of an ocean devoid of kelps, at least on our bow. There have been a few found of late, and in some zones far from the ocean of our choice today a veritable bounty, but that story is always out there.

In perspective tragic it isn't; we were really looking for color rather than quantity. An abundance of beautiful RSW product in the hatch allowed us to take this fishing “correction” with a grain of salt. But admittedly the boys and I were seriously chapped at day's end. Fish in the hatch or not the effort we expend in a day is not done so in vain. This was not the result we were after.

Spirits below are still flying high though. All's well as we continue pushing south in search of a few, or more, toothed stripers. Some of them would go a long way toward vaulting this run into the category of perfection. We'll see how it goes. A little weather coming on is soon to make things far more interesting. What we do know is that rather than take a beating we'll beat a retreat near shore and easy passage. Wahoo or not there is no reason to spoil what has been heavenly sailing thus far.

Photo today features long time Royal Star veteran and friend Walter Baird with a dandy 75 pound class yellowfin landed a couple of days prior.