Another day of persistance paid a few precious dividends. A couple of handfuls of fat wahoo, and a couple of three handfuls of school and mid grade tuna, proved the effort worthwhile. But that big hit on jumbos has yet to manifest. As long as we can stay alive while waiting, keep something coming over the rail to maintain the drive, we'll hang tough and ride it out in good spirits. Though the end of our time in the zone is now looming salient we still have faith.

Our primo weather went by the wayside as the very tail end of the front that walloped Southern California brushed by. No more that a little inconvenient, no big wind or seas harried us, our slice of paradise was erased by the change. It comes with the territory. And, at the very least, the huge lee of this island provided the exact sanctuary we were ready for at day's end. When that rockin' and rollin' stops after a full day of gripping the deck with one's toes, the sense of calm and relief can not be overstated. Photo today features yet another long time Royal Star veteran and friend Tom Nordstrom with a nice, mid grade yellowfin landed on the outside after daybreak.